Novel Kicks Writing Room: Things Left Behind
Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.
Today’s writing exercise is all about “the thing left behind”.
Write a short piece of fiction inspired by this sentence:
When they opened the door, everything was exactly as they had left it—except for one thing.
Write for 20 minutes.
Use either first person or third person.
Set the scene in one location.
Include at least one object that carries emotional significance.
Let the reader discover what has changed gradually.
End with a revelation, decision, or unanswered question.
by 
Courses & Competitions: Mslexia & Granta 2026
I’m delighted to be bringing you details of the latest competitions and courses.
Are you a writer looking to submit your work for competition? Is it something you’ve thought about but you’re not sure where to look? Well, I have just the suggestion for you.
Mslexia are currently running their women’s fiction competitions for 2026.
There are three categories to choose from: Short Story, Flash Fiction and Novel. The closing date for all of the choices below is 23.59 (GMT) on 21st September 2026.
Short Story –
This is your opportunity to submit an unpublished complete short fiction piece of up to 3,000 words.
The entry fee is £14.
Get this, the first prize is £3,000. Three additional finalists will receive £150. Plus, the winning entry and three finalists will feature in the December 2026 edition of Mslexia as well as Mslexia’s eBook anthology due to be published in December 2026.
Eight additional short-listees will receive £75 and be included in the 2026 edition of Mslexia and the anthology.
The judge will be Ingrid Persaud.
For more information on how to enter along with all the rules and such, visit Mslexia.co.uk.
Flash Fiction –
Alternatively, maybe flash fiction is more your thing.
This is for unpublished complete short fiction of up to 300 words.
Entry costs £8.00.
The winner will receive £1,000 with three additional finalists winning £100 each. Eight short-listees will each get £50.
Like with the short story option, the winner, three finalists and the eight short-listees will feature in the December 2026 edition of Mslexia as well as Mslexia’s eBook anthology due to be published in 2026.
The judge will be Sherrie Flick.
For more details on how to enter and to see all the rules, visit Mslexia.co.uk.
by Book Review: My Chance to Fly By Samantha Tonge
I’m very excited to be welcoming Samantha Tonge to Novel Kicks as we celebreate the publication of her latest book, My Chance to Fly.
A BRAND NEW sparkling, uplifting story about love, friendship and learning to spread your wings from Samantha Tonge✨🦋 Perfect for fans of Shari Low, Faith Hogan and Evie Woods!
Una Lowe lives a perfectly edited life in London. Other than her best friend, she’s careful about who she lets in. Emotional complications are just that – complicated. That is, until she rescues a rare white swallow… who might have just flown in to change her life.
Because, when her beloved swallow fails to return from migration one year, Una’s world crumbles. But a viral social media campaign brings a miraculous response from a man in Bavaria named Konrad, who claims the bird has also visited him. Which leads him to invite Una to his picturesque village for the chance to see their shared feathered friend together.
Stepping out of her comfort zone, Una flies to Germany. Amidst snow-dusted streets, local festivals, and Konrad’s undeniable charm, Una’s protective walls begin to fall down.
But when the complication she’s avoided her whole life comes for her, she’s forced to confront her deepest fears. As autumn turns to winter, and inspired by the tiny, brave bird that brought them together, Una must decide if she is finally ready to risk her heart.
Is the only way to know if you can fly to face a possibility of falling…?
*****
Una is the type of person that likes everything orderly. Her joy in life is a barn swallow named Blue. When Blue doesn’t return by the beginning of the autumn, Una begins to worry. Then help comes from the most unlikely of places.
I have to say, I am a bit of a fan of Samantha Tonge’s novels and couldn’t wait to get going on her latest book, My Chance to Fly.
Can I just give some love to this cover. It’s beautiful.
by Book Review: The One Where They Fall in Love By Cristina Wolf
Cristina Wolf and her blog tour have joined us today as I review her latest book, The One Where They Fall in Love.
You never know when love may come knocking…
Hopeless romantic and romance editor Elle Thompson lives for happy endings—but real-life love? Not so much. But that doesn’t mean she isn’t thrilled when her best friend gets engaged. Really. Not jealous at all.
Meanwhile, Oliver Cole likes things a certain way. Schedules and routines and order. So when his move back to New York is disrupted with the unwelcome addition of Thor—the dog his sister adopted for him—he’s less than enthused. Even less enthused than Oliver? His neighbour, Elle.
When Elle can’t bear to hear Thor howling all night, the two agree to strike a deal: she’ll dog-sit while he’s on shift.
But what starts as a reluctant arrangement soon turns into late-night chats, sizzling chemistry, and two lonely hearts daring to let each other in.
*****
As a book editor, Elle Thompson is a deliverer of happy endings. She adores the romance genre she works in. She just wished her own life reflected the happiness of the characters she helps bring to life. Oliver Cole is not sure what to make of his new neighbour. He’s got a lot going on in his life and has no mental bandwidth to deal with it. Then he meets Elle.
The One Where They Fall in Love was my introduction to Cristina Wolf. It was the premise and genre that got me excited to be part of the blog tour for this novel. I couldn’t wait to get started. This type of book is the reason I love running Novel Kicks. It allows me to discover new authors like this one.
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: The Person
Welcome to Fiction Friday, our weekly flash fiction challenge.
Here’s how it works:
Set a timer for five minutes and start writing
Keep going for as long as you can once the timer goes off
No editing allowed—raw writing only
When you’re finished, feel free to share in the comments (but there’s no pressure.)
Today’s Prompt: The Person
Every weekday morning for three years, a person has walked the same route through the same park at the same time. The dog walkers, the joggers, the woman who feeds the pigeons — they all recognise them. They never stop, never sit down, never break their pace. Then one Tuesday, they stop at a bench, sit down, and wait. Ten minutes later, another person arrives and sits beside them.
by Book Club
