iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 11/05/2025

Fancy writing something a little different this week? www.retreatwest.co.uk/blog/the-sha...

retreatwest.co.uk

The Shape Of Your Story

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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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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Have I mentioned our brand new flash contest? For folklore inspired stories up to 400 words. Closing tomorrow 23:59 westword.substack.com/p/folktale-f...

westword.substack.com

Folktale Flash Contest

This annual competition is for flash fiction stories inspired by folktales, myths, legends, fables and fairytales.

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

ICYMI - start your week right with this stonking story!

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Eleanor Luke @eleanor-luke.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

I’m so thrilled to see my quiet little story, “Handle with Care”, out in the world! A thousand thanks to @rfpress.bsky.social for believing in it. Thanks also to @retreatwest.bsky.social for giving me the prompt and to @ruralunease.bsky.social for helping me get it polished! 💕🙏

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

I hope lots of you are using this final weekend to polish your modern takes on fairytales and fables for our brand new competition westword.substack.com/p/folktale-f...

westword.substack.com

Folktale Flash Contest

This annual competition is for flash fiction stories inspired by folktales, myths, legends, fables and fairytales.

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

I hope lots of you are using this final weekend to polish your modern takes on fairytales and fables for our brand new competition westword.substack.com/p/folktale-f...

westword.substack.com

Folktale Flash Contest

This annual competition is for flash fiction stories inspired by folktales, myths, legends, fables and fairytales.

052

Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

See our Hermit Crab Prize judge in action!

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

I've just made my submission? Who else is getting a last minute entry in today?

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

Each edition of Westword is free to read but did you know as a paid member there is so much more to access? From free competition entries to craft articles and Zoom workshops, there's a plethora of inspiration to keep your writing the best it can be! westword.substack.com/p/subscripti...

westword.substack.com

Memberships

Commit to your writing and become a paid member of WestWord and you can get submissions to all of our editions, prize categories and competitions included, plus workshops and craft articles to help yo...

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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 · 22/04/2025

westword.substack.com

Memberships

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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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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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Avitus B. Carle @avitusbcarle.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

The shortlist for @retreatwest.bsky.social’s 2025 Hermit Crab Prize is here! Congratulations to all the writers listed! I can’t wait to read your words 😍 open.substack.com/pub/westword...

open.substack.com

Shortlist: Hermit Crab Prize

The finalists are...

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

Congratulations to the talented writers on the shortlist! westword.substack.com/p/shortlist-...

westword.substack.com

Shortlist: Hermit Crab Prize

The finalists are...

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

Last day to enter your opening lines for a chance to win an editorial report from a professional editor. 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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Sharon Boyle @sharon54.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

Yay, I have a short story in this by @retreatwest.bsky.social alongside these fabulous writers!

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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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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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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 · 10/04/2025

We're excited to be running a new generative workshop this weekend. 90 minutes of weather related prompts to add tension and electric passages of descriptions to your writing. 🌦️⛈️❄️ 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 · 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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Cole Beauchamp 🏳️‍🌈 📖 @nomad-sw18.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

Excited to have my story "Dancing into the Fire" published in WestWord's @retreatwest.bsky.social ILLUSION edition. I wrote it after a trip to the Swedish Arctic circle - no surprise it features extreme cold ❄️ open.substack.com/pub/westword...

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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

Edition 8 of WestWord has arrived. Six beautiful stories by Lucy Stubbings Lorraine Collins Cole Beauchamp @nomad-sw18.bsky.social JoAnneh Nagler Susan Wigmore and Sharon Boyle @sharon54.bsky.social westword.substack.com/p/edition-8-...

westword.substack.com

Edition 8 - April 2025

Six short fictions

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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 · 08/04/2025

retreatwest.co.uk

Opening Lines Competition

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

023

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?

002

Reposted by Retreat West / WestWord

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 · 06/04/2025

It's deadline day! Your last chance to enter your novel opener and win feedback from a professional editor. www.retreatwest.co.uk/opening-line...

retreatwest.co.uk

Opening Lines Competition

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

031

Reposted by Retreat West / WestWord

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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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.

033

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

Congratulations to @joycebingham.bsky.social on this little stunner (first written in our Flash Focus course) www.neitherfishnorfoul.com/issue-3/brea...

neitherfishnorfoul.com

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

It's deadline day! Just a few hours left to send us your treasures! westword.substack.com/p/deadline-d...

westword.substack.com

Deadline day for 2025 WestWord Prize!

Send us your flash fictions!

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Steven Patchett @stevenpatchett.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

Always a pleasure to be part of the daily flash fiction on @paragraphplanet.bsky.social. 75 words, including the title. My piece, "Smoke Rings" is there now. www.paragraphplanet.com

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

It's deadline day! Just a few hours left to send us your treasures! westword.substack.com/p/deadline-d...

westword.substack.com

Deadline day for 2025 WestWord Prize!

Send us your flash fictions!

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Reposted by Retreat West / WestWord

Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

Two days left to get your entries in! Make us cry, make us laugh. Give us goosebumps!! westword.substack.com/p/westword-p...

westword.substack.com

WestWord Prize

2025 WestWord Prize

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Trash Cat Lit @trashcatlit.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

This will be so good. Martha's workshops are always packed with prompts and challenge your writing. Get booked 🦝

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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

Two days left to get your entries in! Make us cry, make us laugh. Give us goosebumps!! westword.substack.com/p/westword-p...

westword.substack.com

WestWord Prize

2025 WestWord Prize

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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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Retreat West / WestWord @retreatwest.bsky.social · 29/03/2025