Kate Hollingsworth 📚

I Was Never the Vertebrate - 101 Words I dreamed we were seahorses, entwined tail-to-tail. We raced inches for fun. Two victors. Then we were reborn, two starfish. […]

“The Crab reached. I screamed bubbles. But you changed.”

» New microfiction from me today, ‘I Was Never the Vertebrate’ in 101 Words

I’m grateful to close out my year with this piece in 101 Words. It feels like a meaningful way for me to linger at the end of 2025 before starting 2026. Thank you

"and I can’t tell if he wants me to find it or not. But I do. And I can’t unsee it. But I keep secrets. There is nothing more holy than amending a story, creating new myths. A software update. Adapt or die. Subversion is evolution."

Perfect read to unwrap day-after-Christmas @havehashad.com

What Do Authors Need When They Travel? Ten authors tell PEN America what habits they maintain and what items they carry with them when traveling to support their writing practice.

From biting into ginger root to playing pick-up basketball games, 10 authors featured in our #PENTen Interview Series in 2025 tell us what habits they maintain and what items they carry with them when traveling to support their writing practice: pen.org/what-do-auth...

We’re open

We’re open for submissions!
Closing date 31st January.

Visit our website to read our submission rules, register your entry, and check out our amazing judges:

bssp.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/rules/

Great #fiction from our Oct. authors so our thanks to Lindsay Hill @jennystalter.bsky.social Helen Harradine @kdiannerule.bsky.social @katehollingswrites.bsky.social @drhannahstevens.bsky.social @karenschauber.bsky.social Brian Kirk and @bsherm36.bsky.social

Thank you, loved all the October stories!

I so enjoyed your workshop this summer! Thank you for sharing.

😱 My worst nightmare! haha

'Bought It For Life' - I first drafted this shortly after a Female Gothic class at Flash Fiction Festival that left me ruminating over domestic stories within my life. Thank you very much for the class @susmitab.bsky.social @flashficfestuk.bsky.social and for publishing @fictivedream.bsky.social

Thank you so very much! I'm so pleased you enjoyed it!

Thank you so much! They make me shudder, too!!!

ICYMI today we're featuring Bought It For Life by Kate Hollingsworth @katehollingswrites.bsky.social #flashfiction #shortstory #writingcommunity. Please just click on the link and enjoy fictivedream.com/2025/10/12/b...

I'm very happy to see this story published today, especially in an online magazine I love- Fictive Dream. The story is a female gothic unraveling inspired by my own fear of spiders.

Thank you, Fictive Dream

What excitement to see this! Thank you to Fictive Dream for publishing Bought It For Life... out tomorrow

Pants Anxiety It's genuine.

Every Friday I enjoy Dave Barry's Substack post of the week, and this week is no exception - "Pants Anxiety"

The Ultimate Fall 2025 Reading List It may still be in the 70s in New York, but autumn, they assure me, approaches. This means it’s time for Literary Hub’s annual Ultimate Fall Reading List, in which (in case you’re new) …

Why read read 28 book lists when you could just read one? Here is the ultimate fall reading list.

Thrilled Maudlin House liked my new story! It’s nostalgic gaming fiction + modern cozy gaming + mother/daughter relationship. Thank you to Maudlin House for publishing it!

Loved this list. It took me on a journey while also feeling deeply true to the odd stream of short interactions at a funeral

Aaaaand we're officially back! And even better: we're open for submissions.✨ We can't wait to dive back into your work!

From Audience to Impact: Crafting a Narrative That Connects Listen to The Shit No One Tells You About Writing on RedCircle

Currently listening to -

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Delphi One pilgrimage later, still no wiser

I wrote a travel essay: "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Delphi." Are we sharing substack posts on Bluesky? God forbid I be gauche, but I'd love to find substacks from the lit fic community... hm

The essay is basically pigeons, sun, and ancient ruins (oh my). Apollo might even be listening.

15 Novels in Translation You Should be Reading This Summer and Fall - Electric Literature The second half of 2025 is introducing literary voices from Japan, Ecuador, Kurdistan, and elsewhere"

The second half of the year is when quieter, stranger novels tend to rise to the surface, and these newly translated works from around the world are no exception.

Week two on Bluesky... still misclicking everywhere but my feed is updated with my interests now! Progress

Started my Monday reading with this lovely, emotional + spare micro piece. A much-needed sharp turn from mindlessly sifting through weekend emails!

Books are just long-term parasocial relationships with people who don’t exist.

Honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Silas House - Letter from Home — THE BITTER SOUTHERNER Returning to his Kentucky homeplace, Silas House realizes the value of its culture of love without judgment. Such mutual care would counter the divides that those in the political arena use to control...

In Issue No. 11 @silashouse.bsky.social writes about home as a place that both hurt him & loved him. A place he still loves with all his heart. How do we find common ground with those who raised us but who also voted against the dreams we have for our lives and this country? Silas points the way.

Is there a song of the summer in 2025? : Pop Culture Happy Hour Last year was Brat summer and saw the rise of Chappell Roan, Shaboozey, and Sabrina Carpenter. But is there a song of the summer for 2025? Today we're talking about the competing songs of this summer ...

Currently listening to -

Summer Reads 2025 Granta contributors, friends and staff share what they are reading this summer.

Granta contributors, friends and staff share what they are reading this summer.

granta.com/summer-reads...

Day 1 joining Bluesky and getting my bearings