Haven't been Blueskying enough lately but was inspired to pop in to say I just read an incredibly brilliant piece on @fracturedlit.bsky.social by Sage Tyrtle. The use of surreal combined with all-too-frightening reality is uncanny and stunning. fracturedlit.com/the-billiona...

My wife and I just had a conversation about how we forgot to buy cereal at the grocery store yesterday despite talking about it and making sure we wrote it on the list before we remembered that we did indeed drive to the grocery store yesterday, but left when we saw how packed the parking lot was.

Jane Austen used 'however' at the beginning of a sentence, and so can you.

I think it’s safe to say my book of the year was “House on the Cerulean Sea.” I walked into an Indigo and said, “I want something magical, wholesome, and gay” and the employee delivered. In trying times, it’s nice to read something beautiful.

Come hang out with some novella-in-flash writers including me!

Always happy to be in any group with the brilliant and lovely Cole Beauchamp! Thanks to @bathflashaward.bsky.social for the nomination!

Writer’s block? Can’t finish a manuscript? Just need the support of a like minded group of writers? Join our Sapphic Writing Academy! We’re taking applications for the 2026-2027 classes, and we have have scholarships! Check our link in the comments. #sapphicwritingprograms #gclswa

I said it before, will say it again -- generative AI fetishizes "ideas" while sneering at effort, execution, and education. That, despite Gen-AI being built on and out of other people's effort, execution and education.

My wife and I are rewatching the Great British Bakeoff as a comfort thing and it reminds me of the versatility of “Cheers” as it sees to be a greeting, a goodbye, an acknowledgement of agreement, and sometimes, a fuck off. Definitely more useful than our “eh?”

Would love to see some folks here!

Home from my long stretch of travel and teaching. Loved being co-writer-in-residence with my bestie @abuckleyauthor.bsky.social at the AWCS cozy winter retreat. Taught a 3 day in person novella-in-flash class. Bet we see some incredible NIFs in the next couple of years!

Besties! So happy to have made the longlist!

Word of mouth is important to a book's success. So, if you'd like to see the authors who wrote your favourite stories commissioned to write more, please keep talking about all the #books you love.

Absolutely loved this book “Straight Acting: The Hidden Queer Lives of William Shakespeare” by Will Tosh. Combined research with fanciful storytelling and made for a really entertaining read.

I’ll be here! Hanging out as a participant in the October one and teaching a class on Emotional resonance in flash fiction in November.

Me today: I should really work on this because it's due, but I'm going to work on this because it's easier and I'll get an endorphin rush from crossing it off my list

I DID A THING! I bought plane tickets to Germany. I’ve never been - I’m going by myself but I’ll end up in Leipzig for a writing retreat. Thank you @offtopicpublishing.bsky.social for hosting something so cool.

Happy that my flash fiction piece, "A Map of Unmitigated Fatness" has been accepted for the Flash Fiction Festival Anthology. It's been a bit of a flash dry spell during this time of getting my novel ready for submission so it feels good to have a win with a place I love so much.

Okay, Matt Kendrick compiling where you can find excellent flash fiction classes is the gift we didn't know we needed.

My wife and I are so heart-ready for another cat or dog (or both!) but we have so much upcoming travel. In the meantime, I love all of you posting pictures of your pets.

I love to celebrate the joys of my writing community even when I feel like I’ve had a no-win week. But my small joy this week is that I managed to write about 1,000 words on my novel. For many of you, that’s nothing, but for me, it’s a huge win. What are your wins this week?

Just read a great piece on rejection by @sagetyrtle.bsky.social -one of my all-time favourite writers. A reminder that what we see on the outside isn’t always the full truth. Writing community is so important because talking to others about their struggles *and* joys can change our own self-doubt.

If you struggle at all with feeling like a “real writer” because of rejection, please read this piece!

Me in June: That's a September problem. Me in July: That's a September problem. Me all month this month: That's a September problem. Me today: Shit.

Would kiss him so much!

Folks, When Words Collide was incredible. Filled my heart and my little writer soul. If you are looking for an excellent conference to go to in August 2026, this is the one!

Flash Fiction, Craft Tips, & Writerly Stuff All in One Place Hey besties. After a lot of thought and too much Yorkshire tea (yes, I keep mentioning them in every post and at some point they're going to start sending me free tea), I’ve decided to move all my blog-style content, sneak peeks, and…

Hard to believe I've barely recovered from our UK trip and I'm off to Calgary in less than a week for When Words Collide. I *think* I'm ready. Keynote written and practiced, class slidedecks all prepped. Packing list made. It's way to early to feel ready, I must be missing something.

I’m sure some people who automatically instant message me when I follow them back are not scammers but probably most are.

Cannot wait to present at this festival along with one of my favourite writers, even though @premeemohamed.com does not fully honour the royalty of sir Fiascocat.

My #ShamelessPromo for #SpoonieAuthChat is the upcoming release of Speculative Shorts: Stories that fell out of my brain! Foreword by Derek Newman-Stille with blurbs from @kateheartfield.com, @finnwritesstuff.bsky.social, @jamiesonwolf.bsky.social, and @diannalgunn.bsky.social!

Me with my sweet wife in Pitlochry Scotland

Ahhh love this!

Last workshop of the whole festival - here with the lovely instructor Michael Loveday to talk about the novella-in-flash.

Just gave a class on emotional resonance in flash - the participants loved the excellent stories by @sgscarso.bsky.social and @sharontelfer.bsky.social we analyzed in class.

ICYMI: writer and advocate @finnwritesstuff.bsky.social asked me Five Questions about being an activist artist, libretto-writing, and much more! Read it all at finallyfinnian.com/2025/04/07/f....

Excited to have met Malina at the flash festival!

📝 Mark your calendars for August 9 and 10, 2025! TRF author @finnwritesstuff.bsky.social will be joining the #OffTopicWritingConference, an exciting online event for writers of all genres and stages. 🎟️ Get your tickets at www.offtopicpublishing.com/conference

Am having a blast at the flash fiction festival!

I loved getting to take part in this fun interview!

Staring into space while one word flits through your brain for like two full weeks.

So excited for this issue of Pulp Literature! I mean, I'm always excited for every issue, but this time, my talented wife @augustvstralen.bsky.social is on the cover!

Y'all - I'm so excited to be part of this reading show!

Five Questions with Murgatroyd Monaghan Welcome to Five Questions With—An interview series where I talk with some of my favourite writers, publishers, agents, and other industry folks. This week I'm talking with Murgatroyd Monaghan about the politics of erasure, what it means to write…

Heyyyy. I get to read with some of my favourite flash fiction writers! Come check us out. :)

I'm excited I got invited to submit a chapter for an academic book, but realized I was a little rusty in sounding erudite and academic. Had to stretch my brain cells a bit but I think I came up with a solid abstract. Now back to writing about space pirates. :)

Tell me why my darling wife @augustvstralen.bsky.social walked out the door today to go to her parents (where she will be gone ALL DAY!) and said, "Those nectarines need to be eaten today," while gesturing at the bowl of *eight* nectarines on the counter.

I've been "working" on an article for Writer's Digest for about a week now. So far, I have the intro and something about Ryan Reynolds' socks. It's relevant, I promise. Can you believe there are people out there who can just sit down and write something and be done with it?

Five Question with Tasneem Alam. World building, werewolves, and marketing, oh my. :) finallyfinnian.com/2025/06/16/f...

If you only follow one writer, follow Matt. His mailing lists are super helpful and he offers so many free resources.