It's just me, waxing lyrical about flash fiction, my favourite books, and what I love in a micro, ahead of this year's #nffd micro competition. Have a read, and think about sending something our way (you have 2 weeks!) 👇.

Oh my giddy aunt, don’t these look grand! The Lightning by @jamesgwriter.bsky.social - Proofs have arrived at Moose Towers. @irishtimes.com @belfasttelegraph.co.uk @belfastlive.co.uk Marvelous

Today's shortlisted story is "Pattern" by David Anson Lee. A micro that uses anadiplosis to such great effect: www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...

Hi my spooky sapphic Victorian Murder Mystery is "absolute perfection" "hugely enjoyable" Can two female con artists stop an MP murdering his wife? #WomenSleuths #booksky #indieauthor

Still time to sign up for the January session next week - come and read some brilliant stories by @devaneemily.bsky.social with us! #BitesizedBookClub #FlashFiction #Reading

Absolutely! It's a good time to get those ideas on the page... We can't wait to see what you've got for us :).

Thanks to John Lavin at @thelonelycrowd.bsky.social for inviting me to share just *some* of my favourite reads from this year. I stuck to fiction, but it wasn't easy - I've read some wonderful books this year! Here are three that wouldn't let go... 📚

The news is out! And I'm in very good company. We can't wait to read your micro entries! Next year's #nffd competition opens soon. 👇

Only gone and bagged 3rd in this brilliant comp 🙌🫡😚. 2nd and 1st were obvious wowers, naturellement. And I think it’s something akin to squishy having your story read by pros. Classy people, you @failingwriters.bsky.social

Many congratulations to our winners! 5 brilliant stories selected by @kazbarwrites.bsky.social 1st Adam Brannigan, 2nd @emilyrinkema.bsky.social 3rd @debdanthewriter.bsky.social Highly commended @dawnsteffler.bsky.social All stories published bathflashfictionaward.com

The Longlist is out, as chosen by the readers... Congratulations everyone!! An incredible selection! 🔥🔥🔥

This will no doubt be brilliant. @devaneemily.bsky.social is a wonderful writer and a wonderful teacher 👇

For those across the Atlantic, a better value and probably more enjoyable than dinner out :)

Last chance to sign up!

Later today, I'll be talking specificity in this online workshop for the fine folk at Smokelong Quarterly @smokelong.bsky.social. It's not too late to join me 👇 www.smokelong.com/product/the-...

Please tell all your emerging-writer friends! Deadline December 15th! The SmokeLong Emerging Writer Fellowship Jan-June 2026! www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...

We are delighted to reveal the #BookerPrize2025 shortlist – six books that ‘are all brilliantly written and brilliantly human’. ➡️ Discover the full list: thebookerprizes.com/bp2025

VERY excited to be joining forces with lovely and brilliant writer @devaneemily.bsky.social to host a writing workshop in our beautiful home town of #Ilkley! Join us on Saturday 8 November for Write Away: a morning of practical writing advice and inspiration 👉 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/write-away...

Exciting news! I'm delighted to be joining forces with talented & lovely screenwriter Andrea Mann @andreamann.bsky.social) on this new venture. On Saturday, 8 November, we'll be hosting Write Away, a mini writing retreat here in beautiful Ilkley: 3 dedicated hours for you and your writing! 👇

This month's round-up of freelance / indy workshops, courses and events, featuring brilliant-sounding stuff from @stillsquirrel.bsky.social @taniahershman.bsky.social @pleomorphic2.bsky.social @retreatwest.bsky.social @laurabesley.bsky.social... fromthecoursesmouth.substack.com/p/sept-oct-2...

Come, get peculiarly specific with me in this online webinar with @smokelong.bsky.social, 27 September (1pm NYC/6pm GMT) 👇

'Irvine Welsh among literature festival's stars' BBC Online 🤩 @irvinewelsh.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Our short story prize is open for submissions again! Please share this widely - and please send us your stories: www.galleybeggar.co.uk/prize Closing date 8 November!

A very flash review: Sara Hills, The Evolution of Birds, published by @adhocfiction.bsky.social @sarahillswrites.bsky.social

Writing is exhausting.

A few FlashFicFest @flashficfestuk.bsky.social pics. Thanks, Jude & team, for a brilliant weekend. So much hard work went into it. Loved the workshops & panels, the impromptu walks & chats, the laughs, the tears, the hmmmmm-ing, the ⚡️⚡️ earrings, losing & finding things/people/words. A total blast!

Today is Spoonerism Day so here’s a list of the top ten best celebrity names when spoonerized… 10. Lude Jaw 9. Bathy Kates 8. Parah Salin 7. Hatt Mancock 6. Sandy Ravage 5. Him Tenman 4. Bean Sean 3. Shartin Meen 2. Rid Kock 1. Cradley Booper

Big thanks to everyone who joined me for my Lost & Found session at this year's #flashficfest. Pictured: some of your creepy friends... I loved hearing your own lost & found stories. Do keep sharing them with me. Many thanks to @judehwriter2.bsky.social @flashficfestuk.bsky.social for inviting me 🙏.

Hmmmmmmmm! 😆

The next Art & Flash is July 21st. This month’s featured artist is on a mission to make fine art more inclusive. She makes bright, unapologetic work that shares the kind of real-life stories not often seen in art galleries. www.tickettailor.com/events/anika... #generativewritingworkshop #ekphrastic

Teddy has *thoughts* on the tennis.

My review of Jonathan Taylor's prize-winning short story collection, 'Scablands and Other Stories' (Salt Publishing) is up on the Word Factory journal. Managed to prise my copy from Teddy's clutches...

Don't miss this stunner by Gaynor Jones today - a micro in three devastating sentences 👇

What a lovely surprise to see an old story getting another outing. Thanks for choosing 'Sometimes I think About Mrs Grozny' as one of your picks for this month's #Mondettes. In great company, too!

Great to celebrate @kazbarwrites.bsky.social ‘s launch of Cold Toast last night at the Bristol Folk House! Congratulations again!

Looking forward to this! 👇

The 2025 Bristol Short Story Prize shortlist is now live: bit.ly/4k7rSio A huge thank you to our incredible judging panel: @jancarsonwrites.bsky.social, Kate Johnson and @peacemedie.bsky.social for their time, commitment and enthusiasm. Congratulations to this year’s shortlisted authors!

I'm running a fifth series of Reading to Write Prose Poetry on Zoom, Group 1, Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m BST, 23 April-21 May, Group 2, Mondays, 7-8 p.m. BST, 28 April-26 May, £70/60. For details, email me at [email protected] -- and please share! @devaneemily.bsky.social @kazbarwrites.bsky.social

My ex-husband Trevor Lillistone of @craftbath.bsky.social made this beautiful moon jar. Isn't it gorgeous? @meandmecousin.bsky.social @devaneemily.bsky.social Please share!

I have accidentally engineered a circumstance where every time I do an event at @grovebookshop.bsky.social, @devaneemily.bsky.social makes me a book-themed cheesecake and it’s quite the most wonderful thing. Last night I got this glorious one, along with a packed house and a brilliant audience. 🍪🩵

Made up to have a story in this year's anthology. Thanks to editors Karen Jones & Cheryl Markosky for choosing by 'The Winter of Torvill and Dean' - inspired by my time as an Ice Cub at Nottingham Ice Rink. It's in fine company 🙏.

T-minus 1 hour! If you want your story to be considered for the 2025 Bristol Short Story Prize, make sure you submit before 11:59 pm BST! Shortlisted entries get prize money and publication! Submit your short stories now: buff.ly/4gqxWA6 📣 Spread the word

Can't wait for this! Ilkley writers, who's coming?* *Turns out, quite a few - it's already half full!

You have ONLY TWO DAYS to submit your story to the Bristol Short Story Prize! If you're shortlisted, you'll win * a cash prize * publication * free admission to the U of Bristol's Writers' Day on June 7, concluding with a wine reception for the prize winners Send now! bssp.blogs.bristol.ac.uk

You've got til Feb 28th to send me your 300-word (or less) gems - even the strange ones in all sorts of shapes and styles that you think no-one else but you could love! #FlashFiction www.fishpublishing.com/competition/...

📣 Short Story Writers - the deadline for the Bristol Short Story Prize is this Friday, 31 January. Send in your finest stories of <4k words, with a chance of publication and a top prize of £1000! 👇

🔔🔔 HEAR YE!! HEAR YE!!! 🔔🔔 Now that all 15 of this year's shortlistees have been published, the "People's Prize" is officially open for voting. forms.gle/qVUGXUo4GYbZ... You get 3 votes. Each vote must be for a DIFFERENT piece. One vote per person. Deadline for voting is 15.00 GMT on 31st Jan.

A slice of gorgeous from @jamesmontgomery.bsky.social 👇

Proud of this one. It's a story that emerged out of my Word Factory apprenticeship, and it's in stunning company in Issue 14 of @thelonelycrowd.bsky.social. Thanks to editor John Lavin for giving it a home 🙏. If you'd like a copy, the online shop is now open.

And finally.. our winners! These are the 6 best books I read in 2024. Every single one of them is incredible and I envy any of you reading these for the very first time. Congratulations and thank you all for writing such amazing stories. #booksky