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CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · 9h

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

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Reposted by CJ Payling

Head of Zeus @headofzeus.bsky.social · 7d

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'.

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CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · 9d

I'm in!

www.theboobyprize.co.uk

#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WriterSky #WritingCommunity
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
#TheBoobyPrize

3

CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · 15d

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

CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · Aug 17

Right now, I think I have a decent story...

...ask me again once submitted...

#FlashFiction #ShortStory
#Writer #WritingCommunity
#WriterSky
#NYCM500 #FictionChallenge2025 #500WordCallenge2025

CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · Aug 16

It has begun...

#FlashFiction #ShortStory
#Writer #WritingCommunity
#WriterSky
#NYCM500 #FictionChallenge2025

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CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · 24d

They arrived yesterday... I can't wait to get down my reading list so I can read them 👀

@northodoxpress.bsky.social
@pensandpizza.bsky.social
@criponatrip.bsky.social

#GreenLaughing
#GildedGear
#Reader #ReaderSky #ReadingCommunity

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Reposted by CJ Payling

Penstricken @penstricken.bsky.social · Sep 12

We are vaguely contemplating looking for a volunteer reader to help us work through submissions for future issues.

Maybe. Not sure yet, but we're thinking about it. 🤔

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CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · Sep 11

Not bad!

I landed somewhere in the middle of the pack. An average score, if you will. But looks at those trophies!

#TwistedTournament
#TwistintheTale
#FlashFiction #WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritingCommunity #WritersofBluesky
#Writer #WriterSky #WritingCompetition

@twistinthetale.bsky.social

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CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · Sep 8

I read a book... wrote a few words...

#Reader #ReadingCommunity #ReaderSky #ReadersofInstagram
#SciFi #Books #BookReview #BookSky
#PierceBrown #GoldenSon
#WhoNeedsABlog #WNAB

Who Needs A Blog With Book Reviews? Golden Son

Why would anyone want to know what I thought about books?

cjpayling.wordpress.com

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Reposted by CJ Payling

Penstricken @penstricken.bsky.social · Sep 7

Don't forget to enter our flash fiction competition 👉🏻 penstricken.com/competitions

#fiction #flashfiction

Competitions

Competitions Winter 2025 Flash Fiction Competition Subtext: the delicate art of saying one thing while meaning another. It’s also one of those things that separates good writing from exceptio…

penstricken.com

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CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · Sep 5

Very honoured...

#WritingBattle
#Summer2025NanoFiction
#FlashFiction #WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritingCommunity #WritersofBluesky
#Writer #WriterSky #WritingCompetition

@writingbattle.bsky.social

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CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · Sep 3

It's arrived!

@garethlpowell.bsky.social

#Reader #ReaderSky #ReadingCommunity
#SciFi #ShortStory
#WhoWillYouSave #GarethLPowell

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Reposted by CJ Payling

Rat Bag @ratbaglit.bsky.social · Aug 31

We are accepting only 38 submissions between Sep 13-15, but you can submit two! (Because drabbles are small, like us rats.)

#ratbag #ratbaglit #drabble #drabbles #writing #writers #microfiction #writingcommunity #submissions #literarymagazine #litmag #writer #nanofiction

2 3 11

Reposted by CJ Payling

The Bee @beelitmag.bsky.social · Aug 24

Often mistaken for a middle-class Oxbridge graduate, much to his annoyance. In fact a great champion of working-class talent, and supporter of what we're trying to do. This interview seems to have pleasantly surprised a few people, hope you enjoy it:

Mark Gatiss, the boy that Dr Who books made

The League of Gentlemen star and creator of Bookish on his work, snobbery in the arts, and advice for working-class writers.

thebeemagazine.com

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CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · Aug 24

It is done...

To be fair, I'd submitted my story around 6 hours before deadline. I made very few tweaks. And, again, I'm rather pleased with the outcome.

#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WriterSky #WritingCommunity
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
#TwistedTournament
#TwistintheTale

Twist in the Tale @twistinthetale.bsky.social · Aug 24

Aaaaand that’s it! You did it 🥳

Come back soon for judging, but right now - take a very well-earned break!

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CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · Aug 23

Wow! That was quick!

2

CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · Aug 23

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Let's go!

#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WriterSky #WritingCommunity
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
#TwistedTournament

3

CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · Aug 21

I'm so used to having 3 prompts. Nearly all these kind of competitions have 3 prompts! 2 prompts just feels... weird.

I think I'll make up my own 3rd prompt... 🤓

Good luck!

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CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · Aug 21

Round 2... Let's go!

#Writer #WritingCompetion
#WriterSky #WritingCommunity
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
#TwistedTournament

CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · Aug 20

After a few tweaks, I submitted my story

I'm sure I'll have more tweaks later, but I'm pretty pleased with the outcome

#Writer #WriterSky
#WritingCompetition
#WritingCommunity
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
#TwistedTournament

CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · Aug 19

I have a story! It's a bit rough, and needs editing, but I don't think I have the time...

#Writer #WriterSky
#WritingCompetition
#WritingCommunity
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
#TwistedTournament

CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · Aug 19

Struggling with this one - mostly because my day job has been quite busy

I have a basic idea, a few words in my notebook, and a few hours this evening to come up with something worthy

@twistinthetale.bsky.social

#Writer #WritingCompetion
#WriterSky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
#TwistedTournament

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CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · Aug 19

I have a story! It's a bit rough, and needs editing, but I don't think I have the time...

#Writer #WriterSky
#WritingCompetition
#WritingCommunity
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
#TwistedTournament

CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · Aug 19

Struggling with this one - mostly because my day job has been quite busy

I have a basic idea, a few words in my notebook, and a few hours this evening to come up with something worthy

@twistinthetale.bsky.social

#Writer #WritingCompetion
#WriterSky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
#TwistedTournament

CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · Aug 18

What? Another one?

Fine! I'm in... I guess...

#Writer #WritingCompetion
#WriterSky #WritingCommunity
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
#TwistedTournament

1

CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · Aug 19

😅

CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · Aug 19

Agreed!
With a critical eye, a lot are quite easy to spot. Although, the advice for anyone accepting unsolicited / targeted "marketing" is to proceed with caution, or politely decline.

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CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · Aug 19

That's weird, because I've not even finished the first draft of my first novel!

#Writer #WriterSky
#WritingCommunity

#Scam

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CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · Aug 19

Is it coincidence that my Facebook timeline put these two posts next to each other? 🤔

#Writer #WriterSky #WritingCommunity

CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · Aug 19

Struggling with this one - mostly because my day job has been quite busy

I have a basic idea, a few words in my notebook, and a few hours this evening to come up with something worthy

@twistinthetale.bsky.social

#Writer #WritingCompetion
#WriterSky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
#TwistedTournament

CJ Payling @cjpayling.bsky.social · Aug 18

What? Another one?

Fine! I'm in... I guess...

#Writer #WritingCompetion
#WriterSky #WritingCommunity
#ShortStory #FlashFiction
#TwistedTournament

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