Issue 5 of Thin Skin - showcasing work by older writers - out now!

"There’s a new energy rising and we’re ready to bring the whole miserable lot down – our shitty prefab concrete blocks and blocked toilets, our Trabis smoking oily exhaust like they’re on fire." Fabulous atmosphere in this one from @nomad-sw18.bsky.social

'As my body segments, pairs of hairy legs sprouting from each one, spiracles to breathe breathe breathe your oily-sweet pheromones' Fabulous story from @pleomorphic2.bsky.social

Thank you @gooseberrypielit.bsky.social !

Such a buzzing, inspiring weekend (so far) with @saloneurope.bsky.social ! Big thanks to @deborahzafer.bsky.social and the team for bringing it all together. Last night's event with Balsam Karam, Philippe Marczewski, and @kitdewaal.com was completely awesome.

Impeccable vibes at #EWSBrussels2025 ✨ Thank you to all our readers, especially to our surprise guest @kitdewaal.com

Super happy to be in this issue - congrats to all!

Beautiful piece from @claudiamonpere.bsky.social !

'Dance with the Tambourine Man' is up at @thesunlightpress.bsky.social today! Born in a @smokelong.bsky.social workshop, inspired by the landscapes and history of Bahrain - and of course by Bob Dylan. bit.ly/3UgYF9M

A stunner from @sarahillswrites.bsky.social flash-frog.com/2025/07/28/t...

And @fionamckay.bsky.social read brilliantly!

'Our history teacher once said that the Romans would grow their hair during times of mourning ... The clippers hum loud in my hand.' On Day 14 of @smokelong.bsky.social 's Archive Challenge, Evan Massey's 'Something About the Romans'. brilliantflashfiction.com/2018/03/31/i...

‘Without warning a glider filled her vision, flying very low and fast. She would always remember the wide wings, the silent surprise.’ For Day 13 of the @smokelong.bsky.social Archive Challenge, ‘Three Summer Flights’ by @timlovewriter.bsky.social from brilliantflashfiction.com/2017/09/30/i...

From 2021, the stunning ‘Life Lessons’ by Anne Anthony. 3rd story down in a great line-up. Day 11 of the @smokelong.bsky.social Archive Challenge brilliantflashfiction.com/2021/03/31/i...

'Do you know what kind of trouble you’re asking for? How old are you girls? Blythe laughs, a terrible little snarly sound, a baby warthog..' A gem from 2019 by @megpokrass.bsky.social on Day 10 of the @smokelong.bsky.social Archive Challenge. brilliantflashfiction.com/2019/06/30/i...

Sometimes an intriguing story sends you straight to Wikipedia in search of an artist you've never heard of. 'The Rocket Man' by Lorette Luzajic (second story down in a fine lineup). brilliantflashfiction.com/2023/01/31/j... on Day 9 of the @smokelong.bsky.social Archive Challenge

On Day 8 of @smokelong.bsky.social ‘s Archive Challenge - Hit and Run by Shoshauna Shy brilliantflashfiction.com/2018/01/31/i...

DAY 7 of smokelong.bsky.social ‘s Archive Challenge.’Black against the Blue’ by Melissa Goode (4th story down in this issue of Brilliant Flash Fiction) brilliantflashfiction.com/2017/01/31/i...

@smokelong.bsky.social Archive Challenge Day 6. A blast of Shakespeare in 'Act One, Scene 5' by @rajivmote.bsky.social , published by Brilliant Flash Fiction in 2022. 5th story down in a great lineup. brilliantflashfiction.com/2022/06/30/j...

Delighted to get an acceptance from the wonderful @gooseberrypielit.bsky.social after several tries! Thank you, Jeff!

For the @smokelong.bsky.social Archive Challenge Day 5, a haunting piece: 'You' by Madhumita Roy in Brilliant Flash Fiction. brilliantflashfiction.com/2014/06/30/i...

Another dip into past stories at Brilliant Flash Fiction, for @smokelong.bsky.social 's Archive Challenge. Here's a darkly funny tale from @downith.bsky.social . 'Confession is Good for the Soul'. Read it (13th story down) at brilliantflashfiction.com/2018/01/31/i...

Thank you to the editors at @trampset.bsky.social for publishing this story. It's from a @smokelong.bsky.social Fitness prompt where the only requirement was that people get naked... @patiencemackarness.bsky.social @emilyrinkema.bsky.social @pennypriddy.bsky.social trampset.org/the-things-s...

On Day 3 of the @smokelong.bsky.social Archive Challenge, here's a heartbreaker, 'The End' by Alan Balkema - second story down. The first story is excellent too!. brilliantflashfiction.com/2014/04/01/i...

Day 2 of the @smokelong.bsky.social Archive Challenge, and my personal foray into the back catalogue of Brilliant Flash Fiction. Here's a beautiful piece,The Wild Birds by @karenschauber.bsky.social brilliantflashfiction.com/2018/06/30/i...

On Day 1 of the @smokelong.bsky.social Archive Challenge (rediscovering older pieces in a journal you admire) I'm sharing Ute Carson's 2014 story 'Rumbling over Steel' from Brilliant Flash Fiction about train journeys and love. brilliantflashfiction.com/2014/09/30/i...

At Angers Literary Festival 2025 today. A fascinating programme and excellent speakers including @bdiggswrites.bsky.social . It was lovely to meet Barbara and @lorifontanes.bsky.social in person for the first time!

Thanks @emergejournal.bsky.social for including 'The Places You're Not' in their current issue! The story was born in a @smokelong.bsky.social workshop. emergeliteraryjournal.com/the-places-y...

Hi all, I'm taking a break from Meta platforms this week (Boycott Meta 5-11 May) to see how I manage without them. Pleasantly surprised to find so many familiar names from the flash world here on Bluesky, and glad to find it described as a 'public benefit corporation' too. So far so good!🤞