iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Martha Lane

Full House Literary @fullhouselitmag.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

Martha has an incredible piece in our latest issue 👏

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Martha Lane @marthawrites.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

What an issue! Delighted to be included!

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Martha Lane @marthawrites.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

I entered the very first FFF comp and I love how much it's grown. Am absolutely delighted to be back in the comforting folds of its longlist!! Am so intrigued by all of these titles too!

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Martha Lane @marthawrites.bsky.social · 27/07/2025

Taking bets for what time grantium is actually up and running next week. Any advances on Wednesday 23:37?

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Martha Lane @marthawrites.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

At an overpriced museum in London, not participating, just reloading the grantium sign in page over and over #liveinthemoment

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Sara Hills @sarahillswrites.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Congratulations to WestWord Prize 2025 winners @quickasaflash.bsky.social, @joycebingham.bsky.social, Charlie Swailes and everyone on the shortlist. Thank you for trusting me with your work — what a fantastic selection of stories! 🌟🌟🌟 westword.substack.com/p/westword-p...

westword.substack.com

WestWord Prize 2025 Winners

Read the winning and shortlisted stories

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Martha Lane @marthawrites.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

The shortlist (and longlist to be honest) was hit after hit. Congrats to some very worthy winners!!

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Martha Lane @marthawrites.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

Coming soon at the Mslexia Salon...

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National Flash Fiction Day @natflashfictionday.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

We’re very excited to reveal the cover and title for this year’s anthology. It’s available to pre-order on Kindle & from our bookshop. Many thanks to @jeanettesheppard.bsky.social for the image & @sudhab.bsky.social for the title: www.nationalflashfictionday.co.uk/index.php/bo...

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

A huge congratulations to our shortlist! westword.substack.com/p/westword-p...

westword.substack.com

WestWord Prize 2025 Shortlist

The stories we’ll be publishing are...

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Jo Gatford @jmgatford.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

This month I’ve mostly been thinking about the length of things (*stories* — get your mind out of the gutter)… fixioning.substack.com/p/writing-st...

A black and white image of wiggly strands of yarn. Overlaid text says: Writing string theory (How long? How short? How do you know?) Fixion Lessons from April. By Jo Gatford at The Joy of Fixion on Substack.

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Martha Lane @marthawrites.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Just two days left to enter and help us raise money for @cftrustuk.bsky.social

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

Wonderful news for our longlisted writers! Congratulations to everyone who recognises their title www.retreatwest.co.uk/blog/opening...

retreatwest.co.uk

Opening Lines Spring 2025 Longlist

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Martha Lane @marthawrites.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

Showed the 11yo Hundreds of Beavers. Her reaction? 'What is this? I bloody love it.' The greatest accolade of all time

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Martha Lane @marthawrites.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

There are still two weeks to raise money for a fantastic cause and be in with a chance of winning £170 and bragging rights for days! Send us your best before 27th April thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...

thepropellingpencil.com

Spring 2025 Competition – The Propelling PencilExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandTwitterToggle MenuExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpand

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Trash Cat Lit @trashcatlit.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

We've added a little extra time to get those Collectors/ Collections themed flashes in to us. Up to 1000 words, any genre. We love a strong story, interesting characters and a compelling narrative voice. trashcatlit.com/flash-pop-up...

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Martha Lane @marthawrites.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

Last chance to book for tomorrow morning's workshop!

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

Deadline extended! Due to technical difficulties over the weekend, we are giving you an extra week to submit your opening lines for a chance to win an editorial report from a professional editor. New deadline: 13th April www.retreatwest.co.uk/opening-line...

retreatwest.co.uk

Opening Lines Competition

Annual competition to win an editorial report on your novel manuscript.

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

And we're really excited to be hosting our first poetry workshop this month! Join Pauline Sewards whatever experience you have. Sunday 27th April 1pm - 3pm (BST) www.tickettailor.com/events/retre...?

tickettailor.com

Book here – Ways into Poetry – Zoom

Join us to get started, or continue, on your poetry journey. This interactive workshop is suitable for experienced and beginner...

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

What aspects of writing craft would you like to see covered over the next few months?

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Dan Crawley @danbillyc.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

"Music strums through him, the tapping foot of the banjo player like his glorious heart." I love all the amazing sensory details (and perfect last lines!) in this story by @nomad-sw18.bsky.social in @retreatwest.bsky.social 💙💙💙

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

What is your favourite twist ending? Have you ever tried writing one? www.retreatwest.co.uk/blog/gotcha-...

retreatwest.co.uk

Gotcha! Twist Endings

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

Great news - our Spring Charity Flash Fiction competition is now OPEN! @judehwriter2.bsky.social is our Guest Judge and our charity for this round is @cftrustuk.bsky.social 500 words, £170 in prizes, deadline 27 April Details are here thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-... Send your best!

thepropellingpencil.com

Spring 2025 Competition – The Propelling PencilExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandTwitterToggle MenuExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpand

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

retreatwest.co.uk

Opening Lines Competition

Annual competition to win an editorial report on your novel manuscript.

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

Can you imagine Jurassic Park without the rain? In the Heat of the Night without the humidity? Exactly. Weather can add a new layer of depth and texture to your storytelling. Join Martha Lane on Sunday 13th April for 90 minutes of meteorological prompts www.tickettailor.com/events/retre...?

tickettailor.com

Book here – Red Sky at Night – Zoom

In this workshop we'll work together to explore how the atmospheric conditions of your stories can really work for you. Patheti...

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Fancy winning a review from a professional editor to help you take your novel the next level? Submit the opening lines of your manuscript before the 6th April! www.retreatwest.co.uk/opening-line...

retreatwest.co.uk

Opening Lines Competition

Annual competition to win an editorial report on your novel manuscript.

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Martha Lane @marthawrites.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

The wind is howling today. It's giving me lots of ideas!

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

📢It's officially klaxon time!!📢 There are only three days left to get your entries into this year's WestWord Prize. 1,000 words £10 entry fee £400 top prize Enter before 31st March westword.substack.com/p/westword-p...

westword.substack.com

WestWord Prize

2025 WestWord Prize

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Martha Lane @marthawrites.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

I'm really looking forward to this one! Red Sky at Night Sunday 13th April 10:30 AM - 12 PM (BST)

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Some lovely Tuesday news!! A massive congratulations to our First Chapter winners 🎉 www.retreatwest.co.uk/blog/winter2...

retreatwest.co.uk

First Chapter Competition Winners

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Martha Lane @marthawrites.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

We now have a teenager in the house! Doesn't look a day over eight

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Martha Lane @marthawrites.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

Who's joining us tonight? Eleanor Anstruther gives us the low down on serialising your novels 7 - 8:30pm (GMT)

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

Wanting to enter but still looking for ideas? Community members can access a whole archive of Retreat West workshops just brimming with prompts and inspiration!

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Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

If you’re looking for inspiration @marthawrites.bsky.social runs a great #writingworkshop #creativewriting. Just don’t eat the apples. 🍎

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Martha Lane @marthawrites.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Poisoned apples, birthday cakes for those no longer with us, baby's first meal, a prisoner's last... Food can be an interesting way to get to the heart of a story. Join me this Sunday for 90 mins of food based prompts to whet your creative appetite!

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

We have two new workshops coming next weekend. Join Eleanor Anstruther on Saturday and explore why serialising your novel might be just the thing for you. And on Sunday, Martha Lane has 90 minutes jam-packed with food based prompts to whet your creative appetite!

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

This month's craft post at WestWord is about plotting vs pantsing... Which are you? westword.substack.com/p/plotting-v...

westword.substack.com

Plotting vs Pantsing

The ultimate battle

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Martha Lane @marthawrites.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

ICYMI Absolutely delighted to place second amongst a raft of incredible micros!

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

Happening tomorrow!

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

If you're still working on your WestWord Prize entry, this is a must read! Amazing insights from our judge Sara Hills on what she thinks makes the best flash fiction. westword.substack.com/p/capsules-o...

westword.substack.com

Capsules of Wonder

Sara Hills on what makes flash fiction shine

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Martha Lane @marthawrites.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

Excuse me while I go and get this framed!!

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Matt Kendrick @mattkendrick.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

"I killed the muffin man, slit his throat as he slept. Humpty, Hickory, Horner too" So much invention here - great voice, wonderfully lyrical, brilliantly full of attack. "Too Late for Lullabies" by @marthawrites.bsky.social www.nationalflashfictionday.co.uk/index.php/co...

nationalflashfictionday.co.uk

2025 Microfiction Results

The 2025 National Flash Fiction Day Microfiction Competition was judged by: Sudha Balagopal Rebecca Field James Montgomery Sherry Morris The winning and highly commended stories can be read below a…

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