CJ Payling
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cjpayling.bsky.social
CJ Payling
@cjpayling.bsky.social
250 followers 560 following 470 posts
CJ is a human generated aspiring author, and a writing competition enthusiast.

You can find all sorts of links at: linktr.ee/cjpayling
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cjpayling.bsky.social
CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · 10d
👀

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Red Dust
C. J. Payling
www.scifishorts.co
cjpayling.bsky.social
I'll probably join the January competition, just to see what all the fuss is about... 👀

#NotQuiteWrite #NotQuiteWritePrize
#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WriterSky #WritingCommunity
#WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritersofBluesky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
notquitewrite.com Not Quite Write @notquitewrite.com · 4d
We've been hinting for a while, but now the secret is out!

The Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction is changing in 2026, and you'll hear all about it in this special announcement of the podcast!

Please like and share to help us get the word out, and let us know what you think in the comments 👇
November 7, 2025 at 9:56 AM
cjpayling.bsky.social
a woman wearing a mask with the words remember written on it
ALT: a woman wearing a mask with the words remember written on it
media.tenor.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:27 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
Yes! Success in writing a story...
Whether it's scary enough is another matter entirely.

Also, only 8 hours left on the clock... few!

#ScaryStoryChallenge
#NYCMidnight
#Writer #WritingCompetition #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritersofBluesky #WriterSky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
November 2, 2025 at 8:59 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
👀

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Red Dust
C. J. Payling
www.scifishorts.co
November 1, 2025 at 5:47 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
Ultimately, I'm up against 3,662 other writers.
Practically, I'm up against the other 40-ish writers in my group.

Good luck everyone!

#ScaryStoryChallenge
#NYCMidnight
#Writer #WritingCompetition #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritersofBluesky #WriterSky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
November 1, 2025 at 7:12 AM
cjpayling.bsky.social
This very nearly passed me by... but I'm in!

#NYCMidnight
#Writer #WritingCompetition #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritersofBluesky #WriterSky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
October 31, 2025 at 1:45 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
I had a bit of a tidy this week. I pulled out everything from in my office, gave it a massive clean and put everything back in a different order.

This is my new desk setup... what do you think?

#DeskSetup #HomeOffice

#Writer #WriterSky #WritingCommunity
#Reader #ReaderSky #ReadingCommunity
October 30, 2025 at 7:38 AM
cjpayling.bsky.social
I've done it!

There's no way I can DNF now!

#NotQuiteWritePrize
#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WritingCommunity
#WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritersofBluesky #WriterSky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
October 25, 2025 at 3:50 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
I'm doing it!

I will not DNF this time! I'm in! I have a draft and I'll be entering before the required time. Yes!

#NotQuiteWritePrize
#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WritingCommunity
#WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritersofBluesky #WriterSky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
October 25, 2025 at 12:15 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
This was a recent read for me and I must say, a very enjoyable experience. Soon I'll move on to the rest in the series... I can't wait!

#Reader #ReaderSky #ReadingCommunity
October 20, 2025 at 6:33 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
Done!

After much editing and tightening and editing, I have a passable story. We'll see what happens from here...

#TheBoobyPrize
#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WritersofBluesky #WritingCommunity
#WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WriterSky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
October 19, 2025 at 6:35 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
Yep, it was all me. I forgot to post yesterday. And then left it for a good 18-ish hours... 👀

#NotQuiteWritePrize
#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WriterSky #WritingCommunity
#WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritersofBluesky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
notquitewrite.com Not Quite Write @notquitewrite.com · 24d
No, YOU forgot to post yesterday 👀

It's now just SIX DAYS until the LAST EVER anti-prompt drop!

This is set to be a history-making round you won't wanna miss...

Who's already got their ticket?
October 18, 2025 at 7:10 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
I've received prompts
I have a rough outline
And now I'm off to the Seven Hills Whisky Festival

sevenhillswhiskyfestival.co.uk

www.theboobyprize.co.uk

#TheBoobyPrize
#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WriterSky #WritingCommunity
#WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritersofBluesky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
October 18, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Reposted by CJ Payling
headofzeus.bsky.social
Happy #BookshopDay everyone! Will you be visiting a bookshop today? What titles do you have your eye on?
Promotional poster for Bookshop Day featuring a vibrant illustration of diverse people engaging in activities outside bookstores lining a city street. Notable elements include signs reading 'Vintage' and 'Books,' and people holding books. Event details include 'Bookshop Day Saturday 11 October' and hashtags '@booksaremybag #BookshopDay'.
October 11, 2025 at 8:00 AM
cjpayling.bsky.social
I'm in!

www.theboobyprize.co.uk

#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WriterSky #WritingCommunity
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
#TheBoobyPrize
October 8, 2025 at 5:40 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
Alas! I did not place within my group... it seems I needed more story in my story 😕

Still, entering competitions like these reveal our strengths as well as our weaknesses

@nycmidnight.bsky.social

#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WriterSky #WritingCommunity #FlashFiction #NYCMidnight #NYCM500
October 2, 2025 at 8:14 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
They arrived yesterday... I can't wait to get down my reading list so I can read them 👀

@northodoxpress.bsky.social
@pensandpizza.bsky.social
@criponatrip.bsky.social

#GreenLaughing
#GildedGear
#Reader #ReaderSky #ReadingCommunity
September 23, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Reposted by CJ Payling
penstricken.bsky.social
We are vaguely contemplating looking for a volunteer reader to help us work through submissions for future issues.

Maybe. Not sure yet, but we're thinking about it. 🤔
September 12, 2025 at 12:04 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
Not bad!

I landed somewhere in the middle of the pack. An average score, if you will. But looks at those trophies!

#TwistedTournament
#TwistintheTale
#FlashFiction #WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritingCommunity #WritersofBluesky
#Writer #WriterSky #WritingCompetition

@twistinthetale.bsky.social
September 11, 2025 at 7:39 AM
cjpayling.bsky.social
I read a book... wrote a few words...

#Reader #ReadingCommunity #ReaderSky #ReadersofInstagram
#SciFi #Books #BookReview #BookSky
#PierceBrown #GoldenSon
#WhoNeedsABlog #WNAB
Who Needs A Blog With Book Reviews? Golden Son
Why would anyone want to know what I thought about books?
cjpayling.wordpress.com
September 8, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Reposted by CJ Payling
penstricken.bsky.social
Don't forget to enter our flash fiction competition 👉🏻 penstricken.com/competitions

#fiction #flashfiction
Competitions
Competitions Winter 2025 Flash Fiction Competition Subtext: the delicate art of saying one thing while meaning another. It’s also one of those things that separates good writing from exceptio…
penstricken.com
September 7, 2025 at 2:54 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
Very honoured...

#WritingBattle
#Summer2025NanoFiction
#FlashFiction #WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritingCommunity #WritersofBluesky
#Writer #WriterSky #WritingCompetition

@writingbattle.bsky.social
September 5, 2025 at 7:41 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
It's arrived!

@garethlpowell.bsky.social

#Reader #ReaderSky #ReadingCommunity
#SciFi #ShortStory
#WhoWillYouSave #GarethLPowell
September 3, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Reposted by CJ Payling
ratbaglit.bsky.social
We are accepting only 38 submissions between Sep 13-15, but you can submit two! (Because drabbles are small, like us rats.)

#ratbag #ratbaglit #drabble #drabbles #writing #writers #microfiction #writingcommunity #submissions #literarymagazine #litmag #writer #nanofiction
August 31, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Reposted by CJ Payling
beelitmag.bsky.social
Often mistaken for a middle-class Oxbridge graduate, much to his annoyance. In fact a great champion of working-class talent, and supporter of what we're trying to do. This interview seems to have pleasantly surprised a few people, hope you enjoy it:
Mark Gatiss, the boy that Dr Who books made
The League of Gentlemen star and creator of Bookish on his work, snobbery in the arts, and advice for working-class writers.
thebeemagazine.com
August 24, 2025 at 12:29 PM