Jo Gatford
@jmgatford.bsky.social
Write-abouter | editor | scriptwriter | fiction all over the shop | Shakespeare nerd | writing thoughts & workshops @ The Joy of Fixion
https://www.jogatford.com
https://fixioning.substack.com
https://www.jogatford.com
https://fixioning.substack.com
Reposted by Jo Gatford
28 pieces of writing spanning the first 5 years of Stanchion and including 5 new pieces from the likes of @toddedillard.bsky.social @jmgatford.bsky.social & @fbereaud.bsky.social. Cover art & photograph by me. Help celebrate reputable indie lit & keep this good thing going for 5 more years. 🖤🤍❤️
Here's the front + back of Issue 20, which is at the printer now + will be published on Nov 25th.
Running a independent print lit mag that doesn't rely on donations, grants, or fees is getting so much harder.
Please consider pre-ordering a copy. Just a tenner.
www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...
Running a independent print lit mag that doesn't rely on donations, grants, or fees is getting so much harder.
Please consider pre-ordering a copy. Just a tenner.
www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...
November 6, 2025 at 1:48 AM
28 pieces of writing spanning the first 5 years of Stanchion and including 5 new pieces from the likes of @toddedillard.bsky.social @jmgatford.bsky.social & @fbereaud.bsky.social. Cover art & photograph by me. Help celebrate reputable indie lit & keep this good thing going for 5 more years. 🖤🤍❤️
Reposted by Jo Gatford
Best bookstore sign of the year…
October 13, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Best bookstore sign of the year…
Reposted by Jo Gatford
Join SmokeLong for a mysterious month between November and December we’ve christened Promptember! We’ll be meeting several times a week online with live write-in and open mic events at various times to suit participants around this spinning globe, 100% free.
www.smokelong.com/ready-for-pr...
www.smokelong.com/ready-for-pr...
October 6, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Join SmokeLong for a mysterious month between November and December we’ve christened Promptember! We’ll be meeting several times a week online with live write-in and open mic events at various times to suit participants around this spinning globe, 100% free.
www.smokelong.com/ready-for-pr...
www.smokelong.com/ready-for-pr...
Very last chance to book onto this weekend's Snapshot Story workshop! Learn how to transform an everyday moment into flash fiction (and fill in the missing pieces of all those those unfinished drafts and vignettes on your hard drive...):
flashfictionmagazine.com/the-snapshot...
flashfictionmagazine.com/the-snapshot...
The Snapshot Story
The Snapshot Story Discover the Hidden Flash Fiction Gold in Your Everyday Moments A two-session workshop that reveals how to transform ordinary observations into the compelling “snapshotR…
flashfictionmagazine.com
October 10, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Very last chance to book onto this weekend's Snapshot Story workshop! Learn how to transform an everyday moment into flash fiction (and fill in the missing pieces of all those those unfinished drafts and vignettes on your hard drive...):
flashfictionmagazine.com/the-snapshot...
flashfictionmagazine.com/the-snapshot...
Reposted by Jo Gatford
May I alert you to a rather joyful £500 writing competition you perhaps didn’t know you needed in your life, but in fact absolutely do…?
www.failingwriterspodcast.com
#flashfiction
www.failingwriterspodcast.com
#flashfiction
The Failing Writers Podcast - the world's bestest writing podcast ever... probably
The Failing Writers Podcast is a writing podcast for everyone who has ever wanted to write a book... then put the kettle on instead.
www.failingwriterspodcast.com
October 3, 2025 at 1:13 PM
May I alert you to a rather joyful £500 writing competition you perhaps didn’t know you needed in your life, but in fact absolutely do…?
www.failingwriterspodcast.com
#flashfiction
www.failingwriterspodcast.com
#flashfiction
Keep these away from Lou Wilson, no matter what he says @dimension20.bsky.social
no no the publishing industry is doing fine, why do you ask
October 3, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Keep these away from Lou Wilson, no matter what he says @dimension20.bsky.social
All the flashy things! Including my Snapshot Story workshop on 11-12 Oct: flashfictionmagazine.com/the-snapshot...
October 1, 2025 at 12:23 PM
All the flashy things! Including my Snapshot Story workshop on 11-12 Oct: flashfictionmagazine.com/the-snapshot...
Reposted by Jo Gatford
Just a reminder to all you poets out there...
Our 2025 Poetry Pamphlet Competition is open!
mslexia.co.uk/competitions...
By this time next year, we could be sharing about your launch reading! 🎉
Our 2025 Poetry Pamphlet Competition is open!
mslexia.co.uk/competitions...
By this time next year, we could be sharing about your launch reading! 🎉
Women's Pamphlet Competition 2025 - Poetry (Pamphlet) - Competitions : Mslexia, a magazine for women's writing and women who write.
Women's Pamphlet Competition 2025 - Poetry (Pamphlet) - Competitions : Mslexia, a magazine for women's writing and women who write.
mslexia.co.uk
October 1, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Just a reminder to all you poets out there...
Our 2025 Poetry Pamphlet Competition is open!
mslexia.co.uk/competitions...
By this time next year, we could be sharing about your launch reading! 🎉
Our 2025 Poetry Pamphlet Competition is open!
mslexia.co.uk/competitions...
By this time next year, we could be sharing about your launch reading! 🎉
Reposted by Jo Gatford
Submissions to Issue 4 of @frazzledlit.bsky.social are now OPEN for the whole of October!
www.frazzledlit.com/p/come-on-in...
www.frazzledlit.com/p/come-on-in...
Come on in, and join the Frazz Family!
We are OPEN for submissions!
www.frazzledlit.com
October 1, 2025 at 4:38 AM
Submissions to Issue 4 of @frazzledlit.bsky.social are now OPEN for the whole of October!
www.frazzledlit.com/p/come-on-in...
www.frazzledlit.com/p/come-on-in...
So proud to have a story in this wonderful collection - such a worthy cause and a treasure trove of flash. Thanks for all your hard work @taniahershman.bsky.social!
It's publication day for FUEL ebook—with 75 prizewinning flash fictions plus TWELVE bonus flash stories not in the print book! It's a great read *and* all profits go to UK fuel poverty charities. The print book raised over £4k; winter is coming, help us raise more: www.fuelflash.net/product/fuel...
October 1, 2025 at 10:42 AM
So proud to have a story in this wonderful collection - such a worthy cause and a treasure trove of flash. Thanks for all your hard work @taniahershman.bsky.social!
I have a horrendous life-adminy meeting this afternoon and as a special treat my brain refused to let me sleep from 2-6am, but on the plus side my subconscious mapped out an entire one-act play, drafted a poem, and came up with a great Christmas present idea for my friend.
September 29, 2025 at 12:53 PM
I have a horrendous life-adminy meeting this afternoon and as a special treat my brain refused to let me sleep from 2-6am, but on the plus side my subconscious mapped out an entire one-act play, drafted a poem, and came up with a great Christmas present idea for my friend.
Reposted by Jo Gatford
i think about this post every time i watch a movie
September 28, 2025 at 2:42 AM
i think about this post every time i watch a movie
Reposted by Jo Gatford
Disability: The Revolution!
Special Issue Call for Submissions, Deadline November 30, 2025
If you identify as disabled and would like to answer this call, please submit! We would love to hear from you.
See the full call and instructions on how to submit here: thefiddlehead.ca/revolution
Special Issue Call for Submissions, Deadline November 30, 2025
If you identify as disabled and would like to answer this call, please submit! We would love to hear from you.
See the full call and instructions on how to submit here: thefiddlehead.ca/revolution
September 25, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Disability: The Revolution!
Special Issue Call for Submissions, Deadline November 30, 2025
If you identify as disabled and would like to answer this call, please submit! We would love to hear from you.
See the full call and instructions on how to submit here: thefiddlehead.ca/revolution
Special Issue Call for Submissions, Deadline November 30, 2025
If you identify as disabled and would like to answer this call, please submit! We would love to hear from you.
See the full call and instructions on how to submit here: thefiddlehead.ca/revolution
This is how all jokes should be told.
I've edited a video! Of some of my standup! Like you're supposed to when you're a comedian!
Please enjoy "My jokes are good, actually, and here are the reasons why".
Shares/fawning praise etc obviously appreciated x
www.youtube.com/watch?v=s93X...
Please enjoy "My jokes are good, actually, and here are the reasons why".
Shares/fawning praise etc obviously appreciated x
www.youtube.com/watch?v=s93X...
My jokes are good, actually, and here are the reasons why.
YouTube video by Guy Kelly
www.youtube.com
September 28, 2025 at 11:06 AM
This is how all jokes should be told.
To the mosquito who bit me on the SHIN last night: who fucking raised you? I’m not trying to tell you how to do your job but that is just a terrible choice for everyone involved.
September 28, 2025 at 9:24 AM
To the mosquito who bit me on the SHIN last night: who fucking raised you? I’m not trying to tell you how to do your job but that is just a terrible choice for everyone involved.
Flash fiction folk! I'm running a FREE Ask, Write, Repeat drop-in session with Flash Fiction Magazine today (online @ 5pm BST / 9am PDT).
Bring me your craft questions, your publishing puzzles, and join in with guided exercises and prompts: flashfictionmagazine.com/event/ask-wr...
Bring me your craft questions, your publishing puzzles, and join in with guided exercises and prompts: flashfictionmagazine.com/event/ask-wr...
Ask, Write, Repeat with Jo Gatford (FREE)
Join us for a dynamic two-hour session where you’ll get answers to your burning writing questions AND put pen to paper with guided exercises. Bring your craft questions, publishing puzzles, o…
flashfictionmagazine.com
September 27, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Flash fiction folk! I'm running a FREE Ask, Write, Repeat drop-in session with Flash Fiction Magazine today (online @ 5pm BST / 9am PDT).
Bring me your craft questions, your publishing puzzles, and join in with guided exercises and prompts: flashfictionmagazine.com/event/ask-wr...
Bring me your craft questions, your publishing puzzles, and join in with guided exercises and prompts: flashfictionmagazine.com/event/ask-wr...
I was explaining universal basic income to my kid yesterday and Oh! The Things We Would Do…
Neurodivergent folks should all be paid a stipend to do things we like to do, and the world would end up benefiting from it.
The thing about being neurodivergent is that I Like It. What I don’t like is that the world imposes numerous taxes on me for being like this.
I don’t view it as a Me problem.
I don’t view it as a Me problem.
September 24, 2025 at 12:03 PM
I was explaining universal basic income to my kid yesterday and Oh! The Things We Would Do…
Reposted by Jo Gatford
September 22, 2025 at 8:27 PM
A little teaser warm-up exercise for my Snapshot flash workshop (11-12th October) over at Flash Fiction Magazine…
flashfictionmagazine.com/authors-only...
flashfictionmagazine.com/authors-only...
A Story Within a Snapshot by Jo Gatford
There’s a treasure trove of story inspiration to be found in thrift stores and antique markets, and I often use this kind of creative scavenging practice for writing prompts as it perfectly embodie…
flashfictionmagazine.com
September 23, 2025 at 6:30 PM
A little teaser warm-up exercise for my Snapshot flash workshop (11-12th October) over at Flash Fiction Magazine…
flashfictionmagazine.com/authors-only...
flashfictionmagazine.com/authors-only...
Reposted by Jo Gatford
this is the only "the fight to make men read again" content that shouldn't be deleted
September 22, 2025 at 4:23 PM
this is the only "the fight to make men read again" content that shouldn't be deleted
Ohhhh you know an email’s gonna contain a big old “but” and a rejection when it starts: “Thank you for your interest in [thing you submitted to]…”
September 22, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Ohhhh you know an email’s gonna contain a big old “but” and a rejection when it starts: “Thank you for your interest in [thing you submitted to]…”
Flashy workshoppy shenanigans happening in October... A whole weekend of generating story ideas and exploring techniques to turn everyday observations into compelling flash. (PLUS: finally fix those old drafts that still have *something* missing...)
flashfictionmagazine.com/the-snapshot...
flashfictionmagazine.com/the-snapshot...
September 18, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Flashy workshoppy shenanigans happening in October... A whole weekend of generating story ideas and exploring techniques to turn everyday observations into compelling flash. (PLUS: finally fix those old drafts that still have *something* missing...)
flashfictionmagazine.com/the-snapshot...
flashfictionmagazine.com/the-snapshot...
A story I've been trying to write for 20+ years found its home in Issue 3 of @frazzledlit.bsky.social: www.frazzledlit.com/p/young-enough
Young Enough
By Jo Gatford (Highly Commended)
www.frazzledlit.com
September 17, 2025 at 9:44 AM
A story I've been trying to write for 20+ years found its home in Issue 3 of @frazzledlit.bsky.social: www.frazzledlit.com/p/young-enough
Reposted by Jo Gatford
"Love and nature are indeed both pretty goshdarn large — often to the point where it feels impossible and overwhelming to try to describe them"
Always a joy when a new @jmgatford.bsky.social newsletter lands in my inbox. Some great thoughts here on senses, specificity, and uniqueness of perspective
Always a joy when a new @jmgatford.bsky.social newsletter lands in my inbox. Some great thoughts here on senses, specificity, and uniqueness of perspective
Six ‘Story in a Song’ writing exercises for your Monday morning, courtesy of John Denver sitting on a mountain.
fixioning.substack.com/p/fill-up-yo...
fixioning.substack.com/p/fill-up-yo...
Fill Up Your Senses
Six 'Story in a Song' Writing Prompts
fixioning.substack.com
September 15, 2025 at 5:13 PM
"Love and nature are indeed both pretty goshdarn large — often to the point where it feels impossible and overwhelming to try to describe them"
Always a joy when a new @jmgatford.bsky.social newsletter lands in my inbox. Some great thoughts here on senses, specificity, and uniqueness of perspective
Always a joy when a new @jmgatford.bsky.social newsletter lands in my inbox. Some great thoughts here on senses, specificity, and uniqueness of perspective
Just remembered that in the earliest hours of this morning I dreamt I had a pet wasp called Knuckle.
You’re telling me THIS subconscious has to spend twelve hours a day writing emails and we’re calling that capitalism?
Knuckle has never once written an email in his perfect little life.
You’re telling me THIS subconscious has to spend twelve hours a day writing emails and we’re calling that capitalism?
Knuckle has never once written an email in his perfect little life.
September 16, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Just remembered that in the earliest hours of this morning I dreamt I had a pet wasp called Knuckle.
You’re telling me THIS subconscious has to spend twelve hours a day writing emails and we’re calling that capitalism?
Knuckle has never once written an email in his perfect little life.
You’re telling me THIS subconscious has to spend twelve hours a day writing emails and we’re calling that capitalism?
Knuckle has never once written an email in his perfect little life.