Chris Cottom
@chriscottom.bsky.social
Barrelhouse, New Flash Fiction Review, matchbook, MoonPark Review, FlashFlood, Oyster River Pages, New World Writing Quarterly, Tiny Molecules, Orange Blossom Review, Flash Frontier, Leon Literary Review, Gooseberry Pie, The Good Life Review, Fictive Dream
Congratulations @words-outwest.bsky.social and no need to be coy. My back-of-a-fag-calculations, @eleanor-luke.bsky.social, indicate that Emma has won this great comp no fewer than FIVE times (but don't trust me on maths). Repeat: that's FIVE times. PS: Did I mention that Emma's won it FIVE times?
Emma Phillips@words-outwest.bsky.social · 2d agoThanks @eleanor-luke.bsky.social . I've had a good run.
Very honoured to be nominated, thank you so much @newwritersuk.bsky.social. And alongside the awesome @jaimegill.bsky.social, no less.
New Writers@newwritersuk.bsky.social · 4d agoHere are our nominations for the 2027 Best of the Net Anthology, all of which are prize winners in New Writers competitions. To read these and other prize-winning entries, check out our results page: newwriters.org.uk/competitions... Congrats to the nominees and good luck! #bestofthenet
I love, love, love @thehooletsnook.bsky.social. So pleased to be here again, thank you Gisele.
The Hoolet’s Nook@thehooletsnook.bsky.social · 7d agoOne of the many tiny treasures from our recent issue, "Whenever I felt tummy-sick about Monday mental maths," by @chriscottom.bsky.social 🦉🌸🌿 #Microfiction #QuickReads #ReadersOfBsky #Heartfelt #Coping #Childhood #Memories #Family Check out the full issue at: www.thehooletsnook.com/current-issu...
Ooh, lovely to see this out there again, thank you @thewritelifeliz.bsky.social, and also to @delgeo14.bsky.social for publishing it in Raw Lit in the first place.
Delphine Gauthier-Georgakopoulos@delgeo14.bsky.social · last wk.Congrats to @chriscottom.bsky.social for making the shortlist with his story 'How You Know Your Dad’s Heart is in the Military' published in Raw Lit - Issue 6 rawlit.weebly.com/6_11.html
Delighted to feature in this great competition again. Big thanks to judge @kateaxeford.bsky.social for choosing my story.
Free Flash Fiction@freeflashfiction.bsky.social · last wk.As Chosen by Judge Kate Axeford @kateaxeford.bsky.social FFF Competition Thirty-Five Shortlisted: Michelangelo of Morecambe by Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social #writingcompetitions #flashfiction freeflashfiction.com/fiction/comp...
I'm delighted and honoured, thank you lovely Woolf people.
The Woolf (Official)@thewoolfofficial.bsky.social · last wk....and proud to nominate @chriscottom.bsky.social and @hughbehmsteinberg.bsky.social - two Issue 10 contributors - for the next #BestSmallFictions anthology! Check out their fab #flashfiction right here...
Big shout to @bulbculture.bsky.social for republishing our preloved pieces. I wrote this back in 2021 on a course with @kmelkes.bsky.social where lots of others also helped me with it including @norami.bsky.social and @mynachang.bsky.social (see, it might be five years but I haven't forgotten).
Bulb Culture Collective@bulbculture.bsky.social · 2w agoThe light is on for Chris Cottom! @chriscottom.bsky.social 💡 “Veedon Fleece” is a tender story about a love strong enough to endure across time and lifetimes. Read Chris’s evocative and emotional fiction over at the site!
Wow! Totally gobsmacked, thank you lovely Barrelhouse people, and particularly for the wise suggested edit which I am quite sure made all the difference to this story.
Tara Campbell@taracampbell.bsky.social · 4w agoHappy #BestOfTheNet nomination season to all who celebrate. Here are the nominees for @barrelhouse.bsky.social! Congratulations, @zachpowers.bsky.social, @graycious.bsky.social , @mariannelchan.bsky.social, @chriscottom.bsky.social, and Fran Levin!
This is a gorgeous mag and I was delighted to feature on the menu under spring starters.
Little Fruits Mag@littlefruitsmagazine.com · 2mo agocelebrate the one year anniversary of little fruits magazine with a tasting from our fruit cellar. over the past year we have had the honor of sampling delicious fruits from authors around the world and hope you'll give them a try too. we look forward to the year to come -- cheers!
'This knife is not a knife: it is a gateway to a new life.' Terrific piece in @mrbullbull.bsky.social by @serrey.bsky.social.
MrBullBull@mrbullbull.bsky.social · 2mo ago"This is not a knife. This is a sword. You will be a knight (yes, Sylvie, the term can be gender neutral), a quester. Try it. Test it on your steak. I guarantee you will never find a knife so perfect." - Sarah Masters mrbullbull.com/newbull/flas...
Ooh! So pleased to be here. Welcome back @ellipsiszine.bsky.social. We've really missed you.
ellipsis zine@ellipsiszine.bsky.social · 2mo ago'Chapel of Dreams' microfiction from Chris Cottom My newbuild husband would settle for a soulless maisonette on a deathless estate, so I insist on another look at the old Baptist church with its pinnacles and glory. Read more: www.ellipsis-zine.com/writing/chap...
Big thanks to the lovely peeps at @goodlifelitmag.bsky.social for publishing this piece, and to @raecowie.bsky.social and @norami.bsky.social for their help with it and for explaining how it contains enough truths to qualify as CNF.
@goodlifelitmag.bsky.social · 2mo ago"Daddy bangs around upstairs, packing for another trip. After he whizzes off, Mummy tells us they’re getting a divorce. None of my schoolfriends have parents who’ve got divorces..." From "Animal Husbandry" by @chriscottom.bsky.social thegoodlifereview.com/2026/08/03/a... Photo by Sandy Millar
I'm learning loads as a reader for @broadripplereview.bsky.social. EIC @kellyschoenegge.bsky.social is brilliant at providing clear, thoughtful, and detailed guidelines; at articulating her vision for BRR; and at encouraging us. It's so useful reading each other’s comments (after posting our own).
Broad Ripple Review@broadripplereview.bsky.social · 3mo agoWe are currently accepting applications for volunteer readers in both fiction and creative nonfiction. You can find more information at: www.broadripplereview.com/joinus
Enjoy this one from the irrepressible @sagreene1.bsky.social
Suzanne (writing as S A Greene)@sagreene1.bsky.social · 2mo agoDelighted to have my orgasm piece shortlisted in the Welkin Joy Genre! Many thanks to judge @chriscottom.bsky.social for choosing it, and huge appreciation to @mattkendrick.bsky.social for the summertime delight that is The Welkin competition!
'We were the only runners in Regency sun-bonnets'. Ha, love this Austen/Adidas mash-up by @sagreene1.bsky.social in @freeflashfiction.bsky.social.
Free Flash Fiction@freeflashfiction.bsky.social · 2mo agoAs Chosen by Judge Emma Phillips @words-outwest.bsky.social FFF Competition Thirty-Four Highly Commended: Pemberley Parkrun by S.A. Greene @sagreene1.bsky.social #writingcompetitions #flashfiction freeflashfiction.com/fiction/comp...
Delighted to see this one out there. Big thanks to @words-outwest.bsky.social for shortlisting my story and to @freeflashfiction.bsky.social for running this brilliant competition.
Free Flash Fiction@freeflashfiction.bsky.social · 3mo agoAs Chosen by Judge Emma Phillips @words-outwest.bsky.social FFF Competition Thirty-Four Shortlisted: Crusader Knights of Carshalton by Chris Cottom chriscottom.wixsite.com/chriscottom @chriscottom.bsky.social #writingcompetitions #flashfiction freeflashfiction.com/fiction/comp...
I'm so thrilled to be in matchbook literary magazine @matchbooklitmag.bsky.social
matchbook literary magazine@matchbooklitmag.bsky.social · 3mo agoA new micro has hit MB! Check out “Annaliese Dreams of Her Long Lost Fiancé and the Night the Hostel Closed Forever” by @chriscottom.bsky.social - www.matchbooklitmag.com/mb/cottom/an...
Delighted to have my 500-word summer holiday story read so beautifully here on Sherry's Shorts (at 18:40 mins in).
Sherry Morris 💙🇺🇦💛@uksherka.bsky.social · 3mo agoWhatever the weather, enjoy the July episode of Sherry's Shorts on hhr.scot, with summer holiday stories by @chriscottom.bsky.social, Phil Baarda & 2 fun tales by humourist @mrallanmiller.bsky.social. Keep cool with the fab summer stories & tunes on Sherry's Shorts! www.mixcloud.com/invernesshr/...
Crikey, that's a lovely surprise.
Delphine Gauthier-Georgakopoulos@delgeo14.bsky.social · 3mo agoLonglisted 🥳 Coleman Bigelow - "Cricket Cake" rawlit.weebly.com/6_12.html Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social - "How You Know Your Father's Heart is in the Military" rawlit.weebly.com/6_11.html Nina Miller @ninamiller.bsky.social - "Alone in an Endless Blue" rawlit.weebly.com/6_1.html
Bring it on, Matt. I'm up for the challenge. Expect a late surge of entries, make it even harder for me, please.
The Welkin Press@welkinpress.bsky.social · 3mo agoI wouldn't want to be @pleomorphic2.bsky.social as picking a winner for the Body Prize is going to be TOUGH 🤩 Ditto the Joy Prize. Poor @chriscottom.bsky.social 😂 The Firefly Prize. I'm currently clinging onto 20 entries & @mynachang.bsky.social has to choose a shortlist of just 4 😬 ...
So thrilled to be in this dream journal. Thank you so much to the awesome MFA students at Temple University for that all-important editorial suggestion (reader, I made the change).
Barrelhouse@barrelhouse.bsky.social · 4mo agoNew online issue is out today!
So thrilled to appear in this dream journal, thank you wonderful editor-people @nffr.bsky.social. Thank you also to the Group 10 word wizards in March Micro Madness @smokelong.bsky.social for their help with this piece.
New Flash Fiction Review (subs closed)@nffr.bsky.social · 4mo ago"At long past bedtime, Mum digs a hole in the border, snips her veil confetti-tiny, entombs the scraps near the bones of our bunnies." Family dynamics, a one-legged Barbie and My Little Pony at play in this wonderful #flash from @chriscottom.bsky.social newflashfiction.com/when-dad-mov...
Hi Kathy. I was introduced to the pantoum by the wonderful @sfreligh.bsky.social and was delighted to have my piece 'Pantoum for the Planet' published in Paperboats Zine. paperboats.org/2025/04/09/p...
Pantoum for the Planet – paperboats
After school I find Mum frying meaty quarter-pounders, like I’ve never told her it’s ozone-irresponsible to fill the world with methane-making cows.
paperboats.org
Kathy Fish@kathyfish.bsky.social · 4mo agoHey friends, have you used poetic forms or devices in your flash fiction? I'm writing about this now and I'd LOVE to include some more published examples. Thanks!
A-wooooooo! @thewoolfofficial.bsky.social is such a cool mag and I’m stoked to be here. Big thanks for their help to the wordsmiths of Group 18 on this year's March Micro Madness at @smokelong.bsky.social
The Woolf (Official)@thewoolfofficial.bsky.social · 5mo agoWhat’s new, fabulous and green all over? Issue 10, featuring @hughbehmsteinberg.bsky.social @kerstenak.bsky.social @chriscottom.bsky.social @judydarley.bsky.social @kdawn999.bsky.social @katherine-glee.bsky.social @mandirapattnaik.bsky.social ...and @megpokrass.bsky.social Enjoy! thewoolfx.com
Delighted to see this one out there, thanks to @everydayfiction.bsky.social. Also thanks to @raecowie.bsky.social for her help with it.
Every Day Fiction@everydayfiction.bsky.social · 5mo agoRead JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE OFFICE • by Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social -- Literary -- #ChrisCottom #CorporatePolicy #megacorporations #OfficeLife https://everydayfiction.com/?p=24205
