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thebrokenspine.co.uk
The Broken Spine
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
7K followers 3K following 3.4K posts
Independent poetry press + cultural review platform. We publish narrative-led work with edge. #PoemsAbout #LiftToTheSky #WednesdayWIPs #PromoteIndieLit Edited by @alanparrywriter.co.uk www.thebrokenspine.co.uk https://linktr.ee/brokenspinearts
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The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · Apr 14
Catch up on everything Broken Spine: open + upcoming submission windows, latest releases, and all the links you need in one place.

linktr.ee/brokenspinea...

Updated, organised, no faff.
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The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 14h
Writers need opportunities. Presses need exposure. For only £3/month, boost both—plus 33% of fees directly support the #BrokenSpineAward poetry fundraiser!
Join Our Independent Press Directory - The Broken Spine
At The Broken Spine, collaboration and community have always been at the heart of what we do. We believe in uplifting fellow independent presses, writers, and
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The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 16h
It’s Wednesday. Got a WIP?

Doesn’t matter if it’s raw or rolling. If it’s yours, it belongs.

Drop a line. Share a note. Let us know where you’re at.

#WednesdayWIPs #PoetsOfBluesky #BlueskyWriters #PoemsAbout
A halftone white hand holding a pen on a green background. Text reads “#WednesdayWIPs – It’s Wednesday, got a WIP?” The Broken Spine logo is bottom left.
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The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 1d
#PoemsAbout #ImperfectMe kicks off Friday. Think fractured reflections, messy middles, scars that still speak. Draft, hold, then post from Friday. Use Alt Text. Tag properly or we won’t find it. For inbox prompts every Saturday: shorturl.at/0Xm7A
An ornate antique mirror with a heavily tarnished and speckled surface, reflecting a faint, distorted background. The frame is baroque-style, featuring elaborate gold and black detailing with a sculpted lion's face at the top. In the top left is The Broken Spine logo shaped like a fountain pen nib. The website "@thebrokenspine.co.uk" is written in white at the top right. At the bottom right, bold white text reads: "Read Repost Reply #POEMSABOUT #IMPERFECTME".
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The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 1d
Writers of poetry, prose and everything in between—tomorrow’s your day.

#WednesdayWIPs is back.

Share your scraps, sparks, doubts, and drafts.

One line. One photo. One step forward.

#PoemsAbout #PoetsOfBluesky #BlueskyWriters #AmWriting
A halftone yellow hand holding a pen on an orange background. Text reads “#WednesdayWIPs – What are you working on?” The Broken Spine logo is bottom left.
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The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 1d
@newwordspress.bsky.social is the kind of lit press we need—trans-centred, unapologetically experimental, and building real community.

Thanks to @dehm000.bsky.social for nominating them for #IndieLitMagGala 2025. This spotlight is all love, no fluff.

thebrokenspine.co.uk...

#QueerPublishing
#IndieLitMagGala 2025 Spotlight: new words {press} - The Broken Spine
In a lit world still groaning under the weight of gatekeepers, binary boxes, and pay-to-play submission models, new words {press} is a thunderclap of clarity.
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The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 1d
Something Gothic this way comes… Submissions are OPEN for The Havisham Steps: Modern Gothic Poetry. We want poems of neon dread, fractured love, haunted minds.

Closing date: October 31st

#PoetrySubmissions #SubmissionWindow #TheHavishamSteps #ModernGothicPoetry
Something Gothic This Way Comes: Submit to The Havisham Steps: Modern Gothic Poetry - The Broken Spine
Submissions Open Throughout October 2025 | Publication in 2026
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The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 1d
A poem should make you nervous to press 'post'. If it doesn’t, dig deeper.
#SpineEdicts #WriteWhatFrightens #FearIsFuel #ChooseTuesdays
Text reads: “If you’re not scared to share it, it’s not done.” Distorted glitch font, black background, The Broken Spine logo top right.
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The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 2d
The scariest thing this Halloween? A poetry award that never happens. We’re clawing our way toward £5,000, using our own funds, but it still won’t be enough. If you believe in a fee-free, well-funded poetry prize, now’s the time to act. 🔗
A Poetry Award That Puts Poets First – And You Can Make It Happen - The Broken Spine
Poets deserve more than empty prestige. They deserve real recognition, real opportunities, and real support. That is why I am launching The Broken Spine
shorturl.at
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The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 3d
Books aren’t just for launch month. This one’s got roots. Still growing. Still finding readers.
@martinkennedyyates.bsky.social #ThisWilderness
www.amazon.co.uk/Wil...
Book cover of This Wilderness & Other Concerns by Martin Kennedy Yates, published by The Broken Spine. The cover artwork depicts an urban canal or waterway running between old brick and industrial buildings, with graffiti on one wall and a dark, moody atmosphere. A quote from writer and poet Jonathan Davidson reads: “These poems are a pleasure both to encounter and to read.”
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The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 3d
Something Gothic this way comes… Submissions are OPEN for The Havisham Steps: Modern Gothic Poetry. We want poems of neon dread, fractured love, haunted minds.

Closing date: October 31st

#PoetrySubmissions #SubmissionWindow #TheHavishamSteps #ModernGothicPoetry
Something Gothic This Way Comes: Submit to The Havisham Steps: Modern Gothic Poetry - The Broken Spine
Submissions Open Throughout October 2025 | Publication in 2026
thebrokenspine.co.uk
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thebrokenspine.co.uk
The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 3d
Big thanks for last week’s fierce drops on #PoemsAbout. Next up: #ImperfectMe — bruised reflections, warped mirrors, un-Photoshopped truths. The new theme starts this Friday. Sign up for prompts: shorturl.at/0Xm7A Use Alt Text. Tag #PoemsAbout or get lost in the feed.
An ornate antique mirror with a heavily tarnished and speckled surface, reflecting a faint, distorted background. The frame is baroque-style, featuring elaborate gold and black detailing with a sculpted lion's face at the top. In the top left is The Broken Spine logo shaped like a fountain pen nib. The website "@thebrokenspine.co.uk" is written in white at the top right. At the bottom right, bold white text reads: "Read Repost Reply #POEMSABOUT #IMPERFECTME".
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Reposted by The Broken Spine
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Paul @paulwritespoems.bsky.social · 3d
This week in The Book Bag it's a warm welcome back to Chris Campbell with his new collection 'Why I Wear My Past To Work' published by Parlyaree Press.

Playlist, news and shoutouts as standard.

These are poems to return to time and again, it feels like having a conversation with a friend ...
The Book Bag: Why I Wear My Past To Work by Chris Campbell
Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week. I’ve probably asked this about 437 times this week, but how is it October? I’ve had quite the rollercoaster this week. Sunday morning was spent at the allotment, making a bulb lasagne. Hopefully come spring, we’ll have some lovely pastels flowering. Fingers crossed! I also saw Newcastle get (undeservedly) beat by Arsenal. But then we bounced back with a Champions League win. It was also the 2nd anniversary of getting Brody. We celebrated by giving him toys and treats.
paulwritespoems.com
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Arachne Press @arachnepress.bsky.social · 3d
That is absolutely lovely, thank you. And thanks @emmalee1.bsky.social
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The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 3d
Every £3 counts: List your press's calls and directly support our community-driven #BrokenSpineAward Fundraiser. Help us reach our £5000 poetry prize goal!
Join Our Independent Press Directory - The Broken Spine
At The Broken Spine, collaboration and community have always been at the heart of what we do. We believe in uplifting fellow independent presses, writers, and
thebrokenspine.co.uk
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thebrokenspine.co.uk
The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 4d
Well, #NotJustPretty was an absolute blast. I'm a little teary after hearing @katiejenkinspoet.bsky.social read my fave poem from her forthcoming collection. Compound that with the event itself, the vision from @karenpgonzalez.bsky.social wonderfully hosted! Everything we could have wanted!
a silhouette of a woman with the words girl power let 's go written on it
ALT: a silhouette of a woman with the words girl power let 's go written on it
media.tenor.com
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The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 4d
Live on Twitch, right now!

www.twitch.tv/brokenspinea...

#NotJustPretty
Twitch
Twitch is the world
www.twitch.tv
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Reposted by The Broken Spine
epistemiclit.bsky.social
Epistemic Literary- Read Issue 6: Nostalgia now! @epistemiclit.bsky.social · 4d
Congratulations to @arachnepress.bsky.social for this spotlight! #IndieLitMagGala 2025
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The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 4d
The brilliant @arachnepress.bsky.social has been spotlighted for #IndieLitMagGala 2025—a solo-run powerhouse publishing inclusive, radical, community-rooted work since 2012.

Massive thanks to @emmalee1.bsky.social for the nomination—this one’s richly deserved.

Read here: thebrokenspine.co.uk...
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Reposted by The Broken Spine
louisepoetical.bsky.social
Louise Longson @louisepoetical.bsky.social · 4d
I am honoured to be among those reading for this @thebrokenspine.co.uk event later this evening eventbrite.co.uk/e/notjustpre... a 90-minute online literary arts open mic amplifying women’s voices in poetry, performance & film. #poetrycommunity
#NotJustPretty: A Literary Arts Open Mic & Showcase
A 90-minute online literary arts open mic amplifying women’s voices in poetry, performance & film. Nine slots still open.
eventbrite.co.uk
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The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 4d
From wife → widow → witch.
From silence → elegy → incantation.
Trilogy Wife Widow Witch by @katiejenkinspoet.bsky.social lands Halloween.
#Trilogy #ComingSoon #BookLaunch
Three glowing street lamps at night, their white light standing out against a completely dark sky.
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The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 4d
thebrokenspine.co.uk/2025/10/03/i...
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The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 4d
Hmmm. Cheers
thebrokenspine.co.uk
The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 4d
The brilliant @arachnepress.bsky.social has been spotlighted for #IndieLitMagGala 2025—a solo-run powerhouse publishing inclusive, radical, community-rooted work since 2012.

Massive thanks to @emmalee1.bsky.social for the nomination—this one’s richly deserved.

Read here: thebrokenspine.co.uk...
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thebrokenspine.co.uk
The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 5d
Tomorrow! #NotJustPretty is not for show.
It’s for change.
Join the revolution in poetry.
🗓 Oct 4 | 8pm GMT
🎤 Open mic + showcase
thebrokenspine.co.uk...
@karenpgonzalez.bsky.social
#PoemsAbout
#NotJustPretty: A Manifesto for Women Who Refuse to Be Flattened - The Broken Spine
Their Breasts Aren’t Perky Enough
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thebrokenspine.co.uk
The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 5d
Something Gothic this way comes… Submissions are OPEN for The Havisham Steps: Modern Gothic Poetry. We want poems of neon dread, fractured love, haunted minds.

Closing date: October 31st

#PoetrySubmissions #SubmissionWindow #TheHavishamSteps #ModernGothicPoetry
Something Gothic This Way Comes: Submit to The Havisham Steps: Modern Gothic Poetry - The Broken Spine
Submissions Open Throughout October 2025 | Publication in 2026
thebrokenspine.co.uk
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thebrokenspine.co.uk
The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 5d
The prize is lurking just beyond reach… but we’re getting closer. No government grants. No arts funding. Just us, fighting to make #TheBrokenSpinePoetryAward happen. We’ve come so far, but without £5,000, the prize won’t be what it should be. Donate today. 🔗
A Poetry Award That Puts Poets First – And You Can Make It Happen - The Broken Spine
Poets deserve more than empty prestige. They deserve real recognition, real opportunities, and real support. That is why I am launching The Broken Spine
shorturl.at
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