Stephen Barrett is an emerging fiction writer. His work explores the darker aspects of the human condition, often through a surreal or speculative lens. He is currently working on a collection of short fiction. https://substack.com/@wordsinspaceandtimehttps://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3mtqsqq2zak2iThe Mercer Files are now live on Substack Join H. S. Mercer each week for his decades of journalistic experience, worldly insight and, in his words, "tales that'll blow your socks off." #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #Substack #Satire #Journalism https://wordsinspaceandtime.substack.com/p/meditate-on-this?r=3pofsb&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=post%20viewer23 Aug 2026 12:40 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtqsqq2zak2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3mrl7mqk3h22gI’ve only got myself published by someone other than me! Enjoy this short story on #closetothebone https://www.close2thebone.co.uk/wp/the-getaway-driver/ #amwriting #shortstory #writersofbluesky #writing26 Jul 2026 20:24 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrl7mqk3h22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3mqmpt2sopk2yReconnecting with the typewriter. #amwriting #typewriter #writing #writersofbluesky14 Jul 2026 17:22 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqmpt2sopk2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3mplajlcaes26Happy birthday @lewisgoodall.com and thank you sharing Gowron on @lbc.co.uk01 Jul 2026 09:50 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mplajlcaes26https://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3mphe2du2x22jIt was just supposed to be a chance to cool off from the heatwave. https://open.substack.com/pub/wordsinspaceandtime/p/midnight-swim?r=3pofsb&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true #FlashFiction #ShortFiction #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #LiteraryFiction #SpeculativeFiction29 Jun 2026 20:42 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mphe2du2x22jhttps://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3mp76hhjynk2bI tend to jabber on a bit more on Substack. But struggle for time on Bluesky. Stay safe everyone https://substack.com/@wordsinspaceandtime/note/c-283137617?r=3pofsb&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action26 Jun 2026 14:41 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp76hhjynk2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3moe6w2uz5224Allow me to introduce myself #Writing #Fiction #CreativeWriting #Substack #AmWriting #essays https://open.substack.com/pub/wordsinspaceandtime/p/an-introduction-of-sorts?r=3pofsb&utm_medium=ios15 Jun 2026 21:07 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3moe6w2uz5224https://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3mnbzhcfcp22xShe asked for nothing more than a room for the night and a little food. He wanted to find out what she was up to… #fiction #flashfiction #writing #writingcommunity #amwriting https://open.substack.com/pub/wordsinspaceandtime/p/a-room-for-the-night?r=3pofsb&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true02 Jun 2026 06:59 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnbzhcfcp22xhttps://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3mlsb6l6ipc2zYou can’t outrun the past. You certainly shouldn’t forget it. But burning it is fun! #past #memories #fire14 May 2026 07:10 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlsb6l6ipc2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3ml4kbko2pk2yHe looked happy. I shot him. A short slice of London crime. #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #CrimeFiction #Noir #ShortFiction #DarkFiction https://open.substack.com/pub/wordsinspaceandtime/p/scenes-of-murder?r=3pofsb&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true05 May 2026 15:54 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml4kbko2pk2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3mkx3jg3g3c2rA letter. A justification. A version of the truth. Conspirators. A companion to my recent short story, Conspiracy. #shortstory #fiction #writing https://open.substack.com/pub/wordsinspaceandtime/p/conspirators?r=3pofsb&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true03 May 2026 11:46 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkx3jg3g3c2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3mkret3kq4s2nTime for a Friday read :) [contains quote post or other embedded content]01 May 2026 05:17 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkret3kq4s2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3mkkyzhhj6s2hAnyone using Notion for managing ideas and essays ?28 Apr 2026 16:30 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkkyzhhj6s2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3mki7pn7qec27Conspiracies promise hidden truths. But what if they’re just the wedge that opens a gap between us and the people we love? https://open.substack.com/pub/wordsinspaceandtime/p/conspiracy?r=3pofsb&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true #shortstory #writing27 Apr 2026 13:52 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mki7pn7qec27https://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3mki7pn7qec27Conspiracies promise hidden truths. But what if they’re just the wedge that opens a gap between us and the people we love? https://open.substack.com/pub/wordsinspaceandtime/p/conspiracy?r=3pofsb&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true #shortstory #writing27 Apr 2026 13:52 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mki7pn7qec27https://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3mjym5ujonc22So where do you think your favourite stories will end up? #homer #iliad #writing21 Apr 2026 08:52 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjym5ujonc22https://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3mjw66xyv3c22@mrjamesob.bsky.social on Friday you were holding Starmer to a different standard. He’s not tinkering with the machine like previous tories, trying to bend it to their will. He’s the recipient of a system he trusts. Collectively we wanted the system back, and not the foibles of an individual?20 Apr 2026 09:36 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjw66xyv3c22https://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3mjogpodvfc25Thinking about things on #substack Come join me… https://substack.com/@wordsinspaceandtime/note/c-244515755?r=3pofsb&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action #writer #amwriting #writers #writersofbluesky #writing #booksky #writingcommunity #writersnetwork #authorsky #writesky17 Apr 2026 07:48 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjogpodvfc25https://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3mjkrmgp43s2zGoing slow in a world going fast. It doesn't know where it's going, but it's going there quickly. I’m on a slower meander. Come join me. https://open.substack.com/pub/wordsinspaceandtime #amwriting #writers #writersofbluesky #writing #booksky #writingcommunity #writersnetwork #authorsky #writesky #writer15 Apr 2026 20:52 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjkrmgp43s2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3miz24veavs22It’s sunny and warm in the U.K. occasionally that happens. #amwriting #writers #writersofbluesky #writing #booksky #writingcommunity #writersnetwork #authorsky #writesky #writer08 Apr 2026 19:36 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3miz24veavs22https://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3miqj243its2iTechnology changes, humans don’t. [contains quote post or other embedded content]05 Apr 2026 10:09 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3miqj243its2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3miog6lyobs2tI've only managed around 800 words today. I have, though, managed to plan the structure and plot of the novella I’ve been struggling with for the last few weeks. Huzzah indeed! #amwriting #writers #writersofbluesky #writing #booksky #writingcommunity #writersnetwork #authorsky #writesky #writer04 Apr 2026 14:13 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3miog6lyobs2thttps://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3mijsnbtz3s2aHaving taken some very loose inspiration from Easter, here’s a little tale for the Easter weekend. Enjoy x https://open.substack.com/pub/wordsinspaceandtime/p/the-golden-egg-war?r=3pofsb&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true #amwriting #writers #writersofbluesky #writing #booksky #writingcommunity #writersnetwork #authorsky #writesky #writer #easter #scifi02 Apr 2026 18:12 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mijsnbtz3s2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3mijf3ox2qs2zEaster themed short story dropping later. Hopefully a little fun for everyone 😊 #amwriting #writers #writersofbluesky #writing #booksky #writingcommunity #writersnetwork #authorsky #writesky #writer02 Apr 2026 14:10 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mijf3ox2qs2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3mghxd6uhxc25Currently trying to shrink a 6k story into 3k for an anthology. Whilst needing to complete another 10k for my own book. I didn’t know writing would be so mathematical 😁 #amwriting #writers #writersofbluesky #writing #booksky #writingcommunity #writersnetwork #authorsky #writesky #writer07 Mar 2026 13:41 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mghxd6uhxc25https://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3mgflk5hlzc2p@mrjamesob.bsky.social from June last year, but a possible look into the why of Trump’s decisions https://open.substack.com/pub/wordsinspaceandtime/p/mr-president?r=3pofsb&utm_medium=ios06 Mar 2026 15:04 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgflk5hlzc2phttps://bsky.app/profile/wordsinspacetime.bsky.social/post/3mgbad5ol7s2fAnd putting back out there for those in a different time zone. Enjoy! #amwriting #writers #writersofbluesky #writing #booksky #writingcommunity #writersnetwork #authorsky #writesky #writer #wip #literaryfiction #horror [contains quote post or other embedded content]04 Mar 2026 21:33 +0000at://did:plc:dvsynf73nwlukoojd6nc2oi5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgbad5ol7s2f