Audrey Niven
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Audrey Niven
@nivenaudrey.bsky.social
EIC The Propelling Pencil, Creative Coach and business consultant. Exploring new forms in writing and visual art.
Very pleased to be on this list - spaces still available for my next group coached programme doing the Artist's Way online Monday evenings from 15 September. Quote Courses Mouth to catch late access to the Early Bird price instead of full price.
September 4, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Not been around much due to *stuff* but v looking forward to coaching my next Accompanied Trip along the Aritst's Way for all blocked, disentchanted, stuck creative dreamers starting 15 September. Early bird price extended until Sunday 24 August. All info in link below. Come join us!
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August 20, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Thanks for everything all you lovely writers and readers. You made running The Propelling Pencil a JOY! 💛
News from the Propelling Pencil case. It's au revoir for now (well it will be in March). Thanks for all the stories and good company since we began way back in the Autumn of 2021. Time for me to focus on new things - but please keep writing!
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Propelling Pencil Update – The Propelling Pencil
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August 12, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Ooh! Not been v good at the socials lately and missed this. Thanks Matt for re-sharing!
June 22, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Best kind of social media post there is! Well done to our winners and shortlisters and longlisters and entrants and readers and guest judge @judehwriter2.bsky.social You're all superstars! Thanks for all your support.
June 15, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Ooh - I was at the actual NFFD live event yesterday and missed sharing this. Hope people have enjoyed it!
FlashFlood: 'Clint Eastwood is a Mermaid' by Audrey Niven #nffd2025
'Clint Eastwood is a Mermaid' by Audrey Niven
We’re fanny-deep in a loch on a Tuesday morning in June. Margaret has managed to get herself into the water and out as far as her feet don’t touch with a cigarette still on the go. How is that even possible? Floating there in a flowery cap from 1973, fag clenched in Prairie Red lips.  ‘Only gets worse the longer you stand there’ Gerda says, pulling me with her.  ‘C’mon,’ Peggy behind me, urging me in. My knees are screaming, hips, belly, tits bobbing in their lycra sling, cold needling every wrench and kick. What are we doing? Margaret takes the last draw of her cigarette and lobs the but across the water.  ‘Litterin,’ says Peggy.  ‘She’ll no listen,’ says Gerda. ‘Law unto herself’   Margaret swims meandering laps out and back.  ‘Dook your shoulders under, hen. It’s the only way.’  The water rings my neck, a freezing noose. I gasp and push my arms out, fighting back, inching into the liquid dawn. Everything is sharp. Clear. I sink and rise again spluttering, ice-hearted.  ‘Cures what ails you,’ Margaret says hoisting herself up the beach, water dripping from her arse. She skins off her swimsuit and shakes herself like a dog, bare body rolling this way and that in the rising sun. ‘Fuck I feel good,’ she yells, as she throws a poncho over her head.  When I come out, they towel and dress me. Pull up my pants, button my shirt as I stand helpless, crying. Margaret drives us home, cigarette dancing in the corner of her mouth as she talks.  'When we get there, we’ll see you inside. Say hello to that man of yours. The others nod. Shame burns, but the freeze round my throat begins to melt. --- Audrey Niven is a Scottish writer and Creative Coach based in London. Her work is published in multiple anthologies including Bath Flash Fiction Award and NFFD with nominations for Best of the Net and The Pushcart Prize. She is the founder and EIC of The Propelling Pencil.
dlvr.it
June 15, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Great news to be sharing after a long slog of a week! Happy Bank Holiday, writers. The stories on this list are fab, just like their friends on the longlist - it's all so subjective, so hurrah to those that made it and better luck next time to those who didn't. You're all superstars!
Our Spring 25 competition Shortlist is live! Well done to all the stories that are here and good luck to those that were left out this time - we know they'll find great homes soon
Please celebrate anonymously while @judehwriter2.bsky.social does her judging!
thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...
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May 24, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Well done to all who entered - thanks for sharing your brilliant stories. Congrats to those who feature on the longlist and commiserations to those whose stories weren't selected - the Readers enjoyed reading all of them. Please don't give away which story is yours as judging continues!
May 18, 2025 at 11:23 AM
For any writing chums who aren't yet aware and are either flash fiction fans of flash-curious, this is the place to be this summer. A whole weekend of tiny tales and wallowing in the most original, kind and generous community. Only a few places left
www.flashfictionfestival.com
Flash Fiction Festival
celebrating the short-short story world-wide
www.flashfictionfestival.com
May 7, 2025 at 3:35 PM
My abiding passion is unlocking people's creativity, in whatever form. Come and join us for this one - it's going to be awe-inspiringly inspiring!
How do other aspects of creativity influence & inspire flashfiction? Another fab festival Panel, hosted by team member @nivenaudrey.bsky.social with writer, actor & improv artist Jen Rowe, writer & artist
@jeanettesheppard.bsky.social& writer & voice-over artist @hanakhalique.bsky.social
May 7, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Thank you thank you thank you! You're all amazing. See you for our longlist announcement mid-May!
And that's it for this round, folks. Our Charity Flash Competition closed at midnight and the readers have all your wonderful stories in hand.
Lonlisting will be towards the end of the week of 12 May so keep your eyes peeled 👀
Thanks to everyone who entered!
April 28, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Ready, get set... GO!! No time for dilly dallying. Time to get busy and send us your stories before it's too late!
Six hours to deadline, people! Send us your <500 word story, support @cftrustuk.bsky.social and maybe win a prize! Readers are standing by. Details of how to enter are below: £5 or free + if you send an extra £5 our readers will give you feedback. @judehwriter2.bsky.social guest judging. Details ⬇️
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April 27, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Good luck if you're running #londonmarathon or #manchestermarathon today.
Everyone else - you have until midnight tonight to enter our charity flash fiction competition and raise money for @cftrustuk.bsky.social. £5 or free to enter. £5 for Reader feedback, £170 in prizes. What are you waiting for?
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April 27, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Still time (until midnight) to send a story under 300 words to the Flash Flood. Am delighted my story Clint Eastwood is a Mermaid will be featuring. Thanks Flood Editors!
Another update: FlashFlood has accepted flash so far from: UK, Netherlands, Italy, Canada, South Africa, UAE, France, Australia, India, New Zealand, Spain, Bangladesh, Greece, Germany, Ireland, US, Japan, The Channel Islands, Switzerland, Hong Kong, South Korea, Ghana & Nigeria!
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April 26, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Chop chop people! Send us your <500 word stories and do some good with your writing at the same time!

(Obvs do your @natflashfictionday.bsky.social Flash Flood subs first because they're our besties and they close tonight, but after you've done that, send your stories to us!)
Flash Fiction writers - you have TWO DAYS left to get your <500word story to us, support @cftrustuk.bsky.social and maybe win a prize of £100. £5 or FREE to enter, £5 for Reader Feedback on top which people have found to be an excellent bargain. Details below ⬇️
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April 26, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Entries coming in thick and fast. Make sure your stories are in the mix! The more you send the more money we raise for @cftrustuk.bsky.social
Counting down the days to the deadline (Sunday 27 Apr) to enter our Spring Charity Flash Fiction Competition in aid of @cftrustuk.bsky.social £170 in prizes @judehwriter2.bsky.social guest judging. £5 or FREE to enter, £5 for feedback from our readers. What's stopping you? details below
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April 23, 2025 at 9:08 AM
It's such an honour to run this competition every Spring and Autumn. Please share far and wide and send us your stories. If you need some inspiration you can read past winners here
thepropellingpencil.com/past-competi...
April 6, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Want to boost your writing game and free this Saturday? there's only one place to be. See you there!
Holy moly it's Hump Day. Thank heavens. We'll be looking out for you at our free online writing retreat this Saturday, 10am-4pm GMT. Bring whatever project you like and drop in/out aorund your other commitments. Details and sign up are below
March 26, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Hurrah! New free online writing retreat on 28 March. Come and join us, whatever you're writing. 10am-4pm GMT.
Details are here
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The Propelling Pencil Free Online Writing Retreat
Saturday 28th March 2025 10am-4pm GMT via Zoom Complete the form and put the date in your diary. We will email you the Zoom link before the workshop.
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March 17, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Hey tell your writer pals - our charity flash fiction competition is open and our lovely generous discerning readers are standing by!
They'll even give you some feedback for an extra fiver. Who could resist?
March 14, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Last change to grab your free online writing retreat space for TOMORROW! don't put it off - come and write in the confidence-inspiring magical space online.
See you then!
Final Call to sign up for our free writing retreat tomorrow on Zoom. We'll be scribing from 10am - 4pm with cheering encouragement from EIC and Creative Coach, Audrey Niven (me!)
Sign yourselves up by 10pm this evening.
thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
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thepropellingpencil.com
February 14, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Hello - come and join me and other writers next Saturday for free to write your socks off. 10am-4pm GMT.
Hope to see you then.
Sorry Not been much on socials but next SATURDAY you can join us for our free online writing retreat. Bring any project you like. 10am check in, wrapping up at 4pm. It's magical - knowing others are in a zoom window focuses the writerly mind.
Sign up here
thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
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February 9, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Come and join me!
Hello! We're back in action with a FREE online Writing Retreat on Saturday 15 Feb from 10am-4pm.
Join us for a no-pressure, friendly-faced few hours of accountability and quiet companionship while you write your socks off.
Details here thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
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January 18, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Grab your spot while you can, people. Write yourself the happiest of new years xx
Happy New Year, writer pals! Let's kick this thing off with our January retreats - online on 4 Jan and our first ever IN-PERSON Central London retreat on 18 Jan. All the details you need below.
Write yourself the year you want!
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January 1, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Holy moly! Booking is now open. Can't wait (Actually I can. I could really do with the Christmas break but you get what I mean. Hope to see you online or in actual person in Jan!)
Exciting times ahead. You can now book your spot at our first IN PERSON writing retreat in Covent Garden on 18 January.

And if that's not soon enough, you can join us for our next FREE online retreat on 4 January.
All the info you need is here
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December 19, 2024 at 6:35 PM