Reader comment on last Monday's short story: "This is fascinating and terrifying all in one story. This is the logical extension of the fever dreams of the Peter Thiel, David Sacks, Elon Musk, and more." www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/2026/02/the-...

Watched The Guilty. Danish thriller set entirely in one room about a cop temporarily assigned to answer emergency calls, and getting far too involved in a case of abduction. The main character wasn't so likeable, but there was a great twist at the end - the story lingered in my mind.

In last Friday's story, a ballerina is usurped by a youth with preternatural ability. "This is amazing! As a ballet teacher, I'm obsessed with everything about this!" "I knew ballet was brutal but not go-onto-the-point-of-your-toes-until-you-bleed brutal." www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/2026/01/by-n...

Reader comments on last Wednesday's Fiction on the Web short story: "a quirky, clever, poignant story about expectations and misguided good will"; "I truly appreciated the dual narration." www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/2026/01/the-...

Kathy Steinemann published an interview with Iranian writer Sam Kandej: kathysteinemann.com/Musings/kath... - and Canadian writer Mitchell Toews also had a conversation with Sam Kandej: mitchellaneous.com/2026/02/04/b...

Rewatched Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. So joyful and funny and full of energy. Three sexually empowered women travel to Hollywood and are taken under the wing of a kinky music promoter, before falling prey to ego, jealousy, and corruption. Written by the famous critic Roger Ebert.

Watched The 10th Victim. Before Hunger Games, before Battle Royale, before Running Man, before Logan's Run, there was this wacky sexy Italian movie about legalised violence as urge-relief and entertainment. It even has Ursula Andress wearing bra-guns à la Austin Powers. Could not be more 60s.

Watched Arlington Road. Slow-burn tense thriller about a history professor who comes to suspect his neighbour is involved in a domestic terrorism plot. I did not see the twist coming at the end. Afterwards, fell down a Wikipedia hole reading about Ruby Ridge and Waco. Too many damn guns in the USA.

Fiction on the Web recommends Priya Rohella: Creative Writing Freelancer specialising in editing fiction (chapters, short stories, and novel drafts). "Everyone has a story in them… is it time to write yours?" priyarohellacreativeportfolio.my.canva.site/priya-rohell...

My February newsletter for Fiction on the Web patrons includes an inspirational video, a letter about Death by Scrabble, mini-reviews, and more. I've made it free for anyone to read. www.patreon.com/posts/februa...

Watched Spotlight - about how investigative journalists uncovered the extent to which the Catholic Church enabled paedophilic priests. Such an important story - both because it shows we must resist institutional abuses of power, and highlights the value of rigorous truth-based journalism.

Watched both Lolitas. The Kubrick one was quite slow. Some nice set pieces. Weird that the actors spoke over each other, despite the rest of the style not being naturalistic at all. The Lyne one was funnier and much more uncomfortable - so, for me, better captures the puckish spirit of the novel.

Saw No Other Choice at the cinema. An out-of-work paper maker murders his way back into a job. The movie argues capitalism, turbocharged by AI, will reward the people most prepared to sacrifice their humanity in their own interests. A very dense and twisty plot, as is typical of Park Chan-wook. Fun.

People moan about NHS spending, but it is incredibly cost efficient. The USA spends THREE TIMES what the UK spends per person on healthcare - and yet in the USA healthcare is not free at the point of service, and access to healthcare in the USA is much less evenly distributed.

Don't remember where I found this, but it's cool.

In Fresno, 1978, Julie faces sexism when she applies to be an Emergency Medical Technician. Here's what readers thought: "I really enjoyed the fleshed-out main character" "Inspiring story. Seems very true to life, and relevant to today's troubled times." www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/2026/01/long...

It's now been more than 10 years since I made this video to launch Fiction on the Web's Patreon page. You can still support Fiction on the Web by pledging a small monthly donation on Patreon! vimeo.com/128496000

Does anyone out there still print photographs? We made a photo yearbook every year from about 2007 to 2018, and now I'm trying to do the years since then. It's a big task, made even bigger because I keep stopping to show my family the old photos!

Readers had a strong reaction to last Friday's story: "DJ, you made me cry hard! Are you happy now? Are ya happy? You made me cry, and now I can't stop it! Excellent, bitter story. I won't forgive you, DJ Chernovsky. You broke my heart. 😟 " www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/2026/01/just...

Whirlwind Tour of Lit Mags [04:00-08:10] Charlie bombards you with the sheer diversity of what's out there: mags from Florida to Singapore, genres from noir crime to chicken poetry, dedicated to everyone from veterans to trans artists of color. community.flashfictionmagazine.com/c/video-repl...

my short story 'The Alchemical Method of Terraforming' was published in @charliefish.bsky.social's Fiction on The Web this month! www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/2025/10/the-...

My short story collection doesn't have a theme, because it's a "greatest hits" from 20 years of writing. Every other story (more or less) is comedy, and the rest are a mixed bag: sci-fi, horror, crime, literary, historical fiction. www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/p/best-of.html

At Fiction on the Web, you can read stories from all over the world. www.fictionontheweb.co.uk

Watched The Great Dictator. Charlie Chaplin plays both Hilter-adjacent dictator and persecuted Jew. Makes fun of the capriciousness of ego-driven tyrants. A fascinating response to the political climate of 1940, and relevant again today. Great comic scenes; some weird pacing by today's standards.

Seven Secrets of Publishing Short Stories: I poured everything I know about how to get your short stories published into this presentation. community.flashfictionmagazine.com/c/video-repl...

The Fiction on the Web critique service is now six months old. We started this service with the aim of helping writers strengthen their short-form work for publication. Submit today: www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/p/critique-s...

Reader comments from last Wednesday's short story: "Intricate and consuming. I took a semester of Medieval Literature, happily, so I felt at ease with a knight’s lonely quest." "Haunting in the best way." www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/2026/01/amie...

You can watch a recording of the presentation I did, designed to inspire you about the diversity of literary magazines that exist out there in the world - and why that matters - and to tell you about the FISH list of lively indie literary magazines. community.flashfictionmagazine.com/c/video-repl...

I read Glory Road by Robert A Heinlein. A soldier gets recruited by a god-like woman to battle aliens. I really enjoyed this one, particularly the postulations about how the commoditisation of sexuality is responsible for much of what is wrong with our society. Good ending, too.

Saw Marty Supreme. Set in the 50s (with an 80s soundtrack?!); ping pong genius goes to extreme lengths to raise cash for his next big tournament. Entertaining, messy, unexpected, rollercoaster of a movie. I don't think it deserves Best Picture - but maybe Best Actor for Chalamet?

My new sci-fi short story, "The Wanderer," will be published by @charliefish.bsky.social on March 25th, 2026 in Fiction on the Web! I'll post the link when that day comes. For now, here's a link to FotW's vast collection of free short fiction: www.fictionontheweb.co.uk

Last Monday's very weird story: "Shae has written an interesting, intriguing & confounding piece of fiction that could have one of many meanings"; "Wonderful story. I was quite moved by its dream-state nature and the light tone embedded in the seriousness." www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/2026/01/do-n...

A literary magazine mag is where: - New voices speak before they are known - Established writers take risks they can’t take elsewhere - Forms bend, hybridize, and occasionally break - Readers encounter work they didn’t already agree with

The FISH list’s a wishlist of platforms that publish Your poems and stories and art and weird mash-ups It lists all the lit mags from smallest to biggish But only the indies that stress love not cash-ups www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/p/fish-list....

Reader comments on The Alchemical Method of Terraforming by Jules Bly: "What a wonderful richly textured world!" "This story's another good example of worldbuilding done right." www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/2025/10/the-...

I don't feel like 2025 was a particularly strong year for film. Which Best Picture nominee do you think deserves the Oscar?

My local cinema is also my local library. It's got a cafe and a hireable function room in it too. I absolutely love that building. Heart and soul of my neighbourhood. www.picturehouses.com/cinema/west-...

Really good value critique service for your short stories up to 8,000 words: www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/p/critique-s... "I've paid more for a less detailed critique."

Last chance to pre-register for the Zoom presentation I'm doing about the inspirational world of literary magazines! Today at 5pm GMT / 12pm EST / 9am PST: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Consider becoming a Patron of the Literary Arts by supporting Fiction on the Web on Patreon: www.patreon.com/charliefish

Watched The Fisher King. Jeff Bridges plays the 90s version of a manosphere influencer, whose relationship with a traumatised homeless man (Robin Williams) sends him on a redemption arc. Navigates some very difficult issues with a comic tone that avoids feeling exploitative or too sentimental.

In this presentation, I’m going to 1. inspire you by showing you the range of literary magazines that exist out there in the world, and why that matters. 2. tell you all about the FISH list. Sat Jan 24, 2026 - 5pm GMT / 12pm EST / 9am PST: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

We're promoting authors' stories at Fiction on the Web's insta account now! www.instagram.com/fictiononthe...

Thanks to @charliefish.bsky.social for accepting my story "Bloods Runs Thicker Than Truth" for publication! I'll post the link when the story goes live in Feb but meantime check out other good work here #writingcommunity

Just seen The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy immersive musical theatre show at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. A wonderful homage that recasts the tale as a cosmic love story and search for meaning. I'm heartened that Douglas Adams' work continues to be explored and resonate 45 years on.

In a world where diabolical billionaires conspire to keep us addicted to content, where we become obsessed with virality, literary magazines are lighthouses. Lovingly created & curated beacons of freedom. Lit mags don’t shout, they demand intentionality. Reading one is the opposite of doomscrolling.

Despite their policy, @eBay don't care about selling counterfeits. I bought a game on eBay that claimed to be genuine but was a counterfeit copy. I reported it to eBay with a bunch of evidence (inc these pics), eBay rejected my report with no explanation. They don't care!

Me posing for a slightly awkward "I read literary magazines" pic.

Register now for my presentation about why I find literary magazines so inspiring. Sat Jan 24, 2026 - 5pm GMT / 12pm EST / 9am PST: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

In Wednesday's story, 13-year-old Noah has been watching incel videos, and his uncle isn't sure about how to talk with him about it. Reader comment: "The kid is a carbon of so many kids…but not a cliche. I love the unconventional resolution. Terrific!" www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/2026/01/see-...