Chris Cottom
@chriscottom.bsky.social
First place in 20+ comps, incl: Allingham, Bangor Lit Mag, Cranked Anvil, Free Flash Fiction, Hysteria, NFFDNZ, Off The Rails, On The Premises, Pokrass Prompts, Retreat West, Shooter Lit, SWLF, The Phare, WestWord.
Ah Melissa, you are indeed my most loyal reader. Thank you!
As @chriscottom.bsky.social's biggest fan, I have to insist you read this! Congrats, my friend!
Best Microfiction 2026 Nominee
How You Know Your Dad’s Heart is in the Military
Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social
rawlit.weebly.com/6_11.html
How You Know Your Dad’s Heart is in the Military
Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social
rawlit.weebly.com/6_11.html
November 6, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Ah Melissa, you are indeed my most loyal reader. Thank you!
Thank you so much for this honour @delgeo14.bsky.social. I am thrilled to bits. Big thanks to @raecowie.bsky.social and @norami.bsky.social for their help with the piece, and @amymarques.bsky.social for the fabulous illustration.
Best Microfiction 2026 Nominee
How You Know Your Dad’s Heart is in the Military
Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social
rawlit.weebly.com/6_11.html
How You Know Your Dad’s Heart is in the Military
Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social
rawlit.weebly.com/6_11.html
November 6, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Thank you so much for this honour @delgeo14.bsky.social. I am thrilled to bits. Big thanks to @raecowie.bsky.social and @norami.bsky.social for their help with the piece, and @amymarques.bsky.social for the fabulous illustration.
Big thanks to Melissa and Kristin at @epistemiclit.bsky.social for including me in their nostalgia issue; to @sfreligh.bsky.social and her awesome Class of Jan 24 for prompting and nurturing it; and @raecowie.bsky.social & @norami.bsky.social for helping it over the line.
Remembering a brother — “the better brother” — in this gut punch of a micro by @chriscottom.bsky.social
An honor to have you in our pages again!
epistemiclit.com/current-issu...
An honor to have you in our pages again!
epistemiclit.com/current-issu...
BAND OF GOLD -
Peter and I parade our scarlet guardsmen on the parquet floor of our playroom: drummers andtuba players, saxophonists and trumpeters. Mum gets them from the
epistemiclit.com
September 12, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Big thanks to Melissa and Kristin at @epistemiclit.bsky.social for including me in their nostalgia issue; to @sfreligh.bsky.social and her awesome Class of Jan 24 for prompting and nurturing it; and @raecowie.bsky.social & @norami.bsky.social for helping it over the line.
Delighted to feature in @fictivedream.bsky.social on this MicroMonday with a 100-worder prompted by @lumchanmfa.bsky.social in her opening workshop for March Micro Madness from @smokelong.bsky.social
"They said we’d been away too long, seemed like forever..." Back in Business by @chriscottom.bsky.social from today's "Second Chances" themed #MicroMonday #microfiction. Please click on the link and enjoy fictivedream.com/2025/08/25/m...
August 25, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Delighted to feature in @fictivedream.bsky.social on this MicroMonday with a 100-worder prompted by @lumchanmfa.bsky.social in her opening workshop for March Micro Madness from @smokelong.bsky.social
Thank you, Melissa. Delighted to appear in this fine-looking edition.
Small, heartwarming #fiction with a mystical twist from @chriscottom.bsky.social.
#EpistemicLitFamily
www.moonlitgetaway.com/new-fiction/...
#EpistemicLitFamily
www.moonlitgetaway.com/new-fiction/...
The Little Shop of Proverbs by Chris Cottom | MoonLit Getaway
Chris Cottom lives near Macclesfield, UK. His work’s appeared in 50-Word Stories, 100 Word Story, Eastern Iowa Review, Fictive Dream, Flash 500, Flash Frontier, Free Flash Fiction, NFFD NZ, NFFD UK, O...
www.moonlitgetaway.com
August 24, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Thank you, Melissa. Delighted to appear in this fine-looking edition.
Thank you, Sue. Delighted to be SL alongside recidivist big hitters @quickasaflash.bsky.social and @uksherka.bsky.social
Congratulations @chriscottom.bsky.social
August 16, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Thank you, Sue. Delighted to be SL alongside recidivist big hitters @quickasaflash.bsky.social and @uksherka.bsky.social
Big thanks to @freeflashfiction.bsky.social for running this brilliant competition, to judge @sagreene1.bsky.social for choosing my story, and to @raecowie.bsky.social, @norami.bsky.social, and the word sculptors of A Smokelong Summer Flash Group 4 for for their help with it.
As chosen by Judge S.A. Greene -
@sagreene1.bsky.social
FFF Competition Twenty-Eight Shortlisted:
My Flatweave Flatmate
by Chris Cottom
chriscottom.wixsite.com
@chriscottom.bsky.social
freeflashfiction.com/fiction/comp...
@sagreene1.bsky.social
FFF Competition Twenty-Eight Shortlisted:
My Flatweave Flatmate
by Chris Cottom
chriscottom.wixsite.com
@chriscottom.bsky.social
freeflashfiction.com/fiction/comp...
Competition Twenty-Eight Shortlisted: My Flatweave Flatmate – Free Flash Fiction
When she finally opens the bathroom door, the floor’s a savanna of sandy hair. Gráinne’s shorn off her chignon, given herself a buzz cut, dyed it coir-mat brown. ‘Go on,’ she says. ‘I know you’re dy...
freeflashfiction.com
July 17, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Big thanks to @freeflashfiction.bsky.social for running this brilliant competition, to judge @sagreene1.bsky.social for choosing my story, and to @raecowie.bsky.social, @norami.bsky.social, and the word sculptors of A Smokelong Summer Flash Group 4 for for their help with it.
Delighted to have stories professionally read on Sherry's Shorts at 1:52 and 10:09 mins respectively.
The July episode of Sherry's Shorts is out! Featuring nostalgic summer stories from @chriscottom.bsky.social & Highland writers Graham Bullen, Cynthia Rogerson & me—with fun-in-the-sun Beach Boys tunes too! I'd love for you to have a listen to these shimmering gems. www.mixcloud.com/invernesshr/...
July 13, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Delighted to have stories professionally read on Sherry's Shorts at 1:52 and 10:09 mins respectively.
So pleased to see this out there, thank you @bnadeauwriter.bsky.social at MoonLit Getaway. Thanks also to @raecowie.bsky.social, @norami.bsky.social & @yalanchang.bsky.social for their help with it.
"The bay window has half a dozen panes with glass circles, like something out of Dickens. A bell jingle-jangles as I step inside. The walls are thick with..."
Read story by @chriscottom.bsky.social: moonlitgetaway.com/new-fiction/the-little-shop-of-proverbs
#WritingCommunity #5amWritersClub
Read story by @chriscottom.bsky.social: moonlitgetaway.com/new-fiction/the-little-shop-of-proverbs
#WritingCommunity #5amWritersClub
June 30, 2025 at 12:42 PM
So pleased to see this out there, thank you @bnadeauwriter.bsky.social at MoonLit Getaway. Thanks also to @raecowie.bsky.social, @norami.bsky.social & @yalanchang.bsky.social for their help with it.
Bravo, Eleonora!!
V grateful to see my story on this list! (Had to check a few times to believe it:) congratulations to all the writers on the list and thank you Wigleaf & the editors!
new on our mainpage: THE WIGLEAF TOP 50 VERY SHORT FICTIONS 2025 (selecting editor @samanito.bsky.social )
June 30, 2025 at 5:23 AM
Bravo, Eleonora!!
Bravo Laura!
I'm thrilled to have won 2nd prize with my story, IT'S ALL SO UNEXPECTED ✨ Congratulations to those in 1st & 3rd place & many thanks to the organisers @flash500.bsky.social & judge @scooterwriter.bsky.social
#fiction #flashfiction #amwriting #writingcommunity
flash500.com/flash-fictio...
#fiction #flashfiction #amwriting #writingcommunity
flash500.com/flash-fictio...
Flash Fiction 2nd Place: It’s All So Unexpected by Laura Besley - Flash 500
I’m doing fifty-two on a forty mile per hour road when I see a fox dart out from the verge. I slam my palm on the horn and my foot on the brake. Next to me, Kaley screams, the contents of her backpack...
flash500.com
May 17, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Bravo Laura!
Thank you, Cole. The spreadsheet is non-fiction.
I’m checking my ‘working days to retirement’ spreadsheet when Sunil, my supervisor, materialises at my elbow.
“Got a minute, Carl?”
“Take your pick,” I say, hitting F5 to refresh. “Any one of the next 55,441.”
@chriscottom.bsky.social in @epistemiclit.bsky.social
epistemiclit.com/current-issu...
“Got a minute, Carl?”
“Take your pick,” I say, hitting F5 to refresh. “Any one of the next 55,441.”
@chriscottom.bsky.social in @epistemiclit.bsky.social
epistemiclit.com/current-issu...
May 7, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Thank you, Cole. The spreadsheet is non-fiction.
Thank you, Matt. Parents take note: the light-up yo-yo will be the must-have toy this Christmas.
"I don’t say, “I was a finalist for East Leicestershire Entrepreneur of the Year.”
I don’t say, “I introduced Market Harborough to the light-up yo-yo.”
Brilliantly ironical exploration of life and work by @chriscottom.bsky.social in @epistemiclit.bsky.social
I don’t say, “I introduced Market Harborough to the light-up yo-yo.”
Brilliantly ironical exploration of life and work by @chriscottom.bsky.social in @epistemiclit.bsky.social
Big thanks to Melissa and Kristin at @epistemiclit.bsky.social for giving a voice to my small piece of resistance here.
May 7, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Thank you, Matt. Parents take note: the light-up yo-yo will be the must-have toy this Christmas.
Big thanks to Melissa and Kristin at @epistemiclit.bsky.social for giving a voice to my small piece of resistance here.
Issue 5: #Resistance is OUT NOW.
It’s a stunning issue, maybe our best yet.
Read, share, #Resist!
epistemiclit.com/current-issue/
It’s a stunning issue, maybe our best yet.
Read, share, #Resist!
epistemiclit.com/current-issue/
May 3, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Big thanks to Melissa and Kristin at @epistemiclit.bsky.social for giving a voice to my small piece of resistance here.
Delighted to be in the beautifully produced Paperboats Zine from @paperboatswriters.bsky.social on World Earth Day. Thank you to @sfreligh.bsky.social for introducing me to pantoums, and to Barbara Marsh, @raecowie.bsky.social & @norami.bsky.social for their help.
April 22, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Delighted to be in the beautifully produced Paperboats Zine from @paperboatswriters.bsky.social on World Earth Day. Thank you to @sfreligh.bsky.social for introducing me to pantoums, and to Barbara Marsh, @raecowie.bsky.social & @norami.bsky.social for their help.
Thank you so much, Matt.
"When my Action Man’s foot came off with his boot you declared it an old army trick for changing into combat gear, clicked ankle into calf, and passed him back"
This piece from @chriscottom.bsky.social reflects the universal so well through its specific scenario - always love a Chris Cottom flash
This piece from @chriscottom.bsky.social reflects the universal so well through its specific scenario - always love a Chris Cottom flash
ICYMI we're currently featuring "Both of us were sons of unnamed dads of unknown whereabouts" by @chriscottom.bsky.social as part of our new #MicroMonday #microfiction series. Please follow the link and enjoy fictivedream.com/2025/04/14/m...
April 19, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Thank you so much, Matt.
Yeah writers, one week to order get words in right. I've cleared my calendar and I'm ready to get judgmental just as soon as the word-boffins at @freeflashfiction.bsky.social unleash that longlist to me, after which I shall have a fast car standing ready to speed the results down to FFF Central.
The closing date for FFF Competition Twenty-Seven is
Wednesday, 23rd April at 10 pm UK Time...
Wednesday, 23rd April at 10 pm UK Time...
FFF Competition Twenty-Seven
closing date Wed, 23rd April at 10 pm UK
flash fiction between 100 and 300 words
1 Winner - £150.00
2 HC £60.00
3 SL £50.00
Judge: Chris Cottom
@chriscottom.bsky.social
£3.95 / £2.55 per entry
#writingcompetitions
INFO..
freeflashfiction.com/current-comp...
closing date Wed, 23rd April at 10 pm UK
flash fiction between 100 and 300 words
1 Winner - £150.00
2 HC £60.00
3 SL £50.00
Judge: Chris Cottom
@chriscottom.bsky.social
£3.95 / £2.55 per entry
#writingcompetitions
INFO..
freeflashfiction.com/current-comp...
April 16, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Yeah writers, one week to order get words in right. I've cleared my calendar and I'm ready to get judgmental just as soon as the word-boffins at @freeflashfiction.bsky.social unleash that longlist to me, after which I shall have a fast car standing ready to speed the results down to FFF Central.
So pleased to appear in @fictivedream.bsky.social today, long a dream journal of mine. Thanks to @raecowie.bsky.social, @finnegag.bsky.social and @yalanchang.bsky.social for their help with this one.
As part of MicroMonday #2 today we're featuring "Both of us were sons of unnamed dads of unknown whereabouts" by @chriscottom.bsky.social. Please follow the link and enjoy this tiny gem #microfiction #MicroMonday fictivedream.com/2025/04/14/m...
April 14, 2025 at 6:11 PM
So pleased to appear in @fictivedream.bsky.social today, long a dream journal of mine. Thanks to @raecowie.bsky.social, @finnegag.bsky.social and @yalanchang.bsky.social for their help with this one.
Judge on standby. Please send words. £150 top prize. Cash for five others on SL. £2.55 entry if you live in the UK and can pay by BACS. What's not to like?
FFF Competition Twenty-Seven
closing date Wed, 23rd April at 10 pm UK
flash fiction between 100 and 300 words
1 Winner - £150.00
2 HC £60.00
3 SL £50.00
Judge: Chris Cottom
@chriscottom.bsky.social
£3.95 / £2.55 per entry
#writingcompetitions
INFO..
freeflashfiction.com/current-comp...
closing date Wed, 23rd April at 10 pm UK
flash fiction between 100 and 300 words
1 Winner - £150.00
2 HC £60.00
3 SL £50.00
Judge: Chris Cottom
@chriscottom.bsky.social
£3.95 / £2.55 per entry
#writingcompetitions
INFO..
freeflashfiction.com/current-comp...
April 1, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Judge on standby. Please send words. £150 top prize. Cash for five others on SL. £2.55 entry if you live in the UK and can pay by BACS. What's not to like?
Thank you, Cole. I'm outing my inner artisan baker with this story, but that's all I'm admitting to.
Revenge, Peckham-style. Well played, @chriscottom.bsky.social - need to know the origin story of this one!
March 21, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Thank you, Cole. I'm outing my inner artisan baker with this story, but that's all I'm admitting to.
So honoured to be chosen for this by judge Joanna Miller. Big thanks to Ian @freeflashfiction.bsky.social for running this bimonthly comp and to @norami.bsky.social and several non-BlueSkyers for their help. Congrats to my fellow SLers; see y'all next time I hope (literally, cos I'm the judge).
As chosen by Judge Joanna Miller...
The FFF Competition Twenty-Six Winning Flash Fiction...
Yes, Pumpernickel Makes a Wonderful Wedding Present
by
Chris Cottom
@chriscottom.bsky.social
chriscottom.wixsite.com
#writingcompetitions #flashfiction
freeflashfiction.com/fiction/comp...
The FFF Competition Twenty-Six Winning Flash Fiction...
Yes, Pumpernickel Makes a Wonderful Wedding Present
by
Chris Cottom
@chriscottom.bsky.social
chriscottom.wixsite.com
#writingcompetitions #flashfiction
freeflashfiction.com/fiction/comp...
Competition Twenty-Six Winning Flash Fiction: Yes, Pumpernickel Makes a Wonderful Wedding Present – Free Flash Fiction
Planning Combine with earth-mother earrings, vegan-friendly clogs, and a plus-sized smock dress that’ll make the spray-tanned bride worry she’s not the only one knocked up by your ex’s not-so-legend...
freeflashfiction.com
March 21, 2025 at 11:32 AM
So honoured to be chosen for this by judge Joanna Miller. Big thanks to Ian @freeflashfiction.bsky.social for running this bimonthly comp and to @norami.bsky.social and several non-BlueSkyers for their help. Congrats to my fellow SLers; see y'all next time I hope (literally, cos I'm the judge).
Thank you to Gisele @thehooletsnook.bsky.social for publishing my minimalist micro.
Be sure to check out "Decluttering," a micro story by @chriscottom.bsky.social—a witty glimpse into the future of technology, minimalism, marriage, and memory. 🏡 💾
www.thehooletsnook.com/stories--poe...
#microfiction #flashfiction #technology #speculativefiction #freetoread #memories #decluttering
www.thehooletsnook.com/stories--poe...
#microfiction #flashfiction #technology #speculativefiction #freetoread #memories #decluttering
Decluttering
by Chris Cottom I get home to find Marion radiant and every bookcase empty. "Happy retirement," she says, handing me a Kindle. Even family photos, it appears, aren’t sacrosanct. "Digital storage is...
www.thehooletsnook.com
March 1, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Thank you to Gisele @thehooletsnook.bsky.social for publishing my minimalist micro.
Big thanks to flashficfestuk.bsky.social for such a fun prompt; to scooterwriter.bsky.social for runner-uppering me; and Barbara Marsh, deborahzafer.bsky.social, yalanchang.bsky.social, and finnegag.bsky.social for their help. Congrats to laurieiswriting.bsky.social and erinbondo.com.
February 26, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Big thanks to flashficfestuk.bsky.social for such a fun prompt; to scooterwriter.bsky.social for runner-uppering me; and Barbara Marsh, deborahzafer.bsky.social, yalanchang.bsky.social, and finnegag.bsky.social for their help. Congrats to laurieiswriting.bsky.social and erinbondo.com.
Inspiring Teacher? Flash Hero? Great Guy?
I just ordered business cards for my new job title! (Still keeping and loving all of my other titles!) Things are getting real! I can't wait to officially announce it on Tuesday!
February 21, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Inspiring Teacher? Flash Hero? Great Guy?
This is such a cool club. Hang out with cool flashfolk, get a story in advance with Tommy’s analysis, plus prompts. Tommy unpacks more on Zoom, then we discuss. You get the video so you can catch up with the bits you missed, and written feedback on one story. All for $85. I’ve booked the next lot.
A few spots left!
Catching Lightning: A Flash Reading/Writing Club runs from February 28-April 4th (skipping March 28th) from 3-4:15!
5 weeks of deep-diving into flash fiction!
tommydeanwriter.com/writing-work...
Catching Lightning: A Flash Reading/Writing Club runs from February 28-April 4th (skipping March 28th) from 3-4:15!
5 weeks of deep-diving into flash fiction!
tommydeanwriter.com/writing-work...
Writing Workshops
Tommy Dean lives in Indiana with his wife and two children. Tommy Dean is the author of two flash fiction chapbooks, Special Like the People on TV (Redbird Chapbooks, 2014) and&…
tommydeanwriter.com
February 14, 2025 at 6:22 PM
This is such a cool club. Hang out with cool flashfolk, get a story in advance with Tommy’s analysis, plus prompts. Tommy unpacks more on Zoom, then we discuss. You get the video so you can catch up with the bits you missed, and written feedback on one story. All for $85. I’ve booked the next lot.