So lovely that my story ‘Why We Dance on the Pier’ is @gooseberrypielit.bsky.social’s archive story of the week! Such a blast from the past (more than 2 years ago) when I was still marvelling at the fact we’d moved to live in a seaside town with a beautiful Victorian pier ❤️🌊

Gooseberry Pie Lit Magazine@gooseberrypielit.bsky.social · 6d ago

@gooseberrypielit.bsky.social Story of the Week, from our archives, “Why We Dance On the Pier” by @judydarley.bsky.social published June 6, 2024. gooseberry-pie.com/why-we-dance...

Just popping this here in case you need reminding some things in this world are still beautiful 💜

This is such a powerfully moving, multi-layered story: “The Options' by Elizabeth Cohen via Litro Magazine. www.litromagazine.com/usa/2026/08/...

The Options by Elizabeth Cohen | Short Fiction | Litro

In Elizabeth Cohen’s “The Options”, a woman preparing her nephew’s memorial confronts grief, guilt and a family sheltering in her backyard.

litromagazine.com

On Sat 15 Aug, 6-7pm, I'll read my story 'Sea Debris' at the online launch of 'By morning, the sea had taken it', a new anthology from indie publisher Lemon Jelly Press. Imagine that, an hour of sea-inspired readings 🌊 🩵 How refreshing! Get your free ticket here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/book-launc...

Book Launch: By morning, the sea had taken it

Join us to celebrate the launch of our new anthology, By morning, the sea had taken it.

eventbrite.co.uk

Judy Darley@judydarley.bsky.social · 2mo ago

I'm happy to say my story 'Sea Debris' will appear in an anthology from indie publisher Lemon Jelly Press, titled 'By morning, the sea had taken it.' I'll be reading my story at the online launch on Sat 15 Aug, 6-7pm. Get your free ticket to the event here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/book-launc...

You have just 12 days to enter Clevedon Litfest #FlashFictionAward or #PoetryAward (22 Aug deadline!). @kevlin.bsky.social is co-judge. Here's a #writingprompt Where the Blind Yeo meets the Severn Estuary, this sluice is a curious mix of natural & man-made. www.clevedonlitfest.org.uk/competitions...

I'm happy to say my story 'Sea Debris' will appear in an anthology from indie publisher Lemon Jelly Press, titled 'By morning, the sea had taken it.' I'll be reading my story at the online launch on Sat 15 Aug, 6-7pm. Get your free ticket to the event here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/book-launc...

#Writers! Have you entered Clevedon Litfest's #FlashFiction or #Poetry award yet? You have until 22Aug! I'm #flash judge with @kevlin.bsky.social. Here's a prompt for you. If you'd never seen a pier before, how would you make sense of it? More #writingprompts: www.clevedonlitfest.org.uk/news-dev.php

My perfect travel companion on my way home from London. Thanks @davealcockwrites.bsky.social! #flashfiction #bookjourneys

Writers! Clevedon Litfest's Flash Fiction & Poetry Awards need your words. I'm #Flash judge with @kevlin.bsky.social. Here's a #writingprompt: Near Clevedon’s Poets’ Walk, all seems calm. What happens if you add a storm & high tide? More ideas & entry info: www.clevedonlitfest.org.uk/news-dev.php

My short story ‘Only the Female Mosquito Drinks Blood’ featuring a glimpse of a not-so futuristic hot Scotland is live at Ellipsis Zine 💖☀️🦟 Read the full tale here: www.ellipsis-zine.com/writing/only...

Only the Female Mosquito Drinks Blood by Judy Darley

Flash Fiction: Only the Female Mosquito Drinks Blood

ellipsis-zine.com

Planning to enter Clevedon Litfest Flash Fiction Award (co-judged by @kevlin.bsky.social & me)? Here's a prompt. On a riverbank I spotted countless pupa quietly becoming ladybirds. What if mammals reached adulthood in a similar way? 🐞 More #writingprompts: www.clevedonlitfest.org.uk/news-dev.php

Found the perfect shady spot to start writing up the stories bubbling in my mind thanks to this year's wonderful @flashficfestuk.bsky.social 💚

A taste of my 6-sentence tale in issue 44 of @gooseberrypielit.bsky.social 🙂

Gooseberry Pie Lit Magazine@gooseberrypielit.bsky.social · 3mo ago

“They strode from a red-sanded Devon shore scattered with shards of shells and bones, past fields of goat-like sheep, up a steep hill where they met a stranger with hair like petalled thrift,” @judydarley.bsky.social gooseberry-pie.com/three-strang...

Seeking #creativeideas for Clevedon Litfest Flash Fiction (co-judged by @kevlin.bsky.social & me) or Poetry Award? Here's one. The UK abounds with blue plaques signifying places of note. What details could this plaque expose instead? More #writingprompts: www.clevedonlitfest.org.uk/news-dev.php

Delighted to share that my 6-sentence dark fairytale ‘Three Strangers on a Coastal Path’, inspired by a trip to Dawlish, has been published by the superb @gooseberrypielit.bsky.social. Check out the issue: gooseberry-pie.com/issue-44/

If you’re keen to enter Clevedon LitFest's #FlashFiction or #Poetry Award, but simply haven’t found the right idea, don’t worry. I've shared some curious sights from the coastal town of Clevedon that caught my eye as #writingprompts. www.clevedonlitfest.org.uk/news-dev.php

Fancy some water-inspired stories to cool you down? I often draw inspiration from rain, rivers or oceans. Water never fails to prompt new ideas about human connectivity & what brings us together as well as pushing us apart. judydarley.wordpress.com/2026/06/25/w...

Water-inspired fiction to cool you down

I often draw inspiration from water, whether that’s rain, rivers or oceans. It never fails to prompt new ideas about human connectivity and what brings us together, as well as pushing us apar…

judydarley.wordpress.com

Want to enter Clevedon LitFest’s #flashfictionaward? Here’s the link: www.clevedonlitfest.org.uk/competitions...

2025 Poetry Competitions | Clevedon LitFest CIO

Details of our current writing competitions

clevedonlitfest.org.uk

Judy Darley@judydarley.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Enjoying reading some excellent Clevedon Litfest #flashfiction award entries before it gets too hot! #Writers! Have you entered yet? Co-judge @kevlin.bsky.social & I are eager to read your finest stories under 500 words.

Here's the link to find out how to enter Clevedon LitFest's writing awards: www.clevedonlitfest.org.uk/news-dev.php

Writing prompts from Judy Darley

clevedonlitfest.org.uk

Judy Darley@judydarley.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Enjoying reading some excellent Clevedon Litfest #flashfiction award entries before it gets too hot! #Writers! Have you entered yet? Co-judge @kevlin.bsky.social & I are eager to read your finest stories under 500 words.

Enjoying reading some excellent Clevedon Litfest #flashfiction award entries before it gets too hot! #Writers! Have you entered yet? Co-judge @kevlin.bsky.social & I are eager to read your finest stories under 500 words.

Claire Adam's Booker-longlisted novel 'Love Forms' explores the ripples that shape a life. I'll be interviewing Claire about 'Love Forms' at 5pm on 14 June for Clevedon Litfest. Book here: www.ticketsource.com/clevedon-lit...

My pleasure, Diane (aka @scooterwriter.bsky.social). It was such a pleasure to review 'Bereft of Reason'. I truly wanted to befriend the characters 😍

Diane Simmons@scooterwriter.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Thank you @judydarley.bsky.social for these words: ‘The people Simmons creates breathe life into her stories, each one carrying their own dreams in what’s unsaid. At this novella’s end, I’m certain they walk off the page and continue into their own lives.’ judydarley.wordpress.com/2026/05/27/b...

Looking forward to chatting to author Claire Adam about this beautiful book, Love Forms, for Clevedon Litfest's summer chapter, 5-6pm, Walton Park Hotel on Sunday 14 June. There are so many inspiring events at the fest from 10-14 June. See you there? www.clevedonlitfest.org.uk/summer-festi...

Thank you @judydarley.bsky.social for this lovely review of ‘Bereft of Reason’: judydarley.wordpress.com/2026/05/27/b...

Book review – Bereft of Reason by Diane Simmons

I adore a novella-in-flash. This means of telling a story, in bite-sized flashes each complete in their own telling, has the power to build up momentum in the style of a rollercoaster, until you’re…

judydarley.wordpress.com

So happy to have my story ‘Family Time’, about two sisters living in a clock, published in Issue 27, the beautiful Spring issue from @tinymolecules.bsky.social My characters are in such wonderful company too! www.tinymolecules.com/issues/twent...

twenty-seven — Tiny Molecules

tinymolecules.com

Do you write tiny but impactful tales? Clevedon LitFest's #FlashFiction Award 2026 is open to entries of stories under 500 words. This year, the top prize has increased to £300! Entries close on 22nd August 2026. Full details here: www.clevedonlitfest.org.uk/flash-fictio...

flash fiction writing competition 2026

Information about the 2026 Clevedon Litfest 2026 Flash Fiction Award writing competition including submission guidelines, prizes, judges and deadlines.

clevedonlitfest.org.uk

I'm thrilled to be judging Clevedon LitFest's #FlashFiction Award 2026, with co-judge Kevlin Henney. This year the top prize has increased to £300! Entries close on 22nd August 2026. Full details here: www.clevedonlitfest.org.uk/flash-fictio...

flash fiction writing competition 2026

Information about the 2026 Clevedon Litfest 2026 Flash Fiction Award writing competition including submission guidelines, prizes, judges and deadlines.

clevedonlitfest.org.uk

I've published a new post on my blog, 'In search of quiet miracles'. In it I examine some of the reasons why I write, plus share a #shortstorysuccess and an upcoming opportunity for writers. You can read it (and subscribe if you like) here: judydarley.wordpress.com/2026/04/06/i...

In search of quiet miracles

I’m currently working on a piece of fiction about a person who takes extraordinary risks in pursuit of hope. All the ‘what if’s and ‘maybe this time’s has the character striving and taking act…

judydarley.wordpress.com

Delighted to see my #shortstory A Storm of Horses featured in @epoquepress.bsky.social’s Ritual-themed e-zine 🐴🐴🐴 - a story of complicated families and wild wonders www.epoquepress.com/ezine-ritual...

époque press | ezine | ritual | judy darley

Epoque Press, Independent Publishers

epoquepress.com

@epoquepress.bsky.social · 6mo ago

The ‘Ritual’ themed é-zine edition is now live. Head on over to our website to check out the amazing selection of work we have featured. #shortstories #poetry #spokenword #music #art www.epoquepress.com/ezine

How lovely ☺️ My story “Blue-Naped Parrots See More Than They Say” appears in this amazing anthology, alongside some of my favourite writers 😻Thanks @nffr.bsky.social, who first published the piece, & Michelle Elvy, who nominated my tale. altcurrentpress.com/2025/11/10/b...

Best Small Fictions 2025

Flash, Haibun, Micro, & Hybrid: 110 Pieces by 110 Authors Nominated by Indie Presses Around the World

altcurrentpress.com