Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · Sep 12

Thank you Sarah, and for your brilliant idea to put the last section in future tense. And yes, what a class; I'm still missing everyone.

1 2

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · Sep 12

Big thanks to Melissa and Kristin at @epistemiclit.bsky.social for including me in their nostalgia issue; to @sfreligh.bsky.social and her awesome Class of Jan 24 for prompting and nurturing it; and @raecowie.bsky.social & @norami.bsky.social for helping it over the line.

Epistemic Literary- Read Issue 6: Nostalgia now! @epistemiclit.bsky.social · Sep 11

Remembering a brother — “the better brother” — in this gut punch of a micro by @chriscottom.bsky.social

An honor to have you in our pages again!

epistemiclit.com/current-issu...

BAND OF GOLD -

Peter and I parade our scarlet guardsmen on the parquet floor of our playroom: drummers andtuba players, saxophonists and trumpeters. Mum gets them from the

epistemiclit.com

2 3 8

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · Aug 25

Delighted to feature in @fictivedream.bsky.social on this MicroMonday with a 100-worder prompted by @lumchanmfa.bsky.social in her opening workshop for March Micro Madness from @smokelong.bsky.social

Fictive Dream @fictivedream.bsky.social · Aug 25

"They said we’d been away too long, seemed like forever..." Back in Business by @chriscottom.bsky.social from today's "Second Chances" themed #MicroMonday #microfiction. Please click on the link and enjoy fictivedream.com/2025/08/25/m...

1 4 15

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · Aug 24

Thank you, Melissa. Delighted to appear in this fine-looking edition.

Epistemic Literary- Read Issue 6: Nostalgia now! @epistemiclit.bsky.social · Aug 24

Small, heartwarming #fiction with a mystical twist from @chriscottom.bsky.social.

#EpistemicLitFamily

www.moonlitgetaway.com/new-fiction/...

The Little Shop of Proverbs by Chris Cottom | MoonLit Getaway

Chris Cottom lives near Macclesfield, UK. His work’s appeared in 50-Word Stories, 100 Word Story, Eastern Iowa Review, Fictive Dream, Flash 500, Flash Frontier, Free Flash Fiction, NFFD NZ, NFFD UK, O...

www.moonlitgetaway.com

1 6

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · Aug 16

Thank you, Sue. Delighted to be SL alongside recidivist big hitters @quickasaflash.bsky.social and @uksherka.bsky.social

Sue Pearson @soupie.bsky.social · Aug 16

Congratulations @chriscottom.bsky.social

1 2

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · Jul 20

Thank you, Alison, and for your help with it.

1

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · Jul 19

Thank you, Cole. I changed the ending about a million times ...

1

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · Jul 19

Thank you, Gisele.

1

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · Jul 17

Big thanks to ‪@freeflashfiction.bsky.social for running this brilliant competition, to ‬judge @sagreene1.bsky.social for choosing my story, and to @raecowie.bsky.social, @norami.bsky.social, and the word sculptors of A Smokelong Summer Flash Group 4 for for their help with it.

Free Flash Fiction @freeflashfiction.bsky.social · Jul 16

As chosen by Judge S.A. Greene -
@sagreene1.bsky.social

FFF Competition Twenty-Eight Shortlisted:
My Flatweave Flatmate
by Chris Cottom
chriscottom.wixsite.com

@chriscottom.bsky.social

freeflashfiction.com/fiction/comp...

Competition Twenty-Eight Shortlisted: My Flatweave Flatmate – Free Flash Fiction

When she finally opens the bathroom door, the floor’s a savanna of sandy hair. Gráinne’s shorn off her chignon, given herself a buzz cut, dyed it coir-mat brown. ‘Go on,’ she says. ‘I know you’re dy...

freeflashfiction.com

3 4 17

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · Jul 13

Delighted to have stories professionally read on Sherry's Shorts at 1:52 and 10:09 mins respectively.

Sherry Morris 💙🇺🇦💛 @uksherka.bsky.social · Jul 13

The July episode of Sherry's Shorts is out! Featuring nostalgic summer stories from @chriscottom.bsky.social & Highland writers Graham Bullen, Cynthia Rogerson & me—with fun-in-the-sun Beach Boys tunes too! I'd love for you to have a listen to these shimmering gems. www.mixcloud.com/invernesshr/...

1 2 5

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · Jul 1

Thank you, Tim

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · Jun 30

So pleased to see this out there, thank you ‪@bnadeauwriter.bsky.social‬ at MoonLit Getaway. Thanks also to @raecowie.bsky.social, @norami.bsky.social & @yalanchang.bsky.social for their help with it.

Brandon Nadeau @bnadeauwriter.bsky.social · Jun 30

"The bay window has half a dozen panes with glass circles, like something out of Dickens. A bell jingle-jangles as I step inside. The walls are thick with..."

Read story by @chriscottom.bsky.social: moonlitgetaway.com/new-fiction/the-little-shop-of-proverbs

#WritingCommunity #5amWritersClub

2 5 10

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · Jun 30

Bravo, Eleonora!!

Eleonora Balsano @norami.bsky.social · Jun 29

V grateful to see my story on this list! (Had to check a few times to believe it:) congratulations to all the writers on the list and thank you Wigleaf & the editors!

Wigleaf @wigleaf.bsky.social · Jun 28

new on our mainpage: THE WIGLEAF TOP 50 VERY SHORT FICTIONS 2025 (selecting editor @samanito.bsky.social )

1 1

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · Jun 12

It's wonderful. Emily. I really, really like it.

1 1

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · May 17

Bravo Laura!

Laura Besley @laurabesley.bsky.social · May 17

I'm thrilled to have won 2nd prize with my story, IT'S ALL SO UNEXPECTED ✨ Congratulations to those in 1st & 3rd place & many thanks to the organisers @flash500.bsky.social & judge @scooterwriter.bsky.social
#fiction #flashfiction #amwriting #writingcommunity
flash500.com/flash-fictio...

Flash Fiction 2nd Place: It’s All So Unexpected by Laura Besley - Flash 500

I’m doing fifty-two on a forty mile per hour road when I see a fox dart out from the verge. I slam my palm on the horn and my foot on the brake. Next to me, Kaley screams, the contents of her backpack...

flash500.com

1 4

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · May 7

Thank you, Cole. The spreadsheet is non-fiction.

Cole Beauchamp 🏳️‍🌈 📖 @nomad-sw18.bsky.social · May 6

I’m checking my ‘working days to retirement’ spreadsheet when Sunil, my supervisor, materialises at my elbow.

“Got a minute, Carl?”

“Take your pick,” I say, hitting F5 to refresh. “Any one of the next 55,441.”

@chriscottom.bsky.social in @epistemiclit.bsky.social
epistemiclit.com/current-issu...

1 1 3

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · May 7

Thank you, Matt. Parents take note: the light-up yo-yo will be the must-have toy this Christmas.

Matt Kendrick @mattkendrick.bsky.social · May 7

"I don’t say, “I was a finalist for East Leicestershire Entrepreneur of the Year.”
I don’t say, “I introduced Market Harborough to the light-up yo-yo.”

Brilliantly ironical exploration of life and work by @chriscottom.bsky.social in @epistemiclit.bsky.social

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · May 3

Big thanks to Melissa and Kristin at @epistemiclit.bsky.social for giving a voice to my small piece of resistance here.

1 2

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · May 7

Thank you, Cole. The spreadsheet was real.

1 2

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · May 3

Big thanks to Melissa and Kristin at @epistemiclit.bsky.social for giving a voice to my small piece of resistance here.

Epistemic Literary- Read Issue 6: Nostalgia now! @epistemiclit.bsky.social · May 1

Issue 5: #Resistance is OUT NOW.

It’s a stunning issue, maybe our best yet.

Read, share, #Resist!

epistemiclit.com/current-issue/

Orange and yellow flames are emerging from a disembodied mouth. The following words are written in the flames: White supremacists are not very fine people; Denying trans rights does not “protect women”; Trying to violently overturn an election is not patriotic; Words matter; Truth matters; The opposite of diversity equity and inclusion is white supremacy and exclusion; Hatred and lies don’t make a country great; They hate “woke” because they want you asleep; Wake up!

1 2 8

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · Apr 23

Thank you very much, Sarah.

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · Apr 22

Delighted to be in the beautifully produced Paperboats Zine from @paperboatswriters.bsky.social on World Earth Day. Thank you to @sfreligh.bsky.social for introducing me to pantoums, and to Barbara Marsh, @raecowie.bsky.social & @norami.bsky.social for their help.

Image of a tiger's face, with the words: her grandchildren will need more than old wildlife programmes and soft-toy tigers: they’ll need polar bears who don’t have to swim hundreds of miles because they’re hungry, glaciers that stay icy, jungles jumping with tree frogs and tamarin monkeys, rivers fizzing with kingfishers, not chemicals.

1 5

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · Apr 19

Thank you so much, Matt.

Matt Kendrick @mattkendrick.bsky.social · Apr 19

"When my Action Man’s foot came off with his boot you declared it an old army trick for changing into combat gear, clicked ankle into calf, and passed him back"

This piece from @chriscottom.bsky.social reflects the universal so well through its specific scenario - always love a Chris Cottom flash

Fictive Dream @fictivedream.bsky.social · Apr 16

ICYMI we're currently featuring "Both of us were sons of unnamed dads of unknown whereabouts" by @chriscottom.bsky.social as part of our new #MicroMonday #microfiction series. Please follow the link and enjoy fictivedream.com/2025/04/14/m...

3

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · Apr 16

Yeah writers, one week to order get words in right. I've cleared my calendar and I'm ready to get judgmental just as soon as the word-boffins at @freeflashfiction.bsky.social unleash that longlist to me, after which I shall have a fast car standing ready to speed the results down to FFF Central.

Free Flash Fiction @freeflashfiction.bsky.social · Apr 16

The closing date for FFF Competition Twenty-Seven is

Wednesday, 23rd April at 10 pm UK Time...

Free Flash Fiction @freeflashfiction.bsky.social · Mar 26

FFF Competition Twenty-Seven
closing date Wed, 23rd April at 10 pm UK
flash fiction between 100 and 300 words
1 Winner - £150.00
2 HC £60.00
3 SL £50.00
Judge: Chris Cottom
@chriscottom.bsky.social

£3.95 / £2.55 per entry

#writingcompetitions

INFO..

freeflashfiction.com/current-comp...

1 2

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · Apr 14

So pleased to appear in @fictivedream.bsky.social today, long a dream journal of mine. Thanks to @raecowie.bsky.social, @finnegag.bsky.social and @yalanchang.bsky.social for their help with this one.

Fictive Dream @fictivedream.bsky.social · Apr 14

As part of MicroMonday #2 today we're featuring "Both of us were sons of unnamed dads of unknown whereabouts" by @chriscottom.bsky.social. Please follow the link and enjoy this tiny gem #microfiction #MicroMonday fictivedream.com/2025/04/14/m...

2 2 8

Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social · Apr 1

Judge on standby. Please send words. £150 top prize. Cash for five others on SL. £2.55 entry if you live in the UK and can pay by BACS. What's not to like?

Free Flash Fiction @freeflashfiction.bsky.social · Mar 26

FFF Competition Twenty-Seven
closing date Wed, 23rd April at 10 pm UK
flash fiction between 100 and 300 words
1 Winner - £150.00
2 HC £60.00
3 SL £50.00
Judge: Chris Cottom
@chriscottom.bsky.social

£3.95 / £2.55 per entry

#writingcompetitions

INFO..

freeflashfiction.com/current-comp...

1 3