As well as spotlighting @joycebingham.bsky.social's stories today, we also have the Q&A she did with Trash Cat. Get informed and inspired trashcatlit.com/2026/09/16/q...

Q & A with Joyce Bingham

My writing mojo is cyclic, so I’m used to having days when new writing just doesn’t happen, I try to relax into it. I edit if I have something written. Otherwise, I go and potter in the garden or t…

trashcatlit.com

So AI models are basically teens then. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

AI models chatting in ‘surreal’ dialect mixing poetic language and tech bro jargon

Experts air concern over AI lingo redolent of James Joyce’s prose that is creating headaches for monitoring and oversight

theguardian.com

FFS US confirms for first time it has deployed weapons in space www.theguardian.com/science/2026...

US confirms for first time it has deployed weapons in space

Analysts warn of an acceleration in high-risk arms race with Russia and China in Earth’s orbit

theguardian.com

Discovering that Helena Bonham Carter guest-starred in Miami Vice has been the best moment of my week so far... youtu.be/_rdoyvvHDa8?...

Miami Vice - Spotlight: Helena Bonham Carter | NBC Classics

YouTube video by NBC Classics

youtu.be

We're thrilled to reveal the contributor line up for our very first prose poetry issue 🦝 Look out for this 20-piece issue on 28th September, it's a beaut 💜 @madeleinewrite.bsky.social Moira Ashley, Lavanya Arora, Polly Conway, @sandrinado.bsky.social @bronwengriffiths.bsky.social Rachel Jones 1/2

([length of my life in years] - 1) = 1 x phone call with my mother #AdultChildMaths

Hard to care about cleaning the kitchen for a parent's impending annual visit when your nihilist tendencies are being exacerbated by the news. Hey ho. #EndTimes

Our prose poem submissions close at 8pm tonight (BST). Don't delay if you want us to help celebrate tenacity and difference in honour of the adorable trash cat, #Jimothy trashcatlit.com/call-for-pro...

Call for Prose Poems

Jimothy, the Seattle trash cat with short spine syndrome, has taken the internet by storm. We obviously love how adorable he is with his squished-up body and cheeky scamper, but also how incredibly…

trashcatlit.com

Love this.

Trash Cat Lit@trashcatlit.bsky.social · 2w ago

Today's contributor spotlight is for @keithwoodruff.bsky.social and his beautiful character, Cow🦝 We loved the emotional heft that came from this two-character piece, how tender and unexpected it was given the prompts, and the note of hope at the end. Read trashcatlit.com/the-light-is... 1/2

Last chance to join! We are super excited for a generative workshop with the amazing @emanabdelhadi.bsky.social as part of the Writing as Resistance Festival. What worlds are we writing into existence, and what are the milestones along the way? Book here writershq.co.uk/whq-event/sp...

Sub for Jimothy! (Also sub if you want to join a really supportive community of writers.)

Trash Cat Lit@trashcatlit.bsky.social · 2w ago

There are now just four days left on our inaugural prose poem call 🦝 Send us your lyrical littles, your metaphor driven micros, your poetically seasoned prose... Theme is a celebration of tenacity and difference, of thriving and hope, for Jimothy 💜 trashcatlit.com/call-for-pro...

Was writing into the wee hours, and again all today. Fantastic sense of achievement, but this is the current view from my mirror: #AmWriting

Cartoon Cat Confused, Scratches Head

Alt: Tom the grey cartoon cat, taping his eyes open to stay awake.

static.klipy.com

Today we are spotlighting @amberken.bsky.social and her fab speculative flash 🦝 We loved how the worry of a pregnant mother bleeds into this wonderfully non-techy story of time travel. Reader @leighloveday.bsky.social said: Inventive, intelligent and empathetic. trashcatlit.com/time-space-a...

Our prose poetry call is open until the 10th. Some ideas that fit the theme of tenacity and difference... A plant surviving in a hostile environment 🌱 A spider whose web is repeatedly broken 🕸️ A street dog helps a lost child get home 🐕 trashcatlit.com/call-for-pro...

Call for Prose Poems

Jimothy, the Seattle trash cat with short spine syndrome, has taken the internet by storm. We obviously love how adorable he is with his squished-up body and cheeky scamper, but also how incredibly…

trashcatlit.com

For the night folks and our International readers 🙂

Trash Cat Lit@trashcatlit.bsky.social · 3w ago

Our Autumn Prompted Story issue is LIVE! 🦝 13 flash fiction written to blind-chosen prompts. Grab a cuppa and snacks, sit back and immerse yourself in the imagination and creativity of our 12 contributors 💜 trashcatlit.com/prompted-sto... @joycebingham.bsky.social @jessebinger.bsky.social 1/2

The only way is up. Or down. Or middling. #Wednesday

Our new submission call is now OPEN! 🦝 Prose poetry up to 300 words. Any genre. Celebrating tenacity and difference 💜 Visit our sub page for guidelines, inspo and sub link trashcatlit.com/call-for-pro... Deadline: 10th September, 8pm (BST)

Very pleased to be a finalist! Thanks for @lumchanmfa.bsky.social and to @fracturedlit.bsky.social . I can't wait to read the winners! fracturedlit.com/ghost-fable-...

Always fun. Always a good read. I can't wait!

National Flash Fiction Day@natflashfictionday.bsky.social · 3w ago

Save the date! The next NFFD will be Saturday 12 June! Exciting things being planned!

Last chance to book! An online generative workshop with @dreenawriting.co.uk, and the first workshop of the Writing as Resistance Festival. writershq.co.uk/whq-event/hi...

This year's Writing as Resistance Festival is inspired by @mollycrabapple.bsky.social's Here Where We Live Is Our Country, and the idea of 'hereness'. Head to the blog to find out more writershq.co.uk/about-the-th...

Open for submissions of fiction with a word count of between 100-500 words. We want the odds socks that rock. Things that make you go hmmm. The shyly anarchic, the wisdom of fools, the absurd heartbreakers. www.neitherfishnorfoul.com/submissions

It's now just one week until our evening of readings 🦝 Come along and listen to eleven wonderful stories celebrating treasure in unexpected places. Register for a slot at this Zoom event via link on our Home page trashcatlit.com 1/2

Meta has prevented WHQ from advertising this. If you want to participate in some cool writing stuff and eff Meta at the same time, check this out! (Also pls repost, thx) #Writing #WritingWorkshops

Writers’ HQ@writershq.bsky.social · last mo.

Gang, we are SO excited about this year's Writing as Resistance Festival. It's the most meaningful festival we've put together yet and, well, squeeee! More on why we picked this theme to come, but in the meantime, here's this: writershq.co.uk/festivals-ch...

I'm fully "enjoying" the thought of having nothing to eat, while our beds are on fire, and this lot are sitting in their air conditioned bunkers having a glass of English plonk. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Reform’s Tice says people should stop fighting climate crisis and ‘enjoy’ heat

Deputy leader says it is ‘arrogant’ to try to halt global heating, despite UK being left reeling by summer firewave

theguardian.com

The Kindle copy of our 2026 anthology ‘Mudlarking’ is only £2.99. If you enjoy NFFD please consider buying a copy to support us. It’s full of imaginative flash on the theme of Bridges & it also contains our winning micros! www.amazon.co.uk/Mudlarking-N...

Not that this will help, but worth a try. Having experienced creepy white men appearing to get away with all sorts* during my time working at Oxford, the press response to this was disproportionate at best (I'm under no illusion that best was intended). *Often as an "open secret"

Jess O'Thomson@jessothomson.co.uk · last mo.

We are writing to the Prime Minister, and the Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, calling for an immediate public inquiry into the British press, following the tragic death of Jason Arday. Sign here 👇

Want to hear some great flash and meet some lovely writers from the comfort of your own home? 👇👇👇👇

Trash Cat Lit@trashcatlit.bsky.social · last mo.

We published our first paperback anthology in 2025 to raise funds for The Wildlife Trusts. The book is also available to read free on our website. On the 29th of August, we're hosting an evening of readings from the anthology via Zoom and would love to have you join us 🦝 1/2

We’re inviting feature pitches for the December edition of Mslexia. We publish features in three categories: CRAFT, CAREER and CREATIVITY.

Not only would I not care if AI vanished overnight, I wouldn't even NOTICE.

Charlie Stross@cstross.bsky.social · 2mo ago

My answer is LOL ROFL (dickbrain) The terminally AI-pilled can't even *imagine* some people have *never* asked stochastic parrots to cheat at their job for them.