Rachael Dunlop
@rachaeldunlop.com
Writer of #FlashFiction, #ShortStories and a never-finished novel. Spaniel-wrangler. Curmudgeon. Forest dweller. #MDANT She/her/cis rachaeldunlop.com
Isn’t this just how our eyes and brain work? You don’t see most of the stuff on the periphery, just the central focus. I can’t actually see the edge of the iPad I’m typing on right now. I just THINK I can see it because my brain has registered it and moved the focus to where I need it. Am I wrong?
February 16, 2026 at 11:09 PM
Isn’t this just how our eyes and brain work? You don’t see most of the stuff on the periphery, just the central focus. I can’t actually see the edge of the iPad I’m typing on right now. I just THINK I can see it because my brain has registered it and moved the focus to where I need it. Am I wrong?
I find so much inspiration as a writer from accounts like these. Lovely to see the connection here between tiny historical objects and huge historical events and how fiction can make us FEEL those connections.
From last week mudlarking on the Thames Foreshore, a Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) green heart trade bead, red exterior with a dark green core. Made on the island of Murano, Venice, 17th-19thC, these were used as currency by Europeans to trade with Indigenous & First Nation communities in America 1/
February 16, 2026 at 9:15 AM
I find so much inspiration as a writer from accounts like these. Lovely to see the connection here between tiny historical objects and huge historical events and how fiction can make us FEEL those connections.
Reposted by Rachael Dunlop
Very busy at NFFD towers. Diane is very chilled with a glass of red, doing lots of admin. And she’s celebrating GB getting its third gold in the winter olympics (unheard of). You too can be a winner! Just send us your flash by 23:59 GMT TODAY!!!
a cartoon drawing of a person skiing down a snow covered slope
ALT: a cartoon drawing of a person skiing down a snow covered slope
media.tenor.com
February 15, 2026 at 6:39 PM
Very busy at NFFD towers. Diane is very chilled with a glass of red, doing lots of admin. And she’s celebrating GB getting its third gold in the winter olympics (unheard of). You too can be a winner! Just send us your flash by 23:59 GMT TODAY!!!
Among all the other completely batshit stuff in this story, why does he think he’d be safer from ISIS in Spain than in the UK? Unless, of course this is just another GoFundMe grift…
Just checking, it's now ok to flee your homeland, because you're afraid for your safety, and seek refuge in another Country?
Glad we've cleared that up. Let's hear no more about immigration and refugees then.
Glad we've cleared that up. Let's hear no more about immigration and refugees then.
February 14, 2026 at 12:39 PM
Among all the other completely batshit stuff in this story, why does he think he’d be safer from ISIS in Spain than in the UK? Unless, of course this is just another GoFundMe grift…
Reposted by Rachael Dunlop
Curling doesn't necessarily have to be just a winter sport.
February 12, 2026 at 10:22 PM
Curling doesn't necessarily have to be just a winter sport.
Reposted by Rachael Dunlop
God, YES! 🙏
Actual footage of Vince Guaraldi performing "Linus and Lucy". I'm gobsmacked that this exists, but utterly thrilled too. www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EMf...
Vince Guaraldi - earliest television recording of "Linus and Lucy"
YouTube video by Lee Mendelson Film Productions, Inc.
www.youtube.com
February 13, 2026 at 8:41 AM
God, YES! 🙏
Reposted by Rachael Dunlop
Beautiful everyday Ladybird things.
Boiled eggs and Cornishware (2nd Picture Book, 1970)
Artist: Harry Wingfield
Boiled eggs and Cornishware (2nd Picture Book, 1970)
Artist: Harry Wingfield
February 12, 2026 at 8:36 PM
Beautiful everyday Ladybird things.
Boiled eggs and Cornishware (2nd Picture Book, 1970)
Artist: Harry Wingfield
Boiled eggs and Cornishware (2nd Picture Book, 1970)
Artist: Harry Wingfield
Asking for a friend: markets for literary SF/speculative short fiction?
February 12, 2026 at 1:25 PM
Asking for a friend: markets for literary SF/speculative short fiction?
We have to call this out for what it is: opportunism. He’s looking at the US and seeing how much richer he’d get with a populist deregulating government. So he’s shilling for Reform. Not because he believes any of this bullshit but because it will make him and his cronies richer.
Absolutely appalling and inaccurate comments made by Jim Ratcliffe - the language of division has to end.
He should apologise.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/jim-ratcliffe-immigration-uk-starmer-farage-man-united-b2918536.html
He should apologise.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/jim-ratcliffe-immigration-uk-starmer-farage-man-united-b2918536.html
Starmer demands apology from Sir Jim Ratcliffe over ‘offensive’ immigration comments
Founder of chemicals giant Ineos, which received £120m in UK aid last year, said immigration is ‘costing too much’
www.independent.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 10:41 AM
We have to call this out for what it is: opportunism. He’s looking at the US and seeing how much richer he’d get with a populist deregulating government. So he’s shilling for Reform. Not because he believes any of this bullshit but because it will make him and his cronies richer.
Since it’s so important to report the gender status of crime suspects, I’m looking forward to hearing this most of the time: ‘The suspect was born a biological male and still identifies as such.’
February 12, 2026 at 9:05 AM
Since it’s so important to report the gender status of crime suspects, I’m looking forward to hearing this most of the time: ‘The suspect was born a biological male and still identifies as such.’
Reposted by Rachael Dunlop
Just updated our Hall of Fame. 110 now published! Discount offer ends at midnight.
Sign up for the Self-Edit course I run with @emmadarwinwriter.bsky.social for @jerichowriters.bsky.social for the chance to be inscribed in our Hall of Fame! 705 alumni, 109 now published. debialper.blogspot.com/2025/06/self...
February 11, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Just updated our Hall of Fame. 110 now published! Discount offer ends at midnight.
Reposted by Rachael Dunlop
Our flash fiction winners, as judged by @lunchontuesday.bsky.social, are up on the website.
Well done to the winning writers and many congratulations to all who made the long and short lists. The standard was high!
flash500.com/flash-fictio...
#flashfiction #fiction #WritingCommunity
Well done to the winning writers and many congratulations to all who made the long and short lists. The standard was high!
flash500.com/flash-fictio...
#flashfiction #fiction #WritingCommunity
Flash Fiction: Winners
flash500.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:35 AM
Our flash fiction winners, as judged by @lunchontuesday.bsky.social, are up on the website.
Well done to the winning writers and many congratulations to all who made the long and short lists. The standard was high!
flash500.com/flash-fictio...
#flashfiction #fiction #WritingCommunity
Well done to the winning writers and many congratulations to all who made the long and short lists. The standard was high!
flash500.com/flash-fictio...
#flashfiction #fiction #WritingCommunity
Reposted by Rachael Dunlop
Every year, two people accepted for our anthology, are awarded prizes by our editors & receive £50 prizes. Last year the winners were Rebecca Field @rebeccafwrites.bsky.social & Gill O’Halloran @quickasaflash.bsky.social — if you enter by 15 Feb it could be you! www.nationalflashfictionday.co.uk
a five pound bill with a picture of queen elizabeth ii on it
ALT: a five pound bill with a picture of queen elizabeth ii on it
media.tenor.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:12 AM
Every year, two people accepted for our anthology, are awarded prizes by our editors & receive £50 prizes. Last year the winners were Rebecca Field @rebeccafwrites.bsky.social & Gill O’Halloran @quickasaflash.bsky.social — if you enter by 15 Feb it could be you! www.nationalflashfictionday.co.uk
Reposted by Rachael Dunlop
A reminder of one of the loveliest pairs of siblings in the dictionary: ‘muscle’ and ‘mouse’. To the Roman imagination, the flexed biceps of a (typically naked) athlete resembled a rodent scuttling under the skin. ‘Musculus’, in Latin, means ‘little mouse’.
February 11, 2026 at 10:14 AM
A reminder of one of the loveliest pairs of siblings in the dictionary: ‘muscle’ and ‘mouse’. To the Roman imagination, the flexed biceps of a (typically naked) athlete resembled a rodent scuttling under the skin. ‘Musculus’, in Latin, means ‘little mouse’.
Fun fact: serrated knives like bread knives are chamfered for right handed use. As a leftie, I’ve never been able to cut a straight slice and IT’S NOT MY FAULT.
Having just sliced a bagel into two perfectly equal halves, I'm reminded of the time I asked, when one hasn't managed that and one half is notably thicker, which half one eats first, and @nigella.bsky.social suggested "The half with less blood on it."
February 10, 2026 at 11:14 PM
Fun fact: serrated knives like bread knives are chamfered for right handed use. As a leftie, I’ve never been able to cut a straight slice and IT’S NOT MY FAULT.
Reposted by Rachael Dunlop
This is Ladybird. She's politely requesting butt pats. Will accept them for as long as you're willing to provide them. Could be days. Weeks even. 13/10 (TT: christina.stamper5)
February 10, 2026 at 11:00 PM
This is Ladybird. She's politely requesting butt pats. Will accept them for as long as you're willing to provide them. Could be days. Weeks even. 13/10 (TT: christina.stamper5)
Reposted by Rachael Dunlop
For todays #BirdOfTheDay theme of #OddCouples, here are a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Ring Necked Parakeet attempting to share some Sunflower hearts #birds #thegardenjungle #wildlifephotography #birdwatching #shropshire #UKwildlife #birdphotography #canon #photography
February 10, 2026 at 7:46 AM
For todays #BirdOfTheDay theme of #OddCouples, here are a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Ring Necked Parakeet attempting to share some Sunflower hearts #birds #thegardenjungle #wildlifephotography #birdwatching #shropshire #UKwildlife #birdphotography #canon #photography
Reposted by Rachael Dunlop
Our international open-themed short story competition for up to 3,000 words is open for entries until the end of this month!
Prizes: £500/£200/£100
flash500.com/short-stories/
#amwriting #shortstory #WritingCommunity
Prizes: £500/£200/£100
flash500.com/short-stories/
#amwriting #shortstory #WritingCommunity
Short Stories Competition
Welcome to our short stories competition category. This is an open-themed competition and we accept all genres, including those written by or for children.
flash500.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:03 PM
Our international open-themed short story competition for up to 3,000 words is open for entries until the end of this month!
Prizes: £500/£200/£100
flash500.com/short-stories/
#amwriting #shortstory #WritingCommunity
Prizes: £500/£200/£100
flash500.com/short-stories/
#amwriting #shortstory #WritingCommunity
It took about 14 hours and an unscheduled hotel stay to do the return trip instead of the usual 3 hours, but ultimately, it was worth it. (Flashing lights warning for those that need it.)
February 7, 2026 at 1:39 PM
It took about 14 hours and an unscheduled hotel stay to do the return trip instead of the usual 3 hours, but ultimately, it was worth it. (Flashing lights warning for those that need it.)
Reposted by Rachael Dunlop
Important news: Movie titles that begin with "I," in English are very funny in Spanish.
February 7, 2026 at 7:18 AM
Important news: Movie titles that begin with "I," in English are very funny in Spanish.
Just starting second leg of journey from London to Newcastle that started at 6pm last night and has involved an unplanned overnight stay in Manchester. Lads, this isn’t a big country. Shouldn’t be this difficult.
February 7, 2026 at 7:08 AM
Just starting second leg of journey from London to Newcastle that started at 6pm last night and has involved an unplanned overnight stay in Manchester. Lads, this isn’t a big country. Shouldn’t be this difficult.
Reposted by Rachael Dunlop
Funny how all these awful shits banging on about "core British values" always mean racism. They never mean the post-war consensus of a welfare state, NHS, social housing that dominated and transformed the lives of most people currently alive in the UK.
February 5, 2026 at 12:57 PM
Funny how all these awful shits banging on about "core British values" always mean racism. They never mean the post-war consensus of a welfare state, NHS, social housing that dominated and transformed the lives of most people currently alive in the UK.
On a train to that there London to see UNDERWORLD at Brixton Academy. Last gig I saw there before we moved north was LCD Soundsystem. Think I can probably die happy now.
February 5, 2026 at 12:34 PM
On a train to that there London to see UNDERWORLD at Brixton Academy. Last gig I saw there before we moved north was LCD Soundsystem. Think I can probably die happy now.
Reposted by Rachael Dunlop
Loved this: Helen of Troy, daughter of Zeus, conceived while he was a swan, born out of an egg, not a real person but DEFINITELY WHITE.
I had a great time talking about Helen of Troy with Evan on BBC Radio 4’s PM just now, and if you want to hear more about the Odyssey, here’s my 28-minute version!
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics - Series 8 - Homer: The Odyssey - BBC Sounds
Natalie retells Homer's epic story of homecoming, adventure and passion.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 3, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Loved this: Helen of Troy, daughter of Zeus, conceived while he was a swan, born out of an egg, not a real person but DEFINITELY WHITE.
Loved this: Helen of Troy, daughter of Zeus, conceived while he was a swan, born out of an egg, not a real person but DEFINITELY WHITE.
I had a great time talking about Helen of Troy with Evan on BBC Radio 4’s PM just now, and if you want to hear more about the Odyssey, here’s my 28-minute version!
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics - Series 8 - Homer: The Odyssey - BBC Sounds
Natalie retells Homer's epic story of homecoming, adventure and passion.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 3, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Loved this: Helen of Troy, daughter of Zeus, conceived while he was a swan, born out of an egg, not a real person but DEFINITELY WHITE.