iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Matt Kendrick @mattkendrick.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

I've got 4 free spots to give away for this for low income writers. If this is you, please DM me and I'll get you signed up! Everyeone else, I'd be grateful if you could share so this gets to the right people. I'll even throw in a free spot for someone (picked out the hat) who does just that!

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Farhana Shaikh 🍉 @farhanashaikh.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

When your open forum on AI gets Zoom bombed and someone starts drawing rude pics on the whiteboard ffs 😭

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Malina @iridescentwords.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Lovely readings at the Leicester Writes Award Ceremony. It was a pleasure to hear the work of Jay McKenzie, Tracy Fahey and Diana Powell, as well as to read my own work. Hosted by @farhanashaikh.bsky.social Can't wait to read the anthology!

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Malina @iridescentwords.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

My story "From the Darkest Soil Wonders Will Bloom" was longlisted by the #LeicesterWrites Prize and will be published in their anthology! @farhanashaikh.bsky.social

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Alex Davis @alexdavis1981.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Counting down the days to Edge-Lit coming back for the 12th time, and quite the line-up of talent joining us for the day here in Derby on the 19th September! www.derbyquad.co.uk/whats-on/edg... #Derby #Derbyshire #writing #writers #authors #genrefiction

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Drew Gummerson @drewgum.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

I’ve got three stories to go and then I’ve finished editing the 22 stories of Hotdog Tales for Lean Days. Wile E. Coyote features in one story and I see he’s now got his own film. A hotdog tale if ever there was one. Oh and Gregor, one of them, out soon. @sunburntsaints.bsky.social

Cover for Gregor. Blue. With a couple of bugs.

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Drew Gummerson @drewgum.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Like Wil E. Coyote on Roadrunner Short Story September is upon us. Here I talk all things short story, practice, a festival, favourite collections, and the @galleybeggars.bsky.social short story prize drewgummerson.substack.com/p/on-short-s...

drewgummerson.substack.com

On Short Story September

Prizes, prompts, collections and all that.

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Jonathan Gibbs @jonathangibbs.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

There's still time to sign up for @rachelmalik.bsky.social's Personal Anthology - her pick of and introduction to a dozen favourite short stories. Hitting inboxes at 2pm. All your weekend's reading, sorted! Details here: apersonalanthology.substack.com/about

apersonalanthology.substack.com

About - A Personal Anthology

A weekly guest-editor picks and introduces a personal anthology of twelve favourite short stories. Click to read A Personal Anthology, by Jonathan Gibbs, a Substack publication with thousands of subsc...

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Scott Pack @meandmybigmouth.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

I have what I think is an amusing due diligence story when it comes to publishers. I shall keep it fairly anonymised, but it's not going to be too hard to guess who this refers to. It involves the memoir of a TV chef who is known as a massive arsehole. I realise that doesn't narrow it down.

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Women Writers Network @womenwritersnet.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

The @thelondonmagazine.bsky.social short story prize is open for submissions until 18 October! #womenwriters #WritingCommunity

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Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Voices of Wandsworth: South Asian Poetry & Performance on 25 July 2026, 1:30-4:30 pm I'm reading wiith @betarish.bsky.social Suman Gujral, Rishika Williams, Anita Pati, Gurmeet Kaur, Renu Gidoomal & Koushik Banerjea www.tickettailor.com/events/sindh... #southasianheritagemonth #ukpoets #poetrysky

Voices of Wandsworth promo image with megaphone held by a hand clad in an Indian textile patterned sleeve.

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Writing East Midlands @writingeastmidlands.com · 10/07/2026

Hey WEM friends! 👋 🧡 It's time for another Writing Community Spotlight, bringing you the newest opportunities, events and competitions from the East Midlands and beyond ✨️ Check out all of these and more on our Whats On page 🖥️✒️ buff.ly/qQ5BXV3

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Grantham Research Institute at LSE @granthamlse.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

We regret that our event on Extreme Heat: Improving governance and strengthening action around the world has been cancelled due to the red extreme heat warning issued by the UK Met Office. Our apologies to everyone who was planning to attend the event.

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The Society of Authors @societyofauthors.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Sponsored by ALCS and Hawthornden Foundation, the ALCS Tom-Gallon Trust Award is awarded for a published or unpublished short story by a writer who has had at least one short story accepted for publication. 🧵

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Julia Carrie Wong @joolia.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

no one is doing it like jd vance, a loser across three continents in a single weekend

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Henry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 08/04/2026

The Art of War 1. Start war 2. Kill people 3. Fail to achieve strategic objectives 4. Declare victory 5. Agree ceasefire

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Brick Lane Bookshop @bricklanebookshop.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

Join us on March 5th at 7pm for a special literary Ramadan evening with Tharik Hussain, discussing his critically-lauded book Muslim Europe. In conversation with Fatimah Ali, this event explores 1,400 years of Muslim presence in Europe 🎟 buff.ly/bYifa3O Come reflect and learn this Ramadan.

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Farhana Shaikh 🍉 @farhanashaikh.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Hello writers and publicists, I'm programming for The Asian Writer @ 20 Festival. If you'd like to speak on a panel, host a session, or want to pitch your book for inclusion, please get in touch!

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Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Delighted that The Writing Life podcast has featured Celeste Mohammed. I was thrilled to hear her speak about her work during her visit to the University of Lincoln last year - an inspiring & memorable event. Thanks to @uolhumanities.bsky.social Global & Transregional Studies research group #booksky

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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Centrica, owner of British Gas, CEO gets £3.6m bonus despite fall in profits. Profits fell because of warmer winter, CEO gets more. Bills still too high. Ofgem formula guarantees high prices/profits. Let customers/employees elect directors and vote on exec pay at essential sectors.

theguardian.com

Centrica boss to get £3.6m bonus despite sharp fall in profits

Chris O’Shea will receive a total of £4.7m despite British Gas owner suffering a shareholder rebellion

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Farhana Shaikh 🍉 @farhanashaikh.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

So lovely to be at the launch of Deepa Anappara's book launch last night. The Last of Earth is my most anticipated read of the year. It's a historical novel set in Tibet and is published by One World.

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Writing East Midlands @writingeastmidlands.com · 11/02/2026

Last weekend, we ran our ever-popular Meet the Agents Day, followed this time round by a brand new writer Q&A. 💭 The event brought agents Davinia Andrew-Lynch, Juliet Mushens and Maria Whelan, and writers Stephen Aryan, Jamie Mollart and Ella King to Nottingham. ✍️ See you all next time! 👋

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Sarah McPherson @summermoth.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

The NIFTY Book Club is great - come join us! ☺️

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The Welkin Press @welkinpress.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

Now that all the shortlist (barring my winners!) have been published, you can vote for your favourites in the PEOPLE'S PRIZE!! You've got until the 31st Jan to cast your vote. Vote for 3 stories. The 2 stories with the most votes share the crown!! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

docs.google.com

The Welkin Mini 2026 - PEOPLE'S PRIZE Voting Form

Vote for your favourite THREE stories from the Welkin Mini shortlist. You can vote for THREE stories. Each vote must be for a DIFFERENT story otherwise your entire vote won't be counted. Each vote is ...

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Fly on the Wall Press @flyonthewallpress.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Last night The Subtle Art of Short Fiction visited The Leicester Writers Club via a short story writing panel with contributors Farhana Shaikh, Jonathan Taylor and Mahsuda Snaith! www.flyonthewallpress.co.uk/product-page... #books📚💙 #editing

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Women Writers Network @womenwritersnet.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

The York Literature Festival program is now live! 28th February to 30th March. Check it out. yorkliteraturefestival.co.uk

yorkliteraturefestival.co.uk

York Literature Festival

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National Flash Fiction Day @natflashfictionday.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

Submissions to our anthology (up to 500 words on the theme of BRIDGES) & our Microfiction comp (up to 100 words, no theme) are now OPEN until 15 Feb. Our anthology editors & judges are poised ready! You can read more here: www.nationalflashfictionday.co.uk

media.tenor.com

a cartoon duck is writing in a notebook with a pencil

ALT: a cartoon duck is writing in a notebook with a pencil

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Farhana Shaikh 🍉 @farhanashaikh.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

I'm doing an apprenticeship in Coaching. As part of my training I'm looking to coach three people who need support with a performance related goal (not life coaching). You'll need to commit to a monthly coaching call until July. If that's you, please get in touch. UK writers/book folk pref.

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Leicester Writers Club @leicwritersclub.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

The Subtle Art of Short Fiction hybrid event with panel of @farhanashaikh.bsky.social Mahsuda Snaith & Jonathan Taylor discussing short stories on Thursday 22 January from 7pm at Phoenix, 4 Midland St, Leicester LE1 1TG, details: leicesterwritersclub.com/2026/01/02/t...

leicesterwritersclub.com

The Subtle Art of Short Fiction – Club Event

For our next club event, we welcome Jonathan Taylor, Mahsuda Snaith and Farhana Shaikh for a panel discussion chaired by Siobhan Logan on Thursday 22nd January 2026, from 7-9pm at Phoenix Cinema an…

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Sam Missingham @samatlounge.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

They’re really pushing this narrative about the new CEO. If you want to believe women at HC have suddenly done the right thing, sure. But - Walliams’ editor/publisher was a woman, new head of kids dept & head of Corp Comms both women and new CEO all knew about this for 10+ years and did nothing.

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Kit de Waal @kitdewaal.com · 21/12/2025

If you get some time over the next few weeks apply for this!

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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

The UK has 160 black professors (25% are women) out of a total of 22,885. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) offers funding opportunities, 81% of awards go to white applicants, 1% to black. The statistics are likely to discourage black scholars from pursuing academic/science careers. Need action.

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Kathryn Aldridge-Morris @kazbarwrites.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

An absolute highlight of a wild year to have COLD TOAST included in Republic of Consciousness Foundations's 'Best Small Press fiction of 2025' 💥

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Sumitra Singam @pleomorphic2.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

RELEASE DAY FOR MOTHER KARMA @publishedbyjake.bsky.social! I'm so excited to bring this story to you. I've seen some photos in the wild, and I would love it if you could share yours as your copies come in! jakethemag.com/books/ Zoom launch Sat Dec 13 8pm BST/3pm EST: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Image of an email confirming Mother Karma download. Text: JAKE: The Anti-Literary. Thank you for your order! Mother karma Download Inside! Dear Reader, Thank you so much for your purchase of Sumitra SIngam's excellent Novella-in-Flash. JAKE is proud to have helped with getting Sumitra's work out into the world and we all hope you love this book as much as we do.

Picture of the front cover of my book. Ochre yellow background, line drawing of an Indian mother with bindi on, hair in a bun with flowers holding a baby. Text Mother Karma a novella-in-flash Sumitra Singam

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Rue Baldry @ruebaldry.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

This would make a good Christmas present for anyone in your life interested in literary analysis or creative writing! I’m really enjoying it 🎄📚🎅📝⛄️ @flyonthewallpress.bsky.social @bradleybooks.bsky.social @farhanashaikh.bsky.social

The Subtle Art of Short Fiction, Edited by Isabelle Kenyon

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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 30/11/2025

Oxford University Press has chosen “rage bait” as its 2025 Word of the Year. The open-compound word, which beat out “biohack” and “aura farming,” goes back at least to 2002. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/a...

A card reads: "rage bait / noun: Oxford’s 2025 Word of the Year is defined as “online content deliberately designed to elicit anger or outrage by being frustrating, provocative or offensive.” Over the past year, according to Oxford’s data, frequency of use spiked by a factor of three."

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Writing East Midlands @writingeastmidlands.com · 27/11/2025

Writer internship for 18-25s ✍️ Apply now 👉 bit.ly/WEMTERNS The ALCS WEMTerns internship programme closes 🚨 next Friday 🚨 What you need to apply: Answers to a couple of quick Qs about your writing and a written extract. 🤓📝 That's all! Get yours in by the 5th Dec.

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Mslexia @mslexia.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

No agent? No problem. The 5th Edition of our Indie Press Guide is available to pre-order! With over 750 editors to choose from, there's never been a better time to take control of your writing! mslexia.co.uk/shop/indie-p... #amwriting #amediting #writingcommunity #writers

mslexia.co.uk

Indie Press Guide (5th Edition) - Shop : Mslexia, a magazine for women's writing and women who write.

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Mslexia @mslexia.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Explore writing about our relationships with women with Jennifer Lee Tsai on 17 November, 5-7pm via Zoom. We will take inspiration from a range of poets including Isabelle Baafi, Katrina Naomi, Dzifa Benson, Degna Stone, and more! Visit the Salon to register. #amwriting

mslexia.co.uk

Mslexia Salon a magazine for women's writing and women who write.

Online events, writing surgeries and workshops for women writers. Join our vibrant online community.

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Drew Gummerson @drewgum.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

And I’m here. Leicester’s Local Writers Fair. Come along! 10am-3pm at Leicester Central Library, Bishop St, Leicester LE1 6AA

My books, Saltburn, The Lodger, Seven Nights at the Flamingo Hotel, Me and Mickie James on a table

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Writers & Artists @writersandartists.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

The W&A Working-Class Writer's Prize 2025 is open for entries NOW! Submit your writing within our one-month window to be in with a chance of winning. Find out more: bit.ly/4opAzXS

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The Welkin Press @welkinpress.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

**ATTENTION WRITERS** This is your ONE MONTH warning. Entires open for the #WelkinWritingPrize 2026 on the 1st Dec. 100 words. Rolling subs. Free entry. Publication for shortlistees. Prizes for top 5.

THE WELKIN MINI. For micros up to 100 words. Free to enter. Deadline = 2nd January 2026. 1st prize = £75, 2nd prize = £40, 3rd prize = £25, HC = £10.

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Rosaleen Lynch @rosaleenlynch.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

Look what I found had come in the post when I got home ... this beauty from #DahliaBooks! 🦚 Congrats to the winners of the #LeicesterWrites Short Story Prize! Fantastic stories all round!👏 Thanks also @farhanashaikh.bsky.social for including one of mine in this fab anthology 🥰

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Rod Duncan @rodduncan.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

T' Curve, Leicester.

Architecture at dusk. Athena, a deco style once cinema. Curve, glass and steel and orange light. A plaza between them.

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Tania Hershman 🏳️‍🌈 @taniahershman.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

Stunning piece by @rosaleenlynch.bsky.social "She can’t take her children in the suitcase. Not the day the suitcase is full of forest fire, screeching firehawks, & trapped animals, hiding their young. Not the day the suitcase is full of an exploding mine..." milkcandyreview.home.blog/2025/10/09/t...

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Kathy Hoyle @kathyhoyle.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

writershq.co.uk/online-writi... I’m hosting today’s retreat. It’s free and we start at 10am! Come and join me… you can wear yr jammies all day and get GOLD STARS for writing a bazillion words! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #perfectsaturday @writershq.bsky.social

writershq.co.uk

Online writing retreats

Super-productive, super-friendly, super-free online writing retreats. Write thousands of words from the comfort of your own pyjamas.

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

Excited to be supporting the W&A Working-Class Writers' Prize 2025 with the lovely people at @writersandartists.bsky.social and @ruppin.bsky.social Find out more here: www.writersandartists.co.uk/about-wa-wor... PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR CONTACTS

writersandartists.co.uk

W&A Working-Class Writers' Prize 2025 | Writers & Artists

Find out about this year's W&A Working-Class Writers' Prize before it opens for entries on 1st November over on our

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Brick Lane Bookshop @bricklanebookshop.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

📚 @wasafirimag.bsky.social x Tagore’s Salon Join us for Writing Through Pain: On Labour and Literature with writers Dur e Aziz Amna & Farah Ali Oct 15 | 7PM | Brick Lane Bookshop A conversation on illness, survival, and the work of writing. 🎟️ bricklanebookshop.org/product/tago...

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Writing East Midlands @writingeastmidlands.com · 08/10/2025

🌿Do you want to encourage your young writer(s) to enter the Solstice Prize? 💡Struggling with where to start or how to encourage them? We've created a FREE, downloadable pack full of prompts, writing exercises & an example lesson plan to help you spark their imaginations. bit.ly/WEM_SOLSTICE

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