Farhana Shaikh 🍉
@farhanashaikh.bsky.social
✍️ Writer #Discoveries2023
📖 Publisher @DahliaBooks
Editor @theasianwriter
Writes, reads, eats 📚
Mainly posting #MondayBlues 📫
📖 Publisher @DahliaBooks
Editor @theasianwriter
Writes, reads, eats 📚
Mainly posting #MondayBlues 📫
Pinned
a picture of a penguin with the word hello on it
Alt: a picture of a penguin with the word hello on it
media.tenor.com
Hello writers, readers and fellow Blue-skiers.
I've taken a leap and decided to post on here but for the sake of consistency and my sanity, I will post #MondayBlues 📫 each week. A top line round up of Dahlia Books news, #writing opportunities and advice.
I've taken a leap and decided to post on here but for the sake of consistency and my sanity, I will post #MondayBlues 📫 each week. A top line round up of Dahlia Books news, #writing opportunities and advice.
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
No agent? No problem.
The 5th Edition of our Indie Press Guide is available to pre-order!
With over 750 editors to choose from, there's never been a better time to take control of your writing!
mslexia.co.uk/shop/indie-p...
#amwriting #amediting #writingcommunity #writers
The 5th Edition of our Indie Press Guide is available to pre-order!
With over 750 editors to choose from, there's never been a better time to take control of your writing!
mslexia.co.uk/shop/indie-p...
#amwriting #amediting #writingcommunity #writers
Indie Press Guide (5th Edition) - Shop : Mslexia, a magazine for women's writing and women who write.
Indie Press Guide (5th Edition) - Shop : Mslexia, a magazine for women's writing and women who write.
mslexia.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 10:46 AM
No agent? No problem.
The 5th Edition of our Indie Press Guide is available to pre-order!
With over 750 editors to choose from, there's never been a better time to take control of your writing!
mslexia.co.uk/shop/indie-p...
#amwriting #amediting #writingcommunity #writers
The 5th Edition of our Indie Press Guide is available to pre-order!
With over 750 editors to choose from, there's never been a better time to take control of your writing!
mslexia.co.uk/shop/indie-p...
#amwriting #amediting #writingcommunity #writers
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
Explore writing about our relationships with women with Jennifer Lee Tsai on 17 November, 5-7pm via Zoom. We will take inspiration from a range of poets including Isabelle Baafi, Katrina Naomi, Dzifa Benson, Degna Stone, and more! Visit the Salon to register. #amwriting
Mslexia Salon a magazine for women's writing and women who write.
Online events, writing surgeries and workshops for women writers. Join our vibrant online community.
mslexia.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Explore writing about our relationships with women with Jennifer Lee Tsai on 17 November, 5-7pm via Zoom. We will take inspiration from a range of poets including Isabelle Baafi, Katrina Naomi, Dzifa Benson, Degna Stone, and more! Visit the Salon to register. #amwriting
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
And I’m here.
Leicester’s Local Writers Fair.
Come along!
10am-3pm at Leicester Central Library, Bishop St, Leicester LE1 6AA
Leicester’s Local Writers Fair.
Come along!
10am-3pm at Leicester Central Library, Bishop St, Leicester LE1 6AA
November 1, 2025 at 9:44 AM
And I’m here.
Leicester’s Local Writers Fair.
Come along!
10am-3pm at Leicester Central Library, Bishop St, Leicester LE1 6AA
Leicester’s Local Writers Fair.
Come along!
10am-3pm at Leicester Central Library, Bishop St, Leicester LE1 6AA
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
The W&A Working-Class Writer's Prize 2025 is open for entries NOW!
Submit your writing within our one-month window to be in with a chance of winning.
Find out more: https://bit.ly/4opAzXS
Submit your writing within our one-month window to be in with a chance of winning.
Find out more: https://bit.ly/4opAzXS
November 1, 2025 at 1:37 PM
The W&A Working-Class Writer's Prize 2025 is open for entries NOW!
Submit your writing within our one-month window to be in with a chance of winning.
Find out more: https://bit.ly/4opAzXS
Submit your writing within our one-month window to be in with a chance of winning.
Find out more: https://bit.ly/4opAzXS
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
**ATTENTION WRITERS** This is your ONE MONTH warning. Entires open for the #WelkinWritingPrize 2026 on the 1st Dec. 100 words. Rolling subs. Free entry. Publication for shortlistees. Prizes for top 5.
November 1, 2025 at 11:01 AM
**ATTENTION WRITERS** This is your ONE MONTH warning. Entires open for the #WelkinWritingPrize 2026 on the 1st Dec. 100 words. Rolling subs. Free entry. Publication for shortlistees. Prizes for top 5.
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
Look what I found had come in the post when I got home ... this beauty from #DahliaBooks! 🦚
Congrats to the winners of the #LeicesterWrites Short Story Prize! Fantastic stories all round!👏
Thanks also @farhanashaikh.bsky.social for including one of mine in this fab anthology 🥰
Congrats to the winners of the #LeicesterWrites Short Story Prize! Fantastic stories all round!👏
Thanks also @farhanashaikh.bsky.social for including one of mine in this fab anthology 🥰
October 19, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Look what I found had come in the post when I got home ... this beauty from #DahliaBooks! 🦚
Congrats to the winners of the #LeicesterWrites Short Story Prize! Fantastic stories all round!👏
Thanks also @farhanashaikh.bsky.social for including one of mine in this fab anthology 🥰
Congrats to the winners of the #LeicesterWrites Short Story Prize! Fantastic stories all round!👏
Thanks also @farhanashaikh.bsky.social for including one of mine in this fab anthology 🥰
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
T' Curve, Leicester.
October 18, 2025 at 3:27 PM
T' Curve, Leicester.
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
Stunning piece by @rosaleenlynch.bsky.social
"She can’t take her children in the suitcase. Not the day the suitcase is full of forest fire, screeching firehawks, & trapped animals, hiding their young. Not the day the suitcase is full of an exploding mine..."
milkcandyreview.home.blog/2025/10/09/t...
"She can’t take her children in the suitcase. Not the day the suitcase is full of forest fire, screeching firehawks, & trapped animals, hiding their young. Not the day the suitcase is full of an exploding mine..."
milkcandyreview.home.blog/2025/10/09/t...
Thanks #MilkCandyReview for getting 'The Suitcase of Lost Belongings' out there! And thanks @corrineleith.bsky.social for the prompt and @fionamckay.bsky.social for the feedback to get there!
milkcandyreview.home.blog/2025/10/09/t...
milkcandyreview.home.blog/2025/10/09/t...
The Suitcase of Lost Belongings ~ by Rosaleen Lynch
She can’t take her children in the suitcase. They would fit if she emptied it. They could top and tail in the folds of the quilt she made of their clothes, but there’s not even enough room for thei…
milkcandyreview.home.blog
October 16, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Stunning piece by @rosaleenlynch.bsky.social
"She can’t take her children in the suitcase. Not the day the suitcase is full of forest fire, screeching firehawks, & trapped animals, hiding their young. Not the day the suitcase is full of an exploding mine..."
milkcandyreview.home.blog/2025/10/09/t...
"She can’t take her children in the suitcase. Not the day the suitcase is full of forest fire, screeching firehawks, & trapped animals, hiding their young. Not the day the suitcase is full of an exploding mine..."
milkcandyreview.home.blog/2025/10/09/t...
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
writershq.co.uk/online-writi...
I’m hosting today’s retreat. It’s free and we start at 10am! Come and join me… you can wear yr jammies all day and get GOLD STARS for writing a bazillion words! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #perfectsaturday
@writershq.bsky.social
I’m hosting today’s retreat. It’s free and we start at 10am! Come and join me… you can wear yr jammies all day and get GOLD STARS for writing a bazillion words! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #perfectsaturday
@writershq.bsky.social
Online writing retreats
Super-productive, super-friendly, super-free online writing retreats. Write thousands of words from the comfort of your own pyjamas.
writershq.co.uk
October 11, 2025 at 7:13 AM
writershq.co.uk/online-writi...
I’m hosting today’s retreat. It’s free and we start at 10am! Come and join me… you can wear yr jammies all day and get GOLD STARS for writing a bazillion words! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #perfectsaturday
@writershq.bsky.social
I’m hosting today’s retreat. It’s free and we start at 10am! Come and join me… you can wear yr jammies all day and get GOLD STARS for writing a bazillion words! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #perfectsaturday
@writershq.bsky.social
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
Excited to be supporting the W&A Working-Class Writers' Prize 2025 with the lovely people at @writersandartists.bsky.social and @ruppin.bsky.social
Find out more here: www.writersandartists.co.uk/about-wa-wor...
PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR CONTACTS
Find out more here: www.writersandartists.co.uk/about-wa-wor...
PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR CONTACTS
W&A Working-Class Writers' Prize 2025 | Writers & Artists
Find out about this year's W&A Working-Class Writers' Prize before it opens for entries on 1st November over on our
www.writersandartists.co.uk
October 7, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Excited to be supporting the W&A Working-Class Writers' Prize 2025 with the lovely people at @writersandartists.bsky.social and @ruppin.bsky.social
Find out more here: www.writersandartists.co.uk/about-wa-wor...
PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR CONTACTS
Find out more here: www.writersandartists.co.uk/about-wa-wor...
PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR CONTACTS
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
📚 @wasafirimag.bsky.social x Tagore’s Salon
Join us for Writing Through Pain: On Labour and Literature
with writers Dur e Aziz Amna & Farah Ali
Oct 15 | 7PM | Brick Lane Bookshop
A conversation on illness, survival, and the work of writing.
🎟️ bricklanebookshop.org/product/tago...
Join us for Writing Through Pain: On Labour and Literature
with writers Dur e Aziz Amna & Farah Ali
Oct 15 | 7PM | Brick Lane Bookshop
A conversation on illness, survival, and the work of writing.
🎟️ bricklanebookshop.org/product/tago...
October 8, 2025 at 3:47 PM
📚 @wasafirimag.bsky.social x Tagore’s Salon
Join us for Writing Through Pain: On Labour and Literature
with writers Dur e Aziz Amna & Farah Ali
Oct 15 | 7PM | Brick Lane Bookshop
A conversation on illness, survival, and the work of writing.
🎟️ bricklanebookshop.org/product/tago...
Join us for Writing Through Pain: On Labour and Literature
with writers Dur e Aziz Amna & Farah Ali
Oct 15 | 7PM | Brick Lane Bookshop
A conversation on illness, survival, and the work of writing.
🎟️ bricklanebookshop.org/product/tago...
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
🌿Do you want to encourage your young writer(s) to enter the Solstice Prize?
💡Struggling with where to start or how to encourage them?
We've created a FREE, downloadable pack full of prompts, writing exercises & an example lesson plan to help you spark their imaginations.
bit.ly/WEM_SOLSTICE
💡Struggling with where to start or how to encourage them?
We've created a FREE, downloadable pack full of prompts, writing exercises & an example lesson plan to help you spark their imaginations.
bit.ly/WEM_SOLSTICE
October 8, 2025 at 5:02 PM
🌿Do you want to encourage your young writer(s) to enter the Solstice Prize?
💡Struggling with where to start or how to encourage them?
We've created a FREE, downloadable pack full of prompts, writing exercises & an example lesson plan to help you spark their imaginations.
bit.ly/WEM_SOLSTICE
💡Struggling with where to start or how to encourage them?
We've created a FREE, downloadable pack full of prompts, writing exercises & an example lesson plan to help you spark their imaginations.
bit.ly/WEM_SOLSTICE
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
My first collection of short stories is out this month (17 October) on @nightjarpress.bsky.social ! Very excited. And nervous. But mostly excited.
October 4, 2025 at 12:07 PM
My first collection of short stories is out this month (17 October) on @nightjarpress.bsky.social ! Very excited. And nervous. But mostly excited.
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
In all seriousness, publishers are going to have to figure out how to market books in the post-social-media landscape. That should be an implicit part of their job. What authors/artists can do on their own is increasingly limited and siloed.
October 2, 2025 at 8:14 PM
In all seriousness, publishers are going to have to figure out how to market books in the post-social-media landscape. That should be an implicit part of their job. What authors/artists can do on their own is increasingly limited and siloed.
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
Plan a Poetry Retreat Day at the Poetry Pharmacy in Shropshire, with Roz Goddard and Jane Commane guiding you through creative workshops and sharing poems. Be inspired.
Book your place for Sunday 2nd November here: t.co/wFoXmZ5kVD
@poetrypharmacy.bsky.social
Book your place for Sunday 2nd November here: t.co/wFoXmZ5kVD
@poetrypharmacy.bsky.social
October 3, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Plan a Poetry Retreat Day at the Poetry Pharmacy in Shropshire, with Roz Goddard and Jane Commane guiding you through creative workshops and sharing poems. Be inspired.
Book your place for Sunday 2nd November here: t.co/wFoXmZ5kVD
@poetrypharmacy.bsky.social
Book your place for Sunday 2nd November here: t.co/wFoXmZ5kVD
@poetrypharmacy.bsky.social
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
More admin. I've updated the apersonalanthology.com website with Amanthi Harris's pick of and introduction to a dozen favourite short stories, including a pair of triple-decker linked story sets.
And featuring the Personal Anthology debut of:
Romesh Gunesekera
So congrats to him!
And featuring the Personal Anthology debut of:
Romesh Gunesekera
So congrats to him!
A Personal Anthology
Writers, critics and others dream-edit a personal anthology of their favourite short stories
apersonalanthology.com
October 4, 2025 at 4:32 PM
More admin. I've updated the apersonalanthology.com website with Amanthi Harris's pick of and introduction to a dozen favourite short stories, including a pair of triple-decker linked story sets.
And featuring the Personal Anthology debut of:
Romesh Gunesekera
So congrats to him!
And featuring the Personal Anthology debut of:
Romesh Gunesekera
So congrats to him!
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
Free Greta Thunberg and the rest of the illegally detained flotilla activists.
October 4, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Free Greta Thunberg and the rest of the illegally detained flotilla activists.
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
I'll be at Birmingham Literature Festival on 11th October with some great names, brilliant writing workshops, events for children and much more.
Come if you can!
Link here www.birminghamliteraturefestival.org
Come if you can!
Link here www.birminghamliteraturefestival.org
October 3, 2025 at 3:25 PM
I'll be at Birmingham Literature Festival on 11th October with some great names, brilliant writing workshops, events for children and much more.
Come if you can!
Link here www.birminghamliteraturefestival.org
Come if you can!
Link here www.birminghamliteraturefestival.org
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
‘Motherhood penalty’ costs women an average £65,618 in pay by time first child turns five.
This is followed by gender pay gap, pension gap, health gap; slow career progression, harassment and violence, unpaid carer work, retirement insecurity.
All women deserve justice.
This is followed by gender pay gap, pension gap, health gap; slow career progression, harassment and violence, unpaid carer work, retirement insecurity.
All women deserve justice.
‘Motherhood penalty’ costs women an average £65,618 in pay by time first child turns five
Women’s average monthly earnings fall by 42% compared with one year before birth, ONS study finds
www.theguardian.com
October 3, 2025 at 5:08 PM
‘Motherhood penalty’ costs women an average £65,618 in pay by time first child turns five.
This is followed by gender pay gap, pension gap, health gap; slow career progression, harassment and violence, unpaid carer work, retirement insecurity.
All women deserve justice.
This is followed by gender pay gap, pension gap, health gap; slow career progression, harassment and violence, unpaid carer work, retirement insecurity.
All women deserve justice.
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
I've just updated the apersonalanthology.com website with Deborah Tomkins @tomkinsdeb.bsky.social's selection of a dozen favourite short stories.
Featuring the Personal Anthology debut of:
Cath Barton @cathbwriter.bsky.social
Peter Hobbs
Mark Ralph-Bowman
So congrats to them!
Featuring the Personal Anthology debut of:
Cath Barton @cathbwriter.bsky.social
Peter Hobbs
Mark Ralph-Bowman
So congrats to them!
A Personal Anthology
Writers, critics and others dream-edit a personal anthology of their favourite short stories
apersonalanthology.com
October 4, 2025 at 12:43 PM
I've just updated the apersonalanthology.com website with Deborah Tomkins @tomkinsdeb.bsky.social's selection of a dozen favourite short stories.
Featuring the Personal Anthology debut of:
Cath Barton @cathbwriter.bsky.social
Peter Hobbs
Mark Ralph-Bowman
So congrats to them!
Featuring the Personal Anthology debut of:
Cath Barton @cathbwriter.bsky.social
Peter Hobbs
Mark Ralph-Bowman
So congrats to them!
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
Was very happy to make the cut for the Leicester Writes anthology. Many thanks to @farhanashaikh.bsky.social and congratulations to all.
October 2, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Was very happy to make the cut for the Leicester Writes anthology. Many thanks to @farhanashaikh.bsky.social and congratulations to all.
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
#Writers, the Hilary Mantel Prize offers an exceptional new opportunity. The late author, who twice won the #WalterScottPrize, was committed to championing emerging talent, and the winner receives a cash award plus mentoring. Submissions are open through 31 December. See https://loom.ly/NFsTZjE
September 22, 2025 at 5:06 PM
#Writers, the Hilary Mantel Prize offers an exceptional new opportunity. The late author, who twice won the #WalterScottPrize, was committed to championing emerging talent, and the winner receives a cash award plus mentoring. Submissions are open through 31 December. See https://loom.ly/NFsTZjE
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
The Bloomsbury Mentorship Programme is open for applications until Friday 10th October! 📚 📚
Bloomsbury are looking for unpublished fiction writers from underrepresented backgrounds who want to develop their craft.
Find out more: https://bit.ly/3VKsoIW
Bloomsbury are looking for unpublished fiction writers from underrepresented backgrounds who want to develop their craft.
Find out more: https://bit.ly/3VKsoIW
October 1, 2025 at 1:23 PM
The Bloomsbury Mentorship Programme is open for applications until Friday 10th October! 📚 📚
Bloomsbury are looking for unpublished fiction writers from underrepresented backgrounds who want to develop their craft.
Find out more: https://bit.ly/3VKsoIW
Bloomsbury are looking for unpublished fiction writers from underrepresented backgrounds who want to develop their craft.
Find out more: https://bit.ly/3VKsoIW
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR WRITER MENTORING 👉 bit.ly/WEMMENTOR
You've got one week to send in your extract, synopsis and answers for the chance to be one of eight mentees on our free writer development programme. Got some last-minute Q's? Make sure to get in touch via info@writingeastmidlands.co.uk ✉️
You've got one week to send in your extract, synopsis and answers for the chance to be one of eight mentees on our free writer development programme. Got some last-minute Q's? Make sure to get in touch via info@writingeastmidlands.co.uk ✉️
October 1, 2025 at 5:05 PM
CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR WRITER MENTORING 👉 bit.ly/WEMMENTOR
You've got one week to send in your extract, synopsis and answers for the chance to be one of eight mentees on our free writer development programme. Got some last-minute Q's? Make sure to get in touch via info@writingeastmidlands.co.uk ✉️
You've got one week to send in your extract, synopsis and answers for the chance to be one of eight mentees on our free writer development programme. Got some last-minute Q's? Make sure to get in touch via info@writingeastmidlands.co.uk ✉️
Reposted by Farhana Shaikh 🍉
If you're looking for a writing challenge to kick-start the month, look no further #womenwriters Sign up with @samblakebooks.bsky.social & @mariamchale.bsky.social in a very supportive #writingcommunity
www.writing.ie/news/join-ou...
www.writing.ie/news/join-ou...
Join our Challenge: Writers Ink Has Moved!
Join our Challenge: Writers Ink, Writing.ie's online coaching and mentoring community, has moved from Facebook to Mighty Networks.
www.writing.ie
October 1, 2025 at 4:05 AM
If you're looking for a writing challenge to kick-start the month, look no further #womenwriters Sign up with @samblakebooks.bsky.social & @mariamchale.bsky.social in a very supportive #writingcommunity
www.writing.ie/news/join-ou...
www.writing.ie/news/join-ou...