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Anika Carpenter

@stillsquirrel.bsky.social

1.7K followers 870 following 870 posts

#Flashfiction writer and collage artist. Stories in Gooseberry Pie, Fictive Dream, Gone Lawn, The Disappointed Housewife, 100 Word Story & others. Based in Brighton, UK www.anikacarpenter.com

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Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · Nov 20

If you'd like to keep up to date with my #ekphrastic #writingworkshops, I have an extraordinarily glamourous newsletter you can sign up for - eepurl.com/i1v4GA

An extraordinarily glamourous blue typewriter with the extraordinarily glamourous words 'ekphrastic writing workshops' typed on extraordinarily glamourous paper.

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Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 2d

The @failingwriters.bsky.social #flashfiction competition is open.
Word count: 300
Prize: £500
Full details via the podcast👇

The Failing Writers Podcast @failingwriters.bsky.social · 5d

May I alert you to a rather joyful £500 writing competition you perhaps didn’t know you needed in your life, but in fact absolutely do…?
www.failingwriterspodcast.com
#flashfiction

The Failing Writers Podcast - the world's bestest writing podcast ever... probably

The Failing Writers Podcast is a writing podcast for everyone who has ever wanted to write a book... then put the kettle on instead.

www.failingwriterspodcast.com

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Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 5d

These are great! The readings are always so good and so varied. And @kiklodge.bsky.social is a wonderful host.

European Writers Salon @saloneurope.bsky.social · 5d

Join us for our quarterly Online Open Mic Salon, with our effervescent host, @kiklodge.bsky.social

As usual, it will feature gripping readings and a highly serious quiz

Reading spots are full this round, but join our Substack, if you’re not already on it, to hear about these when they’re announced

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Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 6d

Thank you misses. 😊

Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 8d

Congrats, Nora. Wonderful news 🎉

Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 10d

FOMO!!! What an awesome bunch of people to have in the same room. Did anyone play the harp?

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Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 10d

Thank you darling one 🙏

Reposted by Anika Carpenter

Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 11d

Thank you for having me @paragraphplanet.bsky.social 🙏

Paragraph Planet @paragraphplanet.bsky.social · 11d

"The Secret to Aging Well" by Anika Carpenter @StillSquirrel.bsky.social is today's 75-word #story on Paragraph Planet paragraphplanet.com #writingcommunity

Creative writing website for authors and readers. 75 words, changing daily. Submit your paragraph today.

A flash fiction website for writers and readers. One 75 word tale published daily. Plus author interviews and writing group map

paragraphplanet.com

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Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 11d

Thank you, Dan 🥰

Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 11d

Thank you 🙏

Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 11d

Thank you for having me @paragraphplanet.bsky.social 🙏

Paragraph Planet @paragraphplanet.bsky.social · 11d

"The Secret to Aging Well" by Anika Carpenter @StillSquirrel.bsky.social is today's 75-word #story on Paragraph Planet paragraphplanet.com #writingcommunity

Creative writing website for authors and readers. 75 words, changing daily. Submit your paragraph today.

A flash fiction website for writers and readers. One 75 word tale published daily. Plus author interviews and writing group map

paragraphplanet.com

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Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 13d

'But first, will you take the peach out of the small gold box I will send it to you in, and gently rub the fuzzy skin against your lips as you inhale its scent?'

Application To Eat The Sweetest Peach In the World by Anna Mantzaris

Love this ode to careful thought & pleasure.

tinyurl.com/55kat8wj

Application To Eat The Sweetest Peach In the World ~ by Anna Mantzaris

How will you eat the peach? Will you cut it in even halves? Or slippery, thin moon slices? How will you feel when you take a sharp knife and pierce the supple, almost rose-color skin? Or will you h…

milkcandyreview.home.blog

Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 15d

Miss you too! 🥰

Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 15d

Gorgeous news! Congrats m’dear 😘

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Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 17d

This was wonderful! Thank you @taniahershman.bsky.social for giving my brain the space to run riot with random words and unexpected ideas for 90 mins. An absolute tonic!

Tania Hershman 🏳️‍🌈 @taniahershman.bsky.social · 20d

Last few places left for my Zoom writing workshop 'The Art of the Swerve' this Sun Sep 21, 7-8.30pm UK. With a mix of playful writing exercises & discussion of swervy pieces, we’ll see how swerving might help us out of ruts & habits. Free & pay-what-you-can available: www.tickettailor.com/events/

Dark purple background with text in light pink which says Unbox Your Words Art of the Swerve Writing Workshop
Sun 21 Sep 2025 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM BST
Online, Zoom . Text underneath says: "Do you suspect that you’re often going down roads when you write that are so well-travelled they might be on the verge of becoming ruts? Is there a piece you’re working on – whether it’s fiction, non-fiction, poetry or a hybrid – that’s feeling stalled and needs a little spicing up? While swerving isn’t recommended while driving, there’s nothing better when on a wander than ducking through a hedge and seeing what magic lies on the other side, or forging your own route by dancing across open ground. Embracing the Art of the Swerve might mean writing in different voices, making new shapes on the page, crossing genres – but underneath it all is a sense of curiosity, play and an openess to experiment.

Swerving means

avoiding obstacles

means ..."

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Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 19d

Oh my, and look at that cover! 😍

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Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 19d

It’s stunning!

Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 19d

Thin skin is looking for readers 👇

Thin Skin magazine @thin-skin.bsky.social · 19d

News! (Sort of). We're recruiting readers for Thin Skin. If you'd like to learn more, contact us at [email protected].

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Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 20d

Thank you for posting this @fotoslasirena.bsky.social. I wasn’t familiar with Graciela Iturbide’s work. It’s stunning!
#photography

fotos la sirena @fotoslasirena.bsky.social · 20d

Like many #Mexican artists, the work of Graciela Iturbide has a surrealistic aspect to it, and sometimes also an #abstract one. She is one of my all-time favorite photographers. 🧵for Natl Hispanic Heritage Month #AbstractArtist #Abstract #Mexico

Untitled Graciela Iturbide. Black & White photograph a cactus is bound and rope leads to and from, cloth rides up behind and the tops of other cactuses beyond.

Rayos-X de Pajaro [X-Ray of a Bird], (1999) Graciela Iturbide.

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Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 20d

I went to the launch of Inside the Lines last night. It’s delightfully daft, funny and smart. Have a listen if you want a giggle.

open.spotify.com/show/7i5DiwY...

Multistorey Dad Face

open.spotify.com

Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 21d

Excited to be running Irreal, Surreal and Just Plain Weird #FlashFiction at this year’s WordFest, & to be on the open mic panel with the BRILLIANT @mrjohnmccullough.bsky.social & Sue Walker!

Loads of workshops, talks & performances to choose from. #Sussex #literaryfestival
shorehamwordfest.com

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Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 22d

September’s Art & Flash digestif is here. Grab yourself a slice of art, a spot of poetry and a writing prompt. Plus, a hint of what’s to come in October.
shorturl.at/6noNR

A cake that looks like it’s smiling. Perhaps it is smiling, it’s in a library after all. Plus it has cherries for eyes, and maybe they’re even more powerful than rose-tinted glasses.

Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 23d

Art & Flash TONIGHT 8pm UK time
#ekphrastic #writingworkshop #inspiration
On tonight’s menu: hot tailors, a strange bouquet, birds emerging from an unexpected place, a collection of men. All from an artist who viewed painting as ‘an act of love’.
🔗 www.anikacarpenter.com/ekphrastic-w...

Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 23d

Hey @neitherfishnorfoul.com I’ve found the happiest, cheekiest cake at Brighton’s Jubilee Library.

Anika Carpenter @stillsquirrel.bsky.social · 23d

An absolute pleasure! It’s mutually inspiring 🥰 So happy to see this piece find such a fab home.

Reposted by Anika Carpenter

Small Harbor Publishing @smallharborpub.bsky.social · 24d

Closing September 30! But the chapbook reading period is still open at Harbor Editions!
Submit your poetry (20–40 pages) or prose (20–50 pages) now through September 30.
We especially welcome work from marginalized voices.
🔗https://www.smallharborpublishing.com/chapbook-open-reading-period

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