Lucienne Cummings
@lucimcummings.bsky.social
Writer of tiny things. Fiction: NFFD, Mslexia, Neither Fish Nor Foul, Funny Pearls, Trash Cat Lit. Gags etc: Breaking The News, Noising Up, Newsjack. She/her
https://luciennecummings.com/
https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/lucienne-cummings/
https://luciennecummings.com/
https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/lucienne-cummings/
Pinned
We're so excited to share our first print anthology, available to purchase for only £9/ $11.50 🦝
Please consider grabbing a copy - we're raising money for
@WildlifeTrusts
and have 27 truly exceptional short fictions for you to enjoy on actual paper 💜
mybook.to/WhatComesToL...
Please consider grabbing a copy - we're raising money for
@WildlifeTrusts
and have 27 truly exceptional short fictions for you to enjoy on actual paper 💜
mybook.to/WhatComesToL...
You need this anthology because:
1) The stories are great. (Yes I wrote one of them but I've read them all.)
2) Your local wildlife will love you for it.
3) It's a distraction from all the other stuff.
#writingcommunity
@the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social
#shortfiction
1) The stories are great. (Yes I wrote one of them but I've read them all.)
2) Your local wildlife will love you for it.
3) It's a distraction from all the other stuff.
#writingcommunity
@the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social
#shortfiction
For anyone else who missed that gold medal skating routine:
February 13, 2026 at 11:06 PM
For anyone else who missed that gold medal skating routine:
It would have been good to actually see the gold medal-winning men's ice skating routine...
February 13, 2026 at 10:04 PM
It would have been good to actually see the gold medal-winning men's ice skating routine...
Reposted by Lucienne Cummings
Our spring reprints call closes tomorrow - but, we open for microfiction subs on 1st March 🦝
50-175 words, any genre, beautifully brief
All the details and to submit here:
trashcatlit.com/microfiction...
#submissioncalls
#microfiction
50-175 words, any genre, beautifully brief
All the details and to submit here:
trashcatlit.com/microfiction...
#submissioncalls
#microfiction
February 13, 2026 at 9:35 AM
Our spring reprints call closes tomorrow - but, we open for microfiction subs on 1st March 🦝
50-175 words, any genre, beautifully brief
All the details and to submit here:
trashcatlit.com/microfiction...
#submissioncalls
#microfiction
50-175 words, any genre, beautifully brief
All the details and to submit here:
trashcatlit.com/microfiction...
#submissioncalls
#microfiction
Reposted by Lucienne Cummings
Two days left of our preloved stories call🦝
Let's go back to last year's reprint call & this absolute stonker from @jupiterjonz.bsky.social.
Gritty and authentic, with a perfect voice.
Go read and listen to Mac and Marky:
trashcatlit.com/mac-and-marky/
Send us yours:
trashcatlit.com/spring-2026/
Let's go back to last year's reprint call & this absolute stonker from @jupiterjonz.bsky.social.
Gritty and authentic, with a perfect voice.
Go read and listen to Mac and Marky:
trashcatlit.com/mac-and-marky/
Send us yours:
trashcatlit.com/spring-2026/
February 12, 2026 at 10:46 AM
Two days left of our preloved stories call🦝
Let's go back to last year's reprint call & this absolute stonker from @jupiterjonz.bsky.social.
Gritty and authentic, with a perfect voice.
Go read and listen to Mac and Marky:
trashcatlit.com/mac-and-marky/
Send us yours:
trashcatlit.com/spring-2026/
Let's go back to last year's reprint call & this absolute stonker from @jupiterjonz.bsky.social.
Gritty and authentic, with a perfect voice.
Go read and listen to Mac and Marky:
trashcatlit.com/mac-and-marky/
Send us yours:
trashcatlit.com/spring-2026/
Trash Cat Lit is an excellent publication, and a fantastic community. Can definitely recommend subbing!
We are over halfway through this sub call for reprints.
Open to anyone who is not already part of TCL 🦝
Still room in the recycling bin before we meet our caps.
trashcatlit.com/spring-2026/
Open to anyone who is not already part of TCL 🦝
Still room in the recycling bin before we meet our caps.
trashcatlit.com/spring-2026/
February 9, 2026 at 2:12 PM
Trash Cat Lit is an excellent publication, and a fantastic community. Can definitely recommend subbing!
Reposted by Lucienne Cummings
Subs to NFFD’s anthology (up to 500 words) on the theme of BRIDGES & entries to our micro comp (up to 100 words, no theme) close a week today (15 Feb). Cash prizes for micro comp & 2 authors from our anthology will receive prizes too! You can read more here: www.nationalflashfictionday.co.uk
a cartoon of homer simpson talking to marge simpson with the words hurry up below him
ALT: a cartoon of homer simpson talking to marge simpson with the words hurry up below him
media.tenor.com
February 8, 2026 at 10:47 AM
Subs to NFFD’s anthology (up to 500 words) on the theme of BRIDGES & entries to our micro comp (up to 100 words, no theme) close a week today (15 Feb). Cash prizes for micro comp & 2 authors from our anthology will receive prizes too! You can read more here: www.nationalflashfictionday.co.uk
Reposted by Lucienne Cummings
Still a week to send something for @natflashfictionday.bsky.social anthology. Yes, you’ve got time to make your story sing. Yes, you’ve got time to work up that idea tickling your writing mind. Yes, me & @karjon.bsky.social can’t wait to read your #FlashFiction. All details here - please share👇🏼
Submissions to our anthology (up to 500 words on the theme of BRIDGES) & our Microfiction comp (up to 100 words, no theme) are now OPEN until 15 Feb. Our anthology editors & judges are poised ready! You can read more here: www.nationalflashfictionday.co.uk
a cartoon duck is writing in a notebook with a pencil
ALT: a cartoon duck is writing in a notebook with a pencil
media.tenor.com
February 8, 2026 at 7:37 AM
Still a week to send something for @natflashfictionday.bsky.social anthology. Yes, you’ve got time to make your story sing. Yes, you’ve got time to work up that idea tickling your writing mind. Yes, me & @karjon.bsky.social can’t wait to read your #FlashFiction. All details here - please share👇🏼
Finally managed to polish and submit some things. Really tough to get going this year.
a turtle is crawling on the ground in the sand .
Alt: A tortoise is crawling very slowly on the ground in the sand.
media.tenor.com
February 7, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Finally managed to polish and submit some things. Really tough to get going this year.
“I didn’t have rich parents, a childhood bedroom to return to or an infatuated billionaire intent on marrying me. Either writing had to make me money or I couldn’t do it. “
I wrote about making a living from writing in the new economy.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
I wrote about making a living from writing in the new economy.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Please sir can I have some more
On making a living as a writer
substack.com
February 7, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Reposted by Lucienne Cummings
This took me fucking ages
![1
[Scene is a GREGGS interior. A lone MAN, the only customer in the shop, is standing at counter]
MAN:
Please can I have a sausage roll.
2
GREGGS SHOP ASSISTANT:
Certainly sir
[She pulls a leaver on the panini machine and WOOSH the man disappears through a trapdoor].
Whoosh
3
[The MAN appears through a chute in an underground bunker. A voice from off-scene greets him]:
Welcome, friend
4
[We see the voice is of a military-looking resistance COMMANDER with a moustache]
COMMANDER:
You said "please can I have" instead of “can I get”…
So now you're one of us.
5
MAN:
W-where am I ...?
[We see him looking at a hi tech UNDERGROUND MILITARY BUNKER - it has resistance vibes, and has lots of screens with maps etc]
6
COMMANDER:
You've joined the resistance…
...against people saying things all American.
7
COMMANDER:
We are an underground network of sleeper agents poised to have a right go at young people the moment they say "mom" or "bangs”.
8
LIEUTENANT [Staring at screen]:
Agent 244 has just given a Zoomer in Halifax the “could/couldn't care less" speech, sir
COMMANDER:
Very good
9
[Show the map of the UK with digital pop ups on it saying ‘GOTTEN’, ‘ZEE’, ‘MATH’ etc
COMMANDER:
You may have heard our name... We are...
10
COMMANDER:
...the Fight Against New Yankee Pronunciations and Americanisms Corrupting the King's English!
11
[Show the military command center panel. It says on the wall in big metal letters]:
F.A.N.Y.P.A.C.K.E.
12
MAN
You've called yourselves the 'Fanny Pack'
COMMANDER:
We didn't spot the acronym
[/end]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreianaxlutkih4rysx6l37rru2cic64wiirt4fd2jss5xlxsulixlou@jpeg)
February 2, 2026 at 10:25 PM
This took me fucking ages
No coincidence that his claims come just as his latest novel is almost finished...
Ugh.
Will not be reading.
www.theguardian.com/books/2026/f...
Ugh.
Will not be reading.
www.theguardian.com/books/2026/f...
Neil Gaiman claims sexual assault allegations are result of ‘smear campaign’
Author says accusations ‘spread and amplified’ by people more interested in ‘outrage and getting clicks’
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2026 at 9:53 PM
No coincidence that his claims come just as his latest novel is almost finished...
Ugh.
Will not be reading.
www.theguardian.com/books/2026/f...
Ugh.
Will not be reading.
www.theguardian.com/books/2026/f...
Reposted by Lucienne Cummings
You can watch the new Mock The Week for free via this link (you don't even have to sign in). Scroll down to the "Browse free episodes" button. Alternatively you can download the Discovery+ phone app.
play.discoveryplus.com?referringSit...
play.discoveryplus.com?referringSit...
February 2, 2026 at 8:47 AM
You can watch the new Mock The Week for free via this link (you don't even have to sign in). Scroll down to the "Browse free episodes" button. Alternatively you can download the Discovery+ phone app.
play.discoveryplus.com?referringSit...
play.discoveryplus.com?referringSit...
Reposted by Lucienne Cummings
Subs to our anthology & microcomp close a fortnight today on Sunday 15 Feb! Goodness, that’s come round quickly. There are cash prizes to be won! www.nationalflashfictionday.co.uk
a close up of a puppet with its mouth open and tongue out .
ALT: a close up of a puppet with its mouth open and tongue out .
media.tenor.com
February 1, 2026 at 9:12 PM
Subs to our anthology & microcomp close a fortnight today on Sunday 15 Feb! Goodness, that’s come round quickly. There are cash prizes to be won! www.nationalflashfictionday.co.uk
Reposted by Lucienne Cummings
Just one more day of our charity print anthology being the lower price - we've already sent £200 to The Wildlife Trusts, can you help make it more?
27 short fictions for £7.50/ $10 - run on over to buy a copy for your sticky paws...
mybook.to/WhatComesToL...
27 short fictions for £7.50/ $10 - run on over to buy a copy for your sticky paws...
mybook.to/WhatComesToL...
two cats and a raccoon are eating from a bowl of food
ALT: two cats and a raccoon are eating from a bowl of food
media.tenor.com
January 31, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Just one more day of our charity print anthology being the lower price - we've already sent £200 to The Wildlife Trusts, can you help make it more?
27 short fictions for £7.50/ $10 - run on over to buy a copy for your sticky paws...
mybook.to/WhatComesToL...
27 short fictions for £7.50/ $10 - run on over to buy a copy for your sticky paws...
mybook.to/WhatComesToL...
Reposted by Lucienne Cummings
The Bristol Short Story Prize 2026 closes for submissions on 31st January at 22:59.
You have 1 day, 8 hours (And counting) left to Submit your short story here:
bssp.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/entry-form/
Best of luck to all the writers who’ve entered!
You have 1 day, 8 hours (And counting) left to Submit your short story here:
bssp.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/entry-form/
Best of luck to all the writers who’ve entered!
January 30, 2026 at 3:02 PM
The Bristol Short Story Prize 2026 closes for submissions on 31st January at 22:59.
You have 1 day, 8 hours (And counting) left to Submit your short story here:
bssp.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/entry-form/
Best of luck to all the writers who’ve entered!
You have 1 day, 8 hours (And counting) left to Submit your short story here:
bssp.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/entry-form/
Best of luck to all the writers who’ve entered!
Have spent a happy couple of hours avoiding work and snorting my coffee out through my nose* while listening to @pierrenovellie.bsky.social 's BBC R4 specials 🙂
10/10
(*because I'm laughing - this is not some weird party trick...)
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
10/10
(*because I'm laughing - this is not some weird party trick...)
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 4 - Stand-Up Specials, Why in the Name of Pierre Novellie, 4. Why Am I So Unfashionable?
Pierre Novellie asks the big questions about trousers, Nazis, gloop and Bach.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 30, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Have spent a happy couple of hours avoiding work and snorting my coffee out through my nose* while listening to @pierrenovellie.bsky.social 's BBC R4 specials 🙂
10/10
(*because I'm laughing - this is not some weird party trick...)
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
10/10
(*because I'm laughing - this is not some weird party trick...)
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
As an em-dash user, I heartily agree. This sucks.
OMG - f*ck AI for ruining the em-dash for writers. I use them all the time. Of course, what a shock that AI uses them since they were trained off my voice and other authors' voices.
I'm a writer who has specifically been directed *not* to use em-dashes because "they mean it was written by AI." I can detect AI writing, but it is not simply a matter of the punctuation used.
January 28, 2026 at 5:53 PM
As an em-dash user, I heartily agree. This sucks.
Reposted by Lucienne Cummings
Thank you to everyone who submitted thus far, it's been a treat to read your words. I now have seven great stories for Issue 6 and room for one or two more.
If you want a flavour of things that catch my eye have a look at the editor interview on Duotrope:
duotrope.com/interview/ed...
If you want a flavour of things that catch my eye have a look at the editor interview on Duotrope:
duotrope.com/interview/ed...
Duotrope's Interview with Neither Fish Nor Foul
Read Duotrope's editor interview with Neither Fish Nor Foul to learn what they're looking for and gain more insight into this publication.
duotrope.com
January 28, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Thank you to everyone who submitted thus far, it's been a treat to read your words. I now have seven great stories for Issue 6 and room for one or two more.
If you want a flavour of things that catch my eye have a look at the editor interview on Duotrope:
duotrope.com/interview/ed...
If you want a flavour of things that catch my eye have a look at the editor interview on Duotrope:
duotrope.com/interview/ed...
Reposted by Lucienne Cummings
January will come to an end - no, it will, promise - and then it's off to the thrift store after you have a big spring clean!
Well, between Feb 1st and 14th - we are the thrift store. Send your preloved stories for our recycling bin.
All the info is here:
trashcatlit.com/spring-2026/
Well, between Feb 1st and 14th - we are the thrift store. Send your preloved stories for our recycling bin.
All the info is here:
trashcatlit.com/spring-2026/
a small dog in a shopping cart with the words thrift store donations needed below it
ALT: a small dog in a shopping cart with the words thrift store donations needed below it
media.tenor.com
January 28, 2026 at 10:52 AM
January will come to an end - no, it will, promise - and then it's off to the thrift store after you have a big spring clean!
Well, between Feb 1st and 14th - we are the thrift store. Send your preloved stories for our recycling bin.
All the info is here:
trashcatlit.com/spring-2026/
Well, between Feb 1st and 14th - we are the thrift store. Send your preloved stories for our recycling bin.
All the info is here:
trashcatlit.com/spring-2026/
If you're in need of relaxation, I can recommend @mirandakeeling.com's beautiful vignettes.
Listen with headphones for the full effect.
Listen with headphones for the full effect.
Who wants to go to the seaside? This week's podcast is recorded in St Leonards-on-Sea! Come for a stroll with me: stoppingtonotice.lnk.to/podcastho Recorded in 3D sound, so listen with headphones if you can 😊 🎧 and please do leave a review! It gives us the chance reach more listeners like you 🩷🙏
January 27, 2026 at 6:34 PM
If you're in need of relaxation, I can recommend @mirandakeeling.com's beautiful vignettes.
Listen with headphones for the full effect.
Listen with headphones for the full effect.
Reposted by Lucienne Cummings
f you read that Guardian article about writing retreats, please don’t panic. You can absolutely write your novel in short snatches of time and you don’t need to bankrupt yourself going on repeated super fancy writing retreats 🧵
January 27, 2026 at 11:35 AM
f you read that Guardian article about writing retreats, please don’t panic. You can absolutely write your novel in short snatches of time and you don’t need to bankrupt yourself going on repeated super fancy writing retreats 🧵
Reposted by Lucienne Cummings
Entries to our microfiction comp close on 15/2. This week Diane Simmons interviews another of our judges Debra A. Daniel @debdanthewriter.bsky.social — read about her experience on ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’, her prizewinning NIF & much more: www.nationalflashfictionday.co.uk/index.php/ne...
January 26, 2026 at 11:49 AM
Entries to our microfiction comp close on 15/2. This week Diane Simmons interviews another of our judges Debra A. Daniel @debdanthewriter.bsky.social — read about her experience on ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’, her prizewinning NIF & much more: www.nationalflashfictionday.co.uk/index.php/ne...
Reposted by Lucienne Cummings
Six days 'til Spring subs open 🦝.
Current Trash Family are bin-shackled for this one - we only want newbies.
The call is for reprints only - flash and shorts, no theme, but do check out previous issues for the feels.
trashcatlit.com/treasured-wo...
trashcatlit.com/spring-2026/
#submissioncalls
Current Trash Family are bin-shackled for this one - we only want newbies.
The call is for reprints only - flash and shorts, no theme, but do check out previous issues for the feels.
trashcatlit.com/treasured-wo...
trashcatlit.com/spring-2026/
#submissioncalls
January 26, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Six days 'til Spring subs open 🦝.
Current Trash Family are bin-shackled for this one - we only want newbies.
The call is for reprints only - flash and shorts, no theme, but do check out previous issues for the feels.
trashcatlit.com/treasured-wo...
trashcatlit.com/spring-2026/
#submissioncalls
Current Trash Family are bin-shackled for this one - we only want newbies.
The call is for reprints only - flash and shorts, no theme, but do check out previous issues for the feels.
trashcatlit.com/treasured-wo...
trashcatlit.com/spring-2026/
#submissioncalls
Reposted by Lucienne Cummings
Tell you what, though, reading submissions is an absolute privilege. For a teeny tiny passion project NFNF gets such excellent stories submitted. Am swoony with delight for the forthcoming issue.
Still time to send me goosebumps.
www.neitherfishnorfoul.com/submissions
Still time to send me goosebumps.
www.neitherfishnorfoul.com/submissions
Submissions — Neither Fish Nor Foul
www.neitherfishnorfoul.com
January 26, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Tell you what, though, reading submissions is an absolute privilege. For a teeny tiny passion project NFNF gets such excellent stories submitted. Am swoony with delight for the forthcoming issue.
Still time to send me goosebumps.
www.neitherfishnorfoul.com/submissions
Still time to send me goosebumps.
www.neitherfishnorfoul.com/submissions
Reposted by Lucienne Cummings
I've been reading submissions for Neither Fish Nor Foul this morning. Want to know what goes through my head as I do so? Interview with me here:
duotrope.com/interview/ed...
duotrope.com/interview/ed...
Duotrope's Interview with Neither Fish Nor Foul
Read Duotrope's editor interview with Neither Fish Nor Foul to learn what they're looking for and gain more insight into this publication.
duotrope.com
January 20, 2026 at 12:04 PM
I've been reading submissions for Neither Fish Nor Foul this morning. Want to know what goes through my head as I do so? Interview with me here:
duotrope.com/interview/ed...
duotrope.com/interview/ed...