Spectrum Writers London

Hi! Please email us through the contact form (or info@) and we'll sort it out!

Our very own @singingtotigers.bsky.social absolutely dazzled with the reading of her short story from 'Vivid Worlds', out now from Slab Press: theslab.press/store/

Thank you to Ruth for the photo! @easterconuk.bsky.social #Reconnect2025

Four women pose for a picture, wearing their Eastercon lanyards and badges with many ribbons hanging underneath. From left to right: Charlotte McCarroll, Ana Sun, Kat Kourbeti, and Amalia Topaloudi.

We had a lovely time at @easterconuk.bsky.social #Reconnect2025 in Belfast, with our members and organisers in panels, book launches, and volunteering for the convention. We'll be back next year for Iridescence in Birmingham, and before that in Cymera this June!

Cast of Liminal Tales "What do you wish for?" taking a bow on stage at The Water Rats.

The talented Henry Roberts performing "Show Me Your Resume" on stage at The Water Rats theatre, King's Cross, London, UK.

John Allen (Left) and David Whitmarsh (Right) in front of the stage at The Water Rats theatre in Kings Cross, London.

John Allen (Left) and Henry Roberts (right) smiling to camera pre-show at The Water Rats Theatre, King's Cross London.

Great night at Liminal Tales "What do you wish for?" performance at The Water Rats theatre on Sunday. So impressed with Henry Roberts' interpretation of my story "Show Me Your Resume." Nice to see a 5-star review from London Fringe Theatre! And catch up with a fellow @spectrumwriters.com!

The BSFA Awards Longlist is out, and our very own organiser @singingtotigers.bsky.social is on there twice with her novelette "The Perpetual Metamorphosis of Primrose Close" published in ParSec #11, and her contribution to 'The Utopia of Us' anthology published by @lunapress.bsky.social! 👏 Hurrah!

Star filled space with glowing orange light spiralling around a black hole

"For the [Black Hole] of Your Mind" by Claire van Doren uses an alien perspective to explore loss and possibility when we exchange an old way of being for a new one.

inner-worlds.ghost.io/inner-worlds...

#ScienceFiction #SciFi #SFF

A big thank you to everyone who entered this year, especially the last minute entries... you know who you are! 😉

Here's to another fantastic contest turnout, and stay tuned for the 2025 dates in the spring.

Malcolm will be receiving a critique of his story from @scott-h-andrews.bsky.social as well as a set of 'SpecFic for Newbies Vol I & II' by @tiffaniangus.bsky.social and @vallescurarule.bsky.social, courtesy of @lunapress.bsky.social. And of course, he gets to pick next year's theme!

The results are in: we have our first ever two-time winner in Spectrum history - Malcolm Barclay! Congratulations on writing the winning story of 2024, 'Snap!'

An email with the full results will be going out shortly; subscribe to our newsletter to find out more ➡️ spectrumwriters.com

Behold, a thing! Check out CON-VERSE, a weekly blog about speculative poetry, over on the @seattlein2025.org site! This week, we asked some of the wonderful members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association (@sfpoetry.bsky.social) the important question: What is Speculative Poetry?

The 2024 Annual Short Story Contest is now closed, and the votes are being tabulated.

Have you got your tickets for the awards night next Saturday? Tickets are available here: spectrumwriters.com/event/2024-s...

Our 2024 short story contest is in full swing! The stories are in and are now available to read for Spectrum members:

spectrumwriters.com/members/2024...

Read & vote by 5 Jan!

Winners can look forward to vouchers to @portalbookshop.bsky.social and a critique by @scott-h-andrews.bsky.social!

Want to follow our members on Bsky? Here's a Starter Pack of every Spectrum member currently on here, updated continuously! go.bsky.app/Mrqy4AD

Our 2024 short story contest is in full swing! The stories are in and are now available to read for Spectrum members:

spectrumwriters.com/members/2024...

Read & vote by 5 Jan!

Winners can look forward to vouchers to @portalbookshop.bsky.social and a critique by @scott-h-andrews.bsky.social!

Hello, friends! A quick post to announce that we will be leaving the MeetUp platform on 31st August, due to unreasonable fee hikes levied on all group organisers as of September 1st. We will be moving all activities on our own website - register and sign up for updates now :) spectrumwriters.com

Reading this afternoon for a @spectrumwriters.com critique and it comes with the usual thoughts:

1. Will my comments actually be useful for the writers?
2. What eldritch pact do I need to make to be as talented as them?

#sff #speclit #amwriting

Twelve writers longlisted for fantasy-focused Mo Siewcharran Prize Hodderscape has announced the 12 writers in contention for the Mo Siewcharran Prize which this year is focused on fantasy.

A huge congratulations to our very own Daniel Adediran and @singingtotigers.bsky.social for being longlisted for the Mo Siewcharran Prize, which this year focused on fantasy! Cheering you both on for the shortlist and beyond! www.thebookseller.com/news/twelve-...

This story wouldn't be where it is today without the constructive critiques by fellow Spectrum members who patiently read the shoddy, clunky early drafts! Thank you so much! 🌻💚

Big congrats to our very own Ana Sun for her story 'The Scent of Green' that made it into the Best of British SF anthology 2023! 👏 @singingtotigers.bsky.social

Prizes up for grabs include vouchers to @portalbookshop.bsky.social and a critique from the editors at Andromeda Spaceways!

First round's on us, so come on down :)

2023 Short Story Contest Awards Evening (HYBRID), Sat, Apr 20, 2024, 6:30 PM | Meetup **Join us for the conclusion to our 2023 Short Story Contest: a special evening of mirth and merriment to celebrate another very successful year of speculative short fictio

Our 2023 Short Story Contest with the theme 'Legacy' concludes this Saturday at 6:30pm BST with our awards ceremony, live and in person at the Leather Exchange pub near London Bridge, as well as virtually on our Discord server.

RSVP for fun times here: www.meetup.com/spectrum-sff...

Final question at the publishing panel at #Gollanczfest was about how to find your writing community - perfect segue to plugging @spectrumwriters.com - our hybrid online & in-person SFF writers group offering critique sessions, special events and more - new members always welcome #amwriting

If you are at #Gollanczfest, look out for our organiser @rbowden.bsky.social and our little cohort of Spectrum folk! 📚🚀✨

That's A FEW HOURS FROM NOW! Come hear me ramble about why I dig speculative poetry and how you can discover the nucleus of something fantastical in your own work!

For those interested, our short story contest has moved to the reading & voting phase! Read the 19 entries with the 'Legacy' theme and vote for your favourites by April 7th!

Details in the members area of our website: spectrumwriters.com

Writing Speculative Fiction with Ruth Joffre - StoryStudio Chicago This class will provide students with a strong foundation and fundamental understanding of how to build and rebuild worlds in order to achieve their writing goals.

New class offering via StoryStudio: a five-week intro to writing speculative fiction, featuring cool worldbuilding exercises, writing prompts, and readings from some of my favorite specfic writers. Check it out! www.storystudiochicago.org/classes/clas...

SFF Poetry Workshop with Brandon O'Brien, Wed, Mar 13, 2024, 7:00 PM | Meetup Ever wonder how poetry and science fiction or fantasy intersect? Have you wanted to dip your toes in the format but not sure how to begin? Are you interested in infusing yo

Just two days to go till our SFF poetry workshop with @therisingtithes.bsky.social! Wednesday 13th March at 7pm GMT - come learn how to infuse your poetry with speculative beauty and weirdness, even if you haven't tried writing poetry before! Tickets available at £12 through MeetUp ⬇️

SFF Poetry Workshop with Brandon O'Brien, Wed, Mar 13, 2024, 7:00 PM | Meetup Ever wonder how poetry and science fiction or fantasy intersect? Have you wanted to dip your toes in the format but not sure how to begin? Are you interested in infusing yo

Interested in writing speculative poetry, but don't know where to start? Come to our first speaker event of the year, a 2 hour hands-on workshop led by @therisingtithes.bsky.social!

17 March at 7pm GMT. Tickets are available through MeetUp. We'd love to see you there!

Our 2023 Short Story Contest is now open for submissions!

The overall winner will receive a critique from the editors at Andromeda Spaceways magazine.

Deadline is 23:59 GMT on the 29th of February. Go forth and may the best story win!

Eligibility rules and submission guidelines:

Hello Bluesky! We are Spectrum London, the UK's biggest SFF writers' group.

We offer:
⭐ Online & in-person events
⭐ Critiques of short stories
⭐ Novel feedback groups
⭐ Workshops
⭐ An annual short story contest
⭐ A vibrant Discord community
⭐ Social outings to the cinema, theatre, or the pub