Jo Gatford
@jmgatford.bsky.social
Write-abouter | editor | scriptwriter | fiction all over the shop | Shakespeare nerd | writing thoughts & workshops @ The Joy of Fixion https://www.jogatford.com https://fixioning.substack.com
Tomorrowwww! Join me for an hour of music loving story writing…
Jo Gatford@jmgatford.bsky.social · last wk.Less than one week until my next story generating workshop full of music-inspired exercises, techniques, and a specially curated writing playlist… The Story in a Song — Weds 30 Sept 7pm (UK) www.jogatford.com/workshops-co... (P.S. The session will also be recorded if you can’t make it live)
So so so excited for this!
bathflashaward.bsky.social@bathflashaward.bsky.social · 7d agoOne week and one day till our 34th Award ends on Sunday Oct 4th at midnight GMT. £1460 prize fund. Double and triple entries reduced. Results out by end of Oct. Judge award winning writer & teacher @jmgatford.bsky.social Bathflashfictionaward.com/enter
Less than one week until my next story generating workshop full of music-inspired exercises, techniques, and a specially curated writing playlist… The Story in a Song — Weds 30 Sept 7pm (UK) www.jogatford.com/workshops-co... (P.S. The session will also be recorded if you can’t make it live)
Hey writers — if you want to write a thing but can't get started on the thing because you don't know what the thing is supposed to look like and/or the 5-act structure makes you want to stab things then you should do my thing instead: www.jogatford.com/has-it-got-l... Starts 12 Oct
Has It Got Legs? A 4-Week Story Outlining Course — JO GATFORD
Has It Got Legs is a story outlining programme for anyone who's sick of traditional, formulaic plotting techniques (hey there, neurodivergent writers!). Explore the possibilities of your narrative w...
jogatford.com
Stayed up too late last night writing about sentient goo and got jumpscared by the dog appearing out of nowhere in full STALK mode.
How do you get a reader to really *feel* what’s going on in a scene / your character’s head / the world of your story? Specificity. Authenticity. And just a smidge of the unexpected when it comes to sensory detail. fixioning.substack.com/p/fill-up-yo...
Fill Up Your Senses
Six 'Story in a Song' Writing Prompts
fixioning.substack.com
I know for a fact (cos I'm lucky enough to have already read it!) this is going to be a stellar book by an extremely talented writer (and all round lovely human). Can't wait.
Kathryn Aldridge-Morris@kazbarwrites.bsky.social · 2w agoBeen sitting on this news for months but can spill at last!! My literary memoir TONGUE TIDE will be published by Verve Books! 🥳I honestly could not be happier right now - they are the absolute perfect publisher for my story. Grateful to my amazing agent Abi Fellows for getting this deal! 🤩
Thanks to the ever-wonderful @uncertainstories.com for this Q&A about my story, Perfect Circle: www.uncertainstories.com/inside-stori...
My “Rescue the Draft” workshop is happening this week — Thurs 17th Sept @ 7pm (BST) — bring along your jankiest story and let’s see if we can’t do a little emergency surgery… www.litromagazine.com/masterclasse...
"First Photograph of the Moon — John William Draper, 1840" by @jmgatford.bsky.social www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...
First Photograph of the Moon — John William Draper, 1840 | MattKendrick.co.uk
mattkendrick.co.uk
Over the freakin *moon* for this (and no I will NOT be apologising for the pun). Thank you so much, Matt!
The Welkin Press@welkinpress.bsky.social · last mo.Announcing the WelkinPress Best Small Fiction nominations for 2026: @gilloshaughnessy.bsky.social @thisisguan.bsky.social @jmgatford.bsky.social @melissafitz.bsky.social @authorgreene.bsky.social Links to their brilliant pieces below 👇
Hey writerfolk! Some new workshops coming up if you need an autumnal kick in the ol’ inspiration… 📕 Stuck on a story draft? 📗 Looking for some generative writing prompts & exercises? 📙 Want to hone your craft with descriptive techniques? 📘 Need help plotting out a new idea? Gotcha covered 👇
Hey writers, my lil fortnightly "In the Writing Trenches" online hangout is tonight at 6.30pm BST if you fancy chatting about your WIP wth a bunch of truly lovely writerly folk: luma.com/fixioning
The Joy of Fixion Workshops & Hangouts · Events Calendar
View and follow events from The Joy of Fixion Workshops & Hangouts on Luma. Workshops and hangouts for creatives who want to find their flow, follow the joy, and 'fix' their fiction.
luma.com
Flash fiction hive mind, may I crowdsource your brain please? What's your favourite hermit crab story (or an example you think makes particularly clever use of the form)?
If a draft isn’t working, don’t rewrite it yet. Instead, write down these three things: #1: What does the main character want? (Try to differentiate between the surface level, immediate stuff and get down to their deep desires and unconscious wishes. And think about *why* they want this thing...)
So, so excited to be judging the next @bathflashaward.bsky.social (deadline 4 Oct). I want to read your flashes! www.bathflashfictionaward.com/2026/08/q-a-...
Q & A with Jo Gatford, Judge 34th Award
Jo Gatford is an award-winning writer, editor and mentor. Her short fiction has been selected for the Wigleaf Top 50, Best Small Fictions, Best Microfictions, and published in 70+ anthologies and l…
bathflashfictionaward.com
Love "the same smallsome girl" and that last line and just ALL this sumptuous language.
The Welkin Press@welkinpress.bsky.social · 2mo ago🫀🫁🦴 WINNER of the Body Prize, "Dear Walt Whitman" by @sarahillswrites.bsky.social A lyrical, emotionally taut gem of a micro in epistolary form: www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...
Yes, yes, yes, more joy in flash! Especially like this.
The Welkin Press@welkinpress.bsky.social · 2mo ago🌻🌈😀 WINNER of the Joy Prize, "Spring, Seven Years Later" by Amy Luxton Such a beautifully-crafted and evocative scene the swells towards a wonderful realisation of happiness: www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...
Producing a lit mag of such consistent high quality (& with such enthusiasm) is a huge feat of literary love. Not to mention creating a platform for so many fantastic books over the past few years. Thank YOU for publishing The Woman's Part and putting so much into the lit community.
Stanchion@stanchion.bsky.social · 2mo agoOfficially announcing the end of Stanchion Magazine, providing context as to why, answering some questions, and saying thank you. 🖤🤍 www.stanchionzine.com/post/the-end...
This month's #FromTheCoursesMouth features brilliant-sounding things from @stillsquirrel.bsky.social @jmgatford.bsky.social @smokelong.bsky.social @rgvaughan.bsky.social @bendinggenres.bsky.social @sagetyrtle.bsky.social @marthawrites.bsky.social: fromthecoursesmouth.substack.com/p/august-sep...
August / September 26: Upcoming courses, workshops & events
Here’s what’s coming up from your your friendly neighbourhood freelancers, lit mags and awesome independents over the next couple of months.
fromthecoursesmouth.substack.com
Poets (and scientists) love the moon, but how does the moon feel about it? Delighted to have my weird little micro on the @welkinpress.bsky.social shortlist! 🌒📸
The Welkin Press@welkinpress.bsky.social · 2mo agoShortlisted in the History Prize, "First Photograph of the Moon — John William Draper, 1840" by @jmgatford.bsky.social www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...
Who’s in the work-in-progress trenches right now? Need a little camaraderie? A good ol’ angsty vent? A kick up the motivational butt? Come along to my fortnightly hangout on Weds 29th July, 6pm (BST) to shoot the writing shit with a handful of lovely writers: www.jogatford.com/workshops-co...
Last call for today’s workshop! Gonna be closing up bookings an about an hour…
Jo Gatford@jmgatford.bsky.social · 3mo agoFeeling a bit creatively meh? I have a workshop for you! Unfuck Your Writing — a practical breakdown of how to unlearn stagnant writing habits, follow your creative instincts, and reclaim your flow. Tues 25 July, 2pm BST (replay available): www.jogatford.com/workshops-co...
Heyyyyy my Unfuck Your Writing workshop (AKA “The Great Unfuckening”) is happening TOMORROW, Saturday 25th July at 2pm (BST). Be there or stay fucked, I guess? 🤷♀️ www.jogatford.com/workshops-co...
This is me tromping through the woods talking to myself because I’m running my UNFUCK YOUR WRITING workshop on Saturday and apparently the algorithm demands face-based content 🤪 🤡 🤦♀️ So if you’re feeling creatively stuck or meh or arg, come and get unfucked with me: www.jogatford.com/workshops-co...
P.S. If you book a place and still want to be entered into the prize draw I will refund you if you win!
Jo Gatford@jmgatford.bsky.social · 3mo agoHey folks, I’m giving away one free place on my Month of Stories course in August for a writer on a low income (or otherwise couldn’t afford the full shebang). Click below to enter your details and I’ll pick a winner at random on 27th July! www.jogatford.com/workshops-co...
OOooohhh! I have a micro on the shortlist! And am deeply in love with a whole load of those story titles... Can't wait to read 'em all. Thanks, lovely @welkinpress.bsky.social readers and judges!
The Welkin Press@welkinpress.bsky.social · 2mo agoAnnouncing the brilliant shortlists for this year's Welkin Genre Prize. Congratulations to the writers of these wonderful pieces. If you're on the list, please feel free to celebrate wildly, but don't say which title is yours as judging is still ongoing: www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-press...
