Events
Here’s a list of the things I’m looking forward to and, below, things I’ve done recently. You can find out more details about the workshops and talks I’m doing here, the long-term literary projects I’m involved with here, and the competitions I’m judging here.
Flash Fiction Festival 2024
In person workshop: 12-14 July 2024, Bristol
Website: https://www.flashfictionfestival.com/
I’m thrilled to be involved in two events at this year’s festival.
- I’ll be giving a fun, playful workshop called ‘Flash Fission: When Science Meets Storytelling’. No specialist knowledge or background is required or assumed, and you don’t even need an interest in science to join in the fun. Scientists and non-scientists alike are warmly welcome!
- I’ll be chatting with Diane Simmons and this year’s NFFD Anthology Editors as we introduce some of the stories in this year’s NFFD Anthology in an event called ‘Air, Earth, Water and Fire: A Celebration of the 2024 National Flash Fiction Day Anthology’.
Shh! Save the date: 29 June 2024
Details have yet to be announced, but as soon as I can, I’ll tell you about an exciting new workshop I’ll be delivering on this day….
National Flash Fiction Day 2024
15 June 2024
I’ll be celebrating National Flash Fiction Day with Co-Director Diane Simmons in June of 2024. This year, I’ll be giving a free workshop, participating in a panel of NFFD Anthology Editors, and emceeing the launch of the 2024 anthology. Keep an eye on National Flash Fiction Day for more details.
FREE Online Event: Spring 2024
Submission (Im)Possible!
Join me and Carrie Etter for our third Zoom session dedicated to everything to do with getting your work in the world: sending to magazines; submitting to competitions; writing cover letters, synopses, and proposals; researching new markets, etc. We’ll share information about magazines currently reading, open competitions, etc. in the chat as we go, and if you need to step away to take care of your cat/child/guinea pig/significant other, etc., just turn off your camera and come back when you’re ready. This is an all-inclusive, wholly supportive space open to writers of all backgrounds and orientations. This event is free but you’ll need to reserve a place.
We have had to make a schedule change; I will post the link as soon as we have a finalised time.
Save the Date: 17 April 2024
If you are in or around the East of England on 17 April, save the date if you fancy some flash fiction fun!
Flash500’s Flash Fiction Competitions (First Quarter 2024)
Deadline: 31 March 2024
I’ll be judging flash fiction for Flash500 in the first quarter of 2024, but you can submit at any time beforehand if you’d like to be read by other flashy judges. Flash500 is looking for flash of up to 500 words on any theme. Full details can be found here: https://flash500.com/
The Scottish Association of Writers
55th Annual Conference
22-24 March 2024
I’m thrilled to be joining SAW this year for their annual conference. I’ll be announcing the results of the 2024 Margaret McConnell Trophy Humorous Short Story Competition which I was honoured to adjudicate. I’ll also be delivering a workshop, ‘Laughing Matters: Writing Humorous Short Stories’ and participating in a panel with some of the other 2024 competition adjudicators.
Prosper Poetry Reading
15 March 2024
Prosper Coffee Shop, Ely
I was thrilled to read along side other local poets at this poetry reading organised by poet Michelle Davey.
Oxford Flash Fiction Prize
Winter 2024
I was honoured to co-judge the Winter 2024 Oxford Flash Fiction Prize alongside Nick Makoha.
Results: https://oxfordflashfictionprize.com/winter-2024-winners/
The Scottish Association of Writers
2024 Margaret McConnell Trophy Humorous Short Story Competition
Deadline: 20th January 2024
Results: to be announced at the 55th Annual SAW Conference, 22-24 March 2024
Wordcount: 1000 to 2000 words
Website: https://www.scottishassociationofwriters.com/competitions-2024/
Quantum Shorts (2024)
Deadline: January 2024
Results: will be announced soon….
Website: https://shorts.quantumlah.org/
Online Workshop: Saturday, 18 November 2023, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. BST
Lions and Titles and Bears, Oh My!
Crafting the Perfect Title
I’m back with another workshop at Retreat West! This time, I’m talking about creating great titles. You can buy tickets and see the full line-up of speakers and activities at Retreat West.
Online Workshop: Sunday, 12 November, 1pm NYC / 6pm UK
Peer Review Workshop: November 16-20
The Physics of Flash: Where Science and Mathematics Meet the Art of Fiction
What happens when we imagine like a mathematician? Craft like a chemist? Edit like an engineer? In this session, we’ll take our inspiration from the technical and explore how thinking like a scientist can unlock magic in our fiction. This is a friendly, playful webinar; no specialist knowledge or background is required or assumed.
This workshop is part of SmokeLong Quarterly’s series, Afterglow: The Summer is Not Enough. The webinar with feedback and peer review is $99, the webinar-only experience is $29, and there are discounts if you’re booking for more than one Afterglow event. Details and booking links can be found here:
www.smokelong.com/afterglow-2023-the-summer-is-not-enough/
Online Workshop: Saturday, 28 October 2023, 2-3pm BST
What Flash Fiction Writers Can Learn From Poetry
I’m thrilled to be able to present this year’s Flash Fiction Festival workshop to an online audience. Find out more here.
Deadline: 15 October 2023
The Prose Poem Prose Poetry Competition (2023)
I’m excited to be judging the inaugural competition for The Prose Poem, a new project celebrating prose poetry. They are looking for prose poems of up to 500 words on any theme.
Website: https://theprosepoem.com/
FREE Online Event: 14 October 2023, 13:00 – 16:00 BST
Submission (Im)Possible!
Join me and Carrie Etter for our second Zoom session dedicated to everything to do with getting your work in the world: sending to magazines; submitting to competitions; writing cover letters, synopses, and proposals; researching new markets, etc. We’ll share information about magazines currently reading, open competitions, etc. in the chat as we go, and if you need to step away to take care of your cat/child/guinea pig/significant other, etc., just turn off your camera and come back when you’re ready. This is an all-inclusive, wholly supportive space open to writers of all backgrounds and orientations. This event is free but you’ll need to reserve a place.
Website: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/688356501827
Online Workshop: Saturday, 7 October 2023, 15:15 – 16:15 BST
Writing Humorous Flash Fiction
I’m giving a one-hour workshop on humour in flash fiction as part of Retreat West’s day-long Online Flash Fest. You can buy tickets and see the full line-up of speakers and activities at Retreat West.
Online Workshop: Sunday, 17 September 2023, 17:00 – 18:00 BST
Prose Poetry for Flash Writers
I’m giving a one-hour workshop on prose poetry for flash writers at Retreat West. Tickets are £5 and you can buy them at Retreat West.
Online workshop: Saturday, 9 September 2023, 6 – 8pm BST
Flash Fusion: What Flash Fiction Writers Can Learn From Haiku
What do haiku and flash fiction have in common beyond brevity? More than you might think! Find out, and bring a pen…. It’s workshop time!
This two-hour online workshop takes place on Zoom. Tickets are £11.55 and can be purchased at eventbrite.
Online Event: 29 July 2023, 13:00 – 17:00 BST
Submission (Im)Possible!
Join me and Carrie Etter for a free, online Zoom session dedicated to everything to do with getting your work in the world: sending to magazines; submitting to competitions; writing cover letters, synopses, and proposals; researching new markets, etc. We’ll share information about magazines currently reading, open competitions, etc. in the chat as we go, and if you need to step away to take care of your cat/child/guinea pig/significant other, etc., just turn off your camera and come back when you’re ready. This is an all-inclusive, wholly supportive space open to writers of all backgrounds and orientations. This event is free but you’ll need to reserve a place here.
Deadline: 5 August 2023
The Scottish Association of Writers Westerwood Short Story Competition (Summer 2023)
I’m thrilled to be adjudicating this short story competition run by The Scottish Association of Writers. It’s been a couple years since I’ve had the chance to read for a longer fiction publication, and I can’t wait to see what comes my way….
Word count: 2000-3000 words
Theme: Any
Website: Scottish Association of Writers
Event: 19 July 2023, 6-8pm
Flashing Norwich
SmokeLong Quarterly’s Chris and I are headlining an evening of flash fiction readings at Bar Marzano, The Forum, Norwich. We’ll be joined by a number of brilliant local writers and some open mic readers. This event is free and open to all. Come join us!
Event: 14 – 16 July 2023
Flash Fiction Festival 2023
The Flash Fiction Festival is one of my favourite flash events of all time, and I’m so delighted it’s back as a live conference. I’ll be there again, and will be teaching my titles workshop. Breaking: to fill in for a speaker who can’t make it, I’ll also be reprising my hermit crab flash workshop.
National Flash Fiction Day will also be celebrating with readings from the 2023 anthology.
Deadline: 30 June 2023
FLASH 500 FLASH FICTION COMPETITION
I’m back with Flash500 for another round of this long-running flash fiction competition. Flash500 seeks stories up to 500 words by 30 June 2023. Full details here.
Event: 24 June 2023
National Flash Fiction Day 2023
I’ll be celebrating National Flash Fiction Day online from 00:01 – 23:59 BST with my National Flash Fiction Day Co-Director Diane Simmons. Come join us for 24 hours of celebrating flash!
Event: 8 July – 10 July 2022
Flash Fiction Festival 2022
The Flash Fiction Festival is one of my favourite flash events of all time, and I’m so delighted it’s back as a live conference. I’ll be there again, and will be teaching my titles workshop. Breaking: to fill in for a speaker who can’t make it, I’ll also be reprising my hermit crab flash workshop.
National Flash Fiction Day will also be celebrating with readings from the 2022 anthology.
(I am human and got very behind in updating my website during the pandemic. At some point, I’ll go back and fill in the archives!)
Deadline: 31 December 2019
FLASH 500 FLASH FICTION COMPETITION
I’m judging the latest round of this long-running flash fiction competition. Flash 500 seeks stories up to 500 words by 31 December 2019. Full details here.
Deadline: 15 February 2020
NATIONAL FLASH FICTION DAY ANTHOLOGY
I’m joining Sophie van Llewyn as editor of this year’s National Flash Fiction Day anthology. We’re looking for stories of up to 500 words on the theme of FAMILY. (Creative interpretations of the theme are very welcome.)
Full submission guidelines are available here.
Deadline: 29 February 2020
QUANTUM SHORTS
I’m thrilled to be on the judging panel for the next Quantum Shorts flash fiction competition! It’s free to enter for stories up to 1000 words that are inspired in some way by quantum physics. Stories must include the phrase, “things used to be so simple”.
If you’re not a scientist, please don’t be frightened off by the theme! After all, I’ll be looking for great stories, not a research paper. The competition website offers ideas, resources and inspiration to get your started.
Read the submission call here, then the rules here, and then submit here.
15 – 18 March 2020, Ambleside, Cumbria
WORDS WORTH WRITING
A Flash Fiction and Prose Poetry Workshop/Retreat to be held at William Wordsworth’s Historic Lake District Family Home, Rydal Mount. Led by Meg Pokrass and Ingrid Jendrzejewski
Full details here.
6 June 2020, Coventry
NATIONAL FLASH FICTION DAY 2020
Join us for the ninth annual National Flash Fiction Day where we launch the 2020 NFFD Anthology and celebrate with a day of workshops and readings. This year’s event will take place at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry.
More details will be announced here.
19 – 21 June, Bristol
FLASH FICTION FESTIVAL
I’ll be giving workshops and participating in a panel at this year’s National Flash Fiction Day. Come for the flash, stay for the karaoke! More details and booking details here.
The Flash Fiction Festival will be held at Trinity College, Stoke Bishop, Bristol.
8-14 August 2020, Swanwick
SWANWICK WRITERS’ SUMMER SCHOOL
I’ll be back at Swanwick Writers’ Summer School this year. Details to be announced on the Swanwick Writers’ Summer School webpage!
Swanwick Writers’ Summer School is held at The Hayes Conference Centre in Derbyshire.
1 May 2019, 19:00 – 21:00
Flashing Norwich
A Flash Fiction Reading Event at Bar Marzano’s, Norwich, UK. With Christopher Allen, Melissa Fu, Ingrid Jendrzejewski, Vijay Khurana, Jas Kirkbride, Helen Rye, James Smart, David Steward, Judi Walsh and Julia Webb. Free entry. Venue: Cafe Bar Marzano, The Forum, Norwich
27 June 2016, Manchester
Verbose