CJ Payling
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cjpayling.bsky.social
CJ Payling
@cjpayling.bsky.social
260 followers 590 following 490 posts
CJ is a human generated aspiring author, and a writing competition enthusiast.

You can find all sorts of links at: linktr.ee/cjpayling
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cjpayling.bsky.social
CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · 9d
👀

cjpaylingauthor.wordpress.com
CJPayling
Writer | Author
cjpaylingauthor.wordpress.com
cjpayling.bsky.social
One of my stories has been published on #theboobyprize website

Along with other fantastic stories from winners and entrants to The Booby Prize, my story - The Sensual and the Sapphire - can be found here:
theboobyprize.co.uk/the-sensual

#Writer #WriterSky #Writing
#FlashFiction #ShortStory
~ THE BOOBY PRIZE ~
Quarterly Global Writing Competition
theboobyprize.co.uk
December 10, 2025 at 1:09 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
Sorted... and I managed to upload while sat on an aeroplane too!

#NYCMidnight #MicrofictionChallenge250
#WritingCompetition #Writer

@nycmidnight.bsky.social
December 7, 2025 at 2:43 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
Well, this is fun... let's go travelling whilst in the middle of a writing competition, it'll be great! 🙃

#NYCMidnight #MicrofictionChallenge250
#WritingCompetition #Writer

@nycmidnight.bsky.social
December 7, 2025 at 11:46 AM
cjpayling.bsky.social
Ok then. Let's write a horror... I guess...

Good luck to everyone!

@nycmidnight.bsky.social

#NYCM #NYCMidnight
#Writer #WritingCompetition #WritingCommunity
#WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritersofBluesky #WriterSky
#ShortStory #Microfiction
#MicrofictionChallenge250

www.nycmidnight.com/250
The 250-word Microfiction Challenge — nycmidnight
The 250-word Microfiction Challenge is an international creative writing competition that challenges participants to create very short stories based on genre, action, and word assignments in 48 hours.
www.nycmidnight.com
December 6, 2025 at 9:00 AM
cjpayling.bsky.social
I'm in!

#NYCM #NYCMidnight
#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WriterSky #WritingCommunity
#WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritersofBluesky
#ShortStory #Microfiction
#MicrofictionChallenge2025
nycmidnight.bsky.social NYC Midnight @nycmidnight.bsky.social · 5d
The 250-word Microfiction Challenge kicks off at 11:59 PM TONIGHT (NYC time), and registration closes soon! Join thousands of writers around the world as they create super short stories this weekend. Learn more & register at www.nycmidnight.com/250. Good luck to all the participants!
The 250-word Microfiction Challenge — nycmidnight
The 250-word Microfiction Challenge is an international creative writing competition that challenges participants to create very short stories based on genre, action, and word assignments in 48 hours.
www.nycmidnight.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:50 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
I think it's worth noting that there is a lot of rejection when submitting work for consideration.

My advice?

Celebrate and embrace it!

cjpaylingauthor.wordpress.com/home/rejection/
Rejection
A sample of assorted rejection letters…
cjpaylingauthor.wordpress.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:42 AM
cjpayling.bsky.social
👀

cjpaylingauthor.wordpress.com
CJPayling
Writer | Author
cjpaylingauthor.wordpress.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:35 AM
cjpayling.bsky.social
Motherfffudge!

I suppose I'll still give the episode a listen...

@notquitewrite.com

#NotQuiteWritePrize
#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WriterSky #WritingCommunity
#WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritersofBluesky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
November 27, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by CJ Payling
northodoxpress.bsky.social
🚨TODAY🚨

Yes, today is the day! We are in Manchester with a whole host of brilliant northern publishers for the Winter Book Fair.

Join us at House of Books and Friends from 11-3 for all your bookish needs!
November 22, 2025 at 7:11 AM
cjpayling.bsky.social
I'll probably join the January competition, just to see what all the fuss is about... 👀

#NotQuiteWrite #NotQuiteWritePrize
#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WriterSky #WritingCommunity
#WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritersofBluesky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
notquitewrite.com Not Quite Write @notquitewrite.com · Nov 7
We've been hinting for a while, but now the secret is out!

The Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction is changing in 2026, and you'll hear all about it in this special announcement of the podcast!

Please like and share to help us get the word out, and let us know what you think in the comments 👇
November 7, 2025 at 9:56 AM
cjpayling.bsky.social
a woman wearing a mask with the words remember written on it
ALT: a woman wearing a mask with the words remember written on it
media.tenor.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:27 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
Yes! Success in writing a story...
Whether it's scary enough is another matter entirely.

Also, only 8 hours left on the clock... few!

#ScaryStoryChallenge
#NYCMidnight
#Writer #WritingCompetition #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritersofBluesky #WriterSky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
November 2, 2025 at 8:59 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
👀

www.scifishorts.co/premium/red-...
Red Dust
C. J. Payling
www.scifishorts.co
November 1, 2025 at 5:47 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
Ultimately, I'm up against 3,662 other writers.
Practically, I'm up against the other 40-ish writers in my group.

Good luck everyone!

#ScaryStoryChallenge
#NYCMidnight
#Writer #WritingCompetition #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritersofBluesky #WriterSky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
November 1, 2025 at 7:12 AM
cjpayling.bsky.social
This very nearly passed me by... but I'm in!

#NYCMidnight
#Writer #WritingCompetition #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritersofBluesky #WriterSky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
October 31, 2025 at 1:45 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
I had a bit of a tidy this week. I pulled out everything from in my office, gave it a massive clean and put everything back in a different order.

This is my new desk setup... what do you think?

#DeskSetup #HomeOffice

#Writer #WriterSky #WritingCommunity
#Reader #ReaderSky #ReadingCommunity
October 30, 2025 at 7:38 AM
cjpayling.bsky.social
I've done it!

There's no way I can DNF now!

#NotQuiteWritePrize
#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WritingCommunity
#WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritersofBluesky #WriterSky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
October 25, 2025 at 3:50 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
I'm doing it!

I will not DNF this time! I'm in! I have a draft and I'll be entering before the required time. Yes!

#NotQuiteWritePrize
#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WritingCommunity
#WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritersofBluesky #WriterSky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
October 25, 2025 at 12:15 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
This was a recent read for me and I must say, a very enjoyable experience. Soon I'll move on to the rest in the series... I can't wait!

#Reader #ReaderSky #ReadingCommunity
October 20, 2025 at 6:33 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
Done!

After much editing and tightening and editing, I have a passable story. We'll see what happens from here...

#TheBoobyPrize
#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WritersofBluesky #WritingCommunity
#WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WriterSky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
October 19, 2025 at 6:35 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
Yep, it was all me. I forgot to post yesterday. And then left it for a good 18-ish hours... 👀

#NotQuiteWritePrize
#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WriterSky #WritingCommunity
#WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritersofBluesky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
notquitewrite.com Not Quite Write @notquitewrite.com · Oct 18
No, YOU forgot to post yesterday 👀

It's now just SIX DAYS until the LAST EVER anti-prompt drop!

This is set to be a history-making round you won't wanna miss...

Who's already got their ticket?
October 18, 2025 at 7:10 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
I've received prompts
I have a rough outline
And now I'm off to the Seven Hills Whisky Festival

sevenhillswhiskyfestival.co.uk

www.theboobyprize.co.uk

#TheBoobyPrize
#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WriterSky #WritingCommunity
#WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritersofBluesky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
October 18, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Reposted by CJ Payling
headofzeus.bsky.social
Happy #BookshopDay everyone! Will you be visiting a bookshop today? What titles do you have your eye on?
Promotional poster for Bookshop Day featuring a vibrant illustration of diverse people engaging in activities outside bookstores lining a city street. Notable elements include signs reading 'Vintage' and 'Books,' and people holding books. Event details include 'Bookshop Day Saturday 11 October' and hashtags '@booksaremybag #BookshopDay'.
October 11, 2025 at 8:00 AM
cjpayling.bsky.social
I'm in!

www.theboobyprize.co.uk

#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WriterSky #WritingCommunity
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
#TheBoobyPrize
October 8, 2025 at 5:40 PM
cjpayling.bsky.social
Alas! I did not place within my group... it seems I needed more story in my story 😕

Still, entering competitions like these reveal our strengths as well as our weaknesses

@nycmidnight.bsky.social

#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WriterSky #WritingCommunity #FlashFiction #NYCMidnight #NYCM500
October 2, 2025 at 8:14 PM