Ian Critchley
@iancritchley.bsky.social
Writer and Editor | Winner Hammond House, HISSAC | Stories in Best British Short Stories, Mechanics Institute Review, Structo, Lighthouse, Litro, Fiction Desk and others | Short story chapbook published by Nightjar Press
iancritchley.com
iancritchley.com
Pinned
Delighted 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
nightjarpress.weebly.com
Reposted by Ian Critchley
Here's a #buyastrangerabook day offer from @leerandall.bsky.social, who'll buy one lucky person and short story collection of their choice, up to £20!
I expect if you as, Lee might have some great suggestions too.
If there's something you'd like, get in touch!
UK only.
I expect if you as, Lee might have some great suggestions too.
If there's something you'd like, get in touch!
UK only.
I haven't bought anyone a book in a while! With Christmas coming, I'll buy the short story collection of someone's choice up to a value of £20.
November 26, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Here's a #buyastrangerabook day offer from @leerandall.bsky.social, who'll buy one lucky person and short story collection of their choice, up to £20!
I expect if you as, Lee might have some great suggestions too.
If there's something you'd like, get in touch!
UK only.
I expect if you as, Lee might have some great suggestions too.
If there's something you'd like, get in touch!
UK only.
For the last few days around this time of the afternoon I've heard an ice cream van go past, each time playing a different tune. Today was Food, Glorious Food. Not sure if they're doing much business*
(* insert Morecambe and Wise gag here)
(* insert Morecambe and Wise gag here)
November 26, 2025 at 2:15 PM
For the last few days around this time of the afternoon I've heard an ice cream van go past, each time playing a different tune. Today was Food, Glorious Food. Not sure if they're doing much business*
(* insert Morecambe and Wise gag here)
(* insert Morecambe and Wise gag here)
Hebden Bridge! I will be visiting next week for the first time. Any great cafe recommendations?
November 26, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Hebden Bridge! I will be visiting next week for the first time. Any great cafe recommendations?
Reposted by Ian Critchley
I love publishing day.
Today we publish
ORCA & BIRD by Anna Chilvers and launch tonight at Hebden Bridge library 7pm
It is her 4th novel with Bluemoose.
Marvelous.
Today we publish
ORCA & BIRD by Anna Chilvers and launch tonight at Hebden Bridge library 7pm
It is her 4th novel with Bluemoose.
Marvelous.
November 26, 2025 at 8:39 AM
I love publishing day.
Today we publish
ORCA & BIRD by Anna Chilvers and launch tonight at Hebden Bridge library 7pm
It is her 4th novel with Bluemoose.
Marvelous.
Today we publish
ORCA & BIRD by Anna Chilvers and launch tonight at Hebden Bridge library 7pm
It is her 4th novel with Bluemoose.
Marvelous.
Reposted by Ian Critchley
The writers I’ve been supporting this year are coming to the end of their mentorships, which means I will have availability for mentorships and manuscript assessments from March 2026.
If you are looking for support with your writing, get in touch! I’d love to hear from you.
www.meganbradbury.com
If you are looking for support with your writing, get in touch! I’d love to hear from you.
www.meganbradbury.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:19 AM
The writers I’ve been supporting this year are coming to the end of their mentorships, which means I will have availability for mentorships and manuscript assessments from March 2026.
If you are looking for support with your writing, get in touch! I’d love to hear from you.
www.meganbradbury.com
If you are looking for support with your writing, get in touch! I’d love to hear from you.
www.meganbradbury.com
Such a wonderful post to wake up to this morning
Finished this morning. I had already read ‘The Junction’ by Alison Moore, but I liked it more this time. Like a more interesting version of Roald Dahl’s ‘The Landlady’. If I had to pick one story from this anthology though it would be ‘Ghost Walks’ by @iancritchley.bsky.social. In a word: magic.
November 26, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Such a wonderful post to wake up to this morning
Reposted by Ian Critchley
Finished this morning. I had already read ‘The Junction’ by Alison Moore, but I liked it more this time. Like a more interesting version of Roald Dahl’s ‘The Landlady’. If I had to pick one story from this anthology though it would be ‘Ghost Walks’ by @iancritchley.bsky.social. In a word: magic.
November 26, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Finished this morning. I had already read ‘The Junction’ by Alison Moore, but I liked it more this time. Like a more interesting version of Roald Dahl’s ‘The Landlady’. If I had to pick one story from this anthology though it would be ‘Ghost Walks’ by @iancritchley.bsky.social. In a word: magic.
Reposted by Ian Critchley
Charles Heathcote dives into 'The Subtle Art of Short Fiction' - out 1st Dec!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=78Up... #shortfiction #books📚💙 @inpressbooks.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=78Up... #shortfiction #books📚💙 @inpressbooks.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Charles Heathcote dives into 'The Subtle Art of Short Fiction' - out 1st Dec!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=78Up... #shortfiction #books📚💙 @inpressbooks.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=78Up... #shortfiction #books📚💙 @inpressbooks.bsky.social
Sunday morning reading
November 23, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Sunday morning reading
Funny how the brain works. I hadn't intended to listen to TMS last night but I woke up a minute before the the first ball was bowled.
November 21, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Funny how the brain works. I hadn't intended to listen to TMS last night but I woke up a minute before the the first ball was bowled.
Reposted by Ian Critchley
Thrilled to have a new story out today with the wonderful Milk Candy Review that features eggs, soldiers, silence and absent suns. Hope you'll give it a read:
milkcandyreview.home.blog/2025/11/20/n...
milkcandyreview.home.blog/2025/11/20/n...
Nothing certain ~ by Matt Kendrick
The day the sun forgets to rise, Mr White sits down for breakfast at precisely twelve minutes past seven. This is in the dining room. It is Tuesday. His Tuesday breakfast is a soft-boiled egg opene…
milkcandyreview.home.blog
November 20, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Thrilled to have a new story out today with the wonderful Milk Candy Review that features eggs, soldiers, silence and absent suns. Hope you'll give it a read:
milkcandyreview.home.blog/2025/11/20/n...
milkcandyreview.home.blog/2025/11/20/n...
New arrival! Looking forward to reading this from @flyonthewallpress.bsky.social #shortstories
November 20, 2025 at 11:21 AM
New arrival! Looking forward to reading this from @flyonthewallpress.bsky.social #shortstories
Reposted by Ian Critchley
Reposted by Ian Critchley
Announcing our 2026 Subscription!!
Our year of travel through books!
Each title will take you to another country - if not several!
You will receive the following 8 titles 2 weeks before their publication
www.flyonthewallpress.co.uk/product-page...
Our year of travel through books!
Each title will take you to another country - if not several!
You will receive the following 8 titles 2 weeks before their publication
www.flyonthewallpress.co.uk/product-page...
November 18, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Announcing our 2026 Subscription!!
Our year of travel through books!
Each title will take you to another country - if not several!
You will receive the following 8 titles 2 weeks before their publication
www.flyonthewallpress.co.uk/product-page...
Our year of travel through books!
Each title will take you to another country - if not several!
You will receive the following 8 titles 2 weeks before their publication
www.flyonthewallpress.co.uk/product-page...
My Personal Anthology of short stories is now on the website, along with lots of other great Personal Anthologies 👇
I've updated the apersonalanthology.com website with @iancritchley.bsky.social's selection – his pick of and introduction to a dozen favourite short stories.
Check them out here, along with nearly 3,500 other short story recommendations!
Check them out here, along with nearly 3,500 other short story recommendations!
A Personal Anthology
Writers, critics and others dream-edit a personal anthology of their favourite short stories
apersonalanthology.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:36 AM
My Personal Anthology of short stories is now on the website, along with lots of other great Personal Anthologies 👇
Reposted by Ian Critchley
8-month creative writing teaching post going at the University of Kent. 17.5 hrs per week. Focus on Prose fiction. www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPJ039/l...
Lecturer in Creative Writing at University of Kent
Discover Lecturer in Creative Writing jobs and more in higher education on jobs.ac.uk. Apply for further details on the top job board.
www.jobs.ac.uk
November 15, 2025 at 2:45 PM
8-month creative writing teaching post going at the University of Kent. 17.5 hrs per week. Focus on Prose fiction. www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPJ039/l...
Reposted by Ian Critchley
Just 15 days left to sign up for my 8 week online short story course and get the early bird discount: £225 instead of £250, which includes detailed feedback on a short story of your own at the end of the course (Jan - Mar 2026). ✒️📚 If you're hoping to do more writing next year, come and join us!
Short story writers! I am running my 8-week online course again in 2026: 'What can a short story do?', exploring the possibilities of this wonderful form. We'll read 8 contemporary short stories and use them as a launchpad for our own writing. More details ⬇️
November 15, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Just 15 days left to sign up for my 8 week online short story course and get the early bird discount: £225 instead of £250, which includes detailed feedback on a short story of your own at the end of the course (Jan - Mar 2026). ✒️📚 If you're hoping to do more writing next year, come and join us!
Reposted by Ian Critchley
*a distant bell rings somewhere in Smyth Towers, a siren sounds, a klaxon howls, I leap to my feet, knocking over furniture* SOMEONE HAS BEEN NICE ABOUT ME ON THE INTERNET
Here's my Personal Anthology of 12 brilliant short stories. No doubt some familiar names here, but also perhaps one or two surprises
open.substack.com/pub/apersona...
open.substack.com/pub/apersona...
A Personal Anthology, by Ian Critchley
I recently stopped reviewing books.
open.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:50 AM
*a distant bell rings somewhere in Smyth Towers, a siren sounds, a klaxon howls, I leap to my feet, knocking over furniture* SOMEONE HAS BEEN NICE ABOUT ME ON THE INTERNET
Reposted by Ian Critchley
Here's my Personal Anthology of 12 brilliant short stories. No doubt some familiar names here, but also perhaps one or two surprises
open.substack.com/pub/apersona...
open.substack.com/pub/apersona...
A Personal Anthology, by Ian Critchley
I recently stopped reviewing books.
open.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Here's my Personal Anthology of 12 brilliant short stories. No doubt some familiar names here, but also perhaps one or two surprises
open.substack.com/pub/apersona...
open.substack.com/pub/apersona...
A complete shock. I first met Rachel while working on our student rag many moons ago and over the years we'd meet occasionally at book events. A sad loss
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Remembering Rachel Cooke | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 9:11 PM
A complete shock. I first met Rachel while working on our student rag many moons ago and over the years we'd meet occasionally at book events. A sad loss
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Ian Critchley
I could recommend "A Personal Anthology" every week but this week's, by @iancritchley.bsky.social , is a particular treat. How could you not love a selection that includes the short story that was printed in the manual of the 1984 space trading game "Elite"?
open.substack.com/pub/apersona...
open.substack.com/pub/apersona...
A Personal Anthology, by Ian Critchley
I recently stopped reviewing books.
open.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:44 PM
I could recommend "A Personal Anthology" every week but this week's, by @iancritchley.bsky.social , is a particular treat. How could you not love a selection that includes the short story that was printed in the manual of the 1984 space trading game "Elite"?
open.substack.com/pub/apersona...
open.substack.com/pub/apersona...
Here's my Personal Anthology of 12 brilliant short stories. No doubt some familiar names here, but also perhaps one or two surprises
open.substack.com/pub/apersona...
open.substack.com/pub/apersona...
A Personal Anthology, by Ian Critchley
I recently stopped reviewing books.
open.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Here's my Personal Anthology of 12 brilliant short stories. No doubt some familiar names here, but also perhaps one or two surprises
open.substack.com/pub/apersona...
open.substack.com/pub/apersona...
Very much looking forward to sharing my Personal Anthology. If you're not already signed up, now would be a good time! 👇
It's Wednesday evening and so nearly the weekend you can smell it... and thus A Personal Anthology! This week's guest editor, picking and introducing a dozen short stories, is @iancritchley.bsky.social.
Hitting inboxes 2pm on Friday. Sign up here:
apersonalanthology.substack.com/about
Hitting inboxes 2pm on Friday. Sign up here:
apersonalanthology.substack.com/about
About - A Personal Anthology
A weekly guest-editor picks and introduces a personal anthology of twelve favourite short stories. Click to read A Personal Anthology, by Jonathan Gibbs, a Substack publication with thousands of subsc...
apersonalanthology.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Very much looking forward to sharing my Personal Anthology. If you're not already signed up, now would be a good time! 👇
Yesterday I was on BBC Points of View giving my point of view on the TV adaptation of @ronanhession.bsky.social's Leonard and Hungry Paul
@ofmooseandmen.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
@ofmooseandmen.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Points of View
The show that lets you air your views on the BBC's television programmes.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Yesterday I was on BBC Points of View giving my point of view on the TV adaptation of @ronanhession.bsky.social's Leonard and Hungry Paul
@ofmooseandmen.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
@ofmooseandmen.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Reposted by Ian Critchley
The Barbellion Prize celebrates and promotes writing that represents the experience of chronic illness and disability. Since the re-launch laste week we've raised 10% of our target, so there's still a way to go. Pllease support this unique literary award barbellionprize.org Thank you!
The Barbellion Prize | A prize recognising literary representation of chronically disabled lives.
barbellionprize.org
November 9, 2025 at 12:25 PM
The Barbellion Prize celebrates and promotes writing that represents the experience of chronic illness and disability. Since the re-launch laste week we've raised 10% of our target, so there's still a way to go. Pllease support this unique literary award barbellionprize.org Thank you!