The Propelling Pencil
@proppencil.bsky.social
Short Fiction Journal | Competitions | Workshops
https://thepropellingpencil.com/
Editor in Charge: @nivenaudrey.bsky.social
https://thepropellingpencil.com/
Editor in Charge: @nivenaudrey.bsky.social
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Spring 2025 Competition – The Propelling PencilExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandTwitterToggle MenuExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExp...
thepropellingpencil.com
Congratulations to the Winners of our Charity Flash Competition, judged by @judehwriter2.bsky.social. Commiserations to our shortlisters whose stories weren't picked (they were all FAB!) and thanks to all who entered
thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...
thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...
News from the Propelling Pencil case. It's au revoir for now (well it will be in March). Thanks for all the stories and good company since we began way back in the Autumn of 2021. Time for me to focus on new things - but please keep writing!
thepropellingpencil.com/propelling-p...
thepropellingpencil.com/propelling-p...
Propelling Pencil Update – The Propelling Pencil
thepropellingpencil.com
August 12, 2025 at 6:09 PM
News from the Propelling Pencil case. It's au revoir for now (well it will be in March). Thanks for all the stories and good company since we began way back in the Autumn of 2021. Time for me to focus on new things - but please keep writing!
thepropellingpencil.com/propelling-p...
thepropellingpencil.com/propelling-p...
Congratulations to the Winners of our Charity Flash Competition, judged by @judehwriter2.bsky.social. Commiserations to our shortlisters whose stories weren't picked (they were all FAB!) and thanks to all who entered
thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...
thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...
Spring 2025 Competition – The Propelling PencilExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandTwitterToggle MenuExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExp...
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June 15, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Congratulations to the Winners of our Charity Flash Competition, judged by @judehwriter2.bsky.social. Commiserations to our shortlisters whose stories weren't picked (they were all FAB!) and thanks to all who entered
thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...
thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...
Our Spring 25 competition Shortlist is live! Well done to all the stories that are here and good luck to those that were left out this time - we know they'll find great homes soon
Please celebrate anonymously while @judehwriter2.bsky.social does her judging!
thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...
Please celebrate anonymously while @judehwriter2.bsky.social does her judging!
thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...
Spring 2025 Competition Shortlist – The Propelling PencilExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandTwitterToggle MenuExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpan...
thepropellingpencil.com
May 24, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Our Spring 25 competition Shortlist is live! Well done to all the stories that are here and good luck to those that were left out this time - we know they'll find great homes soon
Please celebrate anonymously while @judehwriter2.bsky.social does her judging!
thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...
Please celebrate anonymously while @judehwriter2.bsky.social does her judging!
thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...
Heres' the LONGLIST OF Spring Charity Flash Competition in aid of @cftrustuk.bsky.social Please celebrate without revealing which story is yours if you're featured. Sorry to those not included and thanks to all for your support!
thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...
thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...
Spring 2025 Competition Longlist – The Propelling PencilExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandTwitterToggle MenuExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpand...
thepropellingpencil.com
May 18, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Heres' the LONGLIST OF Spring Charity Flash Competition in aid of @cftrustuk.bsky.social Please celebrate without revealing which story is yours if you're featured. Sorry to those not included and thanks to all for your support!
thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...
thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...
If you've not booked already - what are you waiting for?! There are even some free places (accommodation not included) for marginalised writers. Take a look and get yourselves booked before all the spots are gone!
For any writing chums who aren't yet aware and are either flash fiction fans of flash-curious, this is the place to be this summer. A whole weekend of tiny tales and wallowing in the most original, kind and generous community. Only a few places left
www.flashfictionfestival.com
www.flashfictionfestival.com
Flash Fiction Festival
celebrating the short-short story world-wide
www.flashfictionfestival.com
May 7, 2025 at 3:36 PM
If you've not booked already - what are you waiting for?! There are even some free places (accommodation not included) for marginalised writers. Take a look and get yourselves booked before all the spots are gone!
And that's it for this round, folks. Our Charity Flash Competition closed at midnight and the readers have all your wonderful stories in hand.
Lonlisting will be towards the end of the week of 12 May so keep your eyes peeled 👀
Thanks to everyone who entered!
Lonlisting will be towards the end of the week of 12 May so keep your eyes peeled 👀
Thanks to everyone who entered!
April 28, 2025 at 10:29 AM
And that's it for this round, folks. Our Charity Flash Competition closed at midnight and the readers have all your wonderful stories in hand.
Lonlisting will be towards the end of the week of 12 May so keep your eyes peeled 👀
Thanks to everyone who entered!
Lonlisting will be towards the end of the week of 12 May so keep your eyes peeled 👀
Thanks to everyone who entered!
Six hours to deadline, people! Send us your <500 word story, support @cftrustuk.bsky.social and maybe win a prize! Readers are standing by. Details of how to enter are below: £5 or free + if you send an extra £5 our readers will give you feedback. @judehwriter2.bsky.social guest judging. Details ⬇️
a man with a hat that says ripper magazine on it says let 's go
ALT: a man with a hat that says ripper magazine on it says let 's go
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April 27, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Six hours to deadline, people! Send us your <500 word story, support @cftrustuk.bsky.social and maybe win a prize! Readers are standing by. Details of how to enter are below: £5 or free + if you send an extra £5 our readers will give you feedback. @judehwriter2.bsky.social guest judging. Details ⬇️
Scramble! Come on folks - this is your non-running way to raise money for charity today. Don't miss your chance! We're open until midnight BST.
Good luck if you're running #londonmarathon or #manchestermarathon today.
Everyone else - you have until midnight tonight to enter our charity flash fiction competition and raise money for @cftrustuk.bsky.social. £5 or free to enter. £5 for Reader feedback, £170 in prizes. What are you waiting for?
Everyone else - you have until midnight tonight to enter our charity flash fiction competition and raise money for @cftrustuk.bsky.social. £5 or free to enter. £5 for Reader feedback, £170 in prizes. What are you waiting for?
kermit the frog is using a typewriter in a messy room .
ALT: kermit the frog is using a typewriter in a messy room .
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April 27, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Scramble! Come on folks - this is your non-running way to raise money for charity today. Don't miss your chance! We're open until midnight BST.
Flash Fiction writers - you have TWO DAYS left to get your <500word story to us, support @cftrustuk.bsky.social and maybe win a prize of £100. £5 or FREE to enter, £5 for Reader Feedback on top which people have found to be an excellent bargain. Details below ⬇️
a woman in a pink dress is saying `` 2 more days !! ''
ALT: a woman in a pink dress is saying `` 2 more days !! ''
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April 26, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Flash Fiction writers - you have TWO DAYS left to get your <500word story to us, support @cftrustuk.bsky.social and maybe win a prize of £100. £5 or FREE to enter, £5 for Reader Feedback on top which people have found to be an excellent bargain. Details below ⬇️
Counting down the days to the deadline (Sunday 27 Apr) to enter our Spring Charity Flash Fiction Competition in aid of @cftrustuk.bsky.social £170 in prizes @judehwriter2.bsky.social guest judging. £5 or FREE to enter, £5 for feedback from our readers. What's stopping you? details below
the number 5 is surrounded by 3 and 2
ALT: the number 5 is surrounded by 3 and 2
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April 23, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Counting down the days to the deadline (Sunday 27 Apr) to enter our Spring Charity Flash Fiction Competition in aid of @cftrustuk.bsky.social £170 in prizes @judehwriter2.bsky.social guest judging. £5 or FREE to enter, £5 for feedback from our readers. What's stopping you? details below
It's sunny and the entries are rolling in for our Charity Flash Fiction Competition. You might as well join in! £170 in prizes, @judehwriter2.bsky.social guest judging, proceeds to @cftrustuk.bsky.social And you can get feedback from our superb readers for an extra £5. £5 or free to enter. Details⬇️
April 6, 2025 at 10:38 AM
It's sunny and the entries are rolling in for our Charity Flash Fiction Competition. You might as well join in! £170 in prizes, @judehwriter2.bsky.social guest judging, proceeds to @cftrustuk.bsky.social And you can get feedback from our superb readers for an extra £5. £5 or free to enter. Details⬇️
Holy moly it's Hump Day. Thank heavens. We'll be looking out for you at our free online writing retreat this Saturday, 10am-4pm GMT. Bring whatever project you like and drop in/out aorund your other commitments. Details and sign up are below
March 26, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Holy moly it's Hump Day. Thank heavens. We'll be looking out for you at our free online writing retreat this Saturday, 10am-4pm GMT. Bring whatever project you like and drop in/out aorund your other commitments. Details and sign up are below
Jude Higgins everyone! What a legend of flash fiction. Please send her your stories. Our first entries are already in the pencilcase!
Honoured to be judging! Send stories to make me laugh (or cry, if you must) or to marvel at Or all of these things together…
Great news - our Spring Charity Flash Fiction competition is now OPEN!
@judehwriter2.bsky.social is our Guest Judge and our charity for this round is @cftrustuk.bsky.social
500 words, £170 in prizes, deadline 27 April
Details are here thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...
Send your best!
@judehwriter2.bsky.social is our Guest Judge and our charity for this round is @cftrustuk.bsky.social
500 words, £170 in prizes, deadline 27 April
Details are here thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...
Send your best!
March 17, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Jude Higgins everyone! What a legend of flash fiction. Please send her your stories. Our first entries are already in the pencilcase!
Happy Monday! For those feeling sad they're not writing today, worry not! We're hosting another free writing retreat on Saturday 28 March from 10am-4pm GMT.
Grab yourself a spot - deatils and sign up are here
forms.gle/GikDGYqY7A9M...
Grab yourself a spot - deatils and sign up are here
forms.gle/GikDGYqY7A9M...
The Propelling Pencil Free Online Writing Retreat
Saturday 28th March 2025
10am-4pm GMT via Zoom
Complete the form and put the date in your diary. We will email you the Zoom link before the workshop.
forms.gle
March 17, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Happy Monday! For those feeling sad they're not writing today, worry not! We're hosting another free writing retreat on Saturday 28 March from 10am-4pm GMT.
Grab yourself a spot - deatils and sign up are here
forms.gle/GikDGYqY7A9M...
Grab yourself a spot - deatils and sign up are here
forms.gle/GikDGYqY7A9M...
Great news - our Spring Charity Flash Fiction competition is now OPEN!
@judehwriter2.bsky.social is our Guest Judge and our charity for this round is @cftrustuk.bsky.social
500 words, £170 in prizes, deadline 27 April
Details are here thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...
Send your best!
@judehwriter2.bsky.social is our Guest Judge and our charity for this round is @cftrustuk.bsky.social
500 words, £170 in prizes, deadline 27 April
Details are here thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...
Send your best!
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thepropellingpencil.com
March 14, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Great news - our Spring Charity Flash Fiction competition is now OPEN!
@judehwriter2.bsky.social is our Guest Judge and our charity for this round is @cftrustuk.bsky.social
500 words, £170 in prizes, deadline 27 April
Details are here thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...
Send your best!
@judehwriter2.bsky.social is our Guest Judge and our charity for this round is @cftrustuk.bsky.social
500 words, £170 in prizes, deadline 27 April
Details are here thepropellingpencil.com/spring-2025-...
Send your best!
Final Call to sign up for our free writing retreat tomorrow on Zoom. We'll be scribing from 10am - 4pm with cheering encouragement from EIC and Creative Coach, Audrey Niven (me!)
Sign yourselves up by 10pm this evening.
thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
Sign yourselves up by 10pm this evening.
thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
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thepropellingpencil.com
February 14, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Final Call to sign up for our free writing retreat tomorrow on Zoom. We'll be scribing from 10am - 4pm with cheering encouragement from EIC and Creative Coach, Audrey Niven (me!)
Sign yourselves up by 10pm this evening.
thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
Sign yourselves up by 10pm this evening.
thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
Sorry Not been much on socials but next SATURDAY you can join us for our free online writing retreat. Bring any project you like. 10am check in, wrapping up at 4pm. It's magical - knowing others are in a zoom window focuses the writerly mind.
Sign up here
thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
Sign up here
thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
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thepropellingpencil.com
February 9, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Sorry Not been much on socials but next SATURDAY you can join us for our free online writing retreat. Bring any project you like. 10am check in, wrapping up at 4pm. It's magical - knowing others are in a zoom window focuses the writerly mind.
Sign up here
thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
Sign up here
thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
Three weeks today (how did that happen?) we'll be hosting our FEBRUARY FREE Online Writing Retreat.
Pack your pencils, prep your project, daydream about the snacks you'll be earning and book yourself a space.
Details are here. 15 Feb, 10am-4pm GMT
thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
Pack your pencils, prep your project, daydream about the snacks you'll be earning and book yourself a space.
Details are here. 15 Feb, 10am-4pm GMT
thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
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thepropellingpencil.com
January 25, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Three weeks today (how did that happen?) we'll be hosting our FEBRUARY FREE Online Writing Retreat.
Pack your pencils, prep your project, daydream about the snacks you'll be earning and book yourself a space.
Details are here. 15 Feb, 10am-4pm GMT
thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
Pack your pencils, prep your project, daydream about the snacks you'll be earning and book yourself a space.
Details are here. 15 Feb, 10am-4pm GMT
thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
Hello! We're back in action with a FREE online Writing Retreat on Saturday 15 Feb from 10am-4pm.
Join us for a no-pressure, friendly-faced few hours of accountability and quiet companionship while you write your socks off.
Details here thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
Join us for a no-pressure, friendly-faced few hours of accountability and quiet companionship while you write your socks off.
Details here thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
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thepropellingpencil.com
January 18, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Hello! We're back in action with a FREE online Writing Retreat on Saturday 15 Feb from 10am-4pm.
Join us for a no-pressure, friendly-faced few hours of accountability and quiet companionship while you write your socks off.
Details here thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
Join us for a no-pressure, friendly-faced few hours of accountability and quiet companionship while you write your socks off.
Details here thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
Happy New Year, writer pals! Let's kick this thing off with our January retreats - online on 4 Jan and our first ever IN-PERSON Central London retreat on 18 Jan. All the details you need below.
Write yourself the year you want!
Write yourself the year you want!
a cartoon drawing of snoopy sitting at a desk writing on a piece of paper
ALT: a cartoon drawing of snoopy sitting at a desk writing on a piece of paper
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January 1, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Happy New Year, writer pals! Let's kick this thing off with our January retreats - online on 4 Jan and our first ever IN-PERSON Central London retreat on 18 Jan. All the details you need below.
Write yourself the year you want!
Write yourself the year you want!
Exciting times ahead. You can now book your spot at our first IN PERSON writing retreat in Covent Garden on 18 January.
And if that's not soon enough, you can join us for our next FREE online retreat on 4 January.
All the info you need is here
thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
And if that's not soon enough, you can join us for our next FREE online retreat on 4 January.
All the info you need is here
thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
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thepropellingpencil.com
December 19, 2024 at 6:33 PM
Exciting times ahead. You can now book your spot at our first IN PERSON writing retreat in Covent Garden on 18 January.
And if that's not soon enough, you can join us for our next FREE online retreat on 4 January.
All the info you need is here
thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
And if that's not soon enough, you can join us for our next FREE online retreat on 4 January.
All the info you need is here
thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
Hey writer buddies in London/London adjacent. We are hosting our first ever in-person writing retreat in Covent Garden on 18 Jan, 10am-4pm.
Mark your calendars and stand by for booking info!
Mark your calendars and stand by for booking info!
two women standing next to each other with the word noted written on the bottom
Alt: Two of the Golden Girls marking off a checklist with the word NOTED superimposed on the screen.
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December 13, 2024 at 2:28 PM
Hey writer buddies in London/London adjacent. We are hosting our first ever in-person writing retreat in Covent Garden on 18 Jan, 10am-4pm.
Mark your calendars and stand by for booking info!
Mark your calendars and stand by for booking info!
Hello - in case we haven't made enough noise about this (we haven't made much at all, TBF) we are running a FREE online writing retreat
Saturday 7 December 10am-4pm
Info and sign-up details are here
BYO writing materials, snacks, drinks, blankets.
thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
Saturday 7 December 10am-4pm
Info and sign-up details are here
BYO writing materials, snacks, drinks, blankets.
thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
hello kitty is writing on a piece of paper with a green pencil
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December 4, 2024 at 4:20 PM
Hello - in case we haven't made enough noise about this (we haven't made much at all, TBF) we are running a FREE online writing retreat
Saturday 7 December 10am-4pm
Info and sign-up details are here
BYO writing materials, snacks, drinks, blankets.
thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
Saturday 7 December 10am-4pm
Info and sign-up details are here
BYO writing materials, snacks, drinks, blankets.
thepropellingpencil.com/workshops-re...
Hot on the heels of Issue 2, we're thrilled to announce our first ever Pushcart Prize nominations. Congratulations @drewgum.bsky.social @jprelph.bsky.social @juliaruthsmith.bsky.social @judehwriter2.bsky.social Sue Pearson and Debbi Voisey (if they're here, pls tag them!)
December 1, 2024 at 1:03 PM
Hot on the heels of Issue 2, we're thrilled to announce our first ever Pushcart Prize nominations. Congratulations @drewgum.bsky.social @jprelph.bsky.social @juliaruthsmith.bsky.social @judehwriter2.bsky.social Sue Pearson and Debbi Voisey (if they're here, pls tag them!)
What a delight - at the end of a difficult year - to publish Issue 2 of our journal, a selection of 9 shortlisted stories. These are our EIC, Audrey's, pick. We hope you enjoy them.
thepropellingpencil.com/issue-two/
thepropellingpencil.com/issue-two/
Issue Two – The Propelling PencilExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandTwitterToggle MenuExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpand
thepropellingpencil.com
November 29, 2024 at 6:49 AM
What a delight - at the end of a difficult year - to publish Issue 2 of our journal, a selection of 9 shortlisted stories. These are our EIC, Audrey's, pick. We hope you enjoy them.
thepropellingpencil.com/issue-two/
thepropellingpencil.com/issue-two/