The Broken Spine
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thebrokenspine.co.uk
The Broken Spine
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
7.1K followers 3K following 3.6K posts
Independent poetry press + cultural review platform. We publish narrative-led work with edge. #PoemsAbout #LiftToTheSky #WednesdayWIPs
#PromoteIndieLit
Edited by @alanparrywriter.co.uk
www.thebrokenspine.co.uk
https://linktr.ee/brokenspinearts
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thebrokenspine.co.uk
Don’t perform your stance. Embed it in every line.
#SpineEdicts #PoetryIsPolitical #CaptionCultureIsRot #ChooseTuesdays
Image shows the phrase: “Put your politics in the poem, not in a caption.” in white/red/blue text.
November 25, 2025 at 9:00 AM
thebrokenspine.co.uk
Hardback or paperback, your choice. Soot & Boots is built for firelight reading. Pre-orders soon. #SootAndBoots
Book cover for “Soot & Boots: An Anthology of Short Festive Fiction.” The illustration shows a pair of tall, black, soot-dusted boots standing on a scuffed wooden floor against a textured blue-grey wall. The title appears in bold white lettering above the boots, and The Broken Spine’s logo sits at the bottom of the cover.
November 24, 2025 at 7:37 AM
thebrokenspine.co.uk
Last week was fire. This week? Ashes. #PoemsAbout #NoFuture starts Friday. Write ruin, hopelessness, rage. The end of days or just Tuesday. Don’t post early—fade into the feed. Tag #PoemsAbout. Use Alt Text. Sign up for Saturday prompts: shorturl.at/0Xm7A
A burning treeline glows against a pitch-black night sky, flames and smoke rising in the background. Leafless trees stand silhouetted in front of the blaze. Top left: The Broken Spine logo. Top right: "@thebrokenspine.co.uk". Bottom right text: "Read Repost Reply #POEMSABOUT #NOFUTURE".
November 23, 2025 at 5:39 PM
thebrokenspine.co.uk
Christmas is coming. Poetry that isn’t all sugar and sentiment is rare—this one’s got bones.
@martinkennedyyates.bsky.social #ThisWilderness
www.amazon.co.uk/Wil...
Book cover of This Wilderness & Other Concerns by Martin Kennedy Yates, published by The Broken Spine. The cover artwork depicts an urban canal or waterway running between old brick and industrial buildings, with graffiti on one wall and a dark, moody atmosphere. A quote from writer and poet Jonathan Davidson reads: “These poems are a pleasure both to encounter and to read.”
November 23, 2025 at 9:16 AM
thebrokenspine.co.uk
Two new drops before month’s end. Couldn’t be more different. Couldn’t be more us.

#SootAndBoots – our first seasonal fiction set – hits in hardback & paperback. Wintry stories with dirt under their nails.

#RitesAndTrials Coming-of-age poems stitched with class, becoming, longing, & defiance.
A book cover for Soot & Boots: An Anthology of Short Festive Fiction by The Broken Spine. The right-hand side shows an illustration of a pair of worn, frost-covered black boots with fur at the top, standing on a cold wooden floor against a textured, wintry blue-grey wall. The title “Soot & Boots” appears above the boots in large, pale, glowing letters. At the bottom, the Broken Spine publisher logo is present. The left-hand side, presented as the back cover, features centred white text on a dark green background. The text describes the anthology as a gritty, unsentimental seasonal fiction collection filled with longing and winter magic. It highlights contributions from writers including Sadie Maskery, Ellen Harrold, Victoria Harris, and Jordan River, and notes that the anthology is edited by Alan Parry. A bright yellow rectangle sits near the bottom, reserved for a barcode. A book cover for Rites & Trials: Coming of Age Poetry, part of The Broken Spine’s Slimline series. The right-hand panel features an abstract, atmospheric illustration: a silhouetted profile of a person facing right, rendered in deep black, set against a vivid red circular shape that resembles a sun or moon. Dark plant leaves overlap the silhouette, creating layered shadows. The background blends burnt orange and textured black. The title “Rites & Trials” appears in white, with “SLIMLINE” in a rounded rectangular frame. The left-hand panel shows the back cover text on a white rounded-rectangle box set against a dark background. The text describes the anthology as a stitched-together testament to becoming, naming contributors such as Molli Russell, Sam Szanto, Debbie Ross, Dave Kurley, Mana Misaghi, Rachel Burrows, Simon Maddrell, and others. The description highlights themes of class, faith, queerness, desire, and family, and characterises the poems as intimate, raw, and reaching toward connection. The Broken Spine logo sits at the bottom of the right-hand panel.
November 22, 2025 at 11:02 PM
thebrokenspine.co.uk
Thirty writers, thirty winter visions. Soot & Boots brings them together in one seasonal anthology. Out soon. #SootAndBoots
Book cover for “Soot & Boots: An Anthology of Short Festive Fiction.” The illustration shows a pair of tall, black, soot-dusted boots standing on a scuffed wooden floor against a textured blue-grey wall. The title appears in bold white lettering above the boots, and The Broken Spine’s logo sits at the bottom of the cover.
November 22, 2025 at 6:37 PM
thebrokenspine.co.uk
#PoemsAbout #DogTags is live. Post from today through Thursday. Use Alt Text. Tag your work. #TakeRisks #EndOnAnImage #AvoidCliché. Read 3+, repost, reply. Don’t just drop and disappear. Prompt packs here: shorturl.at/0Xm7A
Rows of dog tags on chains hang heavily from a blackened surface, evoking memorial or loss. Lighting is dim and intimate. Top left shows The Broken Spine logo, "@thebrokenspine.co.uk" top right, and the lower right reads: "Read Repost Reply #POEMSABOUT #DOGTAGS".
November 21, 2025 at 7:00 AM
thebrokenspine.co.uk
Tomorrow we mark the moment: #PoemsAbout #DogTags. Not just war—what we carry, what we’re called. Post from Friday. Tag #PoemsAbout or you’ll vanish in the feed. Use Alt Text. Get your prompt boost: shorturl.at/0Xm7A
Image shows a tightly cropped view of many dog tags hanging together, suggesting remembrance or loss. Visual elements consistent: The Broken Spine logo top left, website top right, and bold bottom right text: "Read Repost Reply #POEMSABOUT #DOGTAGS".
November 20, 2025 at 3:05 PM
thebrokenspine.co.uk
If you like fiction with cold edges, warm centres, and a touch of mystery, keep watch. Soot & Boots is coming. #SootAndBoots
Book cover for “Soot & Boots: An Anthology of Short Festive Fiction.” The illustration shows a pair of tall, black, soot-dusted boots standing on a scuffed wooden floor against a textured blue-grey wall. The title appears in bold white lettering above the boots, and The Broken Spine’s logo sits at the bottom of the cover.
November 20, 2025 at 12:20 PM
thebrokenspine.co.uk
Our first short-fiction release since Four Forked Tongues is nearly here. Bold, strange, tender winter tales. November release. #SootAndBoots
Book cover for “Soot & Boots: An Anthology of Short Festive Fiction.” The illustration shows a pair of tall, black, soot-dusted boots standing on a scuffed wooden floor against a textured blue-grey wall. The title appears in bold white lettering above the boots, and The Broken Spine’s logo sits at the bottom of the cover.
November 18, 2025 at 5:50 PM
thebrokenspine.co.uk
#PoemsAbout #DogTags drops Friday. Write into memory, sacrifice, names etched or erased. Tags on a chain, weight on a neck. Post from Friday. Use Alt Text. Always tag it right. Prompts hit inboxes Saturdays: shorturl.at/0Xm7A
Same image of rows of military dog tags hanging down in a cluster. Some catch the light, others sink into shadow. Branding remains top left (The Broken Spine logo), top right (website), and bottom right text reads: "Read Repost Reply #POEMSABOUT #DOGTAGS".
November 18, 2025 at 3:03 PM
thebrokenspine.co.uk
Write the line they didn’t teach you. The one you weren’t meant to survive.
#SpineEdicts #ExileTheObvious #OutlawPoetics #ChooseTuesdays
Bold glitch font says: “Don’t write what’s expected. Write what’s exiled.” Clean layout, stark black.
November 18, 2025 at 10:00 AM
thebrokenspine.co.uk
Last week hit hard. This week: #PoemsAbout #DogTags. Name, number, silence, war. Identity reduced to metal and chain. Begins Friday—don’t post early. Tag #PoemsAbout. Use Alt Text. For detailed prompts: shorturl.at/0Xm7A
A close-up of military dog tags hanging on metal ball chains from a dark wooden surface. The focus is on the foreground while the background fades into soft blur. Top left: The Broken Spine logo. Top right: "@thebrokenspine.co.uk". Bottom right text reads: "Read Repost Reply #POEMSABOUT #DOGTAGS".
November 16, 2025 at 2:21 PM
thebrokenspine.co.uk
Our festive & wintry short-fiction anthology Soot & Boots lands later this month. Hardback + paperback. Sharp stories for dark nights. More soon. #SootAndBoots
Book cover for “Soot & Boots: An Anthology of Short Festive Fiction.” The illustration shows a pair of tall, black, soot-dusted boots standing on a scuffed wooden floor against a textured blue-grey wall. The title appears in bold white lettering above the boots, and The Broken Spine’s logo sits at the bottom of the cover.
November 16, 2025 at 12:54 PM
thebrokenspine.co.uk
If you write for mags, run a podcast, curate end-of-year lists—Martin’s open to talking. DMs are open.
@martinkennedyyates.bsky.social #ThisWilderness
www.amazon.co.uk/Wil...
Book cover of This Wilderness & Other Concerns by Martin Kennedy Yates, published by The Broken Spine. The cover artwork depicts an urban canal or waterway running between old brick and industrial buildings, with graffiti on one wall and a dark, moody atmosphere. A quote from writer and poet Jonathan Davidson reads: “These poems are a pleasure both to encounter and to read.”
November 16, 2025 at 7:00 AM
thebrokenspine.co.uk
#PoemsAbout #Desire is live. Post from today through Thursday. Tag your post. Use Alt Text. #TakeRisks #EndOnAnImage #AvoidCliché. Engage—don’t ghost. Read 3+, repost, reply. Sign up for prompt packs: shorturl.at/0Xm7A
A halved papaya lies open on a dark, wet surface. Its glistening red interior, filled with pomegranate seeds and dripping juice, carries a sensual, sexually suggestive tone. Scattered berries surround it. The Broken Spine logo, shaped like a black fountain pen nib, appears top left. "@thebrokenspine.co.uk" is written top right in white. At the bottom right, bold white text reads: "Read Repost Reply #POEMSABOUT #DESIRE".
November 14, 2025 at 6:26 AM
thebrokenspine.co.uk
Tomorrow: #PoemsAbout #Desire. Not romance—risk. What can’t you name without trembling? Don’t post before Friday. Tag your post. Use Alt Text. Sign up for Saturday inbox prompts: shorturl.at/0Xm7A
A halved papaya lies open on a dark, wet surface. Its glistening red interior, filled with pomegranate seeds and dripping juice, carries a sensual, sexually suggestive tone. Scattered berries surround it. The Broken Spine logo, shaped like a black fountain pen nib, appears top left. "@thebrokenspine.co.uk" is written top right in white. At the bottom right, bold white text reads: "Read Repost Reply #POEMSABOUT #DESIRE".
November 13, 2025 at 11:34 AM
thebrokenspine.co.uk
Thinking ahead? This fits in a stocking, hits harder than most hardbacks, and costs less than a round.
@martinkennedyyates.bsky.social #ThisWilderness
www.amazon.co.uk/Wil...
Book cover of This Wilderness & Other Concerns by Martin Kennedy Yates, published by The Broken Spine. The cover artwork depicts an urban canal or waterway running between old brick and industrial buildings, with graffiti on one wall and a dark, moody atmosphere. A quote from writer and poet Jonathan Davidson reads: “These poems are a pleasure both to encounter and to read.”
November 12, 2025 at 10:20 AM
thebrokenspine.co.uk
#PoemsAbout #Desire starts Friday. Write toward the want. The mouth, the mirror, the hunger that hums. Draft now. Share from Friday. Tag your post. Use Alt Text. Sign up for prompts: shorturl.at/0Xm7A
A halved papaya lies open on a dark, wet surface. Its glistening red interior, filled with pomegranate seeds and dripping juice, carries a sensual, sexually suggestive tone. Scattered berries surround it. The Broken Spine logo, shaped like a black fountain pen nib, appears top left. "@thebrokenspine.co.uk" is written top right in white. At the bottom right, bold white text reads: "Read Repost Reply #POEMSABOUT #DESIRE".
November 11, 2025 at 2:32 PM
thebrokenspine.co.uk
One or two hits, max. Don’t let your work smell like stale language.
#SpineEdicts #SimileSmog #SmokeWithIntent #ChooseTuesdays
Text says: “Similes are cigarettes. Use sparingly or choke.” White glitch text on black.
November 11, 2025 at 10:00 AM
thebrokenspine.co.uk
Mark it down: Dec 20th @ 20.00 — #PoemsAbout #OpenMic + #ChristmasParty returns! Poets, readers, friends — one final night to lift your words before the year ends. 🎤✨

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1967176915...
A Christmas tree made of soft, out-of-focus lights glows against a dark blue background. The blurred bulbs form a tapering triangle of reds, greens, yellows, and oranges. White text on the left reads: “#POEMSABOUT VIRTUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY & OPEN MIC 20.12.25 @ 20.00 — Hosted by Alan Parry.” The Broken Spine logo, shaped like a black fountain pen nib, appears at the top right.
November 9, 2025 at 8:56 PM
thebrokenspine.co.uk
Last week burned bright. This week: #Desire — ache, hunger, want, undoing. What pulls you toward the flame? New theme begins Friday. Don’t post early. Use Alt Text. Tag #PoemsAbout to be found. For Saturday prompts: shorturl.at/0Xm7A
A halved papaya lies open on a dark, wet surface. Its glistening red interior, filled with pomegranate seeds and dripping juice, carries a sensual, sexually suggestive tone. Scattered berries surround it. The Broken Spine logo, shaped like a black fountain pen nib, appears top left. "@thebrokenspine.co.uk" is written top right in white. At the bottom right, bold white text reads: "Read Repost Reply #POEMSABOUT #DESIRE".
November 9, 2025 at 7:44 PM
thebrokenspine.co.uk
"Only lost souls that slipped through from the dry land above us."
For the readers drawn to darker waters—this one’s still waiting.
@martinkennedyyates.bsky.social #ThisWilderness
www.amazon.co.uk/Wil...
Book cover of This Wilderness & Other Concerns by Martin Kennedy Yates, published by The Broken Spine. The cover artwork depicts an urban canal or waterway running between old brick and industrial buildings, with graffiti on one wall and a dark, moody atmosphere. A quote from writer and poet Jonathan Davidson reads: “These poems are a pleasure both to encounter and to read.”
November 9, 2025 at 4:34 PM
thebrokenspine.co.uk
This week’s prompt wants your ghosts, your don’t ask me about thats, your barricaded memories.
Post from today through Thursday.
Tag it. Use Alt Text. #TakeRisks #EndOnAnImage #AvoidCliché
Read 3. Repost. Reply. Don’t be a ghost.
Sign up: shorturl.at/0Xm7A
A moody, monochrome image of a shut black iron door recessed in a grim brick wall. Camera angle low, focused on rough cobblestones leading to the door. Top left: The Broken Spine logo. Top right: “@thebrokenspine.co.uk”. Bottom right: “Read Repost Reply #POEMSABOUT #LOCKEDDOORS”.
November 7, 2025 at 7:00 AM
thebrokenspine.co.uk
#LockedDoors drops tomorrow.
This isn’t metaphor. This is muscle memory.
Write what you couldn’t say at the time.
Tag it. Use Alt Text. No early posts.
Inbox prompts (for masochists and truth-tellers): shorturl.at/0Xm7A
A black-and-white photo of a sealed, arched iron door set into a brick wall. The shot is taken from ground level, rough cobblestones leading the eye toward the door. Top left: The Broken Spine logo (a black fountain pen nib). Top right: “@thebrokenspine.co.uk” in white. Bottom right: bold white text—“Read Repost Reply #POEMSABOUT #LOCKEDDOORS”.
November 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM