Blog roll
“Next case. Request 14875 on entry into the Houston Reproduction Program.” Commissioner Morris looked at his fellow commissioners. “Report on the genetic analysis?” Commissioner Buchman cleared her throat. “Yes, I have the results here. The figures are looking surprisingly well. […]
I first noticed him when he was playing soccer with his friends under the blazing sun. He was drenched in sweat, his white uniform dirty and clung onto his body. But he was having a good time, laughing as he […]
Growing up is not as fun as we thought it would be when we were young. It’s a funny thing that can not even be described as a process, but more as a sudden event. We wake up one day, […]
Who has lost their faith in the other first? That’s a (rhetorical) question from Judge J on this week’s winning entry. If there’s a consistent theme through the CLIMATE FICTION stories, it’s of characters searching for humanity. Be it human […]
If you haven’t already, check out our write up on Climate Fiction The CLIMATE FICTION award asked authors to focus on climate change and how it might affect characters, their relationships, and their way of life. The stories this week do […]
Hi everyone, hope you love the new site design as much as we do. Here’s a quick breakdown of the features Orientation Awards, past and present, can be found under the Awards and Collaborations Page. There’s a neat filter that […]
What are Collaborations? The concept behind the collaborations is about 90% anarchy 10% organised workshop. A typical collaboration partners a group of writers together with an editor and cover artist to produce a short story collection for publication. You can […]
Alayna is a fourth year university student, writer, and currently manages the Needle In The Hay tumblr. She’s been gracious enough to answer a few questions, so here we go. Martin: Tell us a little about the novel you’re working […]
First up a warm welcome to all our newcomers: Mel Watts, Jess Grimmonds, Laurence Deam and Saskia Griffiths, and special shout outs to Debb Bouch and Disapol Savetsila, who scored really well, closely missing out on the top three. This […]
“No more clocks that strike 13 and starships to Mars. We need to save the earth first.” – Dan Bloom, 2014 I was thirteen when I saw my first climate fiction (a.k.a. ‘cli-fi’) film, although I didn’t have that name […]
‘Remember, beautiful things grow in the most unlikely places.’ He held out a cardboard box with pink, hand painted roses that seemed to soften in his weathered hands. Rosie was old enough to know that when a man gave her something […]
There it was, nestled in velvet and lustrous in soft light from a concealed spot. Several other small collectibles lay scattered tastefully around it within the confines of the glass cabinet. No doubt about it though, the Faberge egg was […]
My eyes settle on the golden green Napoleonic Fabergé egg which sits, perching, encased in strong glass. The bustling Metropolitan Museum of Art surrounds me, its walls threatening to close in at any moment. I exhale and walk to […]
They like to say Pierre brought unhappiness to our town, but that’s bull. He made us realise how unhappy we were. That’s why everyone is gathering to burn down Pierre’s house. They’re at the school hall, officially there for […]
Even the walls of the cinema are specked with dirt and grime, ash from the ciggies and gum from the smoker’s mouths. Occasionally some schmuck drifts out with a small shovel and a mop. They always have pimpled faces and […]
Macy stared up at the ceiling as another drop of condensation narrowly missed her head and splashed onto the pillow. For nearly an hour now she’d been playing a game of Russian roulette with the air conditioner which was working […]
If I hadn’t been so stricken by Gran’s fragile state, I probably would never have agreed to her outlandish request. I had a mountain of work waiting for me back on the farm and here I was jet setting across […]
“Each day I stress out” I said as I pulled my jacket off my right arm and hung it on the rack. “About what?” said the glassy-eyed, older-age psychologist, pushing a bit of hair up above the rim of her […]
Katrina Miller stood at the door awaiting the arrival of her husband. They were married for one year upon their parents request. Patrick, her husband did manipulative things to her. In fact, both of them were manipulating each other. They […]
Before we get to it, I just wanted to welcome our first timers, Laura Solomon, Lisa Ducasse, Chinelo Oputa, Yiyu Xiang, Ingrid Coram and Gabriela Blagoeva. It’s great to see fresh faces from such a diverse set of locations. So we […]
We only received a handful of submissions for our latest poetry award, but that shouldn’t take the shine off our winner. Congratulations to Alice Griffith, who won with her submission, Belly Belly. Thanks to everyone who participated […]
try to avoid standing in the light of the fridge, it’s blue, unflattering when I think of food I think of feasting serious feasting long wooden tables laden with dishes dishes piled high with pastries, fruit, […]
Belly, belly Be my world, Sphere bigger Than the starved unheard. Grumble When food’s in sight, Bloat more By every day and night. The other day I noted, cheap. A Jetstar flight In but a week. The destination? India! […]
AUDIO ONLY The little one sits empty bowl on her head A noodly smile Her friend far away empty bowl in her hand waits for the men in blue hats
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this was an amazing short list. Eleven high quality entries that tackled the theme in a variety of poignant and often funny ways. From a washed up comedian to […]
We got fish and chips on the beach and Camilla was there because she didn’t want me to be the only one having fish and chips with the boy she cheated on her boyfriend with. Freddy. That was the […]
You consider me a prude. Yes, I do have a fear of contamination. You will insist that it is a fear of contact, intimacy, eruption, and I will insist that it is not. How well paired we are. I rehearse […]
The man unfolded his hands. A mouse sat content in his palm, a grey mouse with small crystalline eyes. The two little sparkles shone with a black brilliance in his palm. ‘I started out with this one.’ He husked […]
Pete walked into the kitchen holding Fluffy like she was a dead cat. ‘What’s wrong with Fluffy?’ I asked. ‘She’s dead.’ ‘She can’t be,’ I said. ‘I saw her five minutes ago pigging down cat food.’ ‘Yeah. And two minutes […]
Disordered and slipshod. Unprofessional and slapdash. Damien’s efforts were rooted in kindness as he pulled and jerked at the still warm skin of the kangaroo. Occasionally he paused to wipe the organic filth from between his fingers through his […]