#ShortStory & flash writer of spec fic, fantasy, weird, horror, literary. Poet. Travel photographer of outdoors & places that don't seem real. Loves music, film, running, and more. Staffordshire, UK. https://AlexHarford.ukhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexharford.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexharford.bsky.social/post/3mtvyra3bzs2gThe sheer quality of Amazon's customer service. 🫠 Nearly hit by a delivery driver's van that mounted the pavement and customer service apologise "for any inconvenience caused," a phrase that often gets my goat anyway.25 Aug 2026 14:11 +0000at://did:plc:relqcjqqz5stdzdr24rnv7k5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtvyra3bzs2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/alexharford.bsky.social/post/3mtog255u522bI'm on BBC Upload tonight, interviewed and reading a poem I started at 4 a.m. on Tuesday. It's broadcast across BBC West Midlands radio including Radio Stoke. Inspiration: wildfires, parched grass at local parkrun The Wammy. I was glad to show my disdain for billionaire tech bros on the radio.22 Aug 2026 13:47 +0000at://did:plc:relqcjqqz5stdzdr24rnv7k5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtog255u522bhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexharford.bsky.social/post/3mt5f76mxuk2gMy friend Jake is offering great value flash fiction critiques to help with medical bills. His crits are up there with the best I've had. Please pass on to anyone who might be interested! #FlashFiction #WritingCommunity https://www.fiverr.com/jscoetzee/help-shape-your-story-and-improve-its-chances-of-making-it-out-of-the-slushpile15 Aug 2026 19:17 +0000at://did:plc:relqcjqqz5stdzdr24rnv7k5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt5f76mxuk2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/alexharford.bsky.social/post/3mt5f76mxuk2gMy friend Jake is offering great value flash fiction critiques to help with medical bills. His crits are up there with the best I've had. Please pass on to anyone who might be interested! #FlashFiction #WritingCommunity https://www.fiverr.com/jscoetzee/help-shape-your-story-and-improve-its-chances-of-making-it-out-of-the-slushpile15 Aug 2026 19:17 +0000at://did:plc:relqcjqqz5stdzdr24rnv7k5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt5f76mxuk2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/alexharford.bsky.social/post/3msgvb56ixs2ySo-called A.I. may be the asbestos of the 21st Century. Imagine all the future work to remove the harms it's causing. Any specfic short story (preferably flash) recommendations on the topic? It's a while since I read "The Man in Asbestos," but it describes much of the world and A.I. right now. [contains quote post or other embedded content]06 Aug 2026 20:33 +0000at://did:plc:relqcjqqz5stdzdr24rnv7k5/app.bsky.feed.post/3msgvb56ixs2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexharford.bsky.social/post/3mrhkorllbc2qOne of my favourite flash fictions I've read this year, and it's always good to see stories written for themed calls selling elsewhere. [contains quote post or other embedded content]25 Jul 2026 09:32 +0000at://did:plc:relqcjqqz5stdzdr24rnv7k5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrhkorllbc2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexharford.bsky.social/post/3mqciz4pbzk2fThe Internet has largely been great for my fiction research. From scans of medieval documents to reports on how far wind turbines can fly if they break off, even detailing how likely they are to kill someone (horror genre)! The past week, "A.I." slop both written and image make things difficult.10 Jul 2026 15:53 +0000at://did:plc:relqcjqqz5stdzdr24rnv7k5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqciz4pbzk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexharford.bsky.social/post/3mqcchyv2722yWindow = "wind's eye" from Old Norse. I love that. Health-wise, I'm always on about "break fast" to help show fasting is something our ancestors did in relation to how such fasting can help our health today. [contains quote post or other embedded content]10 Jul 2026 13:56 +0000at://did:plc:relqcjqqz5stdzdr24rnv7k5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqcchyv2722yhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexharford.bsky.social/post/3mflx6phxak22Flash fiction deserves more love at the Hugo and Nebula Awards. "Eight Legs of the Mother Hunted" by @brandoncase101.bsky.social hooked me and didn't let go. Intense and gut-wrenching. It hit home especially as our mum fought to keep a roof over the heads of my brother and I when we were kids. [contains quote post or other embedded content]24 Feb 2026 10:24 +0000at://did:plc:relqcjqqz5stdzdr24rnv7k5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mflx6phxak22https://bsky.app/profile/alexharford.bsky.social/post/3mc3riiwkvc2jAll of this - a brilliant article about "A.I." and language. [contains quote post or other embedded content]10 Jan 2026 19:43 +0000at://did:plc:relqcjqqz5stdzdr24rnv7k5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mc3riiwkvc2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexharford.bsky.social/post/3ma2eu3owos2nA couple of stunning highlights from a trip to Argentina earlier this year. The "secret waterfall" near El Chaltén, which I passed on my third day of hiking and camping the Fitz Roy Loop. Mirador El Ventisquero in the Quebrada de las Flechas, driving RN40 from Cachi to Cafayate in Salta Province.15 Dec 2025 19:34 +0000at://did:plc:relqcjqqz5stdzdr24rnv7k5/app.bsky.feed.post/3ma2eu3owos2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/alexharford.bsky.social/post/3m5236rwx4c2kGoogle AI Overviews hallucinating as usual. I won't let it poo-poo my sci-fi short story ideas. 🙃07 Nov 2025 12:26 +0000at://did:plc:relqcjqqz5stdzdr24rnv7k5/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5236rwx4c2khttps://bsky.app/profile/alexharford.bsky.social/post/3lxu4l5ftgc25I knew about the moral rights contract issues with Analog magazine et al, and this newsletter is a very insightful read on contracts for a budding pro author like me. All that and more! I agree on the "AI" aspects too. [contains quote post or other embedded content]02 Sep 2025 12:29 +0000at://did:plc:relqcjqqz5stdzdr24rnv7k5/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxu4l5ftgc25