Ngggggggghh. Yes. Flex those poetry guns! 💪 Listen to the latest episode to enter our joyous little poetry competition. First 200 entries get a free audiobook from @libro.fm just for joining in! pod.fo/e/443403 #poetry #poetrycompetition #writers

Big, double-thumbs-up recommend for @holliemcnish.bsky.social ‘s book Virgin, that does what the best poetry should - makes you see things you take for granted through a different lens. We were lucky enough to hear her read a couple of poems and have a joyous, wide-ranging chat. pod.fo/e/442738

Ever wondered if there’s an art to winning writing competitions? Ever wondered if you should even bother?

Fancy meeting Claire Fuller and hearing about her brilliant latest book #hunger&thirst? Well, join Jon & Tom For a night of writerly natterage, fun, games and giveaways. 6th July, 8pm at @goldfinchbooks.bsky.social Alton High Street. wegottickets.com/event/696174

Jon’s play just got a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review! Go see it at Buxton Fringe 14/15/16th July! northernartsreview.co.uk/north-east/r...

In the latest episode we have thee loveliest, liveliest natter with writing MACHINE Ashley Storrie - about doing stand up comedy at 11 years old, fan fiction, autism, and the brilliant sitcom she co-wrote and starred in - BBC’s Dinosaur. ❤️

Our guest in the latest episode of Failing Writers - Philippa Perry is probably the writer who has had the biggest impact on me. Not necessarily as a writer, but just as a human-person-man. do yerself a favour. Get these books read - improve your life tenfold. #selfimprovement #writers

This episode we talk failing, persevering, writing fact vs writing fiction, relationships and psychology with one of our favourite writers / human beings - the wonderful Philippa Perry… Boop the bio to listen!

I am in love with this proof! Look at it. LOOK at it! 👀

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! 📣 Our very special guest will be Costa Novel Prize Winner Claire Fuller - in Alton on the 6th of July. Come and join us for high-level chat, edutainment™️, ditties and yes…Tommy’s quiz. 🤯

A little piece of dog-based romcom. Thanks to @micromancemagazine.bsky.social for providing the prompt for this story... Meet Cute Mutt open.substack.com/pub/doctordo...

Scrivener on iPhone? What the what?! 👀

Lovely work Rhys. 👌

If any Paragraph Planet folk are not following the @failingwriters.bsky.social podcast, this is an ideal time to start. The excellent and funny Tom & Jon discuss writing goals, plus I attempt to string sentences together in an interview about Paragraph Planet podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

Want to sell more books? Show off your #writing? Got some words you’re proud of and people need to blummin well hear? Send up to 1000 words to [email protected] & we’ll show your work some ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 Doc or voice memo - (Opening of your novel? Poem? Flash fic? Non-fic? - whatever!)

Paragraph Planet. A beautiful little corner of the internet. Writers… check it out.

Jon’s been busy! If you’re anywhere near Otley on the 29th of May… come and meet renowned couple therapists Prof. Robert and Dr. Veronica Stenk, bringing you a live lecture on how to be the perfect couple. What could possibly go wrong? 😁

Chuffed to bits to be short listed for small press of the year. All the best to our fellow nominees and thanks to the judges too!! @thebookseller.com #Nibbies #Britishbookawards

Also, I'm gonna be up in Aberdeen TOMORROW NIGHT at Granite Noir, talking about everything - including Andrew's arrest - with Bryan Burnett. Playing some goddamn tunes too. www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/whats-on/gra... @orendabooks.bsky.social

If you’re heading out to watch the new #wutheringheights movie, you might enjoy some light Brontë background info to get you in the mood! Go to Season 4, Episode 3 of The Failing Writers Podcast on any platform. With a biographer, an English Prof and a guide at the Bronte Museum … It’s a beauty! 😃

PEOPLE OF EDINBURGH! I'm doing a lovely event TOMORROW EVENING at Muirhouse Library as part of @edbookfest.bsky.social's Paper Trails mini-festival. Please come and hear me blether with Nyla Ahmad, it's FREE BUT TICKETED, go here: www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/edi... @orendabooks.bsky.social

I'm going to be at Prestwick Library next Wednesday for a wee chat with whoever turns up. Come find me. @orendabooks.bsky.social destinationsouthayrshire.co.uk/whats-on/pre...

Well, that’s the last episode of the season released into the wild. Thanks to everyone who has listened this year. We’ve had some amazing guests, have loved our outings like our poetry night and jaunt around Edinburgh. Hope you’ve enjoyed them too. Have a great Xmas and see you again in 2026!

👍 @scrivenerapp.bsky.social is top notch. You won’t regret it, Anthony.

More Scottish 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 shenanigans this week with the brilliant, genre-eschewing @dougjohnstone.bsky.social. We caught up with him in the Holyrood 9A for a pint and a fascinating natter… check the link int’ bio

It’s so important to somehow FIND TIME TO WRITE. Not suggesting you necessarily do a @michaelpedersen.bsky.social - but hope this serves to remind you to grab a bit of time this week for a scribble! Boop our bio to hear more from this remarkable human…

Easy on the reins of the heart – it’s National Grief Awareness Week 2025. New grief, old grief, the anticipation of grief, the shouldering or witnessing of grief, grief by proxy, by package, by post. What a thing it is is love, miss, & to mourn. Here’s a new wee piece I’ve been tinkering with 💜💛🖤.

Supremely chuffed to see Muckle Flugga named as Irvine Welsh’s Novel of 2025 in The Observer. ‘told in a poet’s lush but drum-tight voice…as arresting as an airport thriller’ 💜💚🥰💚💜. 📚: linktr.ee/muckleflugga @faberbooks.bsky.social

Need a bit of joy in your life, writers? Then join us in a backroom of the lovely @portybooks.bsky.social for an absolute delight of a natter with @michaelpedersen.bsky.social and savour the power, beauty and effulgence of those little pieces of story, we call words. Episode out now - bop the bio.

Just finished reading 1 of our absurdly talented listener’s books - @stgenevieve.bsky.social I thoroughly enjoyed this marvellously well observed, funny, and life affirming book! And what’s this… you little tinker. You gave us an acknowledgement! ❤️😍 Well done! Bloody brilliant!

And the winner is… to be found here: pod.fo/e/3331dd

Yvette has good taste

Check out Map Men, @JayForeman.bsky.social & @markcooperjones.bsky.social in this week’s ep. Talking about their brilliant book This Way Up - OUT THIS WEEK @HarperCollins.bsky.social and about collaborative writing, working in different mediums… & Mark’s beautiful 🧠❤️ Listen here! pod.fo/e/340266

Did this in Edinburgh with the lovely Veronique. Can highly recommend!

Blummin lovely chatting to ‘viral sensation’ (yep, that’s what I’m going with) @autumnwoods-author.bsky.social about getting TikTok to work for you, writing on a phone🤯 and planting your feet firmly on the ground while the world goes crazy. Hit that bio link

⏰ There’s still plenty o time to enter our £500 flash fiction contest! In assoc’ with @scrivenerapp.bsky.social 300 words Theme: “a lie” Head of judgery the amazing @fictionalsarah.SubStack.com from @writershq.bsky.social £4 entry fee Deadline midday Fri Oct 24 Info here: failingwriterspodcast.com

Please tell me this is just some publicity stunt and not actually true. 😳

May I alert you to a rather joyful £500 writing competition you perhaps didn’t know you needed in your life, but in fact absolutely do…? www.failingwriterspodcast.com #flashfiction

And awaaay! Our 300 word flash FICTION competition is officially go. With the marvellous Sarah Lewis from @writershq.bsky.social taking the gavel. Have a squizz at the latest episode for the FACTS about how to get your grubby mitts on that 500 knicker pod.fo/e/3331dd

Julia Roberts narration of the BBC TV adaptation of Leonard and Hungry Paul @ronanhession.bsky.social is in the can as they say. Transmission date is confirmed and I'll let you know very, very soon. We established BM in Nov 2005 and now our second book is made into a TV drama. Bloody Magic!

Thanks to the Failing Writers podcast for having me and other writers on to chat about indie/snall press publishing. Give the episode a listen! open.spotify.com/episode/5Gxx...

Considered publishing through a small press? Click the link in our bio for all the skinny in our doublebill on indie publishers. In part 1 we talk to happy customers: @cwmcguinness.bsky.social @kazbarwrites.bsky.social #lukepalmer @stgenevieve.bsky.social … then … 1/2 🧵

For those of you just waking up in the UK, sitting down to lunch in Goa, or enjoying your afternoon in Sydney, you'll be the first to read Issue 89 of SmokeLong Quarterly! www.smokelong.com/issue-eighty...

Cripes. Against all expectations we seem to be finalists in 4 categories of the Independent Podcast Awards.🧐(Checks the email again) Yep. Still there. Best dig out some gladrags! 😃🤯😭 #podcastawards #jingleoftheyear #books #selfimprovement #thearts

Yay! It’s arrived! Thanks @thelibbiegrant.bsky.social Look forward to getting stuck in! 🫶

Red Dwarf. The Chicken Song. A children’s book called Sin Bin Island. What kind of brain comes up with all that? The brain of @dougrdnaylor.bsky.social of course! 🧠 We talk #ideas, #writingcomedy,#RedDwarf, all sorts. Check the link in our bio.

Just found this classic summer single in the garage! Anyone remember the first 4 genius lines? No cheating!

This week we talk to the inimitable @benaaronovitch.bsky.social. About spending 30 years doing the wrong thing, his new Rivers of London book, and finally learn the secret, magical ingredient to enormous surefire success* Link in our bio. *write a really good book that lots of people want to read.

The article by @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social that inspired today’s fantastic chat with him… 😬 Listen and weep. And then laugh. And then go write your book anyway! 😁 Linx in our bio

Boop the link in our bio for the best-ever natter with Jessica Knappett. ❤️