Mike Fox
@polyscribe70.bsky.social
Short story writer, delinquent poetry reader. Ballerini Book Press, Fictive Dream, The Lonely Press, Confingo, Fragmented Voices, Structo, Nightjar Press, Salt Publishing, Exacting Clam polyscribe.co.uk
Sorry for the quietness. Just finessing my forthcoming novella A Space for Opportunity - a rock band doing their first tour circa 1971, just at the time I started going to gigs. By far the longest thing I've ever written. Unis, Polys, social secretaries, Bunjies, The Marquee, even valve amps...
This is based on truth (my baby gnawing his feet) and I consider it Creative Nonfiction.
hex@hexliterary.bsky.social · yesterday"The baby is chewing her fingers." I don't want to spoil too much of this one. The deliriums of parenthood. An absurd, delightful nightmare. You don't want to miss this phenomenally weird tale. It's such a pleasure to have @seanbirnie.bsky.social back in hex this week with Ouroborobaby!
LAST FEW copies remaining of my @nightjarpress.bsky.social story 'Removals'. Get it while you can! nightjarpress.weebly.com/removals.html
Removals
Removals Ian Critchley Author bio Cover photograph: Nicholas Royle ISBN 978-1-907341-89-2 Publication date: January 2024
nightjarpress.weebly.com
Ian Critchley@iancritchley.bsky.social · 3y agoDelighted to say my short story chapbook 'Removals' is now available to buy from the Nightjar Press website, alongside a new story by Alison Moore. Such a thrill to be part of this brilliant series of stories nightjarpress.weebly.com
We're open for submissions of contemporary #shortstories #flashfiction #submissionsopen #callforsubmissions. Please click on the link below for our guidelines. We look forward to reading your words.
Submission Guidelines
We publish short stories, including translations, of up to 2,500 words that have not previously appeared elsewhere, either in print or online (including your own blog and social media). We offer th…
fictivedream.com
Today’s lunchtime read in the shrub behind the industrial wasteland. One I’ve been meaning to get to for a while!
I'm going to use this as an excuse to re-up my own little Medieval-ish Welsh-ish Odyssey-ish story www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 4 - Short Works, A Whole Giant's Daughter Quest Thing by Jo Lloyd
An original short work for radio by Jo Lloyd. Read by Alexander Vlahos.
bbc.co.uk
Rhys Kaminski-Jones@rhyskamjones.bsky.social · last wk.Intro card to Nolan's Odyssey: "In an age of apparent magic" Intro card to the ideal medieval Welsh/Irish adaptation: "Look, this is going to get really weird, deal with it"
'Still days away from Bonfire Night, with a gull’s lament a rocket lances the starless night, explodes, and dies' - Made my Sunday to come upon this gripping new story by @jtstories.bsky.social. A telling image in almost every line.
Fictive Dream@fictivedream.bsky.social · 2w ago"The house is going nicely by now, smoke billowing and flames fingering the windows." Forensics Of Fire by Jim Toal @jtstories.bsky.social #shortstory #readingcommunity #writingcommunity. Please follow the link below and enjoy fictivedream.com/2026/07/26/f...
The current issue, published in June this year, is No 161. There are now thousands of review-essays available on our archive, all on totally free access. Over the next few weeks we will publish links to some of the most outstanding of these, starting with a few of our most frequent contributors.
Thanks so much to @scturnerfiction.bsky.social, a writer I admire greatly, for this lovely endorsement. Really made my evening!
Sarah Turner@scturnerfiction.bsky.social · 2w agoI’m reading and absolutely loving Mike Fox @polyscribe70.bsky.social’s short-story collection, Blurred Edges. A lot of the stories are new to me, but there are old favourites too, and all share the deep psychological insight and elegance of prose I’ve come to associate with his work. 💙📚 #BookSky
When I returned to writing stories some thirteen years ago I never dreamt they might gain a review like this. Profound thanks to @livimichael.bsky.social for her time and generosity.
Livi Michael@livimichael.bsky.social · 2w agoMy review of this excellent collection: ensfr.univ-angers.fr/2026/07/21/m... @polyscribe70.bsky.social
This month's #Mondettes have been picked by Laura Black @fictivedream.bsky.social - wonderful to mark 10 years of FD in this way. ⚡Ten wonderful flash fictions 🔍Ten splashes of analysis 🪴Three fantastic prompts to get you writing mondettes.substack.com/p/july-2026
July 2026
Ten stories picked by Laura Black at Fictive Dream
mondettes.substack.com
W.S. Graham reading 'The Nightfishing' on BBC Third Programme, original broadcast in 1952. Via the treasure trove that is @thepoetryarchive.bsky.social. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALe8...
Poetry Archive and the BBC - W S Graham - 'The Nightfishing'
YouTube video by Poetry Archive
youtube.com
Re-editing my first story (which did actually win a prize, though the judge quite correctly said it was over-written). It's like working with another writer's prose.
Hi guys, Edinburgh flat wanted if anyone has any ideas? V difficult as it's the Fringe. My son is starting his internal medicine 3 year training in August and needs s'thing asap. Please share. 🙏 #Edinburgh #flat #wanted #tolet #flatwanted #accommodation #accommodationwanted
Please take time to read this luminous story by @tomvowler.bsky.social. How open-mindedness, and the willingness to innovate, can lead to healing and the evolution of human understanding.
The Lonely Crowd@thelonelycrowd.bsky.social · 3w ago‘The participant seemed alone now and, I sensed, having escaped the exchanges of fire, found himself in a village of some kind, the centre of which was made up of a series of mud-huts…’ Don’t miss @tomvowler.bsky.social’s powerful #shortstoryofthemonth thelonelycrowd.org/2026/07/12/s...
thelonelycrowd.org/2026/07/12/s...
Short Story of the Month, July: ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ by Tom Vowler
Letter from Dr Albert Hofmann to Ernst Jünger Bottmingen, Switzerland – 16th September 1943 My dear Herr Jünger, I recently read your novel Heliopolis and as ever your writing goes be…
thelonelycrowd.org
“Do you think you’re going to get over this period of your life, because I find it awfully depressing?” #BookSky 💙📚 jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/07/07/t...
This afternoon, I read an essay by Liadan Ní Chuinn (Tolka) that referred to this one in Harper's. Really liked both. harpers.org/archive/2025...
The Tune of Things, by Christian Wiman
Is consciousness God?
harpers.org
This is the profile linked to The Process of Poetry. You can claim it where it says 'is this you?' www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Rosanna McGlone
Author of The Process of Poetry and Orton Collection 2021
goodreads.com
Having badmouthed Goodreads website, their support team have been very helpful in adding my latest books. If anyone has a kind impulse to review one, here they are: www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Mike Fox
Author of Blurred Edges
goodreads.com
Has there ever been a more dysfunctional website than Goodreads? I have reviewed many books there, but it resolutely obstructs me from adding my own. Links that should enlighten fail to do so. Is this where authors lose their final shred of hope? (suspect I'm asking on behalf of many).
New story alert 🚨 Posted this late last night. Started as an experiment in second-person address that eventually turned into a story. Thanks for reading!
Kieran Wyatt@kieranstories.bsky.social · last mo.15. A Short Introduction to Block Time kieranstorieswriter.wordpress.com/2026/07/01/o...
Very meaningful to have this endorsement from a writer I admire so much. Thank you @livimichael.bsky.social!
Livi Michael@livimichael.bsky.social · last mo.Wonderful. 'A place where water became land and land became water...' @polyscribe70.bsky.social
Once Upon a Time… 5 modern fairy tales each eve 22.45 @BBCRadio4 We start with @davidjalmond.bsky.social reimagining The Little Mermaid on Holy Island. Magical new stories by @jolloyds.bsky.social @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social Ben Okri & Katherine Rundell www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 4 - Once Upon a Time..., Mermaid by David Almond
David Almond reimagines The Little Mermaid on Holy Island.
bbc.co.uk
'A lifetime is embedded; it does not float free, it is tethered - to certain decades, to places, to people.' The brilliant Penelope Lively, from Ammonites and Leaping Fish.
"Just this minute finished On the Outside of Everything. Absolutely brilliant: 'Suddenly he looked profoundly tired.' A++" First review of my new collection. ballerinibookpress.ch/blurred-edge...
Ballerini Book PressSlender. Never Spineless.Blurred Edges by Mike Fox
We are delighted to announce the release of Blurred Edges, a short story collection, on June 5th 2026 Announcing the official release of BLURRED EDGES by Mike Fox “Mike Fox is a masterful sho…
ballerinibookpress.ch
'‘Dad?’ she said, as if he could possibly give her an answer' Beautiful, moving story from @kerryhp.bsky.social. Full of telling omissions - Kerry always knows exactly what not to say.
Fictive Dream@fictivedream.bsky.social · 2mo agoIn the month that marks our #TenYears on the #litmag scene we're delighted to be featuring Magpie by Kerry Hadley Pryce @kerryhp.bsky.social #flashfiction #readingcommunity #writingcommunity. Please follow the link below and enjoy fictivedream.com/2026/06/19/m...
'The voice suited the fridge - being, as it was, cool, relaxed, slightly monotone... Mildly indifferent, though not without empathy.' Bravo @ricketywhite.bsky.social - I suspect you've created the most original character I've yet encountered. How does this man do it?
Rick White@ricketywhite.bsky.social · 2mo agoI’m back with Chicago’s finest, @maudlinhouse.bsky.social today with a new story about a friendly yet slightly sinister kitchen appliance. Give it a read, it’s partly true. BUT WHICH PART, RICK?? Yes indeedy, you betcha…. 👻 🖤🍸 🧀
