Gillian O’Shaughnessy
@gilloshaughnessy.bsky.social
▪️Relentless optimist.
▪️Salt City Runaway, debut story collection out in 2026
▪️Sub Editor- SmokeLong Quarterly
▪️Best Small Fictions 23, 24, 25.
▪️Salt City Runaway, debut story collection out in 2026
▪️Sub Editor- SmokeLong Quarterly
▪️Best Small Fictions 23, 24, 25.
Reposted by Gillian O’Shaughnessy
For the early birds, @ruthabrandt.bsky.social and I would love for you to join us as we shepherd a lovely group of writers through a relaxing and fruitfully creative writing retreat:
www.mattkendrick.co.uk/writing-retr...
Apply by THIS FRIDAY for equal consideration.
www.mattkendrick.co.uk/writing-retr...
Apply by THIS FRIDAY for equal consideration.
February 17, 2026 at 9:38 AM
For the early birds, @ruthabrandt.bsky.social and I would love for you to join us as we shepherd a lovely group of writers through a relaxing and fruitfully creative writing retreat:
www.mattkendrick.co.uk/writing-retr...
Apply by THIS FRIDAY for equal consideration.
www.mattkendrick.co.uk/writing-retr...
Apply by THIS FRIDAY for equal consideration.
Reposted by Gillian O’Shaughnessy
Yes, you *do* still have time to get your #FlashFiction entry in to @natflashfictionday.bsky.social 2026 anthology call & micro comp.
But you'd better get a shift on.
All submission bridges drawn up at 23:59 (GMT), TODAY, 15 FEB.
Enter through the website: www.nationalflashfictionday.co.uk
But you'd better get a shift on.
All submission bridges drawn up at 23:59 (GMT), TODAY, 15 FEB.
Enter through the website: www.nationalflashfictionday.co.uk
National Flash Fiction Day
Save the Date: we're celebrating the next National Flash Fiction Day on 13 June 2026!
www.nationalflashfictionday.co.uk
February 15, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Yes, you *do* still have time to get your #FlashFiction entry in to @natflashfictionday.bsky.social 2026 anthology call & micro comp.
But you'd better get a shift on.
All submission bridges drawn up at 23:59 (GMT), TODAY, 15 FEB.
Enter through the website: www.nationalflashfictionday.co.uk
But you'd better get a shift on.
All submission bridges drawn up at 23:59 (GMT), TODAY, 15 FEB.
Enter through the website: www.nationalflashfictionday.co.uk
Brilliant selection @kathrynreese.bsky.social so looking forward to reading these!
This month's #Mondettes picked by
@kathrynreese.bsky.social
⚡Ten wonderful flash fictions
🔍Ten splashes of analysis as to why Kathryn made these brilliant picks
🪴Three fantastic prompts to get you writing
mondettes.substack.com/p/february-2...
@kathrynreese.bsky.social
⚡Ten wonderful flash fictions
🔍Ten splashes of analysis as to why Kathryn made these brilliant picks
🪴Three fantastic prompts to get you writing
mondettes.substack.com/p/february-2...
February 2026
Ten stories picked by Kathryn Reese
mondettes.substack.com
February 17, 2026 at 11:38 AM
Brilliant selection @kathrynreese.bsky.social so looking forward to reading these!
Huzzah! Thrilled to be on the longlist!! Congratulations all! 🎉
Congratulations to the 50 writers selected for our 32nd Award longlist and thank you to everyone who entered. www.bathflashfictionaward.com/2026/02/long...
Longlist February 2026
Congratulations to all the authors who have made our Award long list and huge thanks to all who entered.Author names are yet to be announced, so while it is fine to share that you are on the long l…
www.bathflashfictionaward.com
February 16, 2026 at 11:25 PM
Huzzah! Thrilled to be on the longlist!! Congratulations all! 🎉
Thank you 🦉🦉🦉
A moving piece for a rainy Valentine's Day (like in Singapore rightj now) "Vessels" by @gilloshaughnessy.bsky.social in Issue 1. literarynamjooning.wixsite.com/litnam/post/...
February 14, 2026 at 11:23 AM
Thank you 🦉🦉🦉
🍓🍓🍓
Love at a breakfast buffet? Sweet as straweberries, this one. Non-fiction by @karinhedet.bsky.social in Issue 1. Read "Alpine Strawberries" here: literarynamjooning.wixsite.com/litnam/post/...
February 14, 2026 at 11:22 AM
🍓🍓🍓
Love the intensity of this beauty
Sometimes love is a little grumpy too. We absolutely love the moodiness & the longing in this nonfiction piece by @biddablesheep in Issue 1. literarynamjooning.wixsite.com/litnam/post/...
#happyvalentinesday
#happyvalentinesday
February 14, 2026 at 11:22 AM
Love the intensity of this beauty
Reposted by Gillian O’Shaughnessy
Let’s gooooooooo! 🤓🐈⬛
Join us, humans!
Join us, humans!
February 10, 2026 at 9:02 PM
Let’s gooooooooo! 🤓🐈⬛
Join us, humans!
Join us, humans!
Fantastic interview with superstar @patriciaqbidar.bsky.social from the brilliant @mynachang.bsky.social
mynachang.com/2026/02/05/a...
mynachang.com/2026/02/05/a...
Author Interview * Patricia Quintana Bidar
Patricia Quintana Bidar’s collection, Pardon Me for Moonwalking (2025 Unsolicited Press), is filled with quirky characters who, nevertheless, feel absolutely real. These are people living on the ed…
mynachang.com
February 5, 2026 at 11:09 PM
Fantastic interview with superstar @patriciaqbidar.bsky.social from the brilliant @mynachang.bsky.social
mynachang.com/2026/02/05/a...
mynachang.com/2026/02/05/a...
Love this ravishing journal AND this luminous writer. @claudineliterary.bsky.social @mynachang.bsky.social
"Chang’s prose lets us float on the idea, and for a moment, breathe the world in and dream. Sometimes—maybe—it’s enough to touch the possibility of something more."
This review from Claudine Lit left me teary-eyed. Huge thanks to @claudineliterary.bsky.social ❤️
Off to read the rest of the issue!
This review from Claudine Lit left me teary-eyed. Huge thanks to @claudineliterary.bsky.social ❤️
Off to read the rest of the issue!
The Potential of Radio and Rain | A Review
www.claudineliterary.net
February 5, 2026 at 11:06 PM
Love this ravishing journal AND this luminous writer. @claudineliterary.bsky.social @mynachang.bsky.social
Love this darkly beautiful bear story by @belindarowe.bsky.social in @centaurlit.bsky.social
centaurlit.com/grizzly-bear...
centaurlit.com/grizzly-bear...
Grizzly Bear by Belinda Rowe | Centaur
centaurlit.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:17 AM
Love this darkly beautiful bear story by @belindarowe.bsky.social in @centaurlit.bsky.social
centaurlit.com/grizzly-bear...
centaurlit.com/grizzly-bear...
Oh this is such sad news!
Hey all, @beansbaker5.bsky.social here. After much deliberation, and many missed deadlines, we've decided to end submissions to JAKE indefinitely on Feb. 15th (two weeks from today). All open submissions will receive a response, and all announced/scheduled work will release, but we're winding down.
February 3, 2026 at 6:03 AM
Oh this is such sad news!
Does it EVER! I am so grateful to ALL my village! I’m so lucky 🩷🩷🩷
MY BOOK! MY BOOK! MY BOOK!!
February 3, 2026 at 5:15 AM
Does it EVER! I am so grateful to ALL my village! I’m so lucky 🩷🩷🩷
MY BOOK! MY BOOK! MY BOOK!!
February 3, 2026 at 1:43 AM
MY BOOK! MY BOOK! MY BOOK!!
Thrilled my story, Blue Car, Red Truck will appear in the Ghost Parachute anthology with so many of my favourite authors. Thanks @brettpribble.bsky.social & Brett J Barr for the beautiful artwork 🚙🚒
ghostparachute.com/issue/februa...
ghostparachute.com/issue/februa...
Blue Car, Red Truck — Ghost Parachute
Peanut plays games in her head with the traffic as it passes. Two green cars in a row and her dad will be almost on time. A yellow truck and a motorbike, he’ll be here before lunch. Black car, white r...
ghostparachute.com
February 1, 2026 at 11:42 PM
Thrilled my story, Blue Car, Red Truck will appear in the Ghost Parachute anthology with so many of my favourite authors. Thanks @brettpribble.bsky.social & Brett J Barr for the beautiful artwork 🚙🚒
ghostparachute.com/issue/februa...
ghostparachute.com/issue/februa...
Oh wow!! Thank you People!! That’s amazing! Thank you Welkin! Congratulations to J.M.C Kane, I love your story SO much. My heart.
The people have SPOKEN!!!
And the winners of the people's prize are @gilloshaughnessy.bsky.social and J.M.C. Kane.
Congratulations!!!
Links to their brilliant micros below 👇
And the winners of the people's prize are @gilloshaughnessy.bsky.social and J.M.C. Kane.
Congratulations!!!
Links to their brilliant micros below 👇
February 1, 2026 at 1:02 PM
Oh wow!! Thank you People!! That’s amazing! Thank you Welkin! Congratulations to J.M.C Kane, I love your story SO much. My heart.
Cinematic. Glorious. 🎶🎶🎶
FIRST PLACE in the Welkin Writing Prize 2026, "August 4, 2020" by Yara Zgheib. A swirling evocation of destruction and chaos juxtaposed with the haunting beauty of music:
www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...
www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...
August 4, 2020 | MattKendrick.co.uk
www.mattkendrick.co.uk
January 31, 2026 at 1:11 PM
Cinematic. Glorious. 🎶🎶🎶
Stunning, stunning, stunning, stunning
SECOND PLACE in the Welkin Writing Prize 2026, "What Stays Behind" by Muntasir Salman. A powerhouse of a micro with so much buried inside its one hundred words:
www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...
www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...
What Stays Behind | MattKendrick.co.uk
www.mattkendrick.co.uk
January 30, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Stunning, stunning, stunning, stunning
Reposted by Gillian O’Shaughnessy
Now that all the shortlist (barring my winners!) have been published, you can vote for your favourites in the PEOPLE'S PRIZE!!
You've got until the 31st Jan to cast your vote.
Vote for 3 stories.
The 2 stories with the most votes share the crown!!
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
You've got until the 31st Jan to cast your vote.
Vote for 3 stories.
The 2 stories with the most votes share the crown!!
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
The Welkin Mini 2026 - PEOPLE'S PRIZE Voting Form
Vote for your favourite THREE stories from the Welkin Mini shortlist. You can vote for THREE stories. Each vote must be for a DIFFERENT story otherwise your entire vote won't be counted. Each vote is ...
docs.google.com
January 26, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Now that all the shortlist (barring my winners!) have been published, you can vote for your favourites in the PEOPLE'S PRIZE!!
You've got until the 31st Jan to cast your vote.
Vote for 3 stories.
The 2 stories with the most votes share the crown!!
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
You've got until the 31st Jan to cast your vote.
Vote for 3 stories.
The 2 stories with the most votes share the crown!!
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Ha! This is wonderful @emilyrinkema.bsky.social Congratulations!
HIGHLY COMMENDED in the Welkin Writing Prize 2026, "Time for Tom to Go" by @emilyrinkema.bsky.social. A wonderfully original relationship exploration with so much verve at the level of words:
www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...
www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...
Time for Tom to Go | MattKendrick.co.uk
www.mattkendrick.co.uk
January 29, 2026 at 10:25 PM
Ha! This is wonderful @emilyrinkema.bsky.social Congratulations!
So powerful. Congratulations @anibanerjee.bsky.social
THIRD PLACE in the Welkin Writing Prize 2026, "That Witch, Gopa Devi, She Burn" by @anibanerjee.bsky.social.
A story that crackles from beginning to end, propulsive and powerful:
www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...
A story that crackles from beginning to end, propulsive and powerful:
www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...
That Witch, Gopa Devi, She Burn | MattKendrick.co.uk
www.mattkendrick.co.uk
January 29, 2026 at 10:12 PM
So powerful. Congratulations @anibanerjee.bsky.social
Reposted by Gillian O’Shaughnessy
“Try this, Sheila, love.” He gave her the winning smile he used on all his women & saw her heart flicker but then her lips thinned.
“Even if it’s the end of the world, Mike, I’m not just anybody’s for a glass of Tia Maria.”
UNMISSABLE @joycebingham.bsky.social
westword.substack.com/p/the-last-m...
“Even if it’s the end of the world, Mike, I’m not just anybody’s for a glass of Tia Maria.”
UNMISSABLE @joycebingham.bsky.social
westword.substack.com/p/the-last-m...
The Last Monday Morning
A Flash Fiction by Joyce Bingham
westword.substack.com
January 29, 2026 at 1:05 PM
“Try this, Sheila, love.” He gave her the winning smile he used on all his women & saw her heart flicker but then her lips thinned.
“Even if it’s the end of the world, Mike, I’m not just anybody’s for a glass of Tia Maria.”
UNMISSABLE @joycebingham.bsky.social
westword.substack.com/p/the-last-m...
“Even if it’s the end of the world, Mike, I’m not just anybody’s for a glass of Tia Maria.”
UNMISSABLE @joycebingham.bsky.social
westword.substack.com/p/the-last-m...
Reposted by Gillian O’Shaughnessy
Thoroughly enjoyed the wonderfully diverse readings at the @saloneurope.bsky.social - 💔 by @jamesmontgomery.bsky.social stunner by @stuhennigan.bsky.social funny filtrum musings by @mczyzniejewski.bsky.social
Woeful typing failed to nab me quiz prize 😆 Great hosting @kiklodge.bsky.social
Woeful typing failed to nab me quiz prize 😆 Great hosting @kiklodge.bsky.social
January 28, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Thoroughly enjoyed the wonderfully diverse readings at the @saloneurope.bsky.social - 💔 by @jamesmontgomery.bsky.social stunner by @stuhennigan.bsky.social funny filtrum musings by @mczyzniejewski.bsky.social
Woeful typing failed to nab me quiz prize 😆 Great hosting @kiklodge.bsky.social
Woeful typing failed to nab me quiz prize 😆 Great hosting @kiklodge.bsky.social
If we'd said yes when you rang home to borrow four hundred dollars | MattKendrick.co.uk
www.mattkendrick.co.uk
January 26, 2026 at 12:53 PM
So thrilled to be shortlisted in this year’s Welkin Prize!
Today's shortlisted story is "If we'd said yes when you rang home to borrow four hundred dollars" by
@gilloshaughnessy.bsky.social. A one-sentence marvel full of so much sadness and yearning:
www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...
@gilloshaughnessy.bsky.social. A one-sentence marvel full of so much sadness and yearning:
www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...
If we'd said yes when you rang home to borrow four hundred dollars | MattKendrick.co.uk
www.mattkendrick.co.uk
January 26, 2026 at 12:17 PM
So thrilled to be shortlisted in this year’s Welkin Prize!