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Phil Olsen @liverpolsen.bsky.social · 8d

Up for a writing challenge? Join me in the 20th annual Short Story Challenge by @nycmidnight.bsky.social on 23rd January 2026! Learn more at nycmidnight.com/ssc

A watercolour nightsky with floating objects and people amongst the starts. Objects include coffee pots, egg timers, clocks and pieces of paper. One person is writing with pen and another is typing on a laptop. White and yellow text overlays the image and reads: 'The Short Story Challenge - January 23 - NYCMIDNIGHT.COM'

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Phil Olsen @liverpolsen.bsky.social · Aug 23

After looking at some examples of visual narratives, you’ll get to draw some panels of your own.

Part of Continuing Education’s CE Saturday at University of Liverpool.

Sat 8 Nov 2025 at the VG&M (10:30am - 3:30pm)

Find out more and book online: bit.ly/4mG1ZXX

(website & Linktree in bio)

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Phil Olsen @liverpolsen.bsky.social · Aug 23

‘Graphic Novels – Thinking Inside the Box(es)’

I’m teaming up with illustrator and designer, Chris Rodenhurst, to deliver a one-day workshop on graphic novels…

Two boxes with black frames on a white background. The first box has an orange tint and the words ‘Graphic Novels’ in black capital letters. The second box has the text ‘Thinking Inside the Box(es)’

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Phil Olsen @liverpolsen.bsky.social · Aug 23

I’m running a new creative writing evening course as part of University of Liverpool’s Continuing Education programme. 6 Tuesday evenings (6-8pm) from 30 Sept - 4 Nov 2025.

Find out more and book online: bit.ly/4oAciyC

(website & Linktree in bio)

A screenshot of a University of Liverpool web page advertising ‘A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words - writing short stories inspired by art’

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Phil Olsen @liverpolsen.bsky.social · Aug 23

‘A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words – Writing short stories inspired by art’

If a picture is worth a thousand words, what might those thousand words be? Fancy writing a 1,000-word piece of flash fiction inspired by artworks and visual prompts?

A dark green background with a black painting in a yellow frame. Text on the painting reads ‘A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words’ in vertical lettering and the number ‘1000’ is picked out in mint green from the letter I and 3 letter Os

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Phil Olsen @liverpolsen.bsky.social · Jul 14

Tuesday 22 & Wednesday 23 July 2025 (11am - 4pm, both days) on campus at the University of Liverpool Management School (ULMS).

Find out more at polsen.co.uk/liverpoulipo or book via linktr.ee/liverpolsen 3/3

LiverpOulipo - Phil Olsen

‘LiverpOulipo – word play by the rules’ is a Liverpool take on the French literary movement, Oulipo. Summer School ‘LiverpOulipo’ … Continue reading LiverpOulipo

polsen.co.uk

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Phil Olsen @liverpolsen.bsky.social · Jul 14

LiverpOulipo will feature prompts, puns and writing exercises. Imposed restrictions will mean you won’t be able to write whatever you like, but hopefully you will like whatever you write. 2/3

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Phil Olsen @liverpolsen.bsky.social · Jul 14

LiverpOulipo { word [ play } by the rules ]

Next week, I’m running a 2-day creative writing workshop as part of University of Liverpool’s Continuing Education department’s Summer School.

LiverpOulipo will feature prompts, puns and writing exercises. 1/3

The word ‘LiverpOulipo’ is written twice on a diagonal angle over a pink and blue background. One is the right way up and the other is upside down. ‘Liverp’ is in black text and ‘Oulipo’ is in white. Smaller text in the bottom right hand corner reads ‘word play by the rules’

A screenshot of a workshop description for ‘LiverpOulipo - word play by the rules’ with an image of a yellow pencil on a notepad next to a screwed up ball of paper. Black logos for University of Liverpool and Continuing Education sit on a yellow background.

White text on a dark grey background advertises course dates (Tue 22 & Wed 23 July 2025) and 3 accompanying photographs show the venue of the University of Liverpool Management School (ULMS) - a modern black-clad block with large, spaced apart windows.

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Reposted by Phil Olsen

Mew @mewband.bsky.social · Jun 2

Dear frengers local and from afar...

Thank you for celebrating our 30 year anniversary with us in our home country. These two shows were so very special to us.

We hope to see some of you out there for our upcoming shows this year: bnds.us/atglm3

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Reposted by Phil Olsen

School of Law & Social Justice at University of Liverpool @livunislsj.bsky.social · May 21

🔍 Masculinity, Capitalism and Violence: Supporting Boys and Young Men to Navigate Toxic Narratives

Don’t miss our next Eleanor Rathbone Social Justice Public Lecture!

💬 Speaker: Dr Laura Zahra McDonald, Founding Director of ConnectFutures

🗓️ Weds 11 June | 5.30PM
🎟️ Free: bit.ly/masculinity-...

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Reposted by Phil Olsen

A Small, Good Thing @smallgoodpodcast.bsky.social · May 3

Don't miss Episode 1 of "A Small, Good Thing"!
Listen here www.spreaker.com/episode/cat-... or on all major podcasting platforms.

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Reposted by Phil Olsen

Conduit Books @conduitbooks.bsky.social · May 1

Submissions are open! Please send your novel, novella, short story collection or memoir to CONDUIT BOOKS via our website below. Subs close May 31st 2025. Looking forward to reading. Please RT to spread the word. www.conduitbooks.co.uk

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Reposted by Phil Olsen

A Small, Good Thing @smallgoodpodcast.bsky.social · Apr 28

"A Small, Good Thing" is the new podcast about short fiction, in which I get to discuss the short story form with writers, academics, publishers, and short story enthusiasts. Episode one coming up... stay tuned!

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Reposted by Phil Olsen

Stephen Collins @stephencollins.bsky.social · Apr 23

Beaver's Return
- A new ltd edition print in my shop at www.stephencollinsillustration.com/shop/

Print for sale of a comic by Stephen Collins. Script as follows:

Scene is a British WOODLAND by a RIVER. A NATURALIST is stood next to a cage, and TV NEWS REPORTERS are filming him and the cage.

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NATURALIST:
And now It is my great honour

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NATURALIST:
to reintroduce the first wild beaver
back into Britain

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[Cut to the BEAVER’S CAGE. Its door is open and the Beaver is leaned nonchalantly up against the opening, smoking a cigarette.]

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BEAVER:
Well, well, well.

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BEAVER:
Look who's come crawling back.

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BEAVER:
Got a rubbish ecosystem have ya?

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BEAVER:
Not happy with the *critical anti-flood infrastructure* engineered by the flippin *badgers*?

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BEAVER:
I almost didn't recognise you without one of my ancestors on your head…

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BEAVER:
First you wipe us out… now you ask us to come back and build dams for free…
You actually expect me to be *pleased* don’t ya?

NATURALIST:
I'm so sorry I…I…

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BEAVER:
“Ooh la la, the Brits have come crawling back…”
Do I look like *Michel flippin’ Barnier*?

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NATURALIST:
I-if there’s some kind of… *remuneration* we could offer I-I’m sure…

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BEAVER [throwing cigarette to the ground]:
Unlimited pond weed, two tickets to Abba Voyage.

NATURALIST:
Done.

[ends]

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Reposted by Phil Olsen

School of Law & Social Justice at University of Liverpool @livunislsj.bsky.social · Apr 16

Day 2 of #SLSA2025 began with a powerful plenary: Liverpool and the Legacies of Hillsborough — held poignantly a day after the disaster’s 36th anniversary.

Voices from law, academia, activism & the arts shared moving reflections on the long fight for justice.

🔗 liverpool.ac.uk/law/slsa-2025/

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Phil Olsen @liverpolsen.bsky.social · Apr 12

Book a free place on Eventbrite:

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/funded-flo...

Funded Floral Civilians Creative Writing Workshop

Join us for an informal session of prompts and writing exercises designed to help participants craft short pieces of fiction.

www.eventbrite.co.uk

Phil Olsen @liverpolsen.bsky.social · Apr 12

I’m running a free creative writing workshop in New Brighton today (1-3pm at District House, 112 Victoria Road). Come along for tips, prompts and writing exercises for crafting flash fiction & short stories. Floral. This workshop has been made possible with funding from the Community Lottery Fund.

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Reposted by Phil Olsen

School of Law & Social Justice at University of Liverpool @livunislsj.bsky.social · Apr 10

We’re incredibly proud to be leading on the brand-new Centre for People’s Justice. 🙌

Pioneering a new approach to research, the Centre aims to foster hope and inspire confidence in a future where people feel more connected to the laws and legal processes that shape their lives. ✨

University of Liverpool News @livuninews.bsky.social · Apr 10

LAUNCHED| @liverpooluni.bsky.social will lead an innovative new research centre aimed at responding to the public’s need and desire for fairer, safer and more inclusive societies.

Read more 👉 news.liverpool.ac.uk/2025/04/10/g...

@livunihss.bsky.social

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Reposted by Phil Olsen

University of Liverpool News @livuninews.bsky.social · Apr 10

LAUNCHED| @liverpooluni.bsky.social will lead an innovative new research centre aimed at responding to the public’s need and desire for fairer, safer and more inclusive societies.

Read more 👉 news.liverpool.ac.uk/2025/04/10/g...

@livunihss.bsky.social

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Reposted by Phil Olsen

Ben Stiller @benstiller.redhour.com · Mar 20

Finale Day.

film still #66
Adam with balloons.
#severance

400 560 9.7K

Reposted by Phil Olsen

Peter Bradshaw @peterbradshaw1.bsky.social · Feb 27

Some thoughts on the late Gene Hackman: www.theguardian.com/film/2025/fe...

Gene Hackman: the star of every scene he was in

From The Conversation to The Royal Tenenbaums, the actor rode America’s new wave to become the gold standard for characterful acting with heft

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Phil Olsen

European Writers Salon @saloneurope.bsky.social · Feb 8

All the journals and literary magazines in Europe we've been able to find on bluesky are here.

Tell us who we've missed
go.bsky.app/ARSnhzo

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Reposted by Phil Olsen

Mike Pinnington @doublenegativem.bsky.social · Jan 28

Art and culture people, I co-founded a website in 2011 called The Double Negative. We're still here! Here's what we've been up to lately, including essays, reviews and the latest listings. Would love you to have a read and say hi. www.thedoublenegative.co.uk

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Phil Olsen @liverpolsen.bsky.social · Jan 11

while also responding to prompts and writing exercises.

To find out more or to book, visit the Continuing Education website:

www.liverpool.ac.uk/continuing-e...

(Linktree link in bio: linktr.ee/liverpolsen )

Flash Fiction: Short Stories and Restrictive Briefs - Continuing Education - University of Liverpool

www.liverpool.ac.uk

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Phil Olsen @liverpolsen.bsky.social · Jan 11

The emphasis of this short course will be on working within restrictions to bring about creative solutions and original story ideas. No more staring at a blank page!

Each week, we will look at universal story elements (character, dialogue, structure etc),

Flash Fiction: Short Stories and Restrictive Briefs - Continuing Education - University of Liverpool

www.liverpool.ac.uk

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