Heather Byrne
@heatherjb10.bsky.social
Loves to write, laugh, swim and play pickleball (though not all at the same time). Owner of Designer Poems.
Listen to my MC and get her story down in 2026. If she's being awkward or starts to fade, go for endless walks and have chats to resolve her issues. People might think I'm mad talking to myself but that's OK - it's better than letting her story disappear altogether!
January 2, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Listen to my MC and get her story down in 2026. If she's being awkward or starts to fade, go for endless walks and have chats to resolve her issues. People might think I'm mad talking to myself but that's OK - it's better than letting her story disappear altogether!
Congratulations - great entry 🥳
November 7, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Congratulations - great entry 🥳
Congratulations - a great entry
November 7, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Congratulations - a great entry
Oh thank you, can't believe it!
November 7, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Oh thank you, can't believe it!
Can you imagine?!
November 6, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Can you imagine?!
#WriteCBC
‘Of course your mother can stay another week,’ I say, my heart plummeting.
‘Good, I already said yes.’ He hangs a baubel on the tree.
I manage a smile, reach for a paper chain. ‘You’ll be at work?’
He nods. ‘But you’ll have fun.’
I crush the loops without thinking.
‘Careful, silly.’
‘Of course your mother can stay another week,’ I say, my heart plummeting.
‘Good, I already said yes.’ He hangs a baubel on the tree.
I manage a smile, reach for a paper chain. ‘You’ll be at work?’
He nods. ‘But you’ll have fun.’
I crush the loops without thinking.
‘Careful, silly.’
November 6, 2025 at 12:19 PM
#WriteCBC
‘Of course your mother can stay another week,’ I say, my heart plummeting.
‘Good, I already said yes.’ He hangs a baubel on the tree.
I manage a smile, reach for a paper chain. ‘You’ll be at work?’
He nods. ‘But you’ll have fun.’
I crush the loops without thinking.
‘Careful, silly.’
‘Of course your mother can stay another week,’ I say, my heart plummeting.
‘Good, I already said yes.’ He hangs a baubel on the tree.
I manage a smile, reach for a paper chain. ‘You’ll be at work?’
He nods. ‘But you’ll have fun.’
I crush the loops without thinking.
‘Careful, silly.’
#WriteCBC
Careful. There’s a step.
I can’t see.
Wait. Better?
Yes. Who lives here?
My Gran.
Oh god. Sorry. How did she..?
Dunno. Wasn't told.
It’s a cute room. One chair, one table. So dusty.
Yeah. She...
Look, an open book. Misery! And tea. Josh, this mug’s still warm.
What? Can't be. Mum's away.
Careful. There’s a step.
I can’t see.
Wait. Better?
Yes. Who lives here?
My Gran.
Oh god. Sorry. How did she..?
Dunno. Wasn't told.
It’s a cute room. One chair, one table. So dusty.
Yeah. She...
Look, an open book. Misery! And tea. Josh, this mug’s still warm.
What? Can't be. Mum's away.
October 2, 2025 at 12:39 PM
#WriteCBC
Careful. There’s a step.
I can’t see.
Wait. Better?
Yes. Who lives here?
My Gran.
Oh god. Sorry. How did she..?
Dunno. Wasn't told.
It’s a cute room. One chair, one table. So dusty.
Yeah. She...
Look, an open book. Misery! And tea. Josh, this mug’s still warm.
What? Can't be. Mum's away.
Careful. There’s a step.
I can’t see.
Wait. Better?
Yes. Who lives here?
My Gran.
Oh god. Sorry. How did she..?
Dunno. Wasn't told.
It’s a cute room. One chair, one table. So dusty.
Yeah. She...
Look, an open book. Misery! And tea. Josh, this mug’s still warm.
What? Can't be. Mum's away.
Congratulations!
September 5, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Congratulations!
#WriteCBC
He pierces my nights and shatters my days when, the moment I think of other things he whispers, ‘Remember me, I did exist.’
I can’t help it. I ease open the drawer where his never-worn bootees lie hidden in tissue.
I stroke the wool, soft to the touch and whisper back, ‘I’m sorry.’
He pierces my nights and shatters my days when, the moment I think of other things he whispers, ‘Remember me, I did exist.’
I can’t help it. I ease open the drawer where his never-worn bootees lie hidden in tissue.
I stroke the wool, soft to the touch and whisper back, ‘I’m sorry.’
September 4, 2025 at 12:04 PM
#WriteCBC
He pierces my nights and shatters my days when, the moment I think of other things he whispers, ‘Remember me, I did exist.’
I can’t help it. I ease open the drawer where his never-worn bootees lie hidden in tissue.
I stroke the wool, soft to the touch and whisper back, ‘I’m sorry.’
He pierces my nights and shatters my days when, the moment I think of other things he whispers, ‘Remember me, I did exist.’
I can’t help it. I ease open the drawer where his never-worn bootees lie hidden in tissue.
I stroke the wool, soft to the touch and whisper back, ‘I’m sorry.’
#WriteCBC
He peers at the drawing: 'Tube Pedicle' of Jim, with pencil skin snaking from face to hand.
McIndoe saved his nose, his life.
Lentaigne, his image.
In the silent room the ghosts of other Guinea Pigs crowd but he only sees Jim.
'Sorry. We're closing now.'
He smiles. 'See you tomorrow.'
He peers at the drawing: 'Tube Pedicle' of Jim, with pencil skin snaking from face to hand.
McIndoe saved his nose, his life.
Lentaigne, his image.
In the silent room the ghosts of other Guinea Pigs crowd but he only sees Jim.
'Sorry. We're closing now.'
He smiles. 'See you tomorrow.'
July 4, 2025 at 5:27 AM
#WriteCBC
He peers at the drawing: 'Tube Pedicle' of Jim, with pencil skin snaking from face to hand.
McIndoe saved his nose, his life.
Lentaigne, his image.
In the silent room the ghosts of other Guinea Pigs crowd but he only sees Jim.
'Sorry. We're closing now.'
He smiles. 'See you tomorrow.'
He peers at the drawing: 'Tube Pedicle' of Jim, with pencil skin snaking from face to hand.
McIndoe saved his nose, his life.
Lentaigne, his image.
In the silent room the ghosts of other Guinea Pigs crowd but he only sees Jim.
'Sorry. We're closing now.'
He smiles. 'See you tomorrow.'
She eyes me through the crack. ‘John said to come here.’
I wait.
She fidgets, glancing around. ‘About a room,’ she whispers.
‘No room here.’
Her shoulders drop, eyes fill and I spot the pea-sized burns the length of her arms.
I sigh. ‘OK. Come in, quickly. Were you followed?’ #WriteCBC
I wait.
She fidgets, glancing around. ‘About a room,’ she whispers.
‘No room here.’
Her shoulders drop, eyes fill and I spot the pea-sized burns the length of her arms.
I sigh. ‘OK. Come in, quickly. Were you followed?’ #WriteCBC
June 5, 2025 at 12:38 PM
She eyes me through the crack. ‘John said to come here.’
I wait.
She fidgets, glancing around. ‘About a room,’ she whispers.
‘No room here.’
Her shoulders drop, eyes fill and I spot the pea-sized burns the length of her arms.
I sigh. ‘OK. Come in, quickly. Were you followed?’ #WriteCBC
I wait.
She fidgets, glancing around. ‘About a room,’ she whispers.
‘No room here.’
Her shoulders drop, eyes fill and I spot the pea-sized burns the length of her arms.
I sigh. ‘OK. Come in, quickly. Were you followed?’ #WriteCBC
#WriteCBC
‘She said she’d look after us.’
Jim shrugs. ‘She says a lot of things.’
‘But these?’ I hold up the plans I’ve found for the block of flats where our cottages sit.
‘She doesn’t care. Quick, let’s go. She’s coming back.’
He heads out but I stay to face her. Now it’s me who doesn’t care.
‘She said she’d look after us.’
Jim shrugs. ‘She says a lot of things.’
‘But these?’ I hold up the plans I’ve found for the block of flats where our cottages sit.
‘She doesn’t care. Quick, let’s go. She’s coming back.’
He heads out but I stay to face her. Now it’s me who doesn’t care.
May 8, 2025 at 5:09 PM
#WriteCBC
‘She said she’d look after us.’
Jim shrugs. ‘She says a lot of things.’
‘But these?’ I hold up the plans I’ve found for the block of flats where our cottages sit.
‘She doesn’t care. Quick, let’s go. She’s coming back.’
He heads out but I stay to face her. Now it’s me who doesn’t care.
‘She said she’d look after us.’
Jim shrugs. ‘She says a lot of things.’
‘But these?’ I hold up the plans I’ve found for the block of flats where our cottages sit.
‘She doesn’t care. Quick, let’s go. She’s coming back.’
He heads out but I stay to face her. Now it’s me who doesn’t care.
She's here. Again. Don't peek. If she thinks I'm asleep she'll leave me be like Jenny. Not like Tom. He's gone. Soft breaths, I sink into the sheets but she's patient. She's sly. Bleach makes my nose wrinkle. She pounces. I grab the mirror but it's too dark. She doesn't see it's only me. #writeCBC
April 3, 2025 at 1:13 PM
She's here. Again. Don't peek. If she thinks I'm asleep she'll leave me be like Jenny. Not like Tom. He's gone. Soft breaths, I sink into the sheets but she's patient. She's sly. Bleach makes my nose wrinkle. She pounces. I grab the mirror but it's too dark. She doesn't see it's only me. #writeCBC
Reading The Christmas Appeal from my library at the moment! My library, your book, love them both! @janicehallett.bsky.social
January 23, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Reading The Christmas Appeal from my library at the moment! My library, your book, love them both! @janicehallett.bsky.social
#5ActFestiveStory
As the door flung open an icy blast threw them against the wall.
'Now!' Her mother yelled.
Ella hurled the flames into the darkness, splintering the air with jewels, lighting up the figure in the doorway.
Ella's mother frowned. 'Nick?'
'I'm home.'
'But the postcard?'
'I'm sorry.'
As the door flung open an icy blast threw them against the wall.
'Now!' Her mother yelled.
Ella hurled the flames into the darkness, splintering the air with jewels, lighting up the figure in the doorway.
Ella's mother frowned. 'Nick?'
'I'm home.'
'But the postcard?'
'I'm sorry.'
December 14, 2024 at 8:35 AM
#5ActFestiveStory
As the door flung open an icy blast threw them against the wall.
'Now!' Her mother yelled.
Ella hurled the flames into the darkness, splintering the air with jewels, lighting up the figure in the doorway.
Ella's mother frowned. 'Nick?'
'I'm home.'
'But the postcard?'
'I'm sorry.'
As the door flung open an icy blast threw them against the wall.
'Now!' Her mother yelled.
Ella hurled the flames into the darkness, splintering the air with jewels, lighting up the figure in the doorway.
Ella's mother frowned. 'Nick?'
'I'm home.'
'But the postcard?'
'I'm sorry.'
Reposted by Heather Byrne
Please post your Act IV response as a reply to our pinned post by 10am, 13 Dec (UK time). Remember to include #5ActFestiveStory. #WritingCommunity
For more information on how to participate, check out this blog full of info and tips: www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/blog/5-act-f...
For more information on how to participate, check out this blog full of info and tips: www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/blog/5-act-f...
December 12, 2024 at 11:02 AM
Please post your Act IV response as a reply to our pinned post by 10am, 13 Dec (UK time). Remember to include #5ActFestiveStory. #WritingCommunity
For more information on how to participate, check out this blog full of info and tips: www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/blog/5-act-f...
For more information on how to participate, check out this blog full of info and tips: www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/blog/5-act-f...
#5ActFestiveStory
Ella fought her way out of the ice, kicking away the freezing shards. An eerie silence lay over the room.
'Phew, that was close,' Ella hissed, grabbing her mother's hand.
She tugged her from the ice but it wasn't her mother who rose, it was the one person she feared most.
Ella fought her way out of the ice, kicking away the freezing shards. An eerie silence lay over the room.
'Phew, that was close,' Ella hissed, grabbing her mother's hand.
She tugged her from the ice but it wasn't her mother who rose, it was the one person she feared most.
December 12, 2024 at 12:27 PM
#5ActFestiveStory
Ella fought her way out of the ice, kicking away the freezing shards. An eerie silence lay over the room.
'Phew, that was close,' Ella hissed, grabbing her mother's hand.
She tugged her from the ice but it wasn't her mother who rose, it was the one person she feared most.
Ella fought her way out of the ice, kicking away the freezing shards. An eerie silence lay over the room.
'Phew, that was close,' Ella hissed, grabbing her mother's hand.
She tugged her from the ice but it wasn't her mother who rose, it was the one person she feared most.