Suzie’s a snowflake in our nursery school Christmas Gala, petticoat-frothy, with her hair pinned tight. I bash my cymbal when Miss nods from the piano, although I’d wanted to be the King of the Mice. She’s fourteen and back from ballet school for the summer. At the youth club dance, sweaty after Reet Petite, we … Continue reading PAS DE DEUX by Chris Cottom (1st place, Flash, Nov24)
Author: Cranked Anvil
PERHAPS ON A SUMMER’S DAY by Laura Besley (2nd place, Flash, Nov24)
Perhaps on a Summer's Day there is a young woman whose bottom lip wobbles, whose eyes bristle with tears. Perhaps her name is Sadie. Perhaps Sadie has just lost her job and doesn’t know how she’ll pay her rent next month. But perhaps Sadie’s tears are happy tears and she’s biting her lip to stop … Continue reading PERHAPS ON A SUMMER’S DAY by Laura Besley (2nd place, Flash, Nov24)
NEW Annual Short Story Writing Prize
Great news for all you short story writers out there... We've revamped and reintroduced our Short Story Prize. It's now an annual prize, with £550 in cash prizes to be won, plus guaranteed publication online, and a deadline of midnight UK time on 30th June. All the info you need is on the Short Story … Continue reading NEW Annual Short Story Writing Prize
Hey Mr Bluesky!
We recently posted a quick survey about X/Twitter and bluesky, and we got some fantastic responses. Big thanks to everyone who responded. (You can still give us your views by taking the survey here.) And the upshot of it all is... we've joined the revolution! We're now on Bluesky, and we can't wait to find … Continue reading Hey Mr Bluesky!
THE LEAVING PRESENT by Lindsay Peaston
I find the basket at the back of the drawer where I keep anything I don’t know what to do with: odd sized envelopes, a single baby sock and skeins of tangled embroidery wool. The basket is made of red and green varnished raffia: probably Traidcraft. It is small but heavy, and the contents make … Continue reading THE LEAVING PRESENT by Lindsay Peaston
MICRO MONDAY #8 – A Bumper Crop Of Microfiction
We're busy beavering away at CAHQ, with all sorts of things lined up to introduce and announce over the coming weeks and months. The first thing that regular visitors to the site will notice is that we've had a bit of a revamp and a new look. We think it looks much more crisp and … Continue reading MICRO MONDAY #8 – A Bumper Crop Of Microfiction
MICRO MONDAY #7 – A Bumper Crop Of Microfiction
It's our first Micro Monday of 2025, and what a way to start the new year! Loads of fantastic mini stories to enjoy, from old Cranked Anvil familiar favourites, as well as authors brand new to the website. Welcome all! Please spread the word if you enjoy them, by sharing the page or talking about … Continue reading MICRO MONDAY #7 – A Bumper Crop Of Microfiction
MICRO DOUBLE-BILL #1
We have a little treat for you this weekend - a double-bill of superb microfiction, brought to you by two authors familiar to Cranked Anvil Press and our readers. We hope you enjoy... But before you do... We've set up a small 'Donations' page. If you would like to ssupport the work of Cranked Anvil … Continue reading MICRO DOUBLE-BILL #1
Cranked Anvil 