Congratulations Heather 🥳🎉

Time to fake her own work emergency I think 🤔

Ted taps his baton. ‘Smaller sopranos to the front. I want a green triangle shape, not a toffee penny.’ I go to move but he aims his stick at me. ‘You’re fine where you are, Sue.’ Denied the microphone yet again it seems. Forcing a smile I imagine where I’d like to shove that shiny baton #WriteCBC

You know how it is - you’re in work, CBC emails you, then your mind switches to a copper hunting down a serial killer,

I’ve been there. The feel of your description is spot on. The place still haunts me - absolutely horrific.

The stench of bleach suggests nothing to see, but when the tube light recoils off tiled walls, she finds that’s not the case. DCI Jones approaches the operating table, the doll on it dressed in a blue pantsuit, it’s hair a sharp bob. A floral smell reaches her. Even her perfume’s correct #WriteCBC

Thank you to everyone who joined us for #WriteCBC!

Shout-outs go to: @moomin1.bsky.social, @claredraycott.bsky.social, @ekmackinney.bsky.social & @sarahwarrilow.bsky.social 💐

And a special thank you to our guest
@rowancoleman.bsky.social for setting such a wonderful task!

Love the cliffhanger - was it Rachel’s or Richard’s handkerchief?

Meg eases out the bottom drawer and gropes about in the space beneath. Locating the digital recorder, she wraps her fingers around its cold plastic casing. Seconds stretch to minutes. Her stomach tenses. Her grip loosens. Perhaps the truth can stay buried a little while longer? #WriteCBC

Congratulations to everyone on the long list. I’m chuffed to have made my way onto it with you. Entered the competition at the last minute having completely reworked my beginning chapters with @saranaidinecox.bsky.social in her May retreat and June/July summer school…now chipping away at the rest 🤞

First Chapter Comp Longlist Hi! Now that Retreat West has closed down and I’ve merged some of what used to happen there into WestWord, the First Chapter competition, which has been running since 2015, is now here at WestWord.

First Chapter Comp Longlist
open.substack.com/pub/westword...

‘Lena…Margaret…Susan…sorry, no record for a Nora Morgan.’ The inspector places the half empty cup on the table. ‘Thank you for looking.’ It’s only when she stands, I notice the telltale dust of a visit to the Archives. Swallowing hard I realise she’s here to figure out if I was involved #WriteCBC

#5ActFestiveStory Joy turned it over in her hand. Coffee sprayed from her mouth and dribbled down her chin. The card was from one of those websites. There was Nick wearing an ugly Christmas jumper - his crutches wrapped in tinsel. Joy sighed. ‘What am I going to do without my partner in crime?’