iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I have two pieces on this list: one that was fun to write, and one that hurt. #FlashInTheFeed

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Dad would let us eat cake with our hands for a change, icing streaked on cheeks. Mom would tell him, “They’ll remember this when we’re gone,” her voice a little too bright for such a gloomy turn of phrase. @sarpsozdinler.bsky.social revolutionjohnjournal.wordpress.com/2026/09/17/s...

revolutionjohnjournal.wordpress.com

September 17, 2026: Fiction by Sarp Sozdinler

He asks me if I ever think about moving back home, like the house is still there, waiting for us to open the front door and step in dripping wet from the rain. He asks me: “What do you really do wi…

050

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

"Mama’s eyes are empty. I remember one time after Daddy’d been gone for months, I asked if she was lonely. She said nah, more like sad. She said sad was when you miss yourself and she’d been sad long before she ever met Daddy." #FlashInTheFeed by @tracieadams.bsky.social !

152

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

AI controversy hits the French publishing world: "I come from a Haitian and Caribbean literary tradition in which poetry, imagery, repetition, and rhythm carry a living voice," Orélien said in the statement written in French and released by Éditions du Boréal. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

cbc.ca

Was this award-winning book written by AI? Scandal deepens skepticism in literary world | CBC News

A Quebec-based author is at the centre of an artificial intelligence scandal shaking the French literary world and raising questions around how the industry should be using AI — and its detection tool...

100

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I think this is a really important point. If I think somebody used AI to write their story, I'm not going to say so in public for the same reason I don't believe in the death penalty: what if I'm wrong? What if the writer is not guilty as charged? Is it worth ruining that writer for good?

110

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Yes! This story blows me away every time I read it.

030

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

A story about a potato has no right to be this sad. Or this human. Amazing #FlashInTheFeed by @rachelmhollis.bsky.social in @fictivedream.bsky.social today.

271

Reposted by Linda M. Bayley

Tade Thompson @tadethompson.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

The best thing about being someone who loves reading is you want to read everything, everywhere, all at once. The worst thing about being someone who loves reading is you want to read everything, everywhere, all at once.

99715

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Since readers are allowed to make nominations for the @genrepunkmag.bsky.social Haunting Award, I'm nominating @emilyrinkema.bsky.social 's piece Eunice Bobs Her Head and @tracieadams.bsky.social 's piece i met god in a bookstore. Both are still haunting me, after several months.

2112

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

"All the cookies in the world won't fill that hole, kid," she says. - @finnwritesstuff.bsky.social , "Free Cookies Taste Better," The Price of Cookies What a brilliant, beautiful, devastating #novellainflash , out from @offtopicpublishing.bsky.social

Cover of The Price of Cookies by Finnian Burnett shows a cartoon orange cookie with a bite taken out of it against a navy blue background.

He’s waiting for the flash of anger, for the punishment he came here for.
Instead, the clerk steps around the counter and puts both hands on his forearm. Kelvin can’t pull away, can’t stop looking at her face. “All the cookies in the world won’t fill that hole, kid,” she says.
Crying now, Kelvin looks down at the clerk’s hands, gently holding his arm. “What will?”
“I don’t know,” she whispers.

152

Reposted by Linda M. Bayley

Alastair Millar @skriptorium.info · 26/09/2026

This is a periodic reaffirmation that I do not, and will never, use genAI in the idea generation, conceptualisation, drafting, writing, editing or publicising of my stories and books, and will never use or commission genAI "art" for covers or illustrations. Avoid prompt jockeys and sloperators.

The letters "AI" with a red circle around, and line through.
Surrounded by the text "Say no to generative AI use in publishing"

061

Reposted by Linda M. Bayley

Ani King (they/them) @aniking.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

@marioaliberto3.bsky.social is one of the most supportive people I know In the flash lit scene and I think we should all listen to Mario. 😌❤️ Grab a copy of Family Night from @masonjarpress.bsky.social here: masonjarpress.com/chapbooks-1/...

Bright red-pink ground has the cover image for Family Night on the left side and the following quote:

"FAMILY NIGHT is a lyrical gut-punch, like being kicked below the belt by a prima ballerina. Ani King invites you to have a seat at the table and engage with a cast of outcasts and upstarts, misfits and outsiders, as they share their stories of broken hearts and broken dreams. Exploring themes of identity, connection, and vulnerability with an unmatched urgency, from magic rabbit daughters to wasp mothers to coyote girls, King's collection renders the human condition bare in undeniable poetic prose." --Mario Aliberto III, author of All the Dead We Have Yet to Bury

1107

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

"And god forbid we unknowingly stumble on an AI-generated piece and genuinely enjoy reading it. How does one atone for this? Is it even possible to unlike prose after the identity of its non-human is brought to light?" I am so far down this effing rabbit hole... lithub.com/everyone-is-...

lithub.com

Everyone is an AI Cop Now: What Happens When an AI-Generated Story Wins a Prestigious Prize

In the early hours of Sunday, May 17th 2026, I stumbled on a tweet by Nigerian literary critic and essayist, Chimezie Chike, accusing Jamir Nazir, the newly minted 2026 Commonwealth Short Story Pri…

010

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

As I struggle more and more with the question of whether a story written by AI can still be a good story, I find this piece by Mike Monteiro really speaks to me. buttondown.com/monteiro/arc...

buttondown.com

How to write it like you told it

What do you say to someone who wants to write but struggles with writing and is tempted to use an LLM-based chatbot?

140

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

These readers were AMAZING. I could listen to Lindy Newns, @marionlougheed.bsky.social and @finnwritesstuff.bsky.social for hours, and I got to hear Ian Coldicott read for the first time! We're doing it all again Thursday, December 17. Hope to see you there! #WritersReading

180

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Hi everyone! That cute little girl in the lower left? That's me. Damn, but I wish I still had that shirt! Anyway, I'm reading along with these other fine readers today at 2 PM Eastern (7 PM BST). Tickets are free, but you have to book them at the link Debbi provides below. See you there!

132

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I GOT NEW GEL PENS! And I have begun using them. No more screwing around.

14 stars drawn in different colours of gel pens on a piece of lined paper

2120

Reposted by Linda M. Bayley

Debbi Voisey @dublinwriter.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

First half readers at #WritersReading Thur 24th at 7pm. Lindy Newns (featured reader) Ian Coldicott @marionlougheed.bsky.social @lmbayley.bsky.social @finnwritesstuff.bsky.social Get your free ticket for the audience at the link - and please share this post and the link buytickets.at/dublinwriter...

053

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Kumar Sen had a new piece in @mrbullbull.bsky.social yesterday, so I decided I'd go back and read this earlier #FlashInTheFeed first, as a treat. So good, even on the second and third readings! mrbullbull.com/newbull/flas...

mrbullbull.com

011

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I had a set of gel pens I was saving for something special. Yesterday my friends sent me a beautiful hardbound journal and I thought, The Time Has Come! The gel pens were all dry. I left it too late. Friends, use your special gel pens. They're just gonna run out anyway. Don't miss out!

0140

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Don't know how I missed this? But #readingcommunity you need to check out all these pieces! #FlashInTheFeed

162

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Did you know that @allisonfieldbell.bsky.social , @aniking.bsky.social and @claudiamonpere.bsky.social all have new books out, or about to come out? And that they're all going to have REMOTE BOOK LAUNCHES? I don't know if I can get to them all, but I'm darn well signing up! Congratulations all!

22110

Reposted by Linda M. Bayley

Ani King (they/them) @aniking.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

ICYMI: Come celebrate the launch of Family Night with me & @kplumhoff.bsky.social @claudiamonpere.bsky.social @allisonfieldbell.bsky.social @dawnsteffler.bsky.social and @exclamate.bsky.social -- Sat., Oct 24 at 1pm ET -- Event registration: aniking.net/launchparty

0104

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

You want to learn how to edit your stories? TAKE THIS COURSE!!

121

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

"He was still deep in mourning, after all, and despite being over 40, he still needed parents." Sometimes your wife and therapists don't give you quite the right advice... I'm with Brock on this one. #FlashInTheFeed #Microfiction from @woodardwriter.bsky.social in @fictivedream.bsky.social

041

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

"The view through the binoculars showed him the previous years of his life, all the places he'd had to go to through no choice of his own..." #FlashInTheFeed by Neil Campbell in @fictivedream.bsky.social

000

Reposted by Linda M. Bayley

Five Minutes @fiveminutelit.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

"Who Knows?" by Liz deBeer, whose work has appeared in Fictive Dream, Bull, Brevity Blog, and other journals. Her debut chapbook Farewell to Emptiness is available from @thirtywestph.com

073

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

At first, I wasn't sure what to make of this piece. But then the last line, OMG. Read this #FlashInTheFeed in @mrbullbull.bsky.social .

010

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

"The father tries the best he can. He tries and tries." Speaking of heartbreak, here's #FlashInTheFeed by James Keith Smith @sandandgravelpress.bsky.social , out in @vestalreview.bsky.social www.vestalreview.net/home-planet

vestalreview.net

Home Planet — Vestal Review

031

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Are you all paying attention to what @mrbullbull.bsky.social 's putting out these days? It's one hit after another, day after day. Go read some amazing writing here: mrbullbull.com/newbull/

mrbullbull.com

093

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

"I told the boy’s parents that their son would be fine. I wanted to believe this." Devastating #FlashInTheFeed from @andreamarcusa.bsky.social in @mrbullbull.bsky.social

120

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

In which @caitlinohalloran.bsky.social makes me cry, just a little bit. I'd hate it if somebody put red tiles in my bathroom, too. #FlashInTheFeed in @mrbullbull.bsky.social

121

Reposted by Linda M. Bayley

Debbi Voisey @dublinwriter.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

We have a spectacular list of #WritersReading next Thursday 24th at 7pm UK time, with no less than TWO featured readers! More info soon, but get your free audience ticket now - be there or be an equal sided quadrilateral! #writers #reading #stories #books buytickets.at/dublinwriter...

buytickets.at

Select tickets – Writers Reading - Quarterly Zoom Reading Event

Writers Reading - Quarterly Zoom Reading Event, Multiple dates and times - Got a book to promote, or would you like to read us your latest published story? Come along and let us hear your work. You ca...

031

Reposted by Linda M. Bayley

Dawn Tasaka Steffler @dawnsteffler.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

To celebrate Travis Flatt's new chapbook, some of my main squeezes are reading shit that'll blow your socks off. @marioaliberto3.bsky.social @cbigs.bsky.social @elissafield.bsky.social In Two Days! Saturday, Sept 29 @ 6:00 PM EST Wanna play footsie? DM/ message @travisflatt.bsky.social for link.

272

Reposted by Linda M. Bayley

Temple in a city @templeinacity.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Good people of the world, we present our Best small fictions 2027 nominees templeinacity.com/nominations/

Best small fictions

Pam Avoledo, The world’s largest rubber band ball

Matthew Jakubowski, Alight, Astray

Kelly Murashige, The Prize

Beth Sherman, Angel

Alison Wassell, A safe space

1183

Reposted by Linda M. Bayley

Coleman Bigelow @cbigs.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye. Come hear ye the incomparable stylings of @travisflatt.bsky.social. SATURDAY (19th) at 6pm EST. Join for his book launch Such Late Night Radio!!! DM Travis for link. With readers including @marioaliberto3.bsky.social @dawnsteffler.bsky.social list continues…

1104

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

ARgh... and I'm still avoiding my work this morning. #5amwritersclub, how do you face doing the writing that scares you? (Listening to Daisy Chainsaw right now, hoping the adrenaline jolt will help get me over the hill...)

180

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Listen up! On Saturday, September 19 at 6 PM ET, @travisflatt.bsky.social is launching his new chapbook, Such Late Night Radio. I'll be reading at this celebration, and so will many of my favourite writers, like @dawnsteffler.bsky.social @marioaliberto3.bsky.social @thewritelifeliz.bsky.social ...

183

Reposted by Linda M. Bayley

Mario Aliberto 3 @marioaliberto3.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

What are you doing SATURDAY (19th) at 6pm est? Join @travisflatt.bsky.social for his book launch Such Late Night Radio!!! DM Travis for link. Lots of cool readers @lmbayley.bsky.social @cbigs.bsky.social @elissafield.bsky.social @dawnsteffler.bsky.social @thewritelifeliz.bsky.social and more!!!!!

1104

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

New #FlashInTheFeed up at @mrbullbull.bsky.social today. This one comes with a content warning for discussion of suicide. I so appreciate @thedrevlow.bsky.social for his sensitivity with this one.

020

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

and the girl hollers, “watch out, WATCH OUT, WATCH-THE-FUCK-OUT,” #FlashInTheFeed #microfiction from @lizdebeerwriter.bsky.social in @fictivedream.bsky.social today!

030

Reposted by Linda M. Bayley

Suzanne Rent @suzannerent.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor were on CBC Sunday Magazine talking about their book End Times Fascism. Interesting discussion about how AI tech bros are like the evangelical Christian preachers telling followers about the promised land. www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...

cbc.ca

1187

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

"The walls are pale green, the specific pale green chosen by someone in 1937, who believed that color could cure madness the way prayer could cure fever. It cannot." #FlashInTheFeed by Camellia Peebles in @mrbullbull.bsky.social

010

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I usually post links to really great pieces individually but in the case of this issue of @lit-namjooning.bsky.social everything's wonderful. So I'm just gonna recommend that you read all of it. #FlashInTheFeed

1104

Linda M. Bayley @lmbayley.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

"There was no one to ask where the rest of the photos had gone, or if her mother had edited out the parts she found too ugly." @hegelincanada.bsky.social contemplates the problems of memory and aging in this beautiful #FlashInTheFeed, out in @fictivedream.bsky.social .

030