S.A. McNaughton
@writermcnaughton.bsky.social
Short fiction writer, mom, and lover of words from Ypsilanti, MI.
http://writermcnaughton.wordpress.com
You can find this contest goblin on 11:59, Writing Battle, NYC Midnight, Not Quite Write, Globe Soup, and more...
https://linktr.ee/writermcnaughton
http://writermcnaughton.wordpress.com
You can find this contest goblin on 11:59, Writing Battle, NYC Midnight, Not Quite Write, Globe Soup, and more...
https://linktr.ee/writermcnaughton
Pinned
Quantum Shorts ebook available now!
In March I announced that my story "Santa Claus and the Quantum Librarian" had been shortlisted for the Quantum Shorts flash fiction competition, and would therefore be included in their second anthology. I'm happy to announce that the anthology has now been released as an ebook! You can download it for free via Google Books and a few other sites…
writermcnaughton.wordpress.com
Download now for free! Quantum Shorts Vol. 2 ebook is now available, featuring "Santa Claus and the Quantum Librarian"
@notquitewrite.com On your FAQ page you have a link to notquitewritepodcast.com/prize/gifts but that is 404-erroring. Do you have another link I can send to my e̶n̶a̶b̶l̶e̶r̶s̶ friends and family?
notquitewritepodcast.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:48 PM
@notquitewrite.com On your FAQ page you have a link to notquitewritepodcast.com/prize/gifts but that is 404-erroring. Do you have another link I can send to my e̶n̶a̶b̶l̶e̶r̶s̶ friends and family?
#RhymingStoryChallenge: A week
To write six hundred words
I waited til I had six hours
To write the last two-thirds.
I could have used a bit more time
But I'd have frittered it away
At last my story's at an end
As so, too, is the day.
To write six hundred words
I waited til I had six hours
To write the last two-thirds.
I could have used a bit more time
But I'd have frittered it away
At last my story's at an end
As so, too, is the day.
November 5, 2025 at 1:30 PM
I’m a finalist! Please vote by replying “Have You Looked in the Couch?”
We will find out for once and for all if my local library has looked in their couch.
We will find out for once and for all if my local library has looked in their couch.
THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN! Here are the Finalists for the 2025 YDL Short Horror Story Contest. To cast your vote for the winner, comment with the title of your favorite story. 🏆 Their fate is in your hands!
October 29, 2025 at 6:18 PM
I’m a finalist! Please vote by replying “Have You Looked in the Couch?”
We will find out for once and for all if my local library has looked in their couch.
We will find out for once and for all if my local library has looked in their couch.
When I titled this story, it didn’t occur to me how funny it would be to see person after person post “Have You Looked In the Couch?”
Our judges have picked three semi-finalists for the HAUNTINGS category of the YDL Short Horror Story Competition. The rest is up to you. Comment with the title of your favorite. The author with the most votes will move on to the Finalist round. Submissions are open for the BODY HORROR category!
October 8, 2025 at 9:05 PM
When I titled this story, it didn’t occur to me how funny it would be to see person after person post “Have You Looked In the Couch?”
YDL Short Horror Story Competition: Week 1
Voting is now open for the first week of the Ypsilanti District Library's Short Horror Story Competition. The theme of week 1 was "Hauntings." My story, "Have You Looked in the Couch?" is a finalist. You can read it (and vote for it) on any or all of the…
Voting is now open for the first week of the Ypsilanti District Library's Short Horror Story Competition. The theme of week 1 was "Hauntings." My story, "Have You Looked in the Couch?" is a finalist. You can read it (and vote for it) on any or all of the…
YDL Short Horror Story Competition: Week 1
Voting is now open for the first week of the Ypsilanti District Library's Short Horror Story Competition. The theme of week 1 was "Hauntings." My story, "Have You Looked in the Couch?" is a finalist. You can read it (and vote for it) on any or all of the following social media sites! Facebook Instagram Bluesky Week 2's theme will be "Body Horror."
writermcnaughton.wordpress.com
October 8, 2025 at 8:27 PM
YDL Short Horror Story Competition: Week 1
Voting is now open for the first week of the Ypsilanti District Library's Short Horror Story Competition. The theme of week 1 was "Hauntings." My story, "Have You Looked in the Couch?" is a finalist. You can read it (and vote for it) on any or all of the…
Voting is now open for the first week of the Ypsilanti District Library's Short Horror Story Competition. The theme of week 1 was "Hauntings." My story, "Have You Looked in the Couch?" is a finalist. You can read it (and vote for it) on any or all of the…
Please vote for my story!
Our judges have picked three semi-finalists for the HAUNTINGS category of the YDL Short Horror Story Competition. The rest is up to you. Comment with the title of your favorite. The author with the most votes will move on to the Finalist round. Submissions are open for the BODY HORROR category!
October 8, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Please vote for my story!
www.writingbattle.com/join-battle I joined the upcoming Fear Flash Fiction Battle with writers from around the world. Get Ready to Battle on Oct 5, 2025! @writingbattle.bsky.social
#flashfiction #writingprompts #writerslife #WritingCommunity #writersofbluesky
Join the Battle and Learn More
#flashfiction #writingprompts #writerslife #WritingCommunity #writersofbluesky
Join the Battle and Learn More
Writing Battle — Write. Read. Win.
Write. Read. Win. A competitive writing platform for storytellers around the world.
Receive oodles of feedback.
Join the most supportive writing community on the web. You up for the chal...
www.writingbattle.com
October 3, 2025 at 6:47 PM
www.writingbattle.com/join-battle I joined the upcoming Fear Flash Fiction Battle with writers from around the world. Get Ready to Battle on Oct 5, 2025! @writingbattle.bsky.social
#flashfiction #writingprompts #writerslife #WritingCommunity #writersofbluesky
Join the Battle and Learn More
#flashfiction #writingprompts #writerslife #WritingCommunity #writersofbluesky
Join the Battle and Learn More
September 2025 Updates
Contests Entered Results Submissions Plans and Goals for Next Month Contests entered NYC Midnight Rhyming Story, round 1 Results The Dread Tootling Jen deals with the chaos of a snowed-in vacation with her in-laws Holding the Bag A bank robber finds himself without a getaway…
Contests Entered Results Submissions Plans and Goals for Next Month Contests entered NYC Midnight Rhyming Story, round 1 Results The Dread Tootling Jen deals with the chaos of a snowed-in vacation with her in-laws Holding the Bag A bank robber finds himself without a getaway…
September 2025 Updates
Contests Entered Results Submissions Plans and Goals for Next Month Contests entered NYC Midnight Rhyming Story, round 1 Results The Dread Tootling Jen deals with the chaos of a snowed-in vacation with her in-laws Holding the Bag A bank robber finds himself without a getaway vehicle and makes do Falling in Glove A stream-of-consciousness reflection on the daughter of the house's missing glove…
writermcnaughton.wordpress.com
October 2, 2025 at 1:44 PM
September 2025 Updates
Contests Entered Results Submissions Plans and Goals for Next Month Contests entered NYC Midnight Rhyming Story, round 1 Results The Dread Tootling Jen deals with the chaos of a snowed-in vacation with her in-laws Holding the Bag A bank robber finds himself without a getaway…
Contests Entered Results Submissions Plans and Goals for Next Month Contests entered NYC Midnight Rhyming Story, round 1 Results The Dread Tootling Jen deals with the chaos of a snowed-in vacation with her in-laws Holding the Bag A bank robber finds himself without a getaway…
Reposted by S.A. McNaughton
The theme for the first week of the 2025 Short Horror Story Contest is... HAUNTINGS. Houses, hospitals, toys, lockets. If you can name it, you can haunt it. 👻
September 28, 2025 at 8:41 PM
The theme for the first week of the 2025 Short Horror Story Contest is... HAUNTINGS. Houses, hospitals, toys, lockets. If you can name it, you can haunt it. 👻
A TALE OF MILK AND EGGS (999 words)
An academic on her way to a conference struggles with leaving her newborn behind, and makes an unexpected connection with a dragon on the airport runway
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Written for the NYC Midnight #flashfictionchallenge round 2
An academic on her way to a conference struggles with leaving her newborn behind, and makes an unexpected connection with a dragon on the airport runway
-
Written for the NYC Midnight #flashfictionchallenge round 2
A Tale of Milk and Eggs
An academic on her way to a conference struggles with leaving her newborn behind, and makes an unexpected connection with a dragon on the airport runway
writermcnaughton.wordpress.com
September 30, 2025 at 4:00 PM
A TALE OF MILK AND EGGS (999 words)
An academic on her way to a conference struggles with leaving her newborn behind, and makes an unexpected connection with a dragon on the airport runway
-
Written for the NYC Midnight #flashfictionchallenge round 2
An academic on her way to a conference struggles with leaving her newborn behind, and makes an unexpected connection with a dragon on the airport runway
-
Written for the NYC Midnight #flashfictionchallenge round 2
#RhymingStoryChallenge: A week
To write six hundred words
I waited til I had six hours
To write the last two-thirds.
I could have used a bit more time
But I'd have frittered it away
At last my story's at an end
As so, too, is the day.
To write six hundred words
I waited til I had six hours
To write the last two-thirds.
I could have used a bit more time
But I'd have frittered it away
At last my story's at an end
As so, too, is the day.
September 14, 2025 at 3:40 AM
#RhymingStoryChallenge: A week
To write six hundred words
I waited til I had six hours
To write the last two-thirds.
I could have used a bit more time
But I'd have frittered it away
At last my story's at an end
As so, too, is the day.
To write six hundred words
I waited til I had six hours
To write the last two-thirds.
I could have used a bit more time
But I'd have frittered it away
At last my story's at an end
As so, too, is the day.
"Yearning" was a fun prompt for round 3 of #TwistedTournament. I wrote FALLING IN GLOVE (100 words).
Falling in Glove
A stream-of-consciousness reflection on the daughter of the house's missing glove
writermcnaughton.wordpress.com
September 11, 2025 at 4:53 PM
"Yearning" was a fun prompt for round 3 of #TwistedTournament. I wrote FALLING IN GLOVE (100 words).
Holding the Bag
A bank robber finds himself without a getaway vehicle and makes do
A bank robber finds himself without a getaway vehicle and makes do
Holding the Bag
A bank robber finds himself without a getaway vehicle and makes do
writermcnaughton.wordpress.com
September 10, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Holding the Bag
A bank robber finds himself without a getaway vehicle and makes do
A bank robber finds himself without a getaway vehicle and makes do
“Uh-oh, did Bitsy make a wee-wee?”
That is the least of Jen's problems in THE DREAD TOOTLING (499 words), written for round 1 of #TwistedTournament
(Bitsy did, in fact, make a wee-wee.)
That is the least of Jen's problems in THE DREAD TOOTLING (499 words), written for round 1 of #TwistedTournament
(Bitsy did, in fact, make a wee-wee.)
The Dread Tootling
Jen deals with the chaos of a snowed-in vacation with her in-laws
writermcnaughton.wordpress.com
September 9, 2025 at 12:54 PM
“Uh-oh, did Bitsy make a wee-wee?”
That is the least of Jen's problems in THE DREAD TOOTLING (499 words), written for round 1 of #TwistedTournament
(Bitsy did, in fact, make a wee-wee.)
That is the least of Jen's problems in THE DREAD TOOTLING (499 words), written for round 1 of #TwistedTournament
(Bitsy did, in fact, make a wee-wee.)
13th! My best finish yet in @twistinthetale.bsky.social #TwistedTournament!
Plus:
1x Best Last Line 🎭
1x Most Heartfelt 💔
4x Funniest 😂
1x Best Title 📖
(I shared anonymously and don't seem to be able to change that setting - it's called The Dread Tootling.)
Plus:
1x Best Last Line 🎭
1x Most Heartfelt 💔
4x Funniest 😂
1x Best Title 📖
(I shared anonymously and don't seem to be able to change that setting - it's called The Dread Tootling.)
September 9, 2025 at 12:49 PM
13th! My best finish yet in @twistinthetale.bsky.social #TwistedTournament!
Plus:
1x Best Last Line 🎭
1x Most Heartfelt 💔
4x Funniest 😂
1x Best Title 📖
(I shared anonymously and don't seem to be able to change that setting - it's called The Dread Tootling.)
Plus:
1x Best Last Line 🎭
1x Most Heartfelt 💔
4x Funniest 😂
1x Best Title 📖
(I shared anonymously and don't seem to be able to change that setting - it's called The Dread Tootling.)
Looking forward to the @nycmidnight.bsky.social #RhymingStoryChallenge starting tonight. I had so much fun writing my rhyming stories last year!
September 6, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Looking forward to the @nycmidnight.bsky.social #RhymingStoryChallenge starting tonight. I had so much fun writing my rhyming stories last year!
Summer 2025 writing progress and plans for September
Summer 2025 Updates
Contests Entered Results Submissions Plans and Goals for Next Month Contests Entered in June, July and August NYC Midnight Flash Fiction, round 1 Not Quite Write NYC Midnight Flash Fiction, round 2 NYC Midnight 500, round 1 Twisted Tournament, round 1 Twisted Tournament, round 2 Twisted Tournament, round 3 Results Victoria and the Mess Perfectionist baking show contestant Victoria learns to embrace mess and go with the flow…
writermcnaughton.wordpress.com
September 2, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Summer 2025 writing progress and plans for September
Not Quite Write-Up: an introduction to the #NotQuiteWritePrize for anyone considering taking part in a future competition
Not Quite Write-Up
Last year I included the Not Quite Write Prize in my holiday post about writing contest entries you can give as gifts, despite having never actually taken part myself. It has a great reputation, and it always looked like a lot of fun. I’ve now participated in three Not Quite Write challenges, so I can confirm from experience that it’s a great time.
writermcnaughton.wordpress.com
August 27, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Not Quite Write-Up: an introduction to the #NotQuiteWritePrize for anyone considering taking part in a future competition
THE MOTHMAN WHO LOVED ME - written for #NotQuiteWritePrize
The Mothman Who Loved Me
Sitting around the backyard bonfire, Lucille meets someone new, who helps her see things in a new light
writermcnaughton.wordpress.com
August 27, 2025 at 5:12 PM
THE MOTHMAN WHO LOVED ME - written for #NotQuiteWritePrize
This was mine!
Entry 3144 - Only three stories in and already found a creative interpretation of 'passive voice' that never even occurred to me! @NotQuiteWritePrize
August 27, 2025 at 4:17 PM
This was mine!
@nycmidnight.bsky.social Do you have dates for the 2026 screenwriting challenge yet? I want to finally do it next year, so I want to make sure I block the time off and don’t make any other plans.
August 15, 2025 at 2:59 PM
@nycmidnight.bsky.social Do you have dates for the 2026 screenwriting challenge yet? I want to finally do it next year, so I want to make sure I block the time off and don’t make any other plans.
IN UNIFORM (999 words): Archer, a historical reenactor on Michigan’s Mackinac Island, is drawn into a chase on foot and ferry boat after a bomb explodes at the governor’s summer residence (1st place, NYC Midnight Flash Fiction Challenge 2025, round 1)
In Uniform
Archer, a historical reenactor on Michigan’s Mackinac Island, is drawn into a chase on foot and ferry boat after a bomb explodes at the governor’s summer residence
writermcnaughton.wordpress.com
August 11, 2025 at 8:36 PM
IN UNIFORM (999 words): Archer, a historical reenactor on Michigan’s Mackinac Island, is drawn into a chase on foot and ferry boat after a bomb explodes at the governor’s summer residence (1st place, NYC Midnight Flash Fiction Challenge 2025, round 1)
I’m really excited to have made it to the next round in the #FlashFictionChallenge2025, much less gotten my first @nycmidnight.bsky.social 1st place finish!!!!!!
July 31, 2025 at 3:01 AM
I’m really excited to have made it to the next round in the #FlashFictionChallenge2025, much less gotten my first @nycmidnight.bsky.social 1st place finish!!!!!!
I haven't finished anything in nearly two months, so it's a relief to have written this.
500 words is not a lot! I started out with an idea that was too big for the word count and had to simplify a lot. I wasn't shooting for GOOD, but I'm really glad to have it DONE.
500 words is not a lot! I started out with an idea that was too big for the word count and had to simplify a lot. I wasn't shooting for GOOD, but I'm really glad to have it DONE.
July 27, 2025 at 1:01 PM
I haven't finished anything in nearly two months, so it's a relief to have written this.
500 words is not a lot! I started out with an idea that was too big for the word count and had to simplify a lot. I wasn't shooting for GOOD, but I'm really glad to have it DONE.
500 words is not a lot! I started out with an idea that was too big for the word count and had to simplify a lot. I wasn't shooting for GOOD, but I'm really glad to have it DONE.
Join me in the @nycmidnight.bsky.social Rhyming Story Challenge on September 5th! Learn more at nycmidnight.com/rhyme
The Rhyming Story Challenge — nycmidnight
The Rhyming Story Challenge is a creative writing competition that challenges writers worldwide to create rhyming stories based on three assigned prompts in as little as 48 hours.
nycmidnight.com
July 22, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Join me in the @nycmidnight.bsky.social Rhyming Story Challenge on September 5th! Learn more at nycmidnight.com/rhyme