Jo Gatford
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jmgatford.bsky.social
Jo Gatford
@jmgatford.bsky.social
1.5K followers 460 following 850 posts
Write-abouter | editor | scriptwriter | fiction all over the shop | Shakespeare nerd | writing thoughts & workshops @ The Joy of Fixion
https://www.jogatford.com
https://fixioning.substack.com
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jmgatford.bsky.social
Flashy workshoppy shenanigans happening in October... A whole weekend of generating story ideas and exploring techniques to turn everyday observations into compelling flash. (PLUS: finally fix those old drafts that still have *something* missing...)

flashfictionmagazine.com/the-snapshot...
A promo image that says: The snapshot story — how to craft flash fiction from everyday moments. With Jo Gatford & Flash Fiction Magazine. 11th and 12th October, 9am PDF, 5pm BST. More into at www.jogatford.com/workshops. The image has dark blue and white text on a light blue background and an image of a hand holding a camera.
September 18, 2025 at 11:23 AM
jmgatford.bsky.social
Get the fuck out.
September 16, 2025 at 3:10 PM
jmgatford.bsky.social
September really said: “Summer? I hardly know her.”
September 2, 2025 at 11:59 AM
jmgatford.bsky.social
24 hours off work fun time thing #1: silent disco on a big hill with an ocean view.
A photo of a night view atop a hill with city lights in the distance. The word love is spelled out in giant letters on the grass.
August 16, 2025 at 9:59 PM
jmgatford.bsky.social
It's my job (and a privilege) to help you find the right words for your story.

Book a mentoring & feedback session here: www.jogatford.com/creative-coa...
A screenshot of an editorial comment in a word doc that says "thrusting?"
August 16, 2025 at 8:58 AM
jmgatford.bsky.social
Got myself a weird lil’ mixed up fairy tale on the @fracturedlit.bsky.social shortlist! 🐺🌜

fracturedlit.com/fractured-li...
A blue-tinted image of an isolated cabin by a stream, with a dark forest and looming mountains behind, and a huge full moon above. Overlaid text says: Fractured Lit ghost, fable, and fair tales prize shortlist. Guest judge: Dan Chaon.
July 17, 2025 at 5:23 PM
jmgatford.bsky.social
The kids are alright. My son went to a boot sale and came back with this steampunk salt grinder.
A photo of a hand holding a large vintage wood and metal salt or pepper grinder with a complicated looking mechanism on top.
July 12, 2025 at 11:28 AM
jmgatford.bsky.social
Hey.
A photo of a pleasingly round bale of hay. Yes I can spell. It’s a (bad) joke.
July 6, 2025 at 7:07 PM
jmgatford.bsky.social
Anyway. I love music. I love writing. I love the way humans can't help but tell stories & make art, over and over again in different ways.

I had a lot of fun creating this weird, unprovoked dissertation. Maybe you'll enjoy it too.

Find all 4 workshops here: fixioning.substack.com/t/story-in-a...
A dark bluey green promo image with a white line drawing of a pair of headphones attached to a wiggly cable that stretches across the whole image. Overlaid text says: The story in a song. Find the music in your writing.
June 30, 2025 at 10:07 AM
jmgatford.bsky.social
I made my husband a janky little crocheted cow and it made him so happy he almost cried.
A wonky potato shaped blue crocheted cow
June 23, 2025 at 10:15 AM
jmgatford.bsky.social
Video game logic tells me I should climb this.
A photo of a stack of beer barrels on a pallet in front of an archway on Brighton seafront. On a shelf above are a bunch of extractor fans. Above those there are railings and a pole stretching off camera.
June 16, 2025 at 11:46 AM
jmgatford.bsky.social
Ever listened to a song and wanted to write a whole story about the narrative — and people — inside it?

This week's Story in a Song workshop invites you to build a character inspired by a playlist full of personalities and creative songwriting techniques:

fixioning.substack.com/p/the-story-...
A blurry background showing a variety of album covers including Dusty Springfield and Sara Bareilles. An overlaid quote says: "Whether you're looking for a heartbroken character, a happy-go-lucky character, a murderous character, a heroic character, a regretful character, a repentant character, a sickeningly-in-love character or a doesn't-give-a-fuck character, chances are you'll find an example to inspire you in a song." The Story in a Song: Building Character by Jo Gatford at fixioning.substack.com
June 10, 2025 at 9:15 AM
jmgatford.bsky.social
Last call for my 'Write What You Know' Characterisation workshop — TOMORROW — Weds 28 May at 7.30pm BST!

Explore different ways to create characters with depth & nuance — borrowing traits and foibles from people you know and those observed in the wild...

Tickets here: www.jogatford.com/workshops
A dark purple promo image with a white line drawing of a brain. The right side of the brain is made up of squiggly lines that stretch off into the text, which says: Write what you know: characterisation. Wednesday 28 May at 7.30pm BST. Tickets at www.jogatford.com/workshops
May 27, 2025 at 12:18 PM
jmgatford.bsky.social
I made a little friend.
A photo of a blue crochet octopus amigurumi sitting on a bookshelf
May 20, 2025 at 8:40 AM
jmgatford.bsky.social
Another Write What You Know workshop coming up in a few weeks… And this one’s gonna be character-building!

Write What You Know: Characterisation — Weds 28 May @ 7.30pm (BST)

PAYF tickets available here: www.jogatford.com/workshops#ww...
A dark purple promo image with a white line drawing of a brain. The right hemisphere is made up of squiggly lines that extend into text that says: Write what you know: characterisation. Wednesday 28 May 2025 at 7.30pm BST. More info at www.jogatford.com/workshops
May 16, 2025 at 12:50 PM
jmgatford.bsky.social
You can always rely on facebook marketplace for an unhinged writing prompt...
A screenshot from a facebook marketplace listing for a horse cart: £250. In the photo, a man sits on a blue two-wheeled metal cart rigged up to a white and brown horse, inexplicably in the middle of a lake. A screenshot from a facebook marketplace listing for "too many golf balls" - price £20. Image contains baskets and bags absolutely filled with likely thousands of white and neon golf balls. A very accurate listing indeed. A screenshot from a facebook marketplace listing for a "deluxe panda fancy dress" costume with its price reduced from £125 to £95. In the photo, a person is dressed in what does indeed appear to be a high quality panda costume complete with a large head. The person stands with their arms resting on their stomach, looking at their reflection in a large flatscreen TV. Behind them on the wall is a canvas showing a map of the world.
May 14, 2025 at 10:00 AM
jmgatford.bsky.social
Happy potato wishes you an excellent Monday.
Photo of a potato sitting on a chopping board. A smiley face has naturally occurred on its skin composed of two perfectly placed spots and a curved line.
May 12, 2025 at 12:34 PM
jmgatford.bsky.social
Some lovely words from a bunch of lovely editorial and mentoring clients I’ve worked with recently :D

I’m currently booked up for manuscript feedback at the moment, but I DO have a few spaces for one-to-one Zoom mentoring calls...

More info here: www.jogatford.com/creative-coa...
A testimonial quote on a sage green background that says: "Jo is an extraordinary writer, and as an editor she is majestic. She gets to the bone of things, plunges deep inside your story and comes out the other side with tangled hair, a grin and a very gentle ballpoint pen. She'll help you reshuffle, fine-tune, and add all the em dashes you forgot. She is not only perspicacious and jolly, she's essential." Kik Lodge, author of The Bully in my Pillow A testimonial quote on a rich blue background. "Thank you so much for your lovely comments and feedback. I agree with everything you've suggested. This has been so, so helpful and encouraging, and your suggestions for making the prose flow better are definitely doable. I'm so pleased I chose you to give feedback." Sarah M A testimonial quote on a pale blue background. "I was at a crossroads with my writing and feeling dispirited. Jo immediately put me at ease and gave me the space to chat aloud. Through relaxed conversation, Jo encouraged a celebration of writing achievements, helped to distil my priorities, and suggested ways forward. I left the mentoring session feeling fired up, motivated, and excited about my writing again. A detailed email followed, outlining all that we had discussed and providing recommendations and reading material to meet my individual needs. Jo gave me a much-needed boost and invaluable advice. Can highly recommend this mentoring service!" Mairi S.
May 9, 2025 at 1:26 PM
jmgatford.bsky.social
Having WAY too much fun making playlists for my Story in a Song writing workshop in June, but would love to expand outside of my own musical taste/knowledge!

Throw me your favourite songs featuring stories, characters, places, specific times & general VIIIIIBES.

www.jogatford.com/workshops#st...
A blue promo image featuring a white line drawing of a pair of headphones with a wiggly cable. Overlaid text says: The story in a song — find the music in your writing. A four-part workshop at The Joy of Fixion, starts 2nd June 2025
May 8, 2025 at 11:20 AM
jmgatford.bsky.social
One month later… she lives! 😭❤️🌱

(Top half rotted to death in the water but 50% survival ain’t bad for a finickety fiddle leaf fig.)
Photo of a repotted fiddle leaf fig flourishing on a windowsill
May 6, 2025 at 6:56 AM
jmgatford.bsky.social
Met The Lesser A’Tuin today, holding up a monument in Stanmer Park.

#GNU #TerryPratchett #Discworld
A photo of a small stone statue or a tortoise, holding up a larger monument (out of frame)
May 5, 2025 at 4:32 PM
jmgatford.bsky.social
How am I supposed to get anything done when this creature ambushes me with oxytocin at every turn?
The world’s cutest dog, a small Black and Tan mongrel who has never done anything wrong in her perfect life, lies asleep on her side, all four paws outstretched in complete relaxation. She has positioned herself in the corner of the top stair (grey stripe carpet and green walls) for maximum traffic interruption. I love her.
May 4, 2025 at 4:07 PM
jmgatford.bsky.social
This month I’ve mostly been thinking about the length of things (*stories* — get your mind out of the gutter)…

fixioning.substack.com/p/writing-st...
A black and white image of wiggly strands of yarn. Overlaid text says: Writing string theory (How long? How short? How do you know?) Fixion Lessons from April. By Jo Gatford at The Joy of Fixion on Substack.
April 30, 2025 at 9:01 AM
jmgatford.bsky.social
This week’s attempt at gardening away the horrors is this almost-circular (WIP) willow portal for conjuring other-worldly entities by the fire pit. Needs more girth and possibly a pentagram.
A photo of a patio and a fire pit with a large willow circle hanging from two trees in the foreground.
April 28, 2025 at 2:19 PM
jmgatford.bsky.social
Its only improvement would be if the horn plays the intro…
April 26, 2025 at 10:11 PM