Rik Mayall by Rich Hardcastle, 2013

I wrote words today: "Do the Duck" by The Jaunty Jones' gets on Gertrude's nerves. But it's not until "Haven’t You Got A Pear, Mr Grocer" plays on the radio that there's trouble. What did you write?

Typo Dictionary: agin, v. The way a leprechaun will smile at you just when you think that *you've* caught *him.*

In today's blog post: Everyone has a book in them. But it's a big job to get it out... (link in comments)

I wrote today: A town's constable is desperate to find a crime wave. He's not allowed to go to bed until he finds it. What did you write?

This failed assassination ended Tsarist rule in Russia... #alternativehistory #mockumentary #onthisday #funny #comedyshorts #talltales #strangehistory

What did you write today? I wrote lies - aka, fiction - for Monday's video about Rasputin.

Crap. Captcha showed me a close up of a bus - one big bus - and asked me to click on it. I failed :( So... when are we rising up to vanquish our human overlords?

President JFK makes shock confession to marry Marilyn... #comedyshorts #talltales #strangehistory #alternativehistory #mockumentary #onthisday #funny

Currently reading Scuttler's Cove by David Barnett. It did put the word "scuttlers" in my brain, however, which I then need to say it out loud at random intervals. Genius [email protected]

Vegetarian vampires, 1962 By Spanish Surrealist painter Remedios Varo #WomensArt

I wrote words today! Mainly my script for tomorrow's video. Did you write words today? Let me know in the comments for a pat on the back!

Dance mania forces 2 men to dance to death... or marriage! #comedyshorts #talltales #strangehistory #alternativehistory #mockumentary #onthisday #funny

Wrote words today. Mostly for tomorrow's newsletter. If you wrote words today, let me know in the comments, so I can say "good job!"

RHLSTP with Lorna Rose Treen now up shows.acast.com/rhlstp/episo... Clip here www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNTh... Come and see RHLSTP in Edinburgh (or London later in the year) richardherring.com/rhlstp

Fast futures, big ideas, small word counts. I love flash fiction and my collections are available now.

I'm on sale at @nictitatingbooks.bsky.social

In this week's blog post: one of Georgia's stranger customs... (link below)

A captain vanishes without trace when his crew mutinies... #alternativehistory #mockumentary #onthisday #funny #comedyshorts #talltales #strangehistory

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Why scroll when everything is in one place? 🕸️ We’ve rounded up every interview, review, and exclusive feature from this week just for you. Go check the pinned post on @gnofhorror.com #Horror #Books

200 people die when jealous man accuses his beloved of witchcraft... #alternativehistory #strangehistory #comedyshorts #mockumentary #talltales #funny #onthisday

I’ve just launched a Substack for anyone who fancies being part of a word community. My first free post is out now. susiedent.substack.com/publish/post...

Show your dad how much you love him by giving him horror!

In the land of the biro, the 4-colour Bic is King... (link below)

The internet does muffle applause but coffee is forever. If you like what I do, and are able, please consider dropping something in the jar. And thank you:)

Vlad the Impaler attacks Turkish forces... and the vampire is born! #alternativehistory #strangehistory #comedyshorts #mockumentary #talltales #funny #onthisday

On the 15th of June, 1215, England's King John tries to get married, but instead signs the Magna Carta, agreeing to a whole heap of fatal trouble... #alternativehistory #strangehistory #comedyshorts #mockumentary #talltales #funny #onthisday

🩸📚 💀EEK! 25 Weird and Horrific Tales by talented authors from around the globe. Strange Vibes Weird Fiction Anthology Volume 2. Start with a bizarre horror comedy, take a twisted journey through time & space, and finish with a bang! Preorder now.📚💙 books2read.com/u/mKZxRB #readingcommunity #readers

when you buy a book you should get a download link for the original Word file with all the tracked changes; you should be able to read all the fights between author/copy-editor in the margins

Time for lots of new temptations here www.theguardian.com/books/2026/j...

On the 12th of June, 1968, horror classic, Rosemary's Baby, premiered in the US. One of the scariest films of all time, I reveal a story behind it, a tale too strange for cinema... #alternativehistory #strangehistory #comedyshorts #mockumentary #talltales #funny #onthisday

In this week's blog post, I salute meet the taxi-dancers of Terrific Street (RIP). Link in comments

The wonderful folks at r/fantasy are inviting Hugo finalists in to do AMAs and today, it's my turn! Come ask me things! www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/co...

The guy who invented being a jester:

On the 10th of June, 1845, Andrew Jackson's parrot, Poll, is kicked out of Jackson's own funeral for swearing. Discover the tragic events behind his death here... #alternativehistory #strangehistory #comedyshorts #mockumentary #talltales #funny #onthisday

On the 08th of June, 1949, publisher Secker & Warburg publish George Orwell's 1984, after a friend helps Orwell kick opium. With deadly results... #alternativehistory #strangehistory #comedyshorts #mockumentary #talltales #funny #onthisday

Today in dark, strange and fantastic history: On the 05th of June, 1946, the world's 1st bikini goes on display in Paris. A costume so skimpy it blew people's minds. And more... #alternativehistory #strangehistory #comedyshorts #onthisday #mockumentary #talltales #funny

It's a holiday here today! That means tomorrow's @thisishorror.bsky.social news is already locked & loaded. But, #ICYMI, here are last week's new/forthcoming terrors: www.thisishorror.co.uk/news-round-u... The Girl in Green by @stacilayne.bsky.social - out now from Sinister Smile Press ... 1/2

Today in dark, strange and fantastic history: On the 03rd of June, 1865, Cullen Whipple patented a machine for making screws. A machine which led to madness and death... #alternativehistory #strangehistory #comedyshorts #onthisday #mockumentary #talltales #funny

By the way, in case you would like to read the story (and all previous stories), you can become a newsletter subscriber. This year I’m writing stories from the perspectives of the Druid apprentices. Join and get caught up here: wordsandbirds.ink

In this week's blog post, we're discussing mind control... (link in comments)

On the 29th of May, 1953, Edmund Hillary, Tenzing Norgay, and a desperate man in love raced to reach the summit of Mount Everest first. Only two of them made it back alive... #alternativehistory #strangehistory #funny #mockumentary #onthisday #comedyshorts #talltales

Today in dark, strange and fantastic history: On the 27th of May, 1679, Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftsbury, introduces the Habeas Corpus Act to stop his neighbours falling in love... #alternativehistory #comedyshorts #strangehistory #talltales #funny #onthisday #mockumentary

On the 25th of May, 1919, baseball greats, Casey Stengel and Wheatsack Delaney went head to head in a rivalry that ended in death... #alternativehistory #strangehistory #comedyshorts #mockumentary #talltales #funny #onthisday

On the 22nd of May, 1980, video game hit, Pac-Man, first hits Japanese arcades, based on the designer, Toru Iwatana's near death experience... #alternativehistory #strangehistory #comedyshorts #mockumentary #talltales #funny #onthisday

On the 20th of May, 1899, New York cabman, Jacob German, becomes the first person in the US to be arrested for speeding, in a race that would change his life... #alternativehistory #strangehistory #comedyshorts #onthisday #mockumentary #talltales #funny

If you like short fiction, this collection features 31 stories taken from my 20 yr career as a writer, some of which have not been previously collected. It’s out now from @titanbooks.bsky.social and available from your favourite book seller.

Oh hey, check out @podcastle.org ’s latest episode, out today! podcastle.org/2026/05/19/p... 🎉🥳 “Mail Order Magic” is the most personal story I’ve ever written, so it means a lot to have this audio version narrated by a friend, the amazing @tinaconnolly.bsky.social . ❤️

Rats! In this week's blog post, there's nothing but mischief! Link in comments