I'm pleased to say that Daft Definitions has hit the number one spot on Amazon UK in the “Vocabulary, Slang & Word Lists eBooks” category 🎉 We have an Amazon bestseller on our hands 🍾 All proceeds support SCCCC ❤️ Huge thanks to everyone who has bought the book!

In ✍️ newsletter #46: more writing comps & publishing opportunities + workshop dates for November (LATER TODAY!) & December 🎉 If you're interested in subscribing please visit: www.christopherfielden.com/short-story-...

I'm proud to announce that Daft Definitions Volume 1 🤪 a humorous dictionary supporting the Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care charity (SCCCC), is out today 🎉 You can learn how to buy the book and support an amazing charity here - www.christopherfielden.com/books/daft-d...

New book in the house 📖 Daft Defintitions is being published on Friday 🎉 It's a dictionary filled with amusing definitions for everyday, obscure & fictional words. Proceeds from book sales support @sheffield4c, an amazing UK charity. More news on Friday 👀

A date for your diaries 📖 Our next event – Talking Tales #40 – is taking place on Thursday 26th February 2026 at The Robin Hood 🎉 Optional theme: "Hibernation" 💤 Hosted by: @markrutterford.bsky.social 💟 Hope to see you all there 🗣️🎤

My November ✍️ newsletter contains details of 9 new writing competitions & other publishing opportunities, a micro fiction workshop, FanStory interview, charity dictionary and lots of lovely writing news 🎉 mailchi.mp/christopherf...

In ✍️ newsletter #45: a new exclusive publishing resource, more writing comps & publishing opportunities + meeting dates for November & December 🎉 If you're interested in subscribing please visit: www.christopherfielden.com/short-story-...

The Letter Review Prizes ✍️ Open until 29 Dec. 4 categories: 1) Nonfiction: 5,000 words $20 entry $333 prize 2) Poetry: 70 lines $15 entry $333 prize 3) Short Fiction: 5,000 words $20 entry $333 prize 4) Prize for Books: 5,000 words $25 entry $333 prize letterreview.com/information/

The third and final set of pics (PART 2) from October's Talking Tales – 8 more AWESOME performers 🎉 Huge thanks to everyone for their inspiring performances ❤️ Subs for our next event, in February, will be opening soon ✍️

The third and final set of pics (PART 1) from October's Talking Tales – 8 more AWESOME performers 🎉 Huge thanks to everyone for their inspiring performances ❤️ Subs for our next event, in February, will be opening soon ✍️

In ✍️ newsletter #44: a writing prompt, writing comps & publishing opportunities, resource news + meeting dates for November & December 🎉 If you're interested in subscribing please visit: www.christopherfielden.com/writing-news...

The @notquitewrite.com prize for #flashfiction is a quarterly #writingcompetition ✍️ 2026 dates: Jan 23-25, Apr 24-26, Jul 24-26 & Oct 23-25. 500 words. AU$35 entry. AU$1,500 top prize 🎉 Shortlist published in anthology and read on podcast. notquitewritepodcast.com/prize/ref/ch...

Anyone wanting to learn more about short story writing, from initial ideas to submitting for publication, then take a look at this online Masterclass on December 9. luma.com/czorgssu

The second set of pics (PART 2) from October's Talking Tales – 8 more FANTABULOUS performers 🎉 Huge thanks to everyone for their inspiring performances ❤️ One more set of pics to come 👀

The second set of pics (PART 1) from October's Talking Tales – 8 more FANTABULOUS performers 🎉 Huge thanks to everyone for their inspiring performances ❤️ One more set of pics to come 👀 keep your eyes peeled

The Wolverhampton Literature Festival #PoetryCompetition (run via the Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists website) is open for entries until 31st December 2025. 40-lines max. £4 entry fee. £400 top prize. Winners might be published online. pandemonialists.co.uk/wolves-lit-f...

In ✍️ newsletter #43: lots of writing comps & publishing opportunities, a free author presentation + meeting dates for November & December 🎉 If you're interested in subscribing please visit: www.christopherfielden.com/short-story-...

The Bristol School of Writing has a call for subs for its 2nd #shortstorycollection. Open to writers from SW England. Deadline 1st Feb 2026. Theme, fear: fiction, poetry & memoir. 3,000 words max. No submission fee. All published authors receive an eBook. thebristolschoolofwriting.co.uk/submissions/

We never agree on countdowns. To keep the peace, everyone's method is getting a turn this time. So there are "7 days" left to enter #TheMikey, not counting today or the deadline day*. Ends midnight ET Nov. 15. *this is obviously not how countdowns work but someone made a chart and here we all are

The first 8 pics (PART 2) of AMAZING readers from last week's Talking Tales 🎉 Huge thanks to everyone for their fantastic performances ❤️ More pics from the event coming soon... 👀

The @elegantliterature.bsky.social November Short Story Competition is open for entries. The theme this month is “Lasting Legacy”. Closes 30th November 2025. 2,000 words max. $10 to enter. Top prize is $3,000 + 10c per word and publication. www.elegantliterature.com?aff=ChrisFie...

RushmoorWriters turn 75 in November. To celebrate, Helen Callaghan, author of "Dear Amy", is speaking at an event on Wednesday 12th Nov at 7.30pm. The meeting is free to attend. If you're interested, please contact JaneSleight at [email protected]

Ready for 70s noise in Watchet 🕺

In ✍️ newsletter #42: a new book to download in the resource area, more writing comps & publishing opportunities, an interview + meeting dates 🎉 If you're interested in subscribing please visit: www.christopherfielden.com/short-story-...

Happy Hulloween 🎃 I'm pleased to announce that the To Hull And Back Short Story Anthology 2025 has been published today in print and eBook formats 🎉 www.christopherfielden.com/books/to-hul...

A pic of the Talking Tales 39 crew from last night - huge thanks to all the amazing readers, it was a fabulous evening 🎉 More pics of the readers coming soon 👀 The next Talking Tales is being held on 26th Feb 2026, hosted by @markrutterford.bsky.social ❤️ Oh, and Happy Halloween 🎃

A nice jazz hands pic 🤗 and a couple of other group shots of tribe SCW at Talking Tales 8 at the Bath Fringe Festival 2016

London Fog Literary is a new UK-based online #literarymagazine currently accepting subs for their 1st edition. 1,000 words min, 3,000 max. Free to submit. No payment (yet – they hope to pay in the future). Successful subs are published in the magazine. londonfoglit.com

Blast from the past! Looking forward to Talking Tales on Thursday. 7pm at The Robin Hood pub, free entry. I'll probably dress a little spooky for Halloween! 🎃

A pic of the current SCWers @melciavucco.bsky.social, @markrutterford.bsky.social and me taken at the third talking tales at LeftBank in Bristol back in 2015. How young we all look 👀 If you come to TT39 on Thursday, you can see how wonderfully we have aged 😊🍷

The Classical Association Verse & Voice Competition closes 27th Feb 2026. 3 categories: junior (11 & under) senior (12-18) open (19+). 1,000 words max for verse (poetry), 8 mins for spoken word. Free entry. Cash prizes. Winners published online / via podcast. classicalassociation.org/verse-and-vo...

In ✍️ newsletter #41: a new spooky writing prompt 🎃 lots of new writing comps & publishing opportunities + a December meeting date change 🎉 If you're interested in subscribing please visit: www.christopherfielden.com/short-story-...

Last week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Tom Ens, the founder of FanStory, a US-based online writing community established in 2000 that offer writing feedback, writing competitions and much more ✍️ You can see the short interview on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTMl...

The Marlowe & Christie Novel Prize is open for entries until 5th January 2026. Submit the opening 3,000 words of your novel. £24 entry fee (early-bird fee of £19 available until 5th November). £1,200 top prize. Winners receive feedback from agents, editors and authors. www.marloweandchristie.com

A pic of the SCW members taken at the first ever Talking Tales way back in April 2015 ❤ The 39th TT is taking place next week – still going strong, 10 years on 💪

Story Unlikely’s #shortstorycontest is open until 14th Jan 2026. 7,000 words max, 10,000 for members. Free to enter. $3,000 first place. Winners published in the monthly issue, and all will be illustrated by real, professional, human artists. www.storyunlikely.com#contest

My October ✍️ newsletter contains details of 9 new writing competitions & other publishing opportunities, a micro fiction workshop, publisher interview, charity dictionary, To Hull And Back update and lots of other lovely writing news 🎉 mailchi.mp/christopherf...

In ✍️ newsletter #40: an interview with Tom Ens founder of FanStory, November & December meeting dates + lots of new writing comps & publishing opportunities 🎉 If you're interested in subscribing please visit: www.christopherfielden.com/short-story-...

The 2025/26 Never Such Innocence writing competition is open until 27th Feb 2026. For young writers aged 9 to 18. Theme: “In Someone Else’s Shoes”. They accept poetry, art and songs. Free to enter. Winners are published in a digital booklet. www.neversuchinnocence.com/2025-26-comp...

On Sat 29th Nov, Allen Ashley and I are running a workshop titled "Micro Fiction is the New Rock ‘n’ Roll" ✍️ Limited places available 👀 Learn about #microfiction, focusing on lengths of 6, 10, 25 and 100 words. Tell it slant? Nah, tell it short! buy.stripe.com/fZu4gA95C0gv...

To Hull And Back anthologies in the house 🏍️ Release date 31st Oct (Hulloween) 🎃 Launch party on 30th Oct with #TalkingTales at The Robin Hood in Bristol 🎉 Reading slots still available 🗣️ Contact me or SCW if you're interested 🎤

In ✍️ newsletter #39: new writing comps & publishing opportunities + To Hull And Back update + meeting dates + Bartz v. Anthropic AI update 🎉 If you're interested in subscribing please visit: www.christopherfielden.com/short-story-...

The Inkspot Publishing #shortstorycompetition is open until 30th Nov ✍️ 5,000 words max. £10 entry fee up to 2,500 words, £15 up to 5,000. £1,000 top prize. Authors of 12 winning stories featured on Fiction Junkies. Top 3 stories published online 🎉 inkspotpublishing.com/competition/...

The Do Wha(TS) Write ✍️ #shortfictioncompetition is open for entries 31st December 2025. 1,000 words max. $5 entry fee. $200 top prize. The winning story is published online. All contest proceeds are donated to charity Tourette Canada dowhatswrite.com/rules

The @elegantliterature.bsky.social October #shortstorycompetition is open for entries. is open for entries ✍️ The theme this month is “Charmed & Chained”. Closes 31st October 2025. 2,000 words max. $10 to enter. Top prize is $3,000 + 10c per word and publication. www.elegantliterature.com/contest/

In ✍️ newsletter #38: lots of new writing comps & publishing opportunities + To Hull And Back winners + meeting dates for October + November 🎉 If you're interested in subscribing please visit: www.christopherfielden.com/short-story-...

Last week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Catherine Evans, co-founder of Inkspot Publishing, a UK independent publisher founded in 2022 on the premise of free speech for authors ✍️ You can see the short interview on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB2f...

The Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Festival #poetrycompetition is open for entries until 4th January 2026. The theme is “In the Garden”. 30 lines max. £4 entry, free for under 18s. £300 top prize. All the winning and shortlisted poems are published in a pamphlet. www.sheptonsnowdrops.org.uk/competitions/

I'm pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 To Hull And Back humorous short story competition, and details of the anthology book launch 🎉 You can find all the details in my latest newsletter: mailchi.mp/christopherf...

Tadpole Press ✍️ 1) Micro Podcast Collaboration: 100 words, $15 entry, $1000 prize. Closes 30 Sep. 2) Parrot Moon Community Write-In: free 30-minute workshop. 3) Mini Moon Contest: closes 8th Oct. 50 words max. $5 entry. $50 prize. Runs monthly. www.tadpolepress.com