Submitted!
I still don’t think there’s enough romance in my romance story, but it is what it is.
And considering this is the first thing I’ve written since January 2025, I’m pretty happy with what I got done.
#NYCMidnight #ShortStoryChallenge2026
I still don’t think there’s enough romance in my romance story, but it is what it is.
And considering this is the first thing I’ve written since January 2025, I’m pretty happy with what I got done.
#NYCMidnight #ShortStoryChallenge2026
Update:
First draft is finally finished and terrible.
Submission deadline is tomorrow night, so tomorrow is all about revisions and polish.
#NYCMidnight #ShortStoryChallenge
First draft is finally finished and terrible.
Submission deadline is tomorrow night, so tomorrow is all about revisions and polish.
#NYCMidnight #ShortStoryChallenge
Update:
First draft still not finished. I was about halfway done when I realized I’d taken a wrong turn. The story wasn’t working.
Deleted all the way back to my first scene and am trying again.
#NYCMidnight #ShortStoryChallenge
First draft still not finished. I was about halfway done when I realized I’d taken a wrong turn. The story wasn’t working.
Deleted all the way back to my first scene and am trying again.
#NYCMidnight #ShortStoryChallenge
February 1, 2026 at 1:26 AM
Submitted!
I still don’t think there’s enough romance in my romance story, but it is what it is.
And considering this is the first thing I’ve written since January 2025, I’m pretty happy with what I got done.
#NYCMidnight #ShortStoryChallenge2026
I still don’t think there’s enough romance in my romance story, but it is what it is.
And considering this is the first thing I’ve written since January 2025, I’m pretty happy with what I got done.
#NYCMidnight #ShortStoryChallenge2026
Wrote something last Sunday, one beta reader, and just a wee bit of tinkering before submitting. A first for confidence in my tale, or was it stubbornness? Time and results will tell.
Good Luck to all!
#shortstorychallenge2026 @nycmidnight.bsky.social
Good Luck to all!
#shortstorychallenge2026 @nycmidnight.bsky.social
January 31, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Wrote something last Sunday, one beta reader, and just a wee bit of tinkering before submitting. A first for confidence in my tale, or was it stubbornness? Time and results will tell.
Good Luck to all!
#shortstorychallenge2026 @nycmidnight.bsky.social
Good Luck to all!
#shortstorychallenge2026 @nycmidnight.bsky.social
My @nycmidnight.bsky.social #ShortStoryChallenge2026 crime caper story has been submitted at EXACTLY 2000 words!
Now the truly hard part...
Waiting until April 7th for the results!
Good luck to all the other 5,003 participating authors!
Now the truly hard part...
Waiting until April 7th for the results!
Good luck to all the other 5,003 participating authors!
January 31, 2026 at 9:26 PM
My @nycmidnight.bsky.social #ShortStoryChallenge2026 crime caper story has been submitted at EXACTLY 2000 words!
Now the truly hard part...
Waiting until April 7th for the results!
Good luck to all the other 5,003 participating authors!
Now the truly hard part...
Waiting until April 7th for the results!
Good luck to all the other 5,003 participating authors!
First draft of my superhero-adjacent romance "Crème Brûlée," for the 2nd round of the @nycmidnight.bsky.social #shortstorychallenge2026, is finished.
Editing tomorrow, but this ended up becoming a fun origin story for a pair of baddies for my Cobalt Fist superhero, and I had a blast writing it!
Editing tomorrow, but this ended up becoming a fun origin story for a pair of baddies for my Cobalt Fist superhero, and I had a blast writing it!
April 11, 2026 at 2:39 AM
First draft of my superhero-adjacent romance "Crème Brûlée," for the 2nd round of the @nycmidnight.bsky.social #shortstorychallenge2026, is finished.
Editing tomorrow, but this ended up becoming a fun origin story for a pair of baddies for my Cobalt Fist superhero, and I had a blast writing it!
Editing tomorrow, but this ended up becoming a fun origin story for a pair of baddies for my Cobalt Fist superhero, and I had a blast writing it!
I think the @nycmidnight.bsky.social #ShortStoryChallenge2026 might be just the writing boost I need to get back into that headspace. This will be the 4th year in a row I have participated.
Will I finally break through the wall and make it to the 3rd round?
🤞🤞🤞
🧵2/2
Will I finally break through the wall and make it to the 3rd round?
🤞🤞🤞
🧵2/2
January 20, 2026 at 8:25 PM
I think the @nycmidnight.bsky.social #ShortStoryChallenge2026 might be just the writing boost I need to get back into that headspace. This will be the 4th year in a row I have participated.
Will I finally break through the wall and make it to the 3rd round?
🤞🤞🤞
🧵2/2
Will I finally break through the wall and make it to the 3rd round?
🤞🤞🤞
🧵2/2
#ShortStoryChallenge2026 story complete a day early (I got the deadline wrong), IVDD dog all medicated and resting, ill wife also tucked in for the night.
Time for a comfort movie (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back), and some hockey equipment repair work.
#starwars
Time for a comfort movie (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back), and some hockey equipment repair work.
#starwars
January 31, 2026 at 3:00 AM
#ShortStoryChallenge2026 story complete a day early (I got the deadline wrong), IVDD dog all medicated and resting, ill wife also tucked in for the night.
Time for a comfort movie (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back), and some hockey equipment repair work.
#starwars
Time for a comfort movie (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back), and some hockey equipment repair work.
#starwars
Got feedback on my short story "Lines of Demarcation" from the 1st Round judges at @nycmidnight.bsky.social's #ShortStoryChallenge2026, and all three had praise for the world building of Cibus City.
But that's because I've been to that methane-drowned town before.
It's starting to feel like home.
But that's because I've been to that methane-drowned town before.
It's starting to feel like home.
April 8, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Got feedback on my short story "Lines of Demarcation" from the 1st Round judges at @nycmidnight.bsky.social's #ShortStoryChallenge2026, and all three had praise for the world building of Cibus City.
But that's because I've been to that methane-drowned town before.
It's starting to feel like home.
But that's because I've been to that methane-drowned town before.
It's starting to feel like home.
April 12, 2026 at 4:05 AM
Brainstorming for my second kick at #shortstorychallenge2026 .
January 26, 2026 at 11:08 PM
Brainstorming for my second kick at #shortstorychallenge2026 .
April 10, 2026 at 4:02 AM
Yes! "Lines of Demarcation," my first round entry for the @nycmidnight.bsky.social #ShortStoryChallenge2026 (and sequel to "The Stuff Legends are Made Of) earned 2nd place in my group!
Round 2, later this week!
Round 2, later this week!
April 8, 2026 at 3:29 AM
Yes! "Lines of Demarcation," my first round entry for the @nycmidnight.bsky.social #ShortStoryChallenge2026 (and sequel to "The Stuff Legends are Made Of) earned 2nd place in my group!
Round 2, later this week!
Round 2, later this week!
Okay.
Three days to write a 1750 word romance.
Again.
As I have said in the past, romance is far from my wheelhouse. But I *think* I have an idea that might make this more palatable for myself, and may make for a pretty fun story, too.
#shortstorychallenge2026
Three days to write a 1750 word romance.
Again.
As I have said in the past, romance is far from my wheelhouse. But I *think* I have an idea that might make this more palatable for myself, and may make for a pretty fun story, too.
#shortstorychallenge2026
April 10, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Okay.
Three days to write a 1750 word romance.
Again.
As I have said in the past, romance is far from my wheelhouse. But I *think* I have an idea that might make this more palatable for myself, and may make for a pretty fun story, too.
#shortstorychallenge2026
Three days to write a 1750 word romance.
Again.
As I have said in the past, romance is far from my wheelhouse. But I *think* I have an idea that might make this more palatable for myself, and may make for a pretty fun story, too.
#shortstorychallenge2026
Made it to the second round in @nycmidnight.bsky.social 's
#shortstorychallenge2026 !
So proud and honored!
Now I just have to write this second story.. 😬
#shortstorychallenge2026 !
So proud and honored!
Now I just have to write this second story.. 😬
April 10, 2026 at 6:22 AM
Made it to the second round in @nycmidnight.bsky.social 's
#shortstorychallenge2026 !
So proud and honored!
Now I just have to write this second story.. 😬
#shortstorychallenge2026 !
So proud and honored!
Now I just have to write this second story.. 😬
Welp, after a freak, brief power outage that made me see that MS Office has changed how they do autosave, causing me to lose a shit ton of words & reconstruct it all, I managed to turn in my @nycmidnight.bsky.social #ShortStoryChallenge2026 with a little over an hour to spare. Boo & yah!
February 1, 2026 at 5:37 AM
Welp, after a freak, brief power outage that made me see that MS Office has changed how they do autosave, causing me to lose a shit ton of words & reconstruct it all, I managed to turn in my @nycmidnight.bsky.social #ShortStoryChallenge2026 with a little over an hour to spare. Boo & yah!
I think I've actually stumbled onto a pretty fun little romance story here.
Using some of my pre-existing characters and settings worked well for Round 1. Maybe it will again for Round 2--this time with my 1930s era superhero, and a brand new villain!
#shortstorychallenge2026
Using some of my pre-existing characters and settings worked well for Round 1. Maybe it will again for Round 2--this time with my 1930s era superhero, and a brand new villain!
#shortstorychallenge2026
April 10, 2026 at 6:25 PM
I think I've actually stumbled onto a pretty fun little romance story here.
Using some of my pre-existing characters and settings worked well for Round 1. Maybe it will again for Round 2--this time with my 1930s era superhero, and a brand new villain!
#shortstorychallenge2026
Using some of my pre-existing characters and settings worked well for Round 1. Maybe it will again for Round 2--this time with my 1930s era superhero, and a brand new villain!
#shortstorychallenge2026
The first round of the #ShortStoryChallenge2026 just kicked off, and of course I had to be assigned a genre I've never written anything in.
a man in a suit and tie says challenge accepted in a restaurant
Alt: a man in a suit and tie says challenge accepted in a restaurant
media.tenor.com
January 24, 2026 at 10:46 AM
The first round of the #ShortStoryChallenge2026 just kicked off, and of course I had to be assigned a genre I've never written anything in.
Unsurprisingly didn't make the cut for the #ShortStoryChallenge2026 round 2, however! This judge's feedback cracked me up (because SAME):
"After I got over my initial horror that Y2K fit the definition of historic fiction"
(I didn't make the rules, only followed them 😭)
"After I got over my initial horror that Y2K fit the definition of historic fiction"
(I didn't make the rules, only followed them 😭)
a woman from schitts creek says me too girl in yellow
ALT: a woman from schitts creek says me too girl in yellow
media.tenor.com
April 8, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Unsurprisingly didn't make the cut for the #ShortStoryChallenge2026 round 2, however! This judge's feedback cracked me up (because SAME):
"After I got over my initial horror that Y2K fit the definition of historic fiction"
(I didn't make the rules, only followed them 😭)
"After I got over my initial horror that Y2K fit the definition of historic fiction"
(I didn't make the rules, only followed them 😭)
Thanks @nycmidnight for the #ShortStoryChallenge2026. A tough one, but I got it done.
It’s a story about two gay hockey players who fall in love and oh crap.
It’s a story about two gay hockey players who fall in love and oh crap.
February 1, 2026 at 3:00 AM
Thanks @nycmidnight for the #ShortStoryChallenge2026. A tough one, but I got it done.
It’s a story about two gay hockey players who fall in love and oh crap.
It’s a story about two gay hockey players who fall in love and oh crap.
Despite the stress of the week, this short story has a deadline of midnight tonight, and I've got to cut the word count down by 33%.
Time to kill some darlings.
#amwriting #shortstory #writer #shortstorychallenge2026
Time to kill some darlings.
#amwriting #shortstory #writer #shortstorychallenge2026
January 30, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Despite the stress of the week, this short story has a deadline of midnight tonight, and I've got to cut the word count down by 33%.
Time to kill some darlings.
#amwriting #shortstory #writer #shortstorychallenge2026
Time to kill some darlings.
#amwriting #shortstory #writer #shortstorychallenge2026
Okay, okay.
This has potential.
Brainstorming/outlining beings in the morning!
#amwriting #ShortStoryChallenge2026
This has potential.
Brainstorming/outlining beings in the morning!
#amwriting #ShortStoryChallenge2026
January 24, 2026 at 5:10 AM
Okay, okay.
This has potential.
Brainstorming/outlining beings in the morning!
#amwriting #ShortStoryChallenge2026
This has potential.
Brainstorming/outlining beings in the morning!
#amwriting #ShortStoryChallenge2026
I'm on draft 3 but more full of 😱😱😭😱😭😱😭😱😱 with every step forward. How much mixing is too much to not feel grounded in historical? It's hysterical, ha ha HA... 🤡
🎵 Somebody saAA—ve me— (name the show 😂)
#ShortStoryChallenge2026
🎵 Somebody saAA—ve me— (name the show 😂)
#ShortStoryChallenge2026
January 29, 2026 at 11:58 PM
I'm on draft 3 but more full of 😱😱😭😱😭😱😭😱😱 with every step forward. How much mixing is too much to not feel grounded in historical? It's hysterical, ha ha HA... 🤡
🎵 Somebody saAA—ve me— (name the show 😂)
#ShortStoryChallenge2026
🎵 Somebody saAA—ve me— (name the show 😂)
#ShortStoryChallenge2026
To trust your intuition at the risk of being disqualified or write unlike yourself to be safe?
Guess which one is winning 🤓
Now I just have to figure out what the heck happens in the middle to get to the end 😂
#ShortStoryChallenge2026 #writerproblems #writerslife
Guess which one is winning 🤓
Now I just have to figure out what the heck happens in the middle to get to the end 😂
#ShortStoryChallenge2026 #writerproblems #writerslife
January 25, 2026 at 10:28 PM
To trust your intuition at the risk of being disqualified or write unlike yourself to be safe?
Guess which one is winning 🤓
Now I just have to figure out what the heck happens in the middle to get to the end 😂
#ShortStoryChallenge2026 #writerproblems #writerslife
Guess which one is winning 🤓
Now I just have to figure out what the heck happens in the middle to get to the end 😂
#ShortStoryChallenge2026 #writerproblems #writerslife
January 24, 2026 at 5:42 AM