The standard of @welkinprize.bsky.social is so incredibly high I never thought I stood a chance. What a joy it was to receive that e-mail from Matt Kendrick about a year ago! "Time passed. Did you hear it huff and puff?"

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

✍️Totally over the moon with an acceptance today! It came about when the editor of the dream journal got back to me to say they liked it but it needed to be clearer in parts. He added this was not a promise of publication. Reader, it turned into a much better story as a result. I DID IT!

It's FlashGiving! Follow @smokelong.bsky.social if you don't already, then like and share this post to get your name in the hat to win $200 holiday money. Deadline is midnight ET, November 26th! Winner chosen randomly on Nov 27th. Please tag @smokelong.bsky.social so that we know you've posted!

Thank you @welkinprize.bsky.social and congratulations to all on this sparkling list ✍️✍️✍️

At 3AM, November 17, 1973, "The Colonels" sent a tank crashing through the gates of the Athens Polytechnic. It had been occupied by students protesting the fascist junta. Dozens died, mostly teens, 20s and one boy of 5. Over 2,000 were injured. The protests it sparked brought down the dictatorship.

Wow, beyond thrilled! Thank you, @matchbooklitmag.bsky.social

Thank you, @welkinprize.bsky.social and @mattkendrick.bsky.social for this honour!

No rejections, no acceptances. Limbo.

Oh, what fabulous news! Congrats @jmgatford.bsky.social @flashficfestuk.bsky.social 💫💫💫

Oh! Thanks @bulbculture.bsky.social for giving my Jimmy Choo story a re-airing. Fab picture, too!

"When you find the album, do me a favour and burn that photograph"

With all the not-so-pleasant things that have been happening in my life recently, I'd completely forgotten about @nationalflashfd ! My flash 'When you find the album, do me a favour and burn that photograph' will be published on 14 June, at 12:45 p.m. (BST)! Look out for it🧐

Kristian Birkeland observes the Northern Lights through a shot of Vodka – Nora Nadjarian @noranadj.bsky.social atriumpoetry.com/2025/06/06/k...

Thank you for reading and sharing today's poem - Kristian Birkeland observes the Northern Lights through a shot of Vodka by @noranadj.bsky.social

“She says *Promise not to tell* and I do and we don’t.” “It’s a girl. *Only if she wants to be* says my sister.” @noranadj.bsky.social in Craft Literary www.craftliterary.com/2025/05/16/m...

'My Sister's Life as a Series of Rooms', published by Craft Literary, recommended by @ashvalewrites.bsky.social. Thank you! ashvale.beehiiv.com/p/ash-vale-u...

"The room is always quiet and milky and her little nails scratch a bit when they touch my hand, grasp my finger" Wow. Such a creative & unique piece from @noranadj.bsky.social. Love how each room contains a memory, how the memories string together into a life: www.craftliterary.com/2025/05/16/m...

"In the exam room my sister doesn’t look up, at least this is how I imagine it. She tells it differently. Piece of cake. Sailed through." This is an extraordinary piece of writing by @noranadj.bsky.social in Craft Literary! 💙💙💙 www.craftliterary.com/2025/05/16/m...

‘I have to find a way. Look a rainbow, look the alphabet, look a lunch box, look so many crayons.’ Such an amazing idea for a flash. Love how the confines of different rooms structure and shape this story from @noranadj.bsky.social in Craft Literary 👭 www.craftliterary.com/2025/05/16/m...

I normally don't rant about this, but will stop bothering with that *one* journal which consistently rejects my work. ( No, not the New Yorker). You ruined my Monday. Again...

Climbing a Mountain - a huge challenge undertaken by the brilliant Matt Kendrick (and a metaphor, of sorts, for us writers)

"He wondered whether her bedroom was disheveled and kind." From: We Stutter Less When We Sing newflashfiction.com/we-stutter-l...

Yay! I did it with a very last-minute entry! Cyprus added to the FlashFlood map ( my 4th year running, I think). Thank you, dear hard-working editors. 🫶

So looking forward to this!

This has bite @noranadj.bsky.social

I just received an acceptance from a lovely poetry publication. I wrote back and apologised that one of the poems had already been accepted elsewhere. Then I remembered having withdrawn said poem due to formatting issues. Yes, I'm muddled, yes, I'm a poet and I also have a head full of cold.

Many thanks to the wonderful editors @nffr.bsky.social for publishing my work in the latest issue! newflashfiction.com/we-stutter-l...

“Mostly we give each other a look that hurts, an empty glance, a tense smile—as if we shouldn’t smile, not after this—or a slight touch and a recoil from it.” @noranadj.bsky.social in @matchbooklitmag.bsky.social www.matchbooklitmag.com/mb/nadjarian...

Thanks so much @danbillyc.bsky.social for reading and sharing 🐝❤️❤️

Thanks to the editors @matchbooklitmag.bsky.social for publishing 'Queen' and to @mattkendrick.bsky.social for his kind words 🐝🐝

I LOVE THIS!!!!!! Beautiful work by @sagreene1.bsky.social

Thank you for mentioning my story @welkinprize.bsky.social

I have a story up at the fabulous @matchbooklitmag.bsky.social

And you can read my piece just published by @centaurlit.bsky.social here. Thank you, Centaur! centaurlit.com/bebop-baby-b...

I have a prose poem up at the lovely Pithead Chapel @pitheadchapel.bsky.social pitheadchapel.com/moominesque/

The winter issue of Centaur is live with work by writers @ahmedmehreen.bsky.social, JR Fenn, Nora Nadjarian, M.C. Schmidt, @kathrynsilverhajo.bsky.social, @sarpsozdinler.bsky.social, @tinaszhu.bsky.social, and artist @zebulonhourse.bsky.social centaurlit.com

I have a piece up at the wonderful @centaurlit.bsky.social

Congratulations, @sfreligh.bsky.social - what an amazing micro and a worthy winner!

So pleased to have placed 3rd in this year's @welkinprize.bsky.social with a story I almost didn't enter!🐖🐖🐖 Thank you @mattkendrick.bsky.social for selecting it, and for everything you do for the writing community.

Cast your vote for your favourite little gems

What a beautifully written piece ❤️Congrats, @philippabowe.bsky.social - PS I have a whole series of prose poems on snails 🐌

Just how much can you say in less than 100 words? This fabulous micro by @jamesmontgomery.bsky.social says it all! 💥💥💥

I love this prose pantoum! Congratulations, @brusowrites.bsky.social!

What a title, what a story! Congratulations @suzannehicks.bsky.social

Oh wow, so much emotion packed into this tiny story! Congrats, Sarah. ( I also had to google the picture to know if it was the one I was thinking of!)

From the Franz Kafka museum, in Prague

Well, I really was NOT expecting to see my title on this shortlist. But it's still there! I can't wait to read all the little gems chosen by the one and only Matt Kendrick ✨️

What?! Best news since the worst New Year's Eve I've ever spent... I've been longlisted for the Welkin Writing Prize!

Absolutely thrilled to be on this stellar list of poets, reading at the Cheltenham Poetry Festival (online) --do join me www.ticketsource.co.uk/cheltenhampo...