Wensum Literary Magazine

Domino by Anthony Ward I preside in darkness. In this coffin. For what seems like eternities. Crammed like sardines with the other twenty-seven. All made of bone. Then, out of the blackness we hear muffled sounds of voic…

Domino by Anthony Ward

wensumlit.co.uk/2023/05/28/d...

The Gift by Lui Sit Flinging my leg over my red bike, I shunt forward, trundling out of the backyard down the bitumen driveway. Our cul-de-sac is unusually still for late Sunday afternoon in Huntingdale. All the neigh…

The Gift by Lui Sit

wensumlit.co.uk/2023/04/11/t...

The Woman of Parts by Fiona Mossman From this corner of the house, the corner furthest from the nursery, I can see the track that leads to the forest. The forest at the back of the house is impossible to ignore, especially when you l…

The Woman of Parts by Fiona Mossman

wensumlit.co.uk/2023/04/11/t...

Until My Dying Day by Lesley Bungay She wanders on the clifftop, lingering near the crumbling schoolhouse. Deserted now for fear of the advancing ocean. Their place. Safe. Far from prying eyes and prejudice. She senses movement, turn…

This October, we'll be showcasing some of the pieces that featured in early issues of WENSUM, beginning with Until My Dying Day by Lesley Bungay.

wensumlit.co.uk/2023/04/11/u...

Issue 10 of WENSUM will be released this October, so here's a sneak peek of the cover!

Fly Hook by R.W. Chapman You were rinsing your plate in the sink when you found the orange gun. Why was it in the same kitchen cupboard as the lemon soap? You picked it up and your fingers struggled to wrap around the hand…

Fly Hook by R.W. Chapman

wensumlit.co.uk/2025/09/01/f...

Do You Hear Me? by Uduak-Abasi Ekong Forgive me, Father, for I will sin unless you come down and tell me not to. But you won’t, will you? No. That’s not your style. You prefer the theatrics of signs and wonders. Signs, like when Mummy…

Do You Hear Me? by Uduak-Abasi Ekong

wensumlit.co.uk/2025/09/01/d...

Requiem by Sergey Bolmat In the end, I think that we should dispose of our dead in some easy, practical, pragmatic way. Ultimately, we are all just walking bags of dust, aren’t we? Why so much fuss then? What is it all abo…

Requiem by Sergey Bolmat

wensumlit.co.uk/2025/09/01/r...

On September 1st, we're publishing three new pieces of literary fiction on our website. Experience fresh new stories by R.W. Chapman, Uduak-Abasi Ekong, and Sergey Bolmat.

#LiteraryMagazine #NewFiction #ReadMore #Literature #creativewriting #shortstories

Flight by Lauren Hill Nella hated the new extension. The builders had rolled their digger right over the grass and the daisies and taken over her garden. When they dug the foundations, she’d run out with her red plastic…

Flight by Lauren Hill

wensumlit.co.uk/2025/08/08/f...

Spring River Flow by Nemo Arator “Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream…” “Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream…” We sang this, over and over, bellowing with drunken enthusiasm as we did in…

Spring River Flow by Nemo Arator

wensumlit.co.uk/2025/08/08/s...

House Edging by Tomasz Lesniara “Seven, red!” the dealer shouts. I am sitting on a padded black stool. My elbows glued to the upholstered edge of the roulette table, with my chin resting against my intertwined fingers. The guy in…

House Edging by Tomasz Lesniara

wensumlit.co.uk/2025/08/08/h...

Don't miss out!

On August 8th, we're publishing three new pieces of literary fiction on our website. Dive into poignant stories by Tomasz Lesniara, Lauren Hill, and Nemo Arator.

Stay tuned!

#LiteraryMagazine #NewFiction #ReadMore

August's selections will be delayed by a week due to a minor issue

How lovely!

Kind words from David Sexton of @wensumlit.bsky.social.

Bloomsbury reveals logo for new SFF imprint, Bloomsbury Archer

Bloomsbury has revealed the logo for its new science fiction and fantasy imprint Bloomsbury Archer. The logo has been designed by Greg Heinimann, deputy creative director 👇 #BookSky

Besides What Is by Anne Frost We arrive early at the museum, Jean and me. It’s a special event for patrons but my friend has somehow acquired two free tickets. Two, she has emphasised, in order that I might accompany her. She i…

Besides What Is by Anne Frost

wensumlit.co.uk/2025/07/01/b...

Not An Exit by Shaun O Ceallaigh The HiAce van eased to a stop in the train station car park. Ossian’s uncle said nothing. In silence, they emerged into the morning light and slipped behind the van. Ossian took his time, soa…

Not An Exit by Shaun O Ceallaigh

wensumlit.co.uk/2025/07/01/n...

Good Enough to Rock and Roll by Danny Anderson Burls threw water over his face and ruffled the tight curls of his thick hair like pigeons did in the fountain in Washington Square Park. In his first week at NYU, he learned how just being in the …

Good Enough to Rock and Roll by Danny Anderson

wensumlit.co.uk/2025/07/01/g...

Issue 9 | 2025 is now available to read and download for free at: wensumlit.co.uk/issue-9-2025/

It features work by Chris Cottom, Courtney Welu, Mark Keane, Patricia Brubaker, J.D. Isip, Lailee Zakir, Richard Gibney, Brian Coughlan, and Christopher Thomas.

Issue 9 of WENSUM will be available to download and read for free on Monday 23rd June.

It features work by Chris Cottom, Courtney Welu, Mark Keane, Patricia Brubaker, J.D. Isip, Lailee Zakir, Richard Gibney, Brian Coughlan, and Christopher Thomas.

Issue 9 of WENSUM is out later this month!

The exact date is TBC, but here's a sneak peek of the cover before the full author lineup and release date are revealed...

#LiteraryMagazine #NewIssue #ReadMore #ShortStories #FlashFiction

Single Car Collision by Brian Coughlan With the euphoria of some chemical released to prepare me for impact, of held-down car horns announcing, with the high-pitched whine of brakes shrieking in distress – the car veering towards a stre…

Single Car Collision by Brian Coughlan

wensumlit.co.uk/2025/06/01/s...

A Word for the Old Woman by Richard Gibney There’s an issue with one of my friends, Hector. He has a tendency to introduce me to gangsters and dealers. It’s only after the fact that he’ll say: “Here’s the scoop. That guy runs the heroin out…

A Word for the Old Woman by Richard Gibney

wensumlit.co.uk/2025/06/01/a...

Momentum by Christopher Thomas Jamey scurried up the side of the hill, he kept low as he crossed over the old logging road, and then he ran down into the ravine on the other side at a pace mostly out of his control. He could fee…

Momentum by Christopher Thomas

wensumlit.co.uk/2025/06/01/m...

On June 1st, we're publishing three new pieces of literary fiction on our website. Experience fresh new stories by Richard Gibney, Brian Coughlan, and Christopher Thomas.

Stay tuned!

#LiteraryMagazine #NewFiction #ReadMore

How We Solve It by J.D. Isip Sarah, when she was small enough to hold – when she would ask to be held – had an angelic temperament. Except on some mornings. Mornings when everyone was running late, the dog had pissed the kitch…

How We Solve It by J.D. Isip

wensumlit.co.uk/2025/05/01/h...

To Be Violet by Lailee Zakir My mules needed rest, as did I. In the distance, what seemed like a village. I dismounted and walked about. I was thrilled to find we spoke the same tongue. An elderly man with yellow fingernails l…

To Be Violet by Lailee Zakir

wensumlit.co.uk/2025/05/01/t...