Emily touched her husband lying on the floor. His cheek, his lips. Cold. She opened the door and stepped into the dark. A gale whipped through her nightdress, her slender frame drenched to the skin. Pale faced, she rang the neighbour’s bell. ‘He’s gone,’ she said as she started to shake. #WriteCBC
The infinite possibility of books! It’s a wonderful sculpture.
#WriteCBC My goal for 2026 is to be ready to submit my debut novel to agents. To get there I will write 1000 words each day (it's already half written) and will edit the words I wrote the previous day. Full draft by end of March. Ready to submit by the end of September.
Love these recommendations 🎥 🍿
Congratulations @mrscarlielee.bsky.social - such an evocative and disquieting setting 🎉
@cbcreative.bsky.social #WriteCBC The chemistry room seeps a sour sweetness into the late day. Six girls perch around a lab bench. Twelve hands rest on a planchette. Are you there? YES. They straighten. Alone? NO. They squirm. Are you friendly? A scream. The fume cupboard opens. A bottle cracks.
Sam Blake on stage at Murder One with the red and black festival banner behind her. She's sitting in a red leather Chesterfield armchair and speaking to the audience. Sam has red hair and tortoiseshell glasses and is wearing a black and white striped shirt.
For anyone new to me, I write thrillers (www.samblakebooks.com 😊 #TheKillingSense No 1 bestseller, out now! 🎉) I founded Europe's biggest writing resources website @writing.ie, Ireland's International Crime Writing Festival @murderonefest.bsky.social & run a fab online writers group, Writers Ink 💙📚
It’s out! Our July roundup of opportunities for writers across Europe just hit subscriber inboxes📩
From mega grants to residencies and submission calls, we’re filling your dance card with deadlines to get you writing and achieve your dreams. Happy writing!
We absolutely need a culture of reading for pleasure - it’s my past, present and future. It makes me sad for children that such a culture has declined so much. I fully support this initiative. #readingforpleasure
Wow 🤩 I’m so so happy to be amongst the winners of #iamwriting literary competition for my novel Henhouse. Thanks to the judges, especially @livmaidment.bsky.social for rating my work.
I’m delighted to have achieved third place. Thanks so much for reading my working 😊 Congratulations to everyone on the shortlist.
Short story writers!
Historical fiction writers!
We're EXTENDING the HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition deadline to midnight on 1 August.
We're looking for up to 3,500 words, set all or mainly 35+ years ago.
Entry's still only £5. See more at historicalwriters.org/ddshwass-award-2025
So many fab books to chose from. My favourites this year: Nesting by Róisín O'Donnell, Night Swimmers by Roisin Maguire, The Innocents by Michael Crummey, The quiet whispers never stop by Olivia Fitzsimons, Falling animals by Sheila Armstrong, The Inheritance by Cauvery Madhavan. Do recommend more!
Imagine, say, a steel company stealing coal to power their plant, arguing it's fair use because they they require that material to develop their own industry. Most industries are required to purchase their raw materials. This is scandalous #corporatetheft.
Survivors of former mother and baby homes, Magdalene laundries and workhouses in Northern Ireland have been advised of a deadline to come forward and give testimony ahead of a public inquiry.
jrnl.ie/6626931
This is great news for everyone. Court rules that AI violates copyright. I hope this is the first of many cases and that the greed of tech firms thinking they are immune to charges of theft is quashed. Now we need some convictions! #AIviolatescopyright #authorsowncopyright #theftisnotfairuse
It’s so good they are sticking to their principles. A very positive stance!
Dear applicant,
Please don’t use AI to write your job application.
Your sincerely, AI Company hiring team
#youcouldn’tmakeitup
Front cover of Issue 3 The Belfast Review. Names of contributors including yours truly and colourful image of a man with two balloons.
Check out issue 3 of The Belfast Review with a short story ‘Tis the season’ by yours truly! Thanks @thebelfastreview.bsky.social for publishing my work. Free preview online - or better still buy a copy! #irishwriters #thetroubles #christmasstory #belfast
Picture of Curae prize coverage from Bookbrunch
www.bookbrunch.co.uk/page/free-ar...
Hooray #curae prize!
Thank you to @bookbrunch.bsky.social
for being so supportive and unpaid #carers: we see you 💙📚 #booksky
Good evening #writers Just a little post to let you know our #writingcompetition is open ✒️ #flash #poetry #creativenonfiction and good ol’ #fiction 📑 Let’s see your work! Details on the website 👍🏻 @simonwhaley.bsky.social @gwynethbox.bsky.social @jaccigooding.bsky.social
That’s wonderful - it’s such a great book!
@dublinairport.bsky.social #DublinAirport #Dublinbuses Do something about the bus station at the airport! After a flight that was delayed by five hours I’ve had to stand outside in an underpass in the cold for 25 mins. Why no waiting room? Why no info screens? #publictransport #bususers
Sharpen your pencils. This themed prize opens on 1st Han. All genres of writing permitted, including fiction, non-fiction, and non-academic essays. Open to all nationalities. Link below. Please share :)
‘That was Christmas past, present and yet to come,’ said the Ghost of Christmas. Ella reddened with shame. ‘I’ve been a cow, haven’t I?’ ‘Let the fire in your hand warm your heart.’ The postcard dried exposing the full text: I’m sorry. Trains cancelled. Home Christmas Eve. Dad xx #5ActFestiveStory
She watched in awe as Mum, hands on hips, stared into the fireplace. Loud snorts drifted from the roof. Bells tinkled and a cloud of soot and snow fell in the grate. ‘When I said make it a Christmas to remember…’ she began. ‘I’m stuck,’ whimpered a voice from high in the chimney. #5ActFestiveStory
Well deserved - it was a great Act III 😊
From the train Ella watched a bearded man push his way down the platform. Her mum blanched. ‘That’s him.’ ‘Who?’ said Ella, ‘You’re scaring me.’ ‘Move,’ the man shouted, pushing a child into the snow. ‘Don’t you recognise him?’ said Mum as the door slammed and the whistle blew. #5ActFestiveStory
