"In just five paragraphs, this story distils an intense, ambiguous encounter between an emergency room nurse and an injured jockey into a layered and ambiguous meditation on vulnerability and masculinity, intimacy and maternal care, the real and the magical..." kmelkes.substack.com/p/microdosin...

Rewriting Ideas on Editing - the latest FREE post on my Writing Talk Substack, about letting go of the binary idea of writing, then editing, and how there is a messy middle place of redevelopment, rewriting and re-visioning. kmelkes.substack.com

Want to spend 90 minutes playing around with different voices? Come join me next Saturday at 9 BST for "I Hear Voices" where we'll ponder the levels of voice, the constellation of tonal influences, and stuff like authenticity and balance: www.mattkendrick.co.uk/live-worksho...

I loved the way you drew out your characters and made us care - with almost no backstory - and in such a tiny space of words :)

Listened to this wonderful story this morning. So beautifully written.

Incredible storytelling by @kmelkes.bsky.social here 😮

And if you need more, here's (ahem) something from me - not from this summer, but I did my best to squeeze all the essence of summer into it - don't know how much longer it'll be available, so do listen if you get the chance 😉 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

My 70s Gene Simmons story just dropped! Thank you @flashfictiononline.bsky.social and thanks to my @smokelong.bsky.social , @jdclappwrites.bsky.social and @kmelkes.bsky.social for earlier feedback and for generally enabling my foolishness! www.flashfictiononline.com/article/i-wa...

Looking forward to joining a roster of writing luminaries at the international Geneva Writers Conference in November. Hope to see some familiar faces there!

Happy to share my August writing prompt on From the Bookshelf. Enjoy!

The first instalment of my Microdosing Fiction series. The premise is simple: I take a short fiction text and provide some thought and insights on specific elements of craft. Big benefits from small amounts. open.substack.com/pub/kmelkes/...

Congratulations to WestWord Prize 2025 winners @quickasaflash.bsky.social, @joycebingham.bsky.social, Charlie Swailes and everyone on the shortlist. Thank you for trusting me with your work — what a fantastic selection of stories! 🌟🌟🌟 westword.substack.com/p/westword-p...

Our annual contest opens for submissions August 1st! This year's guest judge is Andrew Porter. Keep an eye out for our Q&A with Andrew soon. Find more details about our contest here: pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown/

Final shoutout to the workshop hosts who gave me so much to write about. @kmelkes.bsky.social @judehiggins.bsky.social @shelleyr-j.bsky.social @vanessageb.bsky.social @farhanashaikh.bsky.social and the readers, my God, so much to love and be inspired by. Thank you FFF2025, I loved it 🌟

As Bookbanks new Ambassador I’d like to spread the word about this brilliant charity giving books with food at food banks. Please share and support if you’re able :) www.bookbanks.co.uk

You're invited to our Master Series interview and reading with Aimee Bender on August 9th! This event is free! And we'll be giving away lots of books. Sign up through the SmokeLong Shop by "purchasing" this event for $0 dolares! www.smokelong.com/product/mast...

This is gloriously weird! Rockstars of flash writing together in @gooseberrypielit.bsky.social “If she is not present, he must go and find another one.” @stillsquirrel.bsky.social @sarahillswrites.bsky.social @rosaleenlynch.bsky.social @jamesmontgomery.bsky.social

This story is so cool! Big congrats @kmelkes.bsky.social 💙💙💙

Latest post on my Writing Talk Substack is about Picky Bits - quick and stress free writing ideas for those days when you can’t manage a bit plateful of writing time! kmelkes.substack.com/p/an-assortm...

If you missed the original broadcast, you can find my BBC Radio story Snowbirds and Coyotes on BBC Sounds. Listeneers outside the UK, can hopefully find it on BBC.com or the BBC app. Thanks to those who have listened and said kind things - I really appreciate it! www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...

Just listened while I had my lunch - really good, Ken - congratulations! Very moving ending.

A quiet story, masterfully drawn, from @kmelkes.bsky.social Take a listen.

Many congratulations to all 5 of our 30th Award winners— 1st Alison Powell, 2nd Joseph Randolph, 3rd Sharon Telfer & highly commended Michelle Wright & Christine H Chen selected by judge Marie Gethins, bathflashfictionaward.com

Best Microfiction 2025 arrived! What an absolute thrill to be in here. @bestmicrofiction.bsky.social

Very happy indeed to have a short story commissioned by the BBC! Broadcast 3.45pm July 11th, on Radio 4 and Sunday 13th at 11.45pm www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

I am loving Wendy Erskine's first novel, The Benefactors – it is both generous and urgent, the writing taut as you could wish but fizzing over everywhere, a river of perfectly rendered voices – tragic, comic, subversive, absolutely captivating Thank you @wednesdayerskin.bsky.social, Ansa & Sceptre

Out in six weeks… #NewRelease #PsychologicalSuspense

I've got some more contributor lists of best and favorite stories of the century (so far) coming, but instead, for this week, I put together a few stats and reflections on the second full year of Short Story, Long...

I'm gonna embarrass my friend @claudiamonpere.bsky.social by publicizing this interview, which honors her as it lifts up Flash Fiction! www.scu.edu/cas/english/... @dawnsteffler.bsky.social @smokelong.bsky.social @trampset.bsky.social @unchartedmag.bsky.social

Because it’s our 10th anniversary year, we’re giving away a new BFFA anthology to a person who can correctly guess which Ad Hoc Fiction 150 word micro winner was included in @bestmicrofiction.bsky.social Requires a bit of research! Tip look through our website archives! Bathflashfictionaward.com

Good news for short stories!

The act of reading like a writer is, arguably, as important as the act of writing itself. So I’m starting a series on Substack called Microdosing Fiction, to explore the ‘how’ of stories to support writers to hone their close analytical skills. Check it out at kmelkes.substack.com

Having WAY too much fun making playlists for my Story in a Song writing workshop in June, but would love to expand outside of my own musical taste/knowledge! Throw me your favourite songs featuring stories, characters, places, specific times & general VIIIIIBES. www.jogatford.com/workshops#st...

Some places left for our lovely festival 18-20th July in Bristol. Writers coming from all over the world. Also, we have a few special deals for low-income writers. Plus one day tickets now released. DM if interested Flashfictionfestival.com

JUST 12 HOURS TO GO, PEOPLE, THE SMOKELONG QUARTERLY AWARD FOR FLASH FICTION 2025 CLOSES IN 12 HOURS, MIDNIGHT TONIGHT SATURDAY MAY 10 SEND US YOUR BEST. $2,500 TOP PRIZE. Check out past top 3 stories we'll share today. But NOT FOR TOO LONG⌛. 2ND $1,000 3RD $500 www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...

Want to write with me in August? My #WriteBeyondTheLightbulb "Colourful Characters" course is open for bookings. Online. Work-at-your-own-pace. Pay-what-you-can pricing. Body Language | Senses | Voices | Perspective www.mattkendrick.co.uk/wbtl-colourf...

Love this from Ken Elkes. I’m always advocating that writers should write a one-sentence synopsis but this is even more honed in. Seven words to say what your story / collection is actually about. Such a great exercise in defining a story and finding narrative / thematic focus.

Latest from my Writing Talk Substack. For all those struggling a little, or a lot, with their work in progress, be it a flash fiction, short story or novel. Hyper-dististilling the essence of your draft can help you clarify and move forward. Check it out: kmelkes.substack.com

The right-wing attack on universities and the widespread use of ChatGPT to replace thinking and writing are two sides of the same relentless assault on what the Greeks called paideia: the education and development of citizens as ethical beings engaged in their communities.

The 'Writing Life' page of the Itch of Writing Tool-Kit has key posts on making money from writing, coaching for your writing self, and surviving submission blues. Find it on the Itch of Writing Substack: buff.ly/9h4YWaX

I have new work in Wigleaf. Deepest thanks to Scott Garson and the @wigleaf.bsky.social team for holding my story with such care. I wrote this piece with love for a friend and I'd be so honored if you could read it.

Registration closes on the 1st June for our brilliant live taught summer school so you’ve only got a few weeks left to register! I can’t wait to meet you all!

April spec flash roundup, featuring: @molotovlitzine.bsky.social @heartlines-spec.com @bulletpoints.bsky.social @factorfourmagazine.com @apexmag.bsky.social @metastellar.bsky.social @hexliterary.bsky.social @flashfictiononline.bsky.social +

New Flash with the lovely @lostballoon.bsky.social “In the back of the car, you show me your chest, and I show you mine. We agree that they are both concave and too much alike. We are eight years old, and we are often left to our own...” lost-balloon.com/2025/05/07/i...

From Faber the FAB Prize highlights new talent from underrepresented backgrounds with a publishing deal for the winner. Please share :)

Great conversation on great short stories the short story is the trademark of this friendly short story club. Hosts have included @sophiehaydock.bsky.social @devaneemily.bsky.social @hanakhalique.bsky.social this month it will be a pleasure to host Tom Conaghan of @scratchbooks.bsky.social

Lovely review here. With thanks to Colin Grant :)

and in the tangle of sheets you'll poke your tongue through the hole of that tooth, you'll climb through that hole like a window, so you are cushioned by the soft, hot, wet of his mouth, and you'll fall in love with the garden of his body @aniking.bsky.social in @wigleaf.bsky.social wigleaf.com

Join us!!!