Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 05/10/2026My body is ready for autumn layers but climate change says no. 020
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Unspeakably excited to receive a lovely bunch of stories for judging... Good luck, everyone! 020
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 03/10/2026A week today I'm running a two-part flash fiction intensive called *Writing the Five Senses* with a heap of generative exercises and sensory detail techniques. Come and see, smell, hear, taste and, uh, get touchy with me? More info & booking: flashfictionmagazine.com/writing-the-... 000
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Tomorrowwww! Join me for an hour of music loving story writing… 031
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 24/09/2026Less than one week until my next story generating workshop full of music-inspired exercises, techniques, and a specially curated writing playlist… The Story in a Song — Weds 30 Sept 7pm (UK) www.jogatford.com/workshops-co... (P.S. The session will also be recorded if you can’t make it live) 022
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 23/09/2026Hey writers — if you want to write a thing but can't get started on the thing because you don't know what the thing is supposed to look like and/or the 5-act structure makes you want to stab things then you should do my thing instead: www.jogatford.com/has-it-got-l... Starts 12 Octjogatford.comHas It Got Legs? A 4-Week Story Outlining Course — JO GATFORDHas It Got Legs is a story outlining programme for anyone who's sick of traditional, formulaic plotting techniques (hey there, neurodivergent writers!). Explore the possibilities of your narrative w... 000
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Stayed up too late last night writing about sentient goo and got jumpscared by the dog appearing out of nowhere in full STALK mode. 030
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 20/09/2026How do you get a reader to really *feel* what’s going on in a scene / your character’s head / the world of your story? Specificity. Authenticity. And just a smidge of the unexpected when it comes to sensory detail. fixioning.substack.com/p/fill-up-yo...fixioning.substack.comFill Up Your SensesSix 'Story in a Song' Writing Prompts 130
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 16/09/2026I know for a fact (cos I'm lucky enough to have already read it!) this is going to be a stellar book by an extremely talented writer (and all round lovely human). Can't wait. 140
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 16/09/2026Thanks to the ever-wonderful @uncertainstories.com for this Q&A about my story, Perfect Circle: www.uncertainstories.com/inside-stori... 171
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 14/09/2026My “Rescue the Draft” workshop is happening this week — Thurs 17th Sept @ 7pm (BST) — bring along your jankiest story and let’s see if we can’t do a little emergency surgery… www.litromagazine.com/masterclasse... 021
Reposted by Jo GatfordThe Welkin Press @welkinpress.bsky.social · 01/09/2026"First Photograph of the Moon — John William Draper, 1840" by @jmgatford.bsky.social www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...mattkendrick.co.ukFirst Photograph of the Moon — John William Draper, 1840 | MattKendrick.co.uk 141
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 08/09/2026Over the freakin *moon* for this (and no I will NOT be apologising for the pun). Thank you so much, Matt! 1110
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 08/09/2026Hey writerfolk! Some new workshops coming up if you need an autumnal kick in the ol’ inspiration… 📕 Stuck on a story draft? 📗 Looking for some generative writing prompts & exercises? 📙 Want to hone your craft with descriptive techniques? 📘 Need help plotting out a new idea? Gotcha covered 👇 121
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 25/08/2026Hey writers, my lil fortnightly "In the Writing Trenches" online hangout is tonight at 6.30pm BST if you fancy chatting about your WIP wth a bunch of truly lovely writerly folk: luma.com/fixioningluma.comThe Joy of Fixion Workshops & Hangouts · Events CalendarView and follow events from The Joy of Fixion Workshops & Hangouts on Luma. Workshops and hangouts for creatives who want to find their flow, follow the joy, and 'fix' their fiction. 033
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 17/08/2026Flash fiction hive mind, may I crowdsource your brain please? What's your favourite hermit crab story (or an example you think makes particularly clever use of the form)? 7115
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 12/08/2026If a draft isn’t working, don’t rewrite it yet. Instead, write down these three things: #1: What does the main character want? (Try to differentiate between the surface level, immediate stuff and get down to their deep desires and unconscious wishes. And think about *why* they want this thing...) 120
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 10/08/2026So, so excited to be judging the next @bathflashaward.bsky.social (deadline 4 Oct). I want to read your flashes! www.bathflashfictionaward.com/2026/08/q-a-...bathflashfictionaward.comQ & A with Jo Gatford, Judge 34th AwardJo Gatford is an award-winning writer, editor and mentor. Her short fiction has been selected for the Wigleaf Top 50, Best Small Fictions, Best Microfictions, and published in 70+ anthologies and l… 0239
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 10/08/2026Love "the same smallsome girl" and that last line and just ALL this sumptuous language. 231
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 10/08/2026Yes, yes, yes, more joy in flash! Especially like this. 141
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 07/08/2026Producing a lit mag of such consistent high quality (& with such enthusiasm) is a huge feat of literary love. Not to mention creating a platform for so many fantastic books over the past few years. Thank YOU for publishing The Woman's Part and putting so much into the lit community. 1123
Reposted by Jo GatfordMatt Kendrick @mattkendrick.bsky.social · 31/07/2026This month's #FromTheCoursesMouth features brilliant-sounding things from @stillsquirrel.bsky.social @jmgatford.bsky.social @smokelong.bsky.social @rgvaughan.bsky.social @bendinggenres.bsky.social @sagetyrtle.bsky.social @marthawrites.bsky.social: fromthecoursesmouth.substack.com/p/august-sep...fromthecoursesmouth.substack.comAugust / September 26: Upcoming courses, workshops & eventsHere’s what’s coming up from your your friendly neighbourhood freelancers, lit mags and awesome independents over the next couple of months. 196
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 28/07/2026Poets (and scientists) love the moon, but how does the moon feel about it? Delighted to have my weird little micro on the @welkinpress.bsky.social shortlist! 🌒📸 6265
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 28/07/2026Forever my favourite place to be published ❤️ @stanchion.bsky.social 152
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 27/07/2026Who’s in the work-in-progress trenches right now? Need a little camaraderie? A good ol’ angsty vent? A kick up the motivational butt? Come along to my fortnightly hangout on Weds 29th July, 6pm (BST) to shoot the writing shit with a handful of lovely writers: www.jogatford.com/workshops-co... 042
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 25/07/2026Last call for today’s workshop! Gonna be closing up bookings an about an hour… 000
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 24/07/2026Heyyyyy my Unfuck Your Writing workshop (AKA “The Great Unfuckening”) is happening TOMORROW, Saturday 25th July at 2pm (BST). Be there or stay fucked, I guess? 🤷♀️ www.jogatford.com/workshops-co... 020
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 21/07/2026This is me tromping through the woods talking to myself because I’m running my UNFUCK YOUR WRITING workshop on Saturday and apparently the algorithm demands face-based content 🤪 🤡 🤦♀️ So if you’re feeling creatively stuck or meh or arg, come and get unfucked with me: www.jogatford.com/workshops-co... 052
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 21/07/2026P.S. If you book a place and still want to be entered into the prize draw I will refund you if you win! 000
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 20/07/2026OOooohhh! I have a micro on the shortlist! And am deeply in love with a whole load of those story titles... Can't wait to read 'em all. Thanks, lovely @welkinpress.bsky.social readers and judges! 9353
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 16/07/2026So. Um. Some exciting news that I haven't been able to scream about for the past 6 months but now... <deep breath> LOOOOOK, IT'S MY FACE! www.bbc.co.uk/writers/blog... 2101
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 16/07/2026Hey folks, I’m giving away one free place on my Month of Stories course in August for a writer on a low income (or otherwise couldn’t afford the full shebang). Click below to enter your details and I’ll pick a winner at random on 27th July! www.jogatford.com/workshops-co... 006
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 15/07/2026Do you want to see one of my favourite books? Let me show you one of my favourite books... (and a hypothesis on why objects are more human than most humans) The Joy of Catalogues: fixioning.substack.com/p/the-joy-of...fixioning.substack.comThe Joy of CataloguesPart 1 of probably a lot 000
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 14/07/2026Did I spend waaaay too much time making this video? Yes. Was I supposed to be writing? Also yes. But could AI procrastinate like this? I think not. Anyway, join me for the UNFUCK YOUR WRITING workshop on 25 July and let’s find more (human) ways to create stuff: www.jogatford.com/workshops-co... 063
Reposted by Jo GatfordKizzia Mildmay @kizzia.bsky.social · 08/07/2026Well this sounds brilliant and I’m in. Any of my fellow writerly pals want to join too? 121
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 08/07/2026Draft and edit 4 new pieces of flash fiction in a month — with weekly writing exercises, craft insights, personalised feedback from a professional editor, a community forum, and end-of-month sharing showcase! Join me for A Month of Stories, starting 3rd Aug: www.jogatford.com/workshops-co... 132
Reposted by Jo GatfordJason Hazeley @jasonhazeley.bsky.social · 08/07/2026‘Difficult decisions’ is almost always code for ‘punching down’. Fucking STOP IT. The arts sector in the UK is worth £8.5bn per year. That is (just numerically, quite apart from anything else) a FUCKING PRIORITY, you flailing cretins.priority.you 619354
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 05/07/2026Perfect Circle, @uncertainstories.com's new anthology, is out now — featuring my (titular!*) story along with pieces by Eva Carson, @daveyfrankel.bsky.social, @kathyhoyle.bsky.social, @lynseymay.com & Lauren O’Donoghue, beautifully illustrated by Lucy Scott: www.uncertainstories.com/books/anthol... 1101
Reposted by Jo GatfordStanchion @stanchion.bsky.social · 01/07/2026Next 4 books. @real-immirage.bsky.social @kiklodge.bsky.social @spencerfleury.bsky.social 173
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 30/06/2026Feeling a bit creatively meh? I have a workshop for you! Unfuck Your Writing — a practical breakdown of how to unlearn stagnant writing habits, follow your creative instincts, and reclaim your flow. Tues 25 July, 2pm BST (replay available): www.jogatford.com/workshops-co... 022
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 30/06/2026Oh wow, the loveliest news to discover this morning! Thanks for publishing my little 6 word love story @gooseberrypielit.bsky.social and thank you to @sudhab.bsky.social and the @wigleaf.bsky.social readers for including my piece. Now to trawl this treasure trove of stories... :D 4160
Reposted by Jo GatfordFarrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · 26/06/2026Zack Polanski at the British Chambers of Commerce conference asks, If we can always find money for wars Why can't we always find money to end inequality 49472129
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 25/06/2026On the hottest day of the year, instead of going to the beach like an insane person, I spent the afternoon in a nice, quiet, *cool* basement museum beneath Brighton Town Hall. 070
Reposted by Jo GatfordJo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 26/05/2026Today's mermaid mood is wearing as little clothing as possible. 021
Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 25/06/2026New story outlining course kicking off in Sept for anyone who's sick of traditional plotting techniques. Instead, we’re gonna grow our ideas organically, collaboratively, and however your creative brain works best. Plus personalised feedback & mentoring from me :) www.jogatford.com/has-it-got-l... 000