CJ Payling

I said it was drivel! 👀

And yes, you guessed it, I was team Amanda...

'Was'

It's all Ed from now on...

@notquitewrite.com
#NotQuiteWritePrize
#TeamAmanda #TeamEd
#FlashFiction

My great idea is now down on paper... or, the digital equivalent of being on paper... on bits? on bytes?

Anyway, another competition, another entry...

#TheBoobyPrize
#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WriterSky #WritingCommunity

theboobyprize.co.uk

I have a great idea!
Well, I suppose it's only great while it's still in my head...

#TheBoobyPrize
#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WriterSky #WritingCommunity

theboobyprize.co.uk

Finally received my results. It turns out I had given them the wrong email address... 😬

All the judges enjoyed my work, and they agreed that it was suspenseful and full of horror. They didn't agree on what was 'wrong' with it, and they probably had differing reasons for not progressing it.

#Writer

Cover of the novel THE DEEP AND THE DROWNED by Ian Green, a large sea serpent rises up through dark waters, a small ship bobbing on turbulent water above

Do you like maps in your fantasy books? Are you cool?

THE DEEP AND THE DROWNED is set in an insane archipelago and @headofzeus.bsky.social are good eggs, so this week I am putting the finishing on the TEN maps in this book.

TEN! 🧭

Preorder now, support maps!

geni.us/TDATDcovrev

Here we go again!

I can only share my genre with you, but rest assured, I have other prompts...

@writingbattle.bsky.social

#WritingBattle
#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WriterSky #WritingCommunity
#WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritersofBluesky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction

I did it!

...500 words of drivel, but I did it...

But who did I team up with? I hear you ask.
You'll just have to find out later.

#NotQuiteWritePrize
#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WriterSky #WritingCommunity
#WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritersofBluesky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction

💪🏼💪🏼

Well then... I'll not mention that I currently have around 300 words and a solid outline, incorporating all prompts... 👀

Ok... ok...

I mean, I'm in, and I think I have an idea percolating away. We'll see what happens.

#NotQuiteWritePrize
#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WriterSky #WritingCommunity
#WritingPrompts #WritersLife #WritersofBluesky
#ShortStory #FlashFiction

My wife went to a conference at the @spacecentre.bsky.social yesterday and bought me a present.

It's an oldschool hologram bookmark! I haven't had one of these since I was in my teens!

Awesome!

Yeah... good rejections are few and far between. Any acknowledgement is a win for me. I'm disheartened when they don't even respond, it's terribly inconsiderate.

Yes!! First rejection of 2026!

Last year I received a total of 11 rejections for #microfiction, #flashfiction and #shortstory submissions (not including #writingcompetition placements)

My aim in 2026 is to double this...

#Writer #WritingCommunity #WriterSky

Results are in and... yeah...
Out of a group of 41 writers, 31 of us did not make it...

Well done to those that made it to the next round!

Onwards!

#ScartStoryChallenge #NYCMidnight
#Writer #WritingCompetition
#WriterSky #WritingCommunity
#ShortStory #FlashFiction

@nycmidnight.bsky.social

Twisted 2026 Sci-Fi Anthology - Submission

We are excited to announce we have an open call for the next Twist mag. Send us your sci-fis! 50-500 words, closes 12th Jan or earlier if full.

Full details here: twistedtournament.com/submission-c...

I will, I'm sure. Thank you 🙏🏼

My swag has arrived! I can't wait to get stuck in and give these a read.

@joshuapalmatier.bsky.social
#SkullxBones #ClockworkUniverse
#ZNB

WIP Extracts: Hiccups Through Time (working title)

An extract from an unedited Chapter 1.
Harold meets his (tor)mentor...

#Writer #WritingCommunity #WriterSky #WritersofBluesky
#Author #WIP #WIPExtract

Well, I managed it!

I finished #ServiceModel by #AdrianTchaikovsky in 2025, with 1 hour to spare, taking my books read total to a satisfying 30 books.

#HappyNewYear 🥳🎶🎷🎶🕺🏼

#Reader #ReaderSky #ReadingCommunity

Excellent! Thank you very much, I'll add these to next year's reading list 🫱🏼‍🫲🏻

Ok... Could you recommend a continuation novel from TNG, and one from DS9? And also a recommendation for a standalone, episodic novel?

The abundance of Star Trek novels just scored you a confirmed follow!

I haven't read much Star Trek since the Shatner novels. Do you have any recommendations?

#GoodreadsYearInBooks

Of course, it's slightly inaccurate - I've also finished #NotAllWhoWander by #RickBuchanan and I'm hoping to finish #ServiceModel by #AdrianTchaikovsky by the year's end.

Unsurprisingly, my tastes fall well within SFF but I'm trying to branch out.
I mean, I read 39 Steps!

a man with a beard is sitting in a chair saying " is this a what day is this ? " ALT: a man with a beard is sitting in a chair saying " is this a what day is this ? "

🎄🎁

#MerryChristmas
#HappyYuletide

Ruddy heck! They ruin everything!
And this is why we can't have nice things.

I do so hate nasty bars...

Wait... Oooh!

I just went over to Substack...

First question: What is Substack?

Second question: Do I really need Substack?

~ THE BOOBY PRIZE ~ Quarterly Global Writing Competition

One of my stories has been published on #theboobyprize website

Along with other fantastic stories from winners and entrants to The Booby Prize, my story - The Sensual and the Sapphire - can be found here:
theboobyprize.co.uk/the-sensual

#Writer #WriterSky #Writing
#FlashFiction #ShortStory

Yep... 😂

I had very little time to work on my story. I'm happy with it regardless, so we'll see what happens.