Let's choose kindness in 2026. youtu.be/lopMMkz0law

There’s still space in my Hybrid Writing start pack - particularly interested in publishers who are publishing writers who leap over genre boundaries and ignore labels. Would you like to be added or do you know someone else who fits into this unboxed box?! #HybridWriting go.bsky.app/MswLLwc

Over the years of working on the book, Alice and I read so many LitHub articles by incredible writers to help inform our ideas and experiments. WE LOVE LITHUB! lithub.com/on-hybrid-wr... #HybridWriting #GenreFluidity #FormFollowsFunction #WritingCraft #NarrativeExperimentation #LiteraryForm

How wonderful to find a list of LitHub's favourite 100 books published by small presses! Something for everyone here: lithub.com/100-notable-...

Remember: It ys okaye to be lonelye. It ys okaye to feel lost. It ys okaye to be sad. It ys okaye yf nobody ys arounde. It ys okaye to have no plannes or just small plannes. It ys okaye to have big plannes that seem exhausting. It ys okaye to be a mess. Take care of thyself. Thou art amazinge.

December's Unbox Your Words writing exercise takes inspiration from @lahenion.bsky.social's wonderful book, Night Magic & interview on @mandascott.bsky.social's Accidental Gods podcast, inviting you to see what the magic of darkness does for your writing! taniahershman.substack.com/p/unbox-your...

If anyone would like to attend a twixmas workshop with me, you can find the link here, and we can consider darkness and light xx www.tickettailor.com/events/thepo...

December's Unbox Your Words writing exercise takes inspiration from @lahenion.bsky.social's wonderful book, Night Magic & interview on @mandascott.bsky.social's Accidental Gods podcast, inviting you to see what the magic of darkness does for your writing! taniahershman.substack.com/p/unbox-your...

In my latest newsletter I talk about my new love for football and how I see it as a metaphor for writing. Lovely to hear Tim Leberecht on the most recent What Is A Good Life podcast talk about how he loves football & loves it as a metaphor for life! I am not alone... :) substack.com/home/post/p-...

📣Calling writers: Gladstone’s Library is offering one funded place on The Six-Month Writing Course with @kitdewaal.com. For writers who would benefit from the course but may otherwise be unable to access it. We especially welcome those who feel marginalised within the industry. 1/3

Love this, by @michpenn.bsky.social, in the new editon of @perversemag.bsky.social: “Such an angry box, tired of being told it’s a box when it’s a sweep of matter in an unknown universe…” Yes! #UnboxYourWords

SPOTLIGHT #poetry book - The Apothecary of Flight by @janeburn.bsky.social, poems for understanding & translating the self. ‘What Jane Burn does with words, with spaces, with breath, is unlike anyone else' @taniahershman.bsky.social Now in our seasonal sale, just £7.99 ninearchespress.com/shop

So, #GameofWool is not the "Great British Knit-Off/Bee" I thought it would be, with (too) much crochet, several contestants who don't seem to have much wool experience, highly judgy judges & some truly insane challenges, with Tom as the beacon of joy. it is stressful & weirdly compelling viewing!

In my Dec newsletter I have exciting news about the audio of my new book, read by me (!), my Jan zoom workshop—which is not about writing resolutions but about Permission—& I share how watching & playing football is helping me see my writing in new ways 😊⚽ taniahershman.substack.com/p/highly-irr...

I'm on page 228 of my novel and yes I do want to finish it some day but I also don't want it to end because I love all my characters is this normal???

🥁Thrilled to share our 2026 #poetry list. Full details and tantalising glimpses into these new titles are here: ninearchespress.com/about-us/news Including books by @jennywcreative.bsky.social @betarish.bsky.social @kymdeyn.bsky.social @marymulholland.bsky.social & @jessmookherjee.bsky.social

In my Dec newsletter I have exciting news about the audio of my new book, read by me (!), my Jan zoom workshop—which is not about writing resolutions but about Permission—& I share how watching & playing football is helping me see my writing in new ways 😊⚽ taniahershman.substack.com/p/highly-irr...

Come join us this Thursday @booksupstairs.bsky.social to celebrate 20 issues and 10 years of @bansheepress.bsky.social ✨️ There'll be chats, readings and 🍷

How wonderful to find a list of LitHub's favourite 100 books published by small presses! Something for everyone here: lithub.com/100-notable-...

Ebook has stories by @vanessageb.bsky.social, @sagreene1.bsky.social, @amandaocallaghan.bsky.social, @judebrewer.com, @francesgapper.bsky.social, @sharontelfer.bsky.social @robwaltonwriter.bsky.social, winners of comps incl @bridportprize.bsky.social, @writershq.bsky.social & @mslexia.bsky.social!

Tom Stoppard's play Arcadia blew my mind when I first saw it in 1993, a vital shot of inspiration for someone who wanted to slip science into my fictions but didn't know how. Also, it made the life of a hermit seem very tempting, and that's turned out to be true. RIP, Mr Stoppard, and thank you.

So much goodness in this anthology, not least the fact that the proceeds go to help people in need. Well done, @taniahershman.bsky.social and thank you!

Ebook has stories by @vanessageb.bsky.social, @sagreene1.bsky.social, @amandaocallaghan.bsky.social, @judebrewer.com, @francesgapper.bsky.social, @sharontelfer.bsky.social @robwaltonwriter.bsky.social, winners of comps incl @bridportprize.bsky.social, @writershq.bsky.social & @mslexia.bsky.social!

I added a new section, The Palace of Cheering & Celebration, to my newsletter to celebrate good news I've been told about any piece of writing that's come out of one of my workshops or Unbox Your Words monthly prompts! If you've been on one of my workshops, send me your news, let us celebrate you 🥳

Ebook includes brilliant flash fictions by @maureenmcely.bsky.social, @sfreligh.bsky.social, @lunchontuesday.bsky.social, @emilyrinkema.bsky.social, @jaimegill.bsky.social, @sarahhilary.bsky.social, @kitdewaal.com, @jmgatford.bsky.social, @daraelerath.bsky.social and @zephyrax.bsky.social!

I just started reading FUEL and am loving it - it’s such a brilliant idea to have an anthology of prize winning flash fiction (and navigable by a list of first lines!), and even better that profits go to fuel poverty charities - check it out! 👇✨

Today is #FuelPovertyAwarenessDay so why not pick up a copy of the FUEL anthology of prizewinning flash fictions - it's a great read and profits go to four #fuelpoverty charities, including @nea.org.uk. The brand new ebook has 75+12 bonus stories = 87 flash stories! Buy here: www.fuelflash.net

This includes the winning story from this year's #WelkinWritingPrize and is full of so many other gems. A brilliant cause as well. Do support if you can 👇

Yes!

What a great gift (to give or receive). Thanks @taniahershman.bsky.social for the work that went into this collection and for the donations it provides. And thanks for including my story “Next Exit” in the digital version!

Today is our #FuelPovertyAwarenessDay. Our figures show that six million children across the UK are growing up in cold homes. Please support our day by sharing how people in your area can get support to stay warm and healthy this winter.

Ebook includes brilliant flash fictions by @maureenmcely.bsky.social, @sfreligh.bsky.social, @lunchontuesday.bsky.social, @emilyrinkema.bsky.social, @jaimegill.bsky.social, @sarahhilary.bsky.social, @kitdewaal.com, @jmgatford.bsky.social, @daraelerath.bsky.social and @zephyrax.bsky.social!

Today is #FuelPovertyAwarenessDay so why not pick up a copy of the FUEL anthology of prizewinning flash fictions - it's a great read and profits go to four #fuelpoverty charities, including @nea.org.uk. The brand new ebook has 75+12 bonus stories = 87 flash stories! Buy here: www.fuelflash.net

🎛️🥳 Happy Delia Derbyshire 🥳🎛️ lots of stuff on our website! deliaderbyshireday.com/dd-day-2025-...

Aaargh - temporary fault during the MOST thrilling Chelsea v Barcelona Women’s Champions League match - is it the FA from 1921 calling to say “The women are too good, shut it down!”

It’s rare that I learn something in the first minute of a podcast & then by the end am awestruck. I suspect I will run a writing workshop at some point (at night!) inspired by @lahenion.bsky.social's book. Thank you, @mandascott.bsky.social - listen here: accidentalgods.life/the-magic-of...

Really enjoying this hybrid 'chronomemoir' by the ever-inspiring @taniahershman.bsky.social ⏰🔥🤩

It’s rare that I learn something in the first minute of a podcast & then by the end am awestruck. I suspect I will run a writing workshop at some point (at night!) inspired by @lahenion.bsky.social's book. Thank you, @mandascott.bsky.social - listen here: accidentalgods.life/the-magic-of...

Only a few days left to enter the Cafe Writers poetry competition. Our sole judge is Jessica Mookherjee. First prize is £1000 and there are other prizes too. #poetry www.cafewriters.co.uk/home/poetry-...

What a fabulous @allusionistshow.bsky.social episode, where @suchmayer.bsky.social and @helenzaltzman.bsky.social talk candidly about language, about queerness, about permission & the magic of naming things - some of my favourite topics. Very much looking forward to reading your new book, So!

Northumbria Uni PhD scholarship applications open NOW tinyurl.com/yc27frzv I want to supervise imaginative, critically curious researchers ready to push the boundaries of their creative practice. My specialisms are poetry and experimental writing. Drop me an email: [email protected]

Urgent business in my in-tray.

“They went for pensioners, they went for the disabled, and now they’re going for people fleeing war and conflict. I am furious — this government should hang their heads in shame.” Zack Polanski on Labour’s new immigration reforms on Newsnight.

Honoured to be this year's @bridportprize.bsky.social flash fiction judge! Send me your word-shapes of 250 words & under, the pieces you think only you might love, that might be “too strange” or “not quite enough…” There are no rules! bridportprize.org.uk/the-competit... #flashfiction

Honoured to be this year's @bridportprize.bsky.social flash fiction judge! Send me your word-shapes of 250 words & under, the pieces you think only you might love, that might be “too strange” or “not quite enough…” There are no rules! bridportprize.org.uk/the-competit... #flashfiction

What a fabulous @allusionistshow.bsky.social episode, where @suchmayer.bsky.social and @helenzaltzman.bsky.social talk candidly about language, about queerness, about permission & the magic of naming things - some of my favourite topics. Very much looking forward to reading your new book, So!

Last call! Looking to clear some much needed shelf space? Trade your pre-loved books and earn Bookshop.org store credit! Use code BOOKSHOP25 on Bookloop to get a 15% trade boost before midnight tonight! bookloop.webuybooks.co.uk

My Unbox Your Words posts are for anyone writing in any shape - fictions, poems, non-fic, hybrids - to encourage you to go beyond labels & genres & write what you want in the way you want to write it! And this month, the inspiration is Aunt Energy ☺️ taniahershman.substack.com/p/unbox-your...

In this month's Unbox Your Words writing prompt & exercise, we're celebrating... aunts! If you're not a subscriber and £3.50/month is a struggle, you can subscribe for free - so why not try it & inject some auntie energy in your writing! taniahershman.substack.com/p/unbox-your... #amwriting

We are very excited to reveal our guest editor & theme for our 2026 anthology! Submissions open on 1 Dec & close on 15 Feb 2026. Our microfiction comp judges will be announced next week! www.nationalflashfictionday.co.uk/index.php/an...