Trash Cat Lit
@trashcatlit.bsky.social
Online magazine for flash and short fiction. Chill Subs 2024 Community Favourites Flash Fiction #7 https://trashcatlit.com/ Still on X @TrashCatLit Editor: JP Relph @therelphian.bsky.social Read Stories: https://trashcatlit.com/treasured-words/
Two more days of prompt generation for our August Pop-Up. Don't miss out 🦝 Want prompts nobody else has currently got? Here's our hardhatted squirrel's activity reports. Plenty of fresh, unused Trashies to pick from. Make 'em work 🦝🐀🪳 trashcatlit.com/call-for-pro...
The Swapsies form is now live until 6pm tonight 🦝 If you want to dump one of your prompts because it just ain't prompting, you can request a new one. Scroll down this page to find the form link: trashcatlit.com/call-for-pro...
It's Swapsies Day! The form opens at noon (GMT) 🦝 Trashcan Observations: Blue and Purple bins most popular for Object/Occurrence and Rat is the favoured Trashie for the same Have a go: trashcatlit.com/call-for-pro... Tomorrow we'll let you know which selections nobody has made yet 😀
Call for Prompted Stories
THE CHALLENGE HAS NOW BEGUN, GET YOUR PROMPTS BEFORE THE 6th TO BE ABLE TO SUBMIT A STORY. THE LINK TO THE PROMPT REQUEST FORM IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE. HAVE FUN!Note: Contributors to the Apri…
trashcatlit.com
Ninety sets of prompts been generated already! Tomorrow is Swapsies Day - look out for the swapsie request form going live at noon (GMT) if you want rid of one of your prompts 🦝 trashcatlit.com/call-for-pro...
Day Three - prompts are prompting 🦝 Trashcan Observations: Most popular bin for character is Purple - hardly anyone has chosen Red Most popular Trashie for character is Weed by some margin, Opossum is lagging Get in on it: trashcatlit.com/call-for-pro...
Call for Prompted Stories
THE CHALLENGE HAS NOW BEGUN, GET YOUR PROMPTS BEFORE THE 6th TO BE ABLE TO SUBMIT A STORY. THE LINK TO THE PROMPT REQUEST FORM IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE. HAVE FUN!Note: Contributors to the Apri…
trashcatlit.com
With our August challenge underway, we're thinking about what's still to come at Trash Cat Lit. Here is a post summarising the rest of our 2026 sub calls. Pencil us in if something takes your fancy 🦝 trashcatlit.com/2026/08/02/a...
A Plethora of Sub Calls Still to Come in 2026
As we head into August and focus on our popular Prompted Stories challenge, we’re also excited for the rest of the year. We have no less than FOUR more submission opportunities before the end…
trashcatlit.com
Into day two of prompt selection🦝 Trashcan Generator Observations: Most popular bins for setting are Blue and Purple, and most popular Trashies for setting are Seagull then Groundhog Want in on the action? Get informed here: trashcatlit.com/call-for-pro...
Call for Prompted Stories
THE CHALLENGE HAS NOW BEGUN, GET YOUR PROMPTS BEFORE THE 6th TO BE ABLE TO SUBMIT A STORY. THE LINK TO THE PROMPT REQUEST FORM IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE. HAVE FUN!Note: Contributors to the Apri…
trashcatlit.com
Prompts are flying out! 🦝 A couple of notes: Prompt generation isn't automatic, we're not that techy, so bear with as Trash Cat scrolls through a PowerPoint to dig out your prompts 😀 If you were a contributor in the April prompted issue, you can't sub to this one. Sorry! 💜
Excited to have a new story in @thin-skin.bsky.social "Where were your family then? Where were they when you needed rent, when he broke your heart, when he broke your ribs, when he took you back and kicked you out over and over, when we begged you to leave him?" thin-skin.com/flash-fictio...
She was One of Us - Thin Skin
We know naked. We've done naked for a living. But tonight we are washing you. Tonight we are saying goodbye.We can’t be there tomorrow, on those hard wooden pews, in the church your family chose. Bu...
thin-skin.com
Thin Skin magazine@thin-skin.bsky.social · 5d agoWelcome to Issue 8 - Thin Skin % % share.google/HRasb4ieJnsx...
aaaaand we're off! The Trashcan Generator is ready for your Trashie selections and deliver prompts back to you 🦝 We have a handful of new prompts in among those bins. Get prompted before 8pm on 6th August. Look out for Swapsies Day on the 4th. trashcatlit.com/call-for-pro... #submissioncalls
The sun'll likely come out tomorrow - and guess what else will happen?? The Trashcan Generator fires up and spits out prompts for those getting in on our August challenge. Details here, and link to form which goes live at 9am (UK time) 🦝 trashcatlit.com/call-for-pro...
Call for Prompted Stories
During the month of August, we have our Prompted Stories challenge. Participants will blind select sets of prompts – a Setting/ Situation, a Character, an Object/ Occurrence – and write…
trashcatlit.com
Ermagod, only 3 more days and then Prompted Challenge time at TCL 🦝 Here's what Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social did with three random prompts last year. Creepy, haunting, cinematic writing that'll make you want more. Read & listen to Rubbernecker: trashcatlit.com/rubbernecker/
Five days until we open our August Prompted Challenge 🦝 Here's what the ever-creative @jennyhart2001.bsky.social did with her prompts last year. Imaginative, emotional and intense writing in Smaller Ghosts trashcatlit.com/smaller-ghos... Prepare for the challenge: trashcatlit.com/call-for-pro...
We're so excited by the love for Jimothy the special raccoon and want to celebrate him and what he represents - tenacity and difference - with a special sub call. Give us your PROSE POEMS up to 300 words. Guidelines here: trashcatlit.com/call-for-pro... Call opens 1st September 🦝 #submissioncalls
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
Just over a week until our Prompted Stories challenge! 🦝 Read this dark, dystopian flash that @davidkmitchell.bsky.social constructed from his three random prompts. Visceral and wrenching writing 🖤 trashcatlit.com/mulch/ Get ready for the challenge: trashcatlit.com/call-for-pro...
Thanks for sharing my heartbreak, @brokenheartslit.bsky.social. Fellow knitters, who taught you how to knit? For me, it was my beloved Mom-Mom. ♥️ #writesky #writing #knitsky #knitting 🧶
2026 Heartbreaks
Knit Two Together By Emily Hall @shared_yarns To process the loss of her sister, Mom-Mom taught me to knit. Yarn looped around our needles. Balm spread across her heart. …
brokenheartsliterary.com
We have another prompted story to share with you as we careen towards the August challenge 🦝 Read and listen to this raw, tense flash by @kathyprokhovnik.bsky.social - a coming of age in the post-apocalypse. trashcatlit.com/only-the-sky...
Just over 10 days until our Prompted Stories challenge commences 🦝 Here's what the phenomenal Gill O'Halloran @quickasaflash.bsky.social did with her three prompts in our first prompted issue 💜 Fabulously titled, darkly humorous and unexpected, read here: trashcatlit.com/get-thee-bes...
We stand with Jimothy, the squished up lil trash cat. He must be protected at all costs 🦝
Soup!🕯️@fraughtbroth.bsky.social · 3w agoIn Seattle, we have a local raccoon with short spine syndrome who's been kicking it around the city, and we have all collectively named him Jimothy. Here's Jimothy. We love Jimothy.
In the run up to our August Prompted Stories Challenge, we're sharing previous bangers that showed creativity and imagination with prompts 🦝 First, @jupiterjonz.bsky.social with Kodak Moment, a breathless single sentence stunner 📸 Read and listen: trashcatlit.com/kodak-moment/
Get stuck in to the latest issue from our friends at @underbellypress.bsky.social. Always an exceptional read 🖤💛 With work from Trash Fam @kathyprokhovnik.bsky.social @madeleinewrite.bsky.social @angelajoynes.bsky.social Rebecca Tiger & Scott MacLeod, and other stellar writers 🦝
Underbelly Press@underbellypress.bsky.social · 3w agoI'm delighted to share Issue 7 of Underbelly Press! Our website features a PDF copy to download or read as a flipbook: underbellypress.wixsite.com/home/issue-s... Happy two years of Underbelly Press!
Our final spotlight from our plant-loving summer issue is from Clara Cooke 🦝 We loved how three different relationships are connected through the magnolia, creating layered story and emotionally resonant stories. Read here: trashcatlit.com/the-small-th...
Today's spotlight is dendrophilic flash by Anne Howkins @anneh23.bsky.social 🦝 We loved the 2nd person POV pulling you in, the beautiful rendering of father/daughter relationship. Ed, JP said: "Gorgeous & horribly possible, quiet horror grounded in close reality." trashcatlit.com/forgetting-t...
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-...
Today's spotlight is a flash by Lucienne Cummings @lucimcummings.bsky.social🦝 We loved the two voices in this piece, how the MC compares herself to the fruit, and her fabulous transition. Reader Kathy: "I love the circularity, the movement to joyful description" trashcatlit.com/the-apple-tr...
We're back spotlighting pieces in the summer issue - today, @jeanniemarschall.bsky.social with her immersive prose-poem 🦝 We loved the unashamed adoration of plantlife here, of trees and time and connection. It encapsulates celebration of Plantae. Read here: trashcatlit.com/a-thousand-a...
August is not far off now and that means...Prompted Stories Challenge! 🦝 Blind choose prompts. Write and submit flash. All before the 21st, for a chance to be in another smashing Prompted Issue. Get informed here: trashcatlit.com/call-for-pro...
Call for Prompted Stories
During the month of August, we have our Prompted Stories challenge. Participants will blind select sets of prompts – a Setting/ Situation, a Character, an Object/ Occurrence – and write…
trashcatlit.com
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
For this midweek spotlight, we have @angelajoynes.bsky.social with her micro Bloodroot 🦝 We loved how tight and purposeful this story was, how white space did so much and dark plants sang. Reader Leigh said: "Dark, precise, pared-down" Read and listen here: trashcatlit.com/bloodroot/
Today we are spotlighting @chrisdotydunn.com with People Always Look for Each Other 🦝 We loved the quiet, building menace in this speculative short, the imaginative "traps". Reader Leigh said "strong imagery and a beauty of a mic drop from the narrator" trashcatlit.com/people-alway...
