THREAD 1/ I want to pick up another part of the ‘nature cure’ problem When a woman writes about the outdoors, people often reach for the same narrative template. #Scotland #Writing #WritingCommunity #Reading #Books #NatureWriting #Nature

Available through Edinburgh Libraries for anyone in my neck of the woods – and a great read!

《 NEWS 》 Stanchion Magazine will open for submissions on January 5, 2026, for one day only, one month from today. And for the first time, there's a theme: MUSIC. All the pertinent info can be read here: www.stanchionzine.com/submissions Thank you for your interest in Stanchion. 🖤🤍

Latest painting (acrylic on canvas)

Recuperating on the sofa after a busy flash-filled weekend & sending off some new words into the universe. 'Cosmic Chronicler' feels very appropos, cause you can't spell chronicler without chronic [illness]! 💃 #WelkinWritingPrize @welkinprize.bsky.social

My very first Pushcart Prize nomination (!!) for my 3rd place BFFA flash "Eloise Writes as the World Burns"

Brilliant @flashficfestuk.bsky.social day today w/ generative workshops from @hanakhalique.bsky.social, @finnwritesstuff.bsky.social & @lunchontuesday.bsky.social! Lots of drafts & ideas born out of this one. Thanks to @judehwriter2.bsky.social for organising & everyone who read/presented/shared 😊

Really looking forward to this showcase event on Sunday November 30th for all the shortlisted authors in @walklistencreate.org’s Walking in the Dark competition (supporting the great Women Walking, the City, at Night campaign). Tickets available in the link below #poetrycommunity #poetsonbluesky

Well, looks like everyone's getting MERL merch again for Christmas this year. I'm sure my MIL will be just thrilled to complement her chicken wearing trousers tea towel with a mouse riding a lobster tote bag 😅

So pleased to have been shortlisted for @walklistencreate.org's Write About Walking "In the Dark" competition & included in the forthcoming print & audio anthologies! Come join us @ the showcase Nov 30th to hear myself and some very talented writers & poets present our pieces. Deets in link 👇

Summer's okay and all, but I do love that crisp cold of a sunny day this time of year (not pictured: my enormous blanket of a jacket and scarf wound up to my eyeballs, I'm not a masochist)

This story made me so. angry. But like...in a satisfying way? Love!

Very excited to share that my dark little flash has been longlisted for @walklistencreate.org's Walking In The Dark competition! Congrats to everyone on the longlist, I am in stellar company 🙌

study after study after study shows that literally just handing people money and telling them "do what you want with this" reduces homelessness, increases food security for children, makes it more likely people will find and retain jobs.1

**ATTENTION WRITERS** This is your ONE MONTH warning. Entires open for the #WelkinWritingPrize 2026 on the 1st Dec. 100 words. Rolling subs. Free entry. Publication for shortlistees. Prizes for top 5.

Getting big 'enemies-to-lovers' vibes from this, I predict a Green Party membership in the protagonist's future 🍃

Folklore conservation in action! Absolutely loved learning about this campaign! www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Researchers in Leeds have joined experts from across the world in warning that Earth is reaching the first of many climate tipping points that will cause catastrophic harm without urgent action. #climatecrisis #tippingpoint #auspol www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article...

Scotland's richest 2% now have more wealth than half the population combined. At today's #FMQs we asked the First Minister why shooting estates owned by billionaires still pay no business rates. We’re losing millions of pounds that could go towards our schools, libraries, and hospitals.

As a former English Lit major, this is the kind of pedantry I live for 🤌

Cat sitting in the Highlands (literally and figuratively)

Me explaining the MERL deep lore to my partner so that he will understand how this is Very Funny, Actually™

Years ago, on my first visit to Denmark, my cousin was showing me around Copenhagen and we passed a guy walking his dog who smiled and said hi as he went by, but I was distracted because dogs > people. My cousin waited half a block to freak out and inform me I had just ignored Mads Mikkelsen.

10am UK time, downright reasonable for us slow-moving-in-the-morning folks 🙌

Renewed my membership to the @bathflashaward.bsky.social Last Minute Club! 💪

Current mood

Eurovision has lifted its restrictions on Palestinian flags Me: That’s good But Eurovision has banned pride flags Me: That’s bad But it comes with a free frogurt Me: That's good The frogurt is also cursed Me: That's bad

1 down, 171 to go! Manifesting a Liberal sweep across the Maritimes, Quebec and Ontario so I can go to bed before 5am UK time 🤞🇨🇦🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 #cdnpoli

My new workshop:small museums for mental health, is now live. I'll teach you how creating small museums alters brain biochemistry to improve mental health & we'll make small museums together 24 May,zoom, recording available afterwards Open to anyone,anywhere workshops.emmamitchell.uk/courses/smal...

This time in two weeks, I'll be running a free online workshop on character motivation as part of my Stair Climb Festival. Lots of free events happening over the course of two days on 2nd / 3rd May. Would love to see some of you there: forms.gle/zZdKyWEa3YcE...

Reader: Why did you write that? You made me cry. Author: I DID?? Reader: Are you smiling right now? Author: ... No. There there. Now, tell me exactly which moment hurt you.

Ozymandias

For @electriclit.bsky.social I wrote about common microaggressions in the ableist writing workshop, ways disabled writers can resist in order to reclaim their stories, and my @sundresspub.bsky.social craft book NERVE. electricliterature.com/to-tell-my-d...

Just saying.

‘As rockets fall like rain on the southern counties – it is safe, for now, in the North – she drops a bomb on the fictional McElroy farmhouse.’ Such a bold, ambitious piece from @erinbondo.com in @bathflashaward.bsky.social - bravo! 🔥

"Each night, she gathers them – the Browns, the MacEwans, the McElroys – hides them in cramped cellars and heaving underground stations,...." Wow, this extraordinary award-winning piece by @erinbondo.com in @bathflashaward.bsky.social 💙💙💙

"... she drops a bomb on the fictional McElroy farmhouse. A necessary evil, they said. She strikes necessary from the page. It is too early for line edits, but evil is evil, she thinks..." Congrats to @erinbondo.com for this moving meta-fictional micro in @bathflashaward.bsky.social.🔥 #FlashFiction

And putting all our winners together, huge congratulations to @sarahillswrites.bsky.social 1st prize @dawnwriter.bsky.social 2nd prize @erinbondo.com 3rd prize @proliffany.bsky.social highly commended & jay Mckenzie Highly commended. Read their stories at bathflashfictionaward.com

"But she must give these screams to the present, for this is where her own grief keens, day after night after day" Always love pieces that lean into something slightly meta and use it to such great effect as this flash from @erinbondo.com does so well; a lot bubbling away beneath the surface here

Well this is pretty darn cool, Eloise takes 3rd place for the Bath Flash Fiction Award! 😍 I wrote the first draft the day after staying up until 5am-ish UK time watching the US election results roll in, so big shout out to existential dread for inspiring this one 🙌😅 Congrats to the other winners!!

"The orchard thrums with their varied pips and trills, with birds that’ve flocked here from all over. Loudest is the green woodpecker" There should be more stories about birds 🐦😃 - this one from @erinbondo.com is so clever; hints of something darker beneath the humorous, onomatopoeic facade

UK authors & creatives, don't forget to complete this survey to let the government know that we don't believe in loosening copyright restrictions for AI training. The deadline is tomorrow. We need our voices heard and our work protected!! You can also send a letter to your MP! ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

Made it to the shortlist (also first time on a shortlist!!!) 🎉

This is delightful (but I am also one of those lucky few who doesn't react to midgie bites, so ymmv)

I'm so grateful that my slightly-better-than-expected health has allowed me to keep teaching my #WriteBeyondTheLightbulb courses. For anyone who'd like to write with me, the next one I've got scheduled is "Go With The Flow" in May: www.mattkendrick.co.uk/wbtl-go-with... 💡🌊⚓🌉🪡🧵✍️✍️✍️

Made the BFFA long list – a bit gobsmacked, but hey I'll take it!! 🙌 Congrats to everyone else on the list, can't wait to read the pieces behind some of these titles 👀💜

It’s Friday! Subs to our anthology & micro comp close tomorrow, Saturday 15 Feb at 23:59 GMT. Thank you so much to everyone who has already entered! If you haven’t done it yet, here are the details you need: www.nationalflashfictionday.co.uk/index.php/ne...

First HAD call for 2025 incoming! Certified lover boy @jordanhamel.bsky.social is taking over the reins tomorrow (2/13, 1pm est) for a special Valentine's Day Eve submission call. He's looking for messages in a bottle, DM slides, sad songs for dirty lovers, and more. Details in image/alt text.

Calling all #folklore enthusiasts, #heritage buffs & #XR innovators! Join us online at @culturalfutureshub.bsky.social for The #CulturalFutures Conference, Mar 1st & 2nd. Let's build inclusive & innovative cultural futures together! More info: buff.ly/41a8vye #Cultural #Futures #FolkloreThursday