Toby Litt
@tobylitt.bsky.social
Writer. Activist. Diarist. Head of Creative Writing at Southampton University.
https://tobylitt.wordpress.com/shop/
https://tobylitt.wordpress.com/shop/
One of the best pieces of flash fiction I've ever read - and just left lying in the road.
#flashfiction #writingcommunity
#flashfiction #writingcommunity
November 10, 2025 at 1:10 PM
One of the best pieces of flash fiction I've ever read - and just left lying in the road.
#flashfiction #writingcommunity
#flashfiction #writingcommunity
October 7, 2025 at 8:12 AM
We'll soon be welcoming Dr Mary Jean Chan to University of Southampton to give our annual FT Prince Memorial Lecture.
In this 2025 F.T. Prince Memorial lecture, Dr Mary Jean Chan will explore the ways in which strict(er) poetic forms enable one's articulation of grief and loss.
In this 2025 F.T. Prince Memorial lecture, Dr Mary Jean Chan will explore the ways in which strict(er) poetic forms enable one's articulation of grief and loss.
October 7, 2025 at 8:12 AM
We'll soon be welcoming Dr Mary Jean Chan to University of Southampton to give our annual FT Prince Memorial Lecture.
In this 2025 F.T. Prince Memorial lecture, Dr Mary Jean Chan will explore the ways in which strict(er) poetic forms enable one's articulation of grief and loss.
In this 2025 F.T. Prince Memorial lecture, Dr Mary Jean Chan will explore the ways in which strict(er) poetic forms enable one's articulation of grief and loss.
If you were to ask me what is the most optimistic, uplifting story I've ever written, it's probably one called 'Grab My Hand'.
Even more optimistic and uplifting when beautifully read by Olivia Williams (The Crown).
You can listen to it here, c/o @wordtheatre.bsky.social -
wordtheatre.org/weekly/
Even more optimistic and uplifting when beautifully read by Olivia Williams (The Crown).
You can listen to it here, c/o @wordtheatre.bsky.social -
wordtheatre.org/weekly/
September 27, 2025 at 11:06 AM
If you were to ask me what is the most optimistic, uplifting story I've ever written, it's probably one called 'Grab My Hand'.
Even more optimistic and uplifting when beautifully read by Olivia Williams (The Crown).
You can listen to it here, c/o @wordtheatre.bsky.social -
wordtheatre.org/weekly/
Even more optimistic and uplifting when beautifully read by Olivia Williams (The Crown).
You can listen to it here, c/o @wordtheatre.bsky.social -
wordtheatre.org/weekly/
I'm seriously delighted to have a 14 line poem in Richard Skinner's 14 magazine.
Here's me looking seriously delighted.
Everything else I've read in it has been top.
richardskinner.weebly.com/14-magazine....
Here's me looking seriously delighted.
Everything else I've read in it has been top.
richardskinner.weebly.com/14-magazine....
September 25, 2025 at 3:38 PM
I'm seriously delighted to have a 14 line poem in Richard Skinner's 14 magazine.
Here's me looking seriously delighted.
Everything else I've read in it has been top.
richardskinner.weebly.com/14-magazine....
Here's me looking seriously delighted.
Everything else I've read in it has been top.
richardskinner.weebly.com/14-magazine....
I had a comment from one student on a non-fiction course I taught this year. 'Does it all have to be first person?'
A very good question, as a huge amount of narrative non-fiction has slid toward being highly focalised through a very present first person narrator. Even history.
A very good question, as a huge amount of narrative non-fiction has slid toward being highly focalised through a very present first person narrator. Even history.
July 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM
I had a comment from one student on a non-fiction course I taught this year. 'Does it all have to be first person?'
A very good question, as a huge amount of narrative non-fiction has slid toward being highly focalised through a very present first person narrator. Even history.
A very good question, as a huge amount of narrative non-fiction has slid toward being highly focalised through a very present first person narrator. Even history.
It was the most wonderfully impish thing I've ever seen a musician do on stage, yet completely faithful.
June 23, 2025 at 9:28 AM
It was the most wonderfully impish thing I've ever seen a musician do on stage, yet completely faithful.
May 31, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Yet each man kills the thing he loves.
April 4, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Yet each man kills the thing he loves.
March 22, 2025 at 11:09 AM
I'm looking to commission a cover for a middle grade supernatural adventure, 'POSSESSIONS: The Books Against Ravenglass'.
The artist will need to read the book and respond with something cool.
Please spread the word, and share your work below if you'd like to put yourself forwards.
No AI.
The artist will need to read the book and respond with something cool.
Please spread the word, and share your work below if you'd like to put yourself forwards.
No AI.
February 23, 2025 at 12:33 PM
I'm looking to commission a cover for a middle grade supernatural adventure, 'POSSESSIONS: The Books Against Ravenglass'.
The artist will need to read the book and respond with something cool.
Please spread the word, and share your work below if you'd like to put yourself forwards.
No AI.
The artist will need to read the book and respond with something cool.
Please spread the word, and share your work below if you'd like to put yourself forwards.
No AI.
January 21, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Which was your luckiest year?
December 31, 2024 at 6:18 PM
Which was your luckiest year?
How do you get your main character through that magic portal, and off on their adventure?
open.substack.com/pub/awriters...
#amwriting
#writingcommunity
open.substack.com/pub/awriters...
#amwriting
#writingcommunity
December 20, 2024 at 11:29 AM
How do you get your main character through that magic portal, and off on their adventure?
open.substack.com/pub/awriters...
#amwriting
#writingcommunity
open.substack.com/pub/awriters...
#amwriting
#writingcommunity
Thank you so much for this. That is a great thing for us to hear.
Charles and Edwin and Crystal send all their love.
Here's a very early sketch for you. Don't think it's snuck out anywhere else.
#deadboydetectives
Charles and Edwin and Crystal send all their love.
Here's a very early sketch for you. Don't think it's snuck out anywhere else.
#deadboydetectives
December 13, 2024 at 11:34 AM
Thank you so much for this. That is a great thing for us to hear.
Charles and Edwin and Crystal send all their love.
Here's a very early sketch for you. Don't think it's snuck out anywhere else.
#deadboydetectives
Charles and Edwin and Crystal send all their love.
Here's a very early sketch for you. Don't think it's snuck out anywhere else.
#deadboydetectives
Writing as smoking.
December 12, 2024 at 4:49 PM
Writing as smoking.
A writing exercise to get you moving around in time.
December 5, 2024 at 6:05 PM
A writing exercise to get you moving around in time.
Anyone else encountered the randomly and inexplicably cold baked bean?
(Going for an old school Other Place vibe on this one.)
(Going for an old school Other Place vibe on this one.)
December 5, 2024 at 12:42 PM
Anyone else encountered the randomly and inexplicably cold baked bean?
(Going for an old school Other Place vibe on this one.)
(Going for an old school Other Place vibe on this one.)
Today's diary entry.
What do you think are the virtues of Mills & Boon writing?
What do you think are the virtues of Mills & Boon writing?
November 23, 2024 at 6:00 PM
Today's diary entry.
What do you think are the virtues of Mills & Boon writing?
What do you think are the virtues of Mills & Boon writing?
Today's diary entry is niche, to say the least.
But also about BIG THINGS like artistic identity.
#writingcommunity #amwriting
But also about BIG THINGS like artistic identity.
#writingcommunity #amwriting
November 22, 2024 at 12:55 PM
Today's diary entry is niche, to say the least.
But also about BIG THINGS like artistic identity.
#writingcommunity #amwriting
But also about BIG THINGS like artistic identity.
#writingcommunity #amwriting
A Writer's Diary now has a QR code.
I'm just not entirely sure what to do with it.
I'm just not entirely sure what to do with it.
November 21, 2024 at 5:22 PM
A Writer's Diary now has a QR code.
I'm just not entirely sure what to do with it.
I'm just not entirely sure what to do with it.
Hello.
Welcome to new writers, readers, agents and all others. I write books, keep A Writer’s Diary on Substack and run Creative Writing at the University of Southampton.
Good to meet or reconnect.
Welcome to new writers, readers, agents and all others. I write books, keep A Writer’s Diary on Substack and run Creative Writing at the University of Southampton.
Good to meet or reconnect.
November 12, 2024 at 12:13 PM
Hello.
Welcome to new writers, readers, agents and all others. I write books, keep A Writer’s Diary on Substack and run Creative Writing at the University of Southampton.
Good to meet or reconnect.
Welcome to new writers, readers, agents and all others. I write books, keep A Writer’s Diary on Substack and run Creative Writing at the University of Southampton.
Good to meet or reconnect.
3rd person POV - mindreading invisible Dr Who with a laptop.
October 28, 2024 at 11:46 AM
3rd person POV - mindreading invisible Dr Who with a laptop.