Ian Johnson
@youcanandyouwill.bsky.social
Trying (trying, very trying) writer/Dad/runner. Words in @trashcatlit.bsky.social @apricotpress.bsky.social @bloodhoneylit.bsky.social @freeflashfiction.bsky.social etc. 2026 Best of the Net nominee.
I was so pleased to be published by @flashficfestuk.bsky.social in their festival anthology volume eight. It's packed with stellar writers. I just want it to be known that my story has been printed incomplete. For anyone reading the book, my story is missing the final 100 words. 1/2
My melancholic uber short short on nature, disassociation, sprinkle of avarice, maybe? Thanks to my gang @trashcatlit.bsky.social @therelphian.bsky.social
Trash Cat Lit@trashcatlit.bsky.social · last mo.Today we're spotlighting Ian Johnson @youcanandyouwill.bsky.social and his layered micro 🦝 We loved how landscape was used as a character - both nostalgic and raw - in a tiny piece packed with emotion. Reader Leigh said: "hints of things unspoken" Read and listen: trashcatlit.com/the-tragedy-...
Inside the prose and process of Bath Short Story longlistee TM @meanerharker.bsky.social - a unique voice - always feeling, always poetic - very lucky to know her!
Trash Cat Lit@trashcatlit.bsky.social · last mo.It's Friday and sweltering in the bin, here's a cool spotlight from Zoe Davis @meanerharker.bsky.social and a delicious side of Q&A 🦝 We loved how this relatable conversation and homespun setting was made palpably emotional with vivid turns of phrase. trashcatlit.com/roots-grippi... 1/2
A blumin' longlisting today for this trier, the Bath Short Story Award, no less. Stunned, thrilled, delighted! Congrats and best of luck to all, particularly my writing bud @meanerharker.bsky.social @bathshortstory.bsky.social www.bathshortstoryaward.org/2026/07/07/l...
Longlist BSSA 2026
Many congratulations to the writers longlisted in our 2026 Award and big thanks to all those from around the world who entered. We receive many similar titles among our entries. If your story is on…
bathshortstoryaward.org
Some absolute leafy lushness within (completed it, mate). Here is my short short offering, written 10 years ago on holiday in the New Forest. Did not imagine it would appear in, errr, TRIPLE Wigleaf longlisted @trashcatlit.bsky.social. Hope sprouts eternal - trashcatlit.com/the-tragedy-...
The Tragedy of the Commons
Ian Johnson Listen to Ian read his story It really is the greenest place I’ve ever seen, like, Jaysus wept, and sloshed a mealy trench, a pauper’s plate – emerald/olive/pea, for pasture and p…
trashcatlit.com
Trash Cat Lit@trashcatlit.bsky.social · last mo.It's HEEEEEERE - our sixth seasonal issue for Summer 🦝 Twelve marvellous short fictions bringing plantife to the bin 🌳 Grab a cuppa tea or a frothy whatchamacallit and get stuck into these treasures. trashcatlit.com/general-issu...
We are utterly chuffed to find out that TWO Trash Cat Lit published pieces (out of 119 in 2025) made the Wigleaf Top 50 Longlist 🦝🦝 MASSIVE congratulations to Fiona @fionamckay.bsky.social and Delphine @delgeo14.bsky.social 💜 Links to their Wigleaf-worthy stories in comments 🌟 1/3
Staggered and grateful to be in this gorgeous publication amongst so many talented writers and artists with my wee poem. www.abridged.zone/andre-souza-...
Abridged@abridgedmagazine.bsky.social · 2mo agoWe're pleased to present Abridged 0 - 110: Parallax. Read it for free at www.abridged.zone/abridged-0-1... The print edition will be available in Libraries throughout N. Ireland and at the usual places soon. We'll see you in Void Gallery in Derry on Saturday night from 6pm! Image by Marisol Mendez.
As well as the genuine community (sub opportunities, beta reads, endless support) @trashcatlit.bsky.social and the unbelievable @therelphian.bsky.social provides writers... this as well?! Are we paying for this?! Is heaven missing an angel?! Who else is doing this?! Get involved ASAP!!!
Trash Cat Lit@trashcatlit.bsky.social · 2mo agoDid you know we have a Trash Cat Bookfinder. A stack of hold-in-your-hand reads by/featuring Trash Family. If you love their stories on TCL, here's how you get more 🦝 trashcatlit.com/trash-family... 1/2
We have three more days of teasers for our summer issue, coming 1st July 🦝 Ian Johnson @youcanandyouwill.bsky.social packs his micro with vivid landscape, nostalgia and regret Carlotta Dale @carlottadale.bsky.social blends LA realism with fantasy as her MC becomes curious about a neighbour's tree
Back in the bin, my happy place! Looking forward to reading green business from friends old and new!
Trash Cat Lit@trashcatlit.bsky.social · 2mo agoHere They Be! 🦝 The twelve contributors to our Kingdom of Plantae issue 🌳 We'll tease their wonderful stories in the coming days - then launch the issue on July 1st. Clara Cooke @lucimcummings.bsky.social @carlottadale.bsky.social @meanerharker.bsky.social @chrisdotydunn.com... 1/2
...Ian Johnson’s “American Sllop” rewrites the Old West to pollute that era with forgeries and duplications more perverse than any you’ll find on a modern-day feed. www.3ammagazine.com/3am/american...
American Sllop – 3:AM Magazine
I. In which Dr. Hawthorne comes to town ~ The snakeskin wagon that caused such bluster in the broadsheets from Oregon to Illinois kicked dust over the saloon steps. The menfolk—wranglers, drunks, mali...
3ammagazine.com
It's our penultimate trio of treasures from our 2025 print anthology - now free to read online 🦝 In Happy Birthday, You Geriatric POS Ian Johnson @youcanandyouwill.bsky.social uses humour, absurdity and excellent voice to tell a layered story of family trashcatlit.com/read-what-co... 1/3
Some dusty Americana from me, back in the brilliant @mrbullbull.bsky.social (thanks to equally brilliant @thedrevlow.bsky.social). Early Springsteen meets Making a Murderer. Home is where the hurt is🐔
MrBullBull@mrbullbull.bsky.social · 2mo ago"She & Peewee were a meeting of vacant minds & serpent spines. I was there when Peewee skewered his testicles in junior high, breaking into the junkyard, so spawn seemed unlikely. Small mercies." - Ian Johnson mrbullbull.com/newbull/fict...
Yay! First time amongst this fine, flashy deluge with a genuine good boy #nffd2026
National Flash Fiction Day@natflashfictionday.bsky.social · 2mo agoFlashFlood: 'Good Dog Above' by Ian Johnson #nffd2026
A week left on Summer subs for your stories celebrating the Kingdom of Plantae 💚 Here's what Guest Reader, Leigh @mrlovelyday.bsky.social would love to see in the binbox. Think of those spaces less commonly considered, and how genre can influence everything 🦝 trashcatlit.com/summer-mood/
If you're considering subbing to our Summer call - please remember, we want stories about plant-life in all its forms. The Kingdom of Plantae being celebrated. Do check out our Mood Board to see what we mean. We'll also have prompts popping up here 💚 trashcatlit.com/summer-mood/
Summer Mood
We are wheeling out our green bin for this summer general submission call. Stories do not have to be set in summer – but they do have to be GREEN in some way, embracing the phyto-world. We ar…
trashcatlit.com
Really honoured to feature in Moonflake Press' treasured anthology with a wee poem I'm quite chuffed with. Lots of heartfelt, sparkly stuff within. moonflakepress.com/treasured
So chuffed to have this available to share digitally - the first piece I ever had in print! Terrific stories within. Mine starts with a cryptic crossword and descends from there. Any clues? Read on...
Trash Cat Lit@trashcatlit.bsky.social · 2mo agoWe're excited to now offer the chance to read all the stories from our charity print anthology free online 🦝 Meet the contributors and read What Comes to Light here: trashcatlit.com/read-what-co... You can still help The Wildlife Trusts by buying a paperback - via link on the page 🦊
Get in the bin! Make it green, make it short!
Trash Cat Lit@trashcatlit.bsky.social · 2mo agoWe're counting down folksies - tomorrow at 9am (BST) we open for summer subs. Flash 100-750, Shorts up to 2000 GREEN theme - landscape, ecology, plantlife etc. 🌳 trashcatlit.com/summer-mood/ Guidelines and sub form available here: trashcatlit.com/general-subm...
One of our lovely Trash Family have started their own lit mag. Pam's an excellent writer and will be a cracking editor. Get on it to be part of the inaugural issue 🌻
Pam Avoledo@pamavoledo.bsky.social · 3mo agoLong drives have inspired me to create over the years. With Silver Canyon Review, my literary journal, I hope to see the stories from the missed turns and the backroads. Submissions are open now. silvercanyonreview.com
Our last spotlight from the stellar Prompted Stories issue is from guest reader, Ian Johnson @youcanandyouwill.bsky.social 🦝 We loved how immersive, tense and visceral this flash was, with raw snappy sentences driving the emotion. A fab use of prompts. Read here: trashcatlit.com/a-shimmer-on...
Brilliant stuff from endlessly talented @meanerharker.bsky.social - check these out
Villain Era 🖤🔪@villaineralit.bsky.social · 3mo agoZoë Davis can't believe you didn't know about this--the banana Yazoo, the condom, and the girl who never called her a slag again, today at Villain Era! 🖤🔪
Today's Prompted Story spotlight is from Zoe Davis @meanerharker.bsky.social🦝 We loved the angst in this young MC, the real-world challenges of his "gift". It's gritty and sassy and we loved the way the nemesis was transformed in the story. Read and listen here: trashcatlit.com/southend-fal...
Hey, you, our gorgeous 27-story print anthology is at a bargainous prices for May. Help the wildlife of Britain and get a copy here: mybook.to/WhatComesToL... 🦌🦡🦊🦉🦋 work by @bronwengriffiths.bsky.social @terryholland.bsky.social @clareobrien.bsky.social @quickasaflash.bsky.social and more
Some lovely things in here, and a fleeting one about how my hometown would be improved by the addition of dragons if you're so inclined.
The Hoolet’s Nook@thehooletsnook.bsky.social · 3mo agoIssue #4 is now live! A heartfelt thank you to all our wonderful contributors for trusting us with their work and helping bring this issue to life. We’re grateful these poems and stories found their way to THN. www.thehooletsnook.com/current-issue 💫🙏🦉🌸🌿 #microfiction #shortpoetry #amreading
So pleased this is out, and even more pleased it's in it's natural home at @literarygarage.bsky.social - love 'em. Tides, expectations, and physics... where the waves take us.
Literary Garage@literarygarage.bsky.social · 3mo agoHis brother saved him. Dragged him out of foster care. Worked bars, broke bones, paid for school, called every Thursday without fail. Then one day, the calls stopped. A bruised, beautiful story from @youcanandyouwill.bsky.social at the Garage: literarygarage.com/where-the-wa...
Beautiful piece by the great @therelphian.bsky.social micromancemagazine.substack.com/p/a-love-tha...
A Love That May Take Five-Hundred Years to Fade
By JP Relph
micromancemagazine.substack.com
JP Relph - TWO NEW COLLECTIONS OUT@therelphian.bsky.social · 3mo agoLovely to see my flash popping up for Women’s Fiction Wednesday over at Micromance Magazine💕 Give my version of a love story for the ages a read of you have a few minutes. Don’t worry, it’s not zombies… micromancemagazine.substack.com/p/a-love-that-…
My first Villain Era outing (thanks @charlesjensen.bsky.social) - demons, ennui, and workplace grievances. See you in hell?
Villain Era 🖤🔪@villaineralit.bsky.social · 3mo agoBetween losing the joy of inflicting pain in Hell or working for the boss's nepobaby, Nchulu's in a bit of a professional slump in Ian Johnson's story. Until she walks in, today at Villain Era! 🖤🔪
Our Prompted Stories spotlight of the day is from @pj-mccarthy.bsky.social 🦝 We loved how this relatable human truth story was made fantastical and scary with the excellent child POV. Our reader, Ian said it is "propulsive and stylish". Read here: trashcatlit.com/a-matter-of-...
