microfrights

microfrights

@microwrites.bsky.social

small-time writing for big-time thinkers. Flash fiction contest every fortnight Print editions now available, ebook for Issue Two now on sale https://tinyurl.com/Microwrites

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microfrights
@microwrites.bsky.social

It's time for microfrights! Here is your prompt for 2026!

microwrites.wordpress.commicrofrights prompt 2026Imagine I'm holding my arm across my face, my dark-rimmed eyes visible above the black silken cape. Got it? Good. Ok, now we move on to the serious business of microfrights, the microwrites Halloween special. Congratulations to Roger for his winning entry in last week's contest. He has chosen for us the following prompt: veils. Here is the illustrative but in no way instructive version of that prompt:
microfrights
@microwrites.bsky.social

Ok I'm calling it - deadline is now Friday. Take the afternoon off, let's take it easy.

microfrights@microwrites.bsky.social

Have I set the deadline at a bad time? Should it be Friday? We can do Friday if it would help.

microfrights
@microwrites.bsky.social

Would just like ask Mr Woodroffe exactly which rights HE is happy to forego.

flyingrodent@flyingrodent.bsky.social

Yeah, bad news folks: you know how everything in Britain has been increasingly generous, functional, rational, pleasant and generally awesome for the last twenty years or so? Well I’m afraid the party is over for you greedy pigs: it’s time for you to suck up some real pain. Thanks

microfrights reposted

Th[Ominous Whoosh]
@mrmoth.eurosky.social

I dunno what I'm even saying these days, but writing little stories is cool so

microfrights@microwrites.bsky.social

You want to write this spooky story for us all? I know I want you to. Deadline TUESDAY so let's go, babey.

microwrites.wordpress.commicrofrights prompt 2026Imagine I’m holding my arm across my face, my dark-rimmed eyes visible above the black silken cape. Got it? Good. Ok, now we move on to the serious business of microfrights, the microwrites H…

microfrights reposted

Th[Ominous Whoosh]
@mrmoth.eurosky.social

I used to do prizes for microfrights but I can't these days unless I offer copies of the two zines maybe?? Because I have them already! But so many of the entrants will already own them. Unless....

microfrights@microwrites.bsky.social

Nights drawing in, eh? You know what you need to do - write a spooky story. Come on. I love 'em, you love 'em (probably), share it with the world.

microwrites.wordpress.commicrofrights prompt 2026Imagine I’m holding my arm across my face, my dark-rimmed eyes visible above the black silken cape. Got it? Good. Ok, now we move on to the serious business of microfrights, the microwrites H…
microfrights
@microwrites.bsky.social

"Nevertheless" ah, indeed. Ho hum.

The Society of Authors@societyofauthors.bsky.social

Our position on generative AI remains unchanged. But an increasing number of organisations within the publishing industry are using the technology. In her blog post our CEO sets out why we want to see the adoption of cross-industry standards. buff.ly/DCPZPY2

microfrights
@microwrites.bsky.social

And the unanimous winner is -

microfrights@microwrites.bsky.social

A philosophy of regret, by Roger Evans (Roger back in mythopoeic mode, which is right where he should be imo)

microwrites.wordpress.comA philosophy of regret, by Roger EvansConsider that the Now is an ever-moving threshold; ahead is the unknown, speculative and filled with possibilities. Behind, the known, the moribund remains of events littering the road for the wild creatures of regret to gnaw at their bones. There is a story of a bridge across a river, built thrice; but when the king who had called for it to be built crossed it and looked back, he saw the Devil behind him.

microfrights reposted

microfrights
@microwrites.bsky.social

A philosophy of regret, by Roger Evans (Roger back in mythopoeic mode, which is right where he should be imo)

microwrites.wordpress.comA philosophy of regret, by Roger EvansConsider that the Now is an ever-moving threshold; ahead is the unknown, speculative and filled with possibilities. Behind, the known, the moribund remains of events littering the road for the wild creatures of regret to gnaw at their bones. There is a story of a bridge across a river, built thrice; but when the king who had called for it to be built crossed it and looked back, he saw the Devil behind him.

microfrights reposted

microfrights
@microwrites.bsky.social

Facetime, by Thom Willis (that is to say me). It's that annoying thing - second person fiction. sorry.

microwrites.wordpress.comFacetime, by Thom WillisWe have all types of timepiece; hourglasses that time the length of a wish, wristwatches that tell you when you’re in love, a sundial that can see across galaxies. This teasmaid will make you a cup of your fondest memories every morning. And this clock will wind you back along your timeline as far as you can remember. Picking up the clock you wonder how far that might be?

microfrights reposted

microfrights
@microwrites.bsky.social

Four Gears and an Ashtray, by Helen Carlyle (it's a short full of atmosphere, positively overwhelming)

microwrites.wordpress.comFour Gears and an Ashtray, by Helen CarlyleIt's a slog, the long road north. Endless hours of heath and scrub and violent mountain vistas. Handsome if you're in the mood but tedious when the journey is an obligation with nothing at its end but a miserable regathering. My hire car is a spaceship. It swallows the miles in electric silence, operating lights and wipers and speed control autonomously, beaming podcasts to me digitally, a cocoon of warm convenience inside the blustering autumn day.
microfrights
@microwrites.bsky.social

A philosophy of regret, by Roger Evans (Roger back in mythopoeic mode, which is right where he should be imo)

microwrites.wordpress.comA philosophy of regret, by Roger EvansConsider that the Now is an ever-moving threshold; ahead is the unknown, speculative and filled with possibilities. Behind, the known, the moribund remains of events littering the road for the wild creatures of regret to gnaw at their bones. There is a story of a bridge across a river, built thrice; but when the king who had called for it to be built crossed it and looked back, he saw the Devil behind him.
microfrights
@microwrites.bsky.social

Facetime, by Thom Willis (that is to say me). It's that annoying thing - second person fiction. sorry.

microwrites.wordpress.comFacetime, by Thom WillisWe have all types of timepiece; hourglasses that time the length of a wish, wristwatches that tell you when you’re in love, a sundial that can see across galaxies. This teasmaid will make you a cup of your fondest memories every morning. And this clock will wind you back along your timeline as far as you can remember. Picking up the clock you wonder how far that might be?
microfrights
@microwrites.bsky.social

Four Gears and an Ashtray, by Helen Carlyle (it's a short full of atmosphere, positively overwhelming)

microwrites.wordpress.comFour Gears and an Ashtray, by Helen CarlyleIt's a slog, the long road north. Endless hours of heath and scrub and violent mountain vistas. Handsome if you're in the mood but tedious when the journey is an obligation with nothing at its end but a miserable regathering. My hire car is a spaceship. It swallows the miles in electric silence, operating lights and wipers and speed control autonomously, beaming podcasts to me digitally, a cocoon of warm convenience inside the blustering autumn day.
microfrights
@microwrites.bsky.social

Ohhhh I actually do have some short stories ready to go now, I'm so sorry but honestly yesterday was not good! It was bad! So let's publish some bloody fiction and that.

microfrights
@microwrites.bsky.social

I know it's a nice Sunday evening but *makes encouraging "writing" gestures*

microfrights@microwrites.bsky.social

It's your new microwrites prompt!

microwrites.wordpress.commicrowrites prompt: October 2 2026The votes have been counted and verified (Well. The poll lets you vote twice but I'm relying on honesty) and the winner is Wait Time by Thom Willis. That is to say me, so here's the next prompt: So there you have it! Submissions to the usual place by the end of Sunday October 11. Plenty of time to write. …

microfrights reposted

Dave Bulmer
@demontomatodave.bsky.social

This is interesting. A 1983 Newsround Extra report from "America," where they've just started a cable channel just for children. There hasn't been any kids' TV there for a while apparently, because advertisers can't make any money from them. Luckily, the new "Nick" channel doesn't have adverts

youtu.beBBC1 announcer Martin King, Childrens programmes Play School, Roger and Co & Newsround 1st July 1983YouTube video by ADC TV Collection
View full thread
microfrights
@microwrites.bsky.social

So that was microwrites eight years ago. I should probably know what I'm doing by now but I really don't. I hope you enjoy the stories and I hope if you have ever thought "I could write something for this prompt" one day you do exactly that. It's a journey, and the bigger the party the better.

View full thread
microfrights
@microwrites.bsky.social

Oh hey did you know that Microwrites is EIGHT YEARS OLD as of a few days ago? That's right the first prompt was published in October 2018. A different world! Were YOU one of those first writers? Some of you were! Hold on one second.

microfrights
@microwrites.bsky.social

Wrote a long thread about how to get back into writing after a long break and realised it was just "get super depressed about everything" over and over so I've scrapped it. I actually don't know, is the honest answer.

microfrights
@microwrites.bsky.social

Is the deadline really Sunday? (Yes) Is the challenge very simple? (also yes!(?))

microfrights@microwrites.bsky.social

It's your new microwrites prompt!

microwrites.wordpress.commicrowrites prompt: October 2 2026The votes have been counted and verified (Well. The poll lets you vote twice but I'm relying on honesty) and the winner is Wait Time by Thom Willis. That is to say me, so here's the next prompt: So there you have it! Submissions to the usual place by the end of Sunday October 11. Plenty of time to write. …
microfrights
@microwrites.bsky.social

Thread of all the stories and the poll - last day for voting! Vote early and vote often (if you like, I don't mind)

Th[Ominous Whoosh]@mrmoth.eurosky.social

You know that I run a flash fiction contest every fortnight, don't you? I can't tell if I'm always banging on about it or don't mention it enough. I think I might be bad at publicity. Anyway! Look at this!

microfrights
@microwrites.bsky.social

Wait Time, by Thom Willis It's been five hours, how many people were ahead of me in the queue? It didn't seem crowded when I arrived. It's just a burn, how long could it take to look at it, dress it maybe prescribe some ointment? Ugh. Relax! I didn't have any plans this evening. Well not as such.…

microwrites.wordpress.comWait Time, by Thom WillisIt's been five hours, how many people were ahead of me in the queue? It didn't seem crowded when I arrived. It's just a burn, how long could it take to look at it, dress it maybe prescribe some ointment? Ugh. Relax! I didn't have any plans this evening. Well not as such. But even so, not being able to do nothing on your own terms does feel like an imposition.
microfrights
@microwrites.bsky.social

Five Eyes, by Andrew Shilcock Every time we drove through the village on the way out of the county, we did the dogleg through the middle (which was almost like it had been designed to slow people down, but was most likely left over from some ancient boundary) and past a group of houses, nice…

microwrites.wordpress.comFive Eyes, by Andrew ShilcockEvery time we drove through the village on the way out of the county, we did the dogleg through the middle (which was almost like it had been designed to slow people down, but was most likely left over from some ancient boundary) and past a group of houses, nice houses at that, all with red painted doors and window frames.
microfrights
@microwrites.bsky.social

Overlooked, by Helen Carlyle It's none of your business what your car gets up to when it's out of your sight. If, instead of dormancy in a lane behind the airport, it wants to feel sand beneath its tyres, salt against its grille, wind beyond the boundaries of its usual urban jail - just who are…

microwrites.wordpress.comOverlooked, by Helen CarlyleIt's none of your business what your car gets up to when it's out of your sight. If, instead of dormancy in a lane behind the airport, it wants to feel sand beneath its tyres, salt against its grille, wind beyond the boundaries of its usual urban jail - just who are you to deny it that week of small sweet sovereignty?
microfrights
@microwrites.bsky.social

Forgotten but not gone, by Roger Evans Look, you sleepless daemons, look down there in the valley. Look now in quiet contemplation from your trees, keepers of the green. Look at the quiet town, the people in their dreams – no lights from the windows but outside the houses the thoroughfares burn…

microwrites.wordpress.comForgotten but not gone, by Roger EvansLook, you sleepless daemons, look down there in the valley. Look now in quiet contemplation from your trees, keepers of the green. Look at the quiet town, the people in their dreams – no lights from the windows but outside the houses the thoroughfares burn under the streetlamps’ harsh, white glare. Those who sleep down there have forgotten you now; forgotten, or for the younger ones, never known.