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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

News from the Propelling Pencil case. It's au revoir for now (well it will be in March). Thanks for all the stories and good company since we began way back in the Autumn of 2021. Time for me to focus on new things - but please keep writing! thepropellingpencil.com/propelling-p...

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Propelling Pencil Update – The Propelling Pencil

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

Congratulations to the Winners of our Charity Flash Competition, judged by @judehwriter2.bsky.social. Commiserations to our shortlisters whose stories weren't picked (they were all FAB!) and thanks to all who entered thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

Our Spring 25 competition Shortlist is live! Well done to all the stories that are here and good luck to those that were left out this time - we know they'll find great homes soon Please celebrate anonymously while @judehwriter2.bsky.social does her judging! thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

Heres' the LONGLIST OF Spring Charity Flash Competition in aid of @cftrustuk.bsky.social Please celebrate without revealing which story is yours if you're featured. Sorry to those not included and thanks to all for your support! thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

If you've not booked already - what are you waiting for?! There are even some free places (accommodation not included) for marginalised writers. Take a look and get yourselves booked before all the spots are gone!

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

And that's it for this round, folks. Our Charity Flash Competition closed at midnight and the readers have all your wonderful stories in hand. Lonlisting will be towards the end of the week of 12 May so keep your eyes peeled 👀 Thanks to everyone who entered!

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Six hours to deadline, people! Send us your <500 word story, support @cftrustuk.bsky.social and maybe win a prize! Readers are standing by. Details of how to enter are below: £5 or free + if you send an extra £5 our readers will give you feedback. @judehwriter2.bsky.social guest judging. Details ⬇️

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Scramble! Come on folks - this is your non-running way to raise money for charity today. Don't miss your chance! We're open until midnight BST.

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Flash Fiction writers - you have TWO DAYS left to get your <500word story to us, support @cftrustuk.bsky.social and maybe win a prize of £100. £5 or FREE to enter, £5 for Reader Feedback on top which people have found to be an excellent bargain. Details below ⬇️

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

Counting down the days to the deadline (Sunday 27 Apr) to enter our Spring Charity Flash Fiction Competition in aid of @cftrustuk.bsky.social £170 in prizes @judehwriter2.bsky.social guest judging. £5 or FREE to enter, £5 for feedback from our readers. What's stopping you? details below

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

It's sunny and the entries are rolling in for our Charity Flash Fiction Competition. You might as well join in! £170 in prizes, @judehwriter2.bsky.social guest judging, proceeds to @cftrustuk.bsky.social And you can get feedback from our superb readers for an extra £5. £5 or free to enter. Details⬇️

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

Holy moly it's Hump Day. Thank heavens. We'll be looking out for you at our free online writing retreat this Saturday, 10am-4pm GMT. Bring whatever project you like and drop in/out aorund your other commitments. Details and sign up are below

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

Jude Higgins everyone! What a legend of flash fiction. Please send her your stories. Our first entries are already in the pencilcase!

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

Happy Monday! For those feeling sad they're not writing today, worry not! We're hosting another free writing retreat on Saturday 28 March from 10am-4pm GMT. Grab yourself a spot - deatils and sign up are here forms.gle/GikDGYqY7A9M...

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The Propelling Pencil Free Online Writing Retreat

Saturday 28th March 2025 10am-4pm GMT via Zoom Complete the form and put the date in your diary. We will email you the Zoom link before the workshop.

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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!

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

Final Call to sign up for our free writing retreat tomorrow on Zoom. We'll be scribing from 10am - 4pm with cheering encouragement from EIC and Creative Coach, Audrey Niven (me!) Sign yourselves up by 10pm this evening. thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

Sorry Not been much on socials but next SATURDAY you can join us for our free online writing retreat. Bring any project you like. 10am check in, wrapping up at 4pm. It's magical - knowing others are in a zoom window focuses the writerly mind. Sign up here thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

Three weeks today (how did that happen?) we'll be hosting our FEBRUARY FREE Online Writing Retreat. Pack your pencils, prep your project, daydream about the snacks you'll be earning and book yourself a space. Details are here. 15 Feb, 10am-4pm GMT thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

Hello! We're back in action with a FREE online Writing Retreat on Saturday 15 Feb from 10am-4pm. Join us for a no-pressure, friendly-faced few hours of accountability and quiet companionship while you write your socks off. Details here thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

Happy New Year, writer pals! Let's kick this thing off with our January retreats - online on 4 Jan and our first ever IN-PERSON Central London retreat on 18 Jan. All the details you need below. Write yourself the year you want!

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

Exciting times ahead. You can now book your spot at our first IN PERSON writing retreat in Covent Garden on 18 January. And if that's not soon enough, you can join us for our next FREE online retreat on 4 January. All the info you need is here thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Hey writer buddies in London/London adjacent. We are hosting our first ever in-person writing retreat in Covent Garden on 18 Jan, 10am-4pm. Mark your calendars and stand by for booking info!

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

Hello - in case we haven't made enough noise about this (we haven't made much at all, TBF) we are running a FREE online writing retreat Saturday 7 December 10am-4pm Info and sign-up details are here BYO writing materials, snacks, drinks, blankets. thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Hot on the heels of Issue 2, we're thrilled to announce our first ever Pushcart Prize nominations. Congratulations @drewgum.bsky.social @jprelph.bsky.social @juliaruthsmith.bsky.social @judehwriter2.bsky.social Sue Pearson and Debbi Voisey (if they're here, pls tag them!)

Pushcart Nominations 2024 from The Propelling Pencil dot com
• Days of Thunder by Drew Gummerson
• The Unwinding of Twisted things by Julia Ruth Smith
• The Year of the Big Lambeg Drum by Sue Pearson
• Can’t Kill the Spirit by Jude Higgins
• Since Billy by Debbi Voisey
• The bucket list for attaining rapture at forty-two by JP Relph

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

What a delight - at the end of a difficult year - to publish Issue 2 of our journal, a selection of 9 shortlisted stories. These are our EIC, Audrey's, pick. We hope you enjoy them. thepropellingpencil.com/issue-two/

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

What a joy to host @stephaniecarty.bsky.social book launch for A Safe Place this evening. Thanks to everyone who came, to Stephanie for sharing so much valuable insight into her writing process and everyone who asked such great questions. You can buy your copy here www.amazon.co.uk/Safe-Place-B...

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Hello to any and all who've followed us back after a bit of Flash/Short Fiction Starter Packing. We are small but mighty. We run a charity flash fiction competition twice a year and will be programming more journal issues in 2025. Watch out for our first ever nominations this week!

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Hello - we're here and still over there, but hopefully mostly here! Please send your writerly friends our way for the following TREATS

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 19/04/2024

Oh and if you're not coming to our helpful FREE flash fiction workshop to help you finesse a story for our charity competition - who even are you? Bag yourself a spot here thepropellingpencil.com/workshops/

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 19/04/2024

9 Days left to submit your 500 word story, be in with a chance of winning £100 first prize AND benefit @Shelter Our readers are lovely and will even share feedback for an extra £5. All the info you need is here thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2024-...

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 22/11/2023

Big Competition News! Please celebrate our Autumn23 Winners 1/ @kimmurdock.bsky.social, 2/ @rosaleenlynch.bsky.social, 3/ @maireadwrites.bsky.social. You can read their stories, as selected by @helenrye.bsky.social here thepropellingpencil.com/autumn-2023-...

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 06/11/2023

Shortlist Newsflash⚡⚡Now live on our website. Well done all whose stories feature and commiserations to those that don't. It was a close-run thing! Please celebrate anonymously for now while @helenrye.bsky.social does her judging magic 🪄 thepropellingpencil.com/autumn-2023-...

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 30/10/2023

Big news! Our Autumn CHarity Competition longlist is now LIVE. Well done to all on the list and commisserations to those who don't feature. Please celebrate without giving away your titles, as judge @helenrye.bsky.social will be judging anonymously thepropellingpencil.com/autumn-2023-...

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 14/10/2023

G'day - how's your writing shaping up? If your short fiction is unravelling or failing to ravel or whatever... there's still time to bag a spot at our editing workshop 3pm BST today. Come and watch me edit one of my stories live & work on your own. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/7167592451...

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 13/10/2023

Our Short Fiction live Editing Workshop last night went down a storm so if you fancy signing up for the Saturday 3pm BST session tomorrow, you can bag a seat here. Bring a story to work on and get a ton of tips and tricks. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/7167592451...

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 07/10/2023

Hey fans of SubClub23, this might be a handy resource now

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 06/10/2023

Hello Hello! Counting down our competition deadline. @electrarhodes.bsky.social is hosting a workshop at @retreatwest.bsky.social which might help you along Send your <500 word stories for £150 in prizes. £5 or £0 to enter, proceeds to The Trussell Trust thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2023-...

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 03/10/2023

How's your 500 word entry to our charity flash fiction coming along? We're open until midnight on Sunday 8 October. Fancy some prompts? Ok here we go:

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 01/10/2023

Good morning October! Flash writer friends - you have a WEEK to complete your 500 words and enter our Autumn comp. Win £150 in prizes and support the Trussell Trust. @helenrye.bsky.social judging. thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2023-...

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 27/09/2023

Last ever chance to join SubClub to get your writing out into the world! Thursday 28th at 8pm and Saturday 30th at 11am Bookable below www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/7167391851...

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 25/09/2023

Ooft - busy old workshop day yesterday. If you've been writing and haven't the courage/confidence/ knowledge to send your work out into the world, you should come along to SubClub23 this Thursday evening and Saturday morning. Details are here thepropellingpencil.com/workshops/

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 23/09/2023

And while we're here, we're having a right old laugh that we scheduled our Autumn Charity Flash Competition deadline on the same day as Bath. But sure, you've all got multiple stories haven't you? And we take simultaneous submissions too! All details below

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 23/09/2023

Hello new followers! We have an issue out - our firs one! Here's a story by @fabwrites.bsky.social which we absolutely love. What Everybody Knows ... thepropellingpencil.com/what-everybo...

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 22/09/2023

Lots of flash workshops happening this weekend (inc our own) so y’all should be in good time w your entries to our Autumn charity flash competition. £150 in prizes @helenrye.bsky.social judging, deadline 8 Oct thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2023-...

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 21/09/2023

Thinking of entering our Autumn Charity Flash competition but looking for inspiration? Come and join us on Sunday 24 Sept for a free workshop with lots of prompts and writing time. Sign up here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/7167511409...

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 20/09/2023

Come and join us for inspiration and tips on submitting your writing to competitions, Journals. Editors…

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 19/09/2023

SubClub is our quarterly workshop to gain confidence, Inspiration and encouragement to submit work to the world - no matter what you write, it’s a great wee hour. Book for Thursday 28/9 at 8pm or Saturday 30/9 at 11am £7 or free www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/7167391851...

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The Propelling Pencil @proppencil.bsky.social · 19/09/2023

While we're here - we've got a free flash workshop on Sunday to help writers draft entries for our Autumn competition (closes 8 Oct) Book the free workshop on Sunday 24 Sept at 4pm here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-flash...

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