Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Illustrating 'What My Father Left Behind'.

1 3

Reposted by The Fiction Desk

Nathaniel Spain @nathanielspain.bsky.social · 4d

Very cool article about the illustration that went with my short story in the Broken Ground anthology: www.uncertainstories.com/inside-stori...

A look at how we created the artwork for Nathaniel Spain's story 'What My Father Left Behind'.

Flo Ward answers some questions for us about writing, reading, and her new short story 'The End of the World'.

2 3

Reposted by The Fiction Desk

Uncertain Stories @uncertainstories.com · 3d

We’ve been getting some great responses to our author Q&A series, which we’ll be releasing over the next few weeks. Here’s the first:

Q & A with Flo Ward.

Illustrating 'What My Father Left Behind'.

3 5

Reposted by The Fiction Desk

Uncertain Stories @uncertainstories.com · 4d

A look at how we created the artwork for Nathaniel Spain's story 'What My Father Left Behind'.

2 2

Reposted by The Fiction Desk

David Frankel @daveyfrankel.bsky.social · 5d

Just got my author’s copies of #BrokenGround . Rob Redman, editor of @uncertainstories.com , has done a fantastic job, and the illustrations by @lucyscottpictures are superb.
Stories by me, Mark Taylor, Eva Carson, Tamsin Hopkins, @nathanielspain.bsky.social , Jack Edwards, and Flo Ward.

1 3 10

Reposted by The Fiction Desk

Nathaniel Spain @nathanielspain.bsky.social · 6d

My contributor copies for Broken Ground, the first anthology from @uncertainstories.com, are here! This book is absolutely stunning 😍 So pleased to be a part of this, and looking forward to reading the stories by my fellow contributors.

1 2 4

Reposted by The Fiction Desk

David Frankel @daveyfrankel.bsky.social · 9d

#BrokenGround is the 1st anthology from @uncertainstories.com . Out on 21st October. Stories by myself, Mark Taylor, Eva Carson, and Tamsin Hopkins, Nathaniel Spain, Jack Edwards, and Flo Ward. Ed Rob Redman & illustrated by Lucy Scott 🔥🔥🔥.
Read excerpts and pre-order here
www.uncertainstories.com

Uncertain Stories is a new publishing house specialising in short fiction.

Our submissions deadline is Friday, 26th September!

6 9

Reposted by The Fiction Desk

Uncertain Stories @uncertainstories.com · 13d

Running sheets! Our first anthology has been printed. It just needs to be bound, and then it’ll be out in the world...

Running sheets for the anthology “Broken Ground”, photographed on a cutting mat.

3 4

The Fiction Desk @thefictiondesk.com · 13d

Now just one day left - submissions close at midnight on Friday!

The Fiction Desk @thefictiondesk.com · 16d

Just a few days left!

The deadline for submitting short stories to our summer call is the 26th of September.

Our submissions deadline is Friday, 26th September!

The Fiction Desk @thefictiondesk.com · 16d

Just a few days left!

The deadline for submitting short stories to our summer call is the 26th of September.

Publishers say 'mindset around short stories shifting’ as readers embrace slim fiction

6 4

Reposted by The Fiction Desk

Bert’s Books @bertsbooks.bsky.social · 27d

Good morning. We are open. 📖☕️

1 22 120

Reposted by The Fiction Desk

Fictive Dream @fictivedream.bsky.social · Sep 7

One year ago today we featured Corrosion Theory by David Frankel. If you missed it the first time, then here's another chance @daveyfrankel.bsky.social #shortstory #oneyearagotoday. Please click on the link and enjoy fictivedream.com/2024/09/08/c...

1 4

Reposted by The Fiction Desk

David Frankel @daveyfrankel.bsky.social · Sep 2

@uncertainstories.com is kind of an offshoot of the New Ghost Stories series from The Fiction Desk. They will be producing illustrated anthologies of short stories with a supernatural or speculative twist, and they have some really exciting plans for future projects.

1 4 3

Reposted by The Fiction Desk

The Bookseller @thebookseller.com · Aug 27

Publishers are noting a shift in industry mindset around short stories as readers embrace shorter works, with a number feeling like “something is slowly shifting” and that “there’s a real excitement around stories again” 👇 #BookSky

ebx.sh

5 45 160

The Fiction Desk @thefictiondesk.com · Aug 26

Our summer short story submission call ends in exactly one month! The deadline is Friday, 26th September and details are on our website - see below.

This summer at The Fiction Desk

New short story submission opportunities coming this summer from The Fiction Desk.

Apply for the New Writers Awards

7 7

Reposted by The Fiction Desk

Scottish Book Trust @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social · Aug 6

Applications for the New Writers Awards 2026 are now OPEN! ✍

The New Writers Awards is an annual awards programme supporting individuals from across Scotland committed to developing their writing.

Find out more and apply 👇

Applications for the New Writers Awards are now open!

www.scottishbooktrust.com

1 19 20

Reposted by The Fiction Desk

Uncertain Stories @uncertainstories.com · Aug 6

It’s been a fantastic first week since we launched Uncertain Stories. A huge thank you to everybody who’s followed us on here, helped us spread the word, pre-ordered our first anthology, signed up for our newsletter, sent us their own stories, looked at our website, and everything else too!

Uncertain Stories is a new publishing house specialising in short fiction.

1 7 13

Reposted by The Fiction Desk

David Frankel @daveyfrankel.bsky.social · Aug 1

I'm very excited to have a story in the first anthology from the new publishing house, ‪‪@uncertainstories.com - the dark, creepy twin of @thefictiondesk.com . They've got some fantastic projects lined up, so if weird/uncanny stories are your thing give them a follow or sign up for the mailing list!

The Fiction Desk @thefictiondesk.com · Aug 1

It’s a lovely day for launching a new publishing house:

Uncertain Stories is a British publisher specialising in new short fiction.

1 4 11

The Fiction Desk @thefictiondesk.com · Aug 1

It’s a lovely day for launching a new publishing house:

Uncertain Stories is a British publisher specialising in new short fiction.

Prize — Galley Beggar Press

7 24

The Fiction Desk @thefictiondesk.com · Jul 28

This is great news. Congratulations Ian!

Ian Critchley @iancritchley.bsky.social · Jul 28

I've been sitting on this news for a while, but I am chuffed to bits to say that I have a story in this year's Best British Short Stories anthology from @saltpublishing.com. See below for pre-order details with 25% discount 👇

Salt Books @saltpublishing.com · Jul 28

Pre-order our flagship anthology, ‘BEST BRITISH SHORT STORIES 2025’, with a massive 25% discount from Waterstones today – head to bit.ly/4l4lZT4

You will need to enter “SUMMER25” at the checkout to redeem the offer to receive 25% off RRP

Offer ends 31 July.
#WPreorder #BookSky

1 1

Reposted by The Fiction Desk

@Galleybeggars @galleybeggars.bsky.social · Jul 28

Our short story prize is open for submissions again! Please share this widely - and please send us your stories:

www.galleybeggar.co.uk/prize

Closing date 8 November!

www.galleybeggar.co.uk

3 110 110

The Fiction Desk @thefictiondesk.com · Jun 18

This summer at The Fiction Desk

New short story submission opportunities coming this summer from The Fiction Desk.

Our submissions deadline is Friday, 30 May!

2 7

The Fiction Desk @thefictiondesk.com · May 30

Our spring submissions call is coming to an end… submissions close at midnight tonight! So please be sure to get any stories to us before then. (That’s midnight UK time.)

The deadline for submitting short stories to our spring call is the 30th of May.

Our submissions deadline is Friday, 30 May!

The Fiction Desk @thefictiondesk.com · May 26

Now just five days! (Or four, depending on how you count days. It’s Friday, anyway. The deadline is on Friday.)

The Fiction Desk @thefictiondesk.com · May 23

Just one week to go!

The deadline for submitting short stories to our spring call is the 30th of May.

Our submissions deadline is Friday, 30 May!

2

The Fiction Desk @thefictiondesk.com · May 23

Just one week to go!

The deadline for submitting short stories to our spring call is the 30th of May.