Phil Olsen
@liverpolsen.bsky.social
Writer of s(h)orts | Continuing Education Creative Writing Tutor at Uni of Liverpool | Contributing Editor at Vestal Review | Stories in Cōnfingō #16, Strix #8 | https://polsen.co.uk | https://linktr.ee/liverpolsen
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Phil Olsen
@liverpolsen.bsky.social
· Aug 23
‘Graphic Novels – Thinking Inside the Box(es)’
I’m teaming up with illustrator and designer, Chris Rodenhurst, to deliver a one-day workshop on graphic novels…
I’m teaming up with illustrator and designer, Chris Rodenhurst, to deliver a one-day workshop on graphic novels…
Up for a writing challenge? Join me in the 20th annual Short Story Challenge by @nycmidnight.bsky.social on 23rd January 2026! Learn more at nycmidnight.com/ssc
October 3, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Up for a writing challenge? Join me in the 20th annual Short Story Challenge by @nycmidnight.bsky.social on 23rd January 2026! Learn more at nycmidnight.com/ssc
‘Graphic Novels – Thinking Inside the Box(es)’
I’m teaming up with illustrator and designer, Chris Rodenhurst, to deliver a one-day workshop on graphic novels…
I’m teaming up with illustrator and designer, Chris Rodenhurst, to deliver a one-day workshop on graphic novels…
August 23, 2025 at 2:14 PM
‘Graphic Novels – Thinking Inside the Box(es)’
I’m teaming up with illustrator and designer, Chris Rodenhurst, to deliver a one-day workshop on graphic novels…
I’m teaming up with illustrator and designer, Chris Rodenhurst, to deliver a one-day workshop on graphic novels…
‘A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words – Writing short stories inspired by art’
If a picture is worth a thousand words, what might those thousand words be? Fancy writing a 1,000-word piece of flash fiction inspired by artworks and visual prompts?
If a picture is worth a thousand words, what might those thousand words be? Fancy writing a 1,000-word piece of flash fiction inspired by artworks and visual prompts?
August 23, 2025 at 1:28 PM
‘A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words – Writing short stories inspired by art’
If a picture is worth a thousand words, what might those thousand words be? Fancy writing a 1,000-word piece of flash fiction inspired by artworks and visual prompts?
If a picture is worth a thousand words, what might those thousand words be? Fancy writing a 1,000-word piece of flash fiction inspired by artworks and visual prompts?
LiverpOulipo { word [ play } by the rules ]
Next week, I’m running a 2-day creative writing workshop as part of University of Liverpool’s Continuing Education department’s Summer School.
LiverpOulipo will feature prompts, puns and writing exercises. 1/3
Next week, I’m running a 2-day creative writing workshop as part of University of Liverpool’s Continuing Education department’s Summer School.
LiverpOulipo will feature prompts, puns and writing exercises. 1/3
July 14, 2025 at 11:31 PM
LiverpOulipo { word [ play } by the rules ]
Next week, I’m running a 2-day creative writing workshop as part of University of Liverpool’s Continuing Education department’s Summer School.
LiverpOulipo will feature prompts, puns and writing exercises. 1/3
Next week, I’m running a 2-day creative writing workshop as part of University of Liverpool’s Continuing Education department’s Summer School.
LiverpOulipo will feature prompts, puns and writing exercises. 1/3
Reposted by Phil Olsen
Dear frengers local and from afar...
Thank you for celebrating our 30 year anniversary with us in our home country. These two shows were so very special to us.
We hope to see some of you out there for our upcoming shows this year: bnds.us/atglm3
Thank you for celebrating our 30 year anniversary with us in our home country. These two shows were so very special to us.
We hope to see some of you out there for our upcoming shows this year: bnds.us/atglm3
June 2, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Dear frengers local and from afar...
Thank you for celebrating our 30 year anniversary with us in our home country. These two shows were so very special to us.
We hope to see some of you out there for our upcoming shows this year: bnds.us/atglm3
Thank you for celebrating our 30 year anniversary with us in our home country. These two shows were so very special to us.
We hope to see some of you out there for our upcoming shows this year: bnds.us/atglm3
Reposted by Phil Olsen
🔍 Masculinity, Capitalism and Violence: Supporting Boys and Young Men to Navigate Toxic Narratives
Don’t miss our next Eleanor Rathbone Social Justice Public Lecture!
💬 Speaker: Dr Laura Zahra McDonald, Founding Director of ConnectFutures
🗓️ Weds 11 June | 5.30PM
🎟️ Free: bit.ly/masculinity-...
Don’t miss our next Eleanor Rathbone Social Justice Public Lecture!
💬 Speaker: Dr Laura Zahra McDonald, Founding Director of ConnectFutures
🗓️ Weds 11 June | 5.30PM
🎟️ Free: bit.ly/masculinity-...
May 21, 2025 at 10:09 AM
🔍 Masculinity, Capitalism and Violence: Supporting Boys and Young Men to Navigate Toxic Narratives
Don’t miss our next Eleanor Rathbone Social Justice Public Lecture!
💬 Speaker: Dr Laura Zahra McDonald, Founding Director of ConnectFutures
🗓️ Weds 11 June | 5.30PM
🎟️ Free: bit.ly/masculinity-...
Don’t miss our next Eleanor Rathbone Social Justice Public Lecture!
💬 Speaker: Dr Laura Zahra McDonald, Founding Director of ConnectFutures
🗓️ Weds 11 June | 5.30PM
🎟️ Free: bit.ly/masculinity-...
Reposted by Phil Olsen
Don't miss Episode 1 of "A Small, Good Thing"!
Listen here www.spreaker.com/episode/cat-... or on all major podcasting platforms.
Listen here www.spreaker.com/episode/cat-... or on all major podcasting platforms.
May 3, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Don't miss Episode 1 of "A Small, Good Thing"!
Listen here www.spreaker.com/episode/cat-... or on all major podcasting platforms.
Listen here www.spreaker.com/episode/cat-... or on all major podcasting platforms.
Reposted by Phil Olsen
Submissions are open! Please send your novel, novella, short story collection or memoir to CONDUIT BOOKS via our website below. Subs close May 31st 2025. Looking forward to reading. Please RT to spread the word. www.conduitbooks.co.uk
May 1, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Submissions are open! Please send your novel, novella, short story collection or memoir to CONDUIT BOOKS via our website below. Subs close May 31st 2025. Looking forward to reading. Please RT to spread the word. www.conduitbooks.co.uk
Reposted by Phil Olsen
"A Small, Good Thing" is the new podcast about short fiction, in which I get to discuss the short story form with writers, academics, publishers, and short story enthusiasts. Episode one coming up... stay tuned!
April 28, 2025 at 4:52 PM
"A Small, Good Thing" is the new podcast about short fiction, in which I get to discuss the short story form with writers, academics, publishers, and short story enthusiasts. Episode one coming up... stay tuned!
Reposted by Phil Olsen
Beaver's Return
- A new ltd edition print in my shop at www.stephencollinsillustration.com/shop/
- A new ltd edition print in my shop at www.stephencollinsillustration.com/shop/
![Print for sale of a comic by Stephen Collins. Script as follows:
Scene is a British WOODLAND by a RIVER. A NATURALIST is stood next to a cage, and TV NEWS REPORTERS are filming him and the cage.
1
NATURALIST:
And now It is my great honour
2
NATURALIST:
to reintroduce the first wild beaver
back into Britain
3
[Cut to the BEAVER’S CAGE. Its door is open and the Beaver is leaned nonchalantly up against the opening, smoking a cigarette.]
4
BEAVER:
Well, well, well.
5
BEAVER:
Look who's come crawling back.
6
BEAVER:
Got a rubbish ecosystem have ya?
7
BEAVER:
Not happy with the *critical anti-flood infrastructure* engineered by the flippin *badgers*?
8
BEAVER:
I almost didn't recognise you without one of my ancestors on your head…
9
BEAVER:
First you wipe us out… now you ask us to come back and build dams for free…
You actually expect me to be *pleased* don’t ya?
NATURALIST:
I'm so sorry I…I…
10
BEAVER:
“Ooh la la, the Brits have come crawling back…”
Do I look like *Michel flippin’ Barnier*?
11
NATURALIST:
I-if there’s some kind of… *remuneration* we could offer I-I’m sure…
12
BEAVER [throwing cigarette to the ground]:
Unlimited pond weed, two tickets to Abba Voyage.
NATURALIST:
Done.
[ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreihuu4q52tdottov7i776h4hml3m5droe3krfmd7vtda6bkwvfgihe@jpeg)
April 23, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Beaver's Return
- A new ltd edition print in my shop at www.stephencollinsillustration.com/shop/
- A new ltd edition print in my shop at www.stephencollinsillustration.com/shop/
Reposted by Phil Olsen
Day 2 of #SLSA2025 began with a powerful plenary: Liverpool and the Legacies of Hillsborough — held poignantly a day after the disaster’s 36th anniversary.
Voices from law, academia, activism & the arts shared moving reflections on the long fight for justice.
🔗 liverpool.ac.uk/law/slsa-2025/
Voices from law, academia, activism & the arts shared moving reflections on the long fight for justice.
🔗 liverpool.ac.uk/law/slsa-2025/
April 16, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Day 2 of #SLSA2025 began with a powerful plenary: Liverpool and the Legacies of Hillsborough — held poignantly a day after the disaster’s 36th anniversary.
Voices from law, academia, activism & the arts shared moving reflections on the long fight for justice.
🔗 liverpool.ac.uk/law/slsa-2025/
Voices from law, academia, activism & the arts shared moving reflections on the long fight for justice.
🔗 liverpool.ac.uk/law/slsa-2025/
I’m running a free creative writing workshop in New Brighton today (1-3pm at District House, 112 Victoria Road). Come along for tips, prompts and writing exercises for crafting flash fiction & short stories. Floral. This workshop has been made possible with funding from the Community Lottery Fund.
April 12, 2025 at 8:24 AM
I’m running a free creative writing workshop in New Brighton today (1-3pm at District House, 112 Victoria Road). Come along for tips, prompts and writing exercises for crafting flash fiction & short stories. Floral. This workshop has been made possible with funding from the Community Lottery Fund.
Reposted by Phil Olsen
We’re incredibly proud to be leading on the brand-new Centre for People’s Justice. 🙌
Pioneering a new approach to research, the Centre aims to foster hope and inspire confidence in a future where people feel more connected to the laws and legal processes that shape their lives. ✨
Pioneering a new approach to research, the Centre aims to foster hope and inspire confidence in a future where people feel more connected to the laws and legal processes that shape their lives. ✨
LAUNCHED| @liverpooluni.bsky.social will lead an innovative new research centre aimed at responding to the public’s need and desire for fairer, safer and more inclusive societies.
Read more 👉 news.liverpool.ac.uk/2025/04/10/g...
@livunihss.bsky.social
Read more 👉 news.liverpool.ac.uk/2025/04/10/g...
@livunihss.bsky.social
April 10, 2025 at 3:38 PM
We’re incredibly proud to be leading on the brand-new Centre for People’s Justice. 🙌
Pioneering a new approach to research, the Centre aims to foster hope and inspire confidence in a future where people feel more connected to the laws and legal processes that shape their lives. ✨
Pioneering a new approach to research, the Centre aims to foster hope and inspire confidence in a future where people feel more connected to the laws and legal processes that shape their lives. ✨
Reposted by Phil Olsen
LAUNCHED| @liverpooluni.bsky.social will lead an innovative new research centre aimed at responding to the public’s need and desire for fairer, safer and more inclusive societies.
Read more 👉 news.liverpool.ac.uk/2025/04/10/g...
@livunihss.bsky.social
Read more 👉 news.liverpool.ac.uk/2025/04/10/g...
@livunihss.bsky.social
April 10, 2025 at 7:51 AM
LAUNCHED| @liverpooluni.bsky.social will lead an innovative new research centre aimed at responding to the public’s need and desire for fairer, safer and more inclusive societies.
Read more 👉 news.liverpool.ac.uk/2025/04/10/g...
@livunihss.bsky.social
Read more 👉 news.liverpool.ac.uk/2025/04/10/g...
@livunihss.bsky.social
Reposted by Phil Olsen
March 20, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Reposted by Phil Olsen
Some thoughts on the late Gene Hackman: www.theguardian.com/film/2025/fe...
Gene Hackman: the star of every scene he was in
From The Conversation to The Royal Tenenbaums, the actor rode America’s new wave to become the gold standard for characterful acting with heft
www.theguardian.com
February 27, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Some thoughts on the late Gene Hackman: www.theguardian.com/film/2025/fe...
Reposted by Phil Olsen
All the journals and literary magazines in Europe we've been able to find on bluesky are here.
Tell us who we've missed
go.bsky.app/ARSnhzo
Tell us who we've missed
go.bsky.app/ARSnhzo
February 8, 2025 at 9:20 AM
All the journals and literary magazines in Europe we've been able to find on bluesky are here.
Tell us who we've missed
go.bsky.app/ARSnhzo
Tell us who we've missed
go.bsky.app/ARSnhzo
Reposted by Phil Olsen
Art and culture people, I co-founded a website in 2011 called The Double Negative. We're still here! Here's what we've been up to lately, including essays, reviews and the latest listings. Would love you to have a read and say hi. www.thedoublenegative.co.uk
January 28, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Art and culture people, I co-founded a website in 2011 called The Double Negative. We're still here! Here's what we've been up to lately, including essays, reviews and the latest listings. Would love you to have a read and say hi. www.thedoublenegative.co.uk
I’m teaching an 8-week Flash Fiction course, ‘Short Shorts and Restrictive Briefs’, as part of University of Liverpool’s Continuing Education programme. Taking place on Tuesday evenings (6-8pm), the course will run from 4 Feb - 1 April 2025 (with a 1-week gap, half-way through).
January 11, 2025 at 11:53 PM
I’m teaching an 8-week Flash Fiction course, ‘Short Shorts and Restrictive Briefs’, as part of University of Liverpool’s Continuing Education programme. Taking place on Tuesday evenings (6-8pm), the course will run from 4 Feb - 1 April 2025 (with a 1-week gap, half-way through).
Reposted by Phil Olsen
Looking for friends on Bluesky. You, quite possibly a writer or a journal. Us, a middle-aged flash magazine with a romantic streak. www.vestalreview.net
Vestal Review
Vestal Review, the longest-running flash fiction magazine on the planet. A literary magazine dedicated to the art of the short short story. Our stories have been featured on the Wigleaf Top 50, Best M...
www.vestalreview.net
January 8, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Looking for friends on Bluesky. You, quite possibly a writer or a journal. Us, a middle-aged flash magazine with a romantic streak. www.vestalreview.net
Reposted by Phil Olsen
Okay, kinda new to this, but trying to begin a flash fiction feed from a starter kit when the main starter kits we know are from Lego. go.bsky.app/UieUDZh
December 28, 2024 at 3:55 PM
Okay, kinda new to this, but trying to begin a flash fiction feed from a starter kit when the main starter kits we know are from Lego. go.bsky.app/UieUDZh
Reposted by Phil Olsen
Our Issue 65 is the best material that we can assemble from a host of talented writers. Thank you, as always, to our contributors, submitters, readers, and hardworking staff here at Vestal Review.
Read now at vestalreview.net/issue-65
Cover Art by Sophia Deng
Read now at vestalreview.net/issue-65
Cover Art by Sophia Deng
December 13, 2024 at 6:25 PM
Our Issue 65 is the best material that we can assemble from a host of talented writers. Thank you, as always, to our contributors, submitters, readers, and hardworking staff here at Vestal Review.
Read now at vestalreview.net/issue-65
Cover Art by Sophia Deng
Read now at vestalreview.net/issue-65
Cover Art by Sophia Deng
Reposted by Phil Olsen
Our second starter pack of SLQ contributors: this one works backwards from Issue 62 for a little way (at Issue 51 now but we need to take a break). We're still working on it! Please tag us if your issue buddies are here and we've missed you! go.bsky.app/5FVZnKx
November 21, 2024 at 1:57 AM
Our second starter pack of SLQ contributors: this one works backwards from Issue 62 for a little way (at Issue 51 now but we need to take a break). We're still working on it! Please tag us if your issue buddies are here and we've missed you! go.bsky.app/5FVZnKx
Reposted by Phil Olsen
Our first starter pack of SmokeLong contributors: Issue 63-85. If we've missed you, please tag us so we can add you! go.bsky.app/2BsZebW
November 21, 2024 at 12:06 AM
Our first starter pack of SmokeLong contributors: Issue 63-85. If we've missed you, please tag us so we can add you! go.bsky.app/2BsZebW