Thank you for visiting my short story blog.
I published the first story on May 3rd 2020.
‘The Loft’, posted on 08.09.2024 was my 140th so far.
Two recent comments on stories.
“Very disturbing story. Hit home on several levels for me. Including bureaucracy’s hostility, computers and AI without humanity in the ubiquitous systems organisations live by, and the sheer sadness of age.” (JG)
Your stories “… paint much bigger pictures than 500 words. Bigger worlds and histories.” (GB)
Why 500 words? I’ve been writing for years but always long-form and had grown tired of the indulgence of unlimited words. NO, I didn’t fall for the Protestant Ethic and the spirit of capitalism – quite the opposite!
I found it a real challenge to try and create a convincing and engaging narrative in 500 words. I still love writing them – and it keeps me sane(?).
A while back someone wrote and asked me how I would describe the genre in which I wrote. It was an easy answer – ‘my own’. If I was forced to be more specific, I’d say – ‘the human condition’.
I’ve also been asked, “how long will I continue with the joy of writing?”
Well, old writers, like me, don’t fade away, we come to a full stop!
Please Note…
The characters portrayed in these literary works are fictitious.
Stories from 2025
December 2025
- Bijoux 2025>>> More
November 2025
- Broad 2025>>>More
September 2025
- When Ghosts Gather 2025>>>More
July 2025
- The Conductor 2025>>>More
April 2025
- An Albatross 2025>>>More
- The Flock 2025>>>More
March 2025
- The Stink of Musk Ox 2025>>>More
January 2025
- Might 2025>>>More
Stories from 2024
December 2024
- Reflection 2024>>>More
- The Bed 2024>>>More
November 2024
- Constance and Virgil 2024>>>More
October 2024
- In The Dark 2024>>>More
September 2024
- The Loft 2024>>> More
August 2024
- The Gambler 2024>>>More
July 2024
- What the Duck 2024>>>More
May 2024
- Taking the Biscuit 2024>>>More
April 2024
- The Dove 2024>>>More
March 2024
- Treats 2024>>>More
- A Journey 2024>>>More
February 2024
- A Forfeit 2024>>>More
January 2024
- Delayed Gratification 2024>>>More
Stories from 2023
December 2023
- The Aviator 2023>>>More
November 2023
- Meanwhile 2023>>>More
October 2023
- Redemption Song 2023>>>More
September 2023
- A Last Resort 2023>>>More
August 2023
- A House 2023>>>More
July 2023
- The Expert 2023>>>More
Jun 2023
- Forgiven 2023>>>More
May 2023
No Posts in May
April 2023
Mar 2023
- There were no stories published in March.
(because I was moving house after 27 years. It drained me, but I’m coming back)
Feb 2023
- The Incredible Shrikes 2023>>>More
Jan 2023
- The Unicorn 2023>>>More
Dec 2022
Nov 2022
Oct 2022
Sept 2022
Aug 2022
- Diamonds 2022>>>More
July 2022
June 2022
- A childhood 2022>>>More
May 2022
April 2022
- The Headstone 2022>>>More
- Kith and Kin 2022>>>More
- Sugar Loaf Mountain 2022>>>More
- School’s Out 2022>>>More
March 2022
- Missed 2022>>>More
- A Familiar Dog 2022>>>More
- Conversely 2022>>>More
- Comrades 2022>>>More
- In Memory of Ghosts 2022>>>More
February 2022
January 2022
- Marley Lives 2022>>>More
- The Escape 2022>>>More
- The Jacket 2022>>>More
- Untidy Rain 2022>>>More
- Let Them Eat Cake 2022>>>More
Stories from 2021
December 2021
- Concerto for Emilia 2021>>>More
- Fate. Phil Cosker 2021>>>More
- May Day. Phil Cosker 2021>>>More
- The Errand. Phil Cosker 2021>>>More
November 2021
- The Drain Man. Phil Cosker 2021>>>More
- Snapping. Phil Cosker 2021>>>More
- Property. Phil Cosker 2021>>>More
- Pinky. Phil Cosker 2021>>>More
October 2021
- Out of Time. Phil Cosker 2021>>>More
- Oludeniz. Phil Cosker 2021>>>More
- Mrs Windsor. Phil Cosker 2021>>>More
- Madness. Phil Cosker 2021>>>More
- Lister. Phil Cosker 2021>>>More
September 2021
- Lily. Phil Cosker 2021>>>More
- Germany Calling. Phil Cosker 2021>>>More
- Pain. Phil Cosker September 2021>>>More
- Ex Pat. Phil Cosker September 2021>>>More
August 2021
- Lawe. Phil Cosker August 2021>>>More
- A Change of Climate. Phil Cosker August 2021>>>More
- The Men in Blue Serge Suits. Phil Cosker August 2021>>>More
- The Odeon. Phil Cosker August 2021>>>More
- The Ossuary. Phil Cosker August 2021>>>More
July 2021
- Message in a Bottle. Phil Cosker July 2021>>>More
- Afterlife. Phil Cosker July 2021>>>More
- Paternoster Square. Phil Cosker July 2021 >>>More
- Snow. Phil Cosker July 2021>>>More
June 2021
- The Mirror. Phil Cosker June 2021>>>More
- Gwyther House. Phil Cosker June 2021>>>More
- Lying In. Phil Cosker June 2021>>>More
- Flies. Phil Cosker June 2021>>>More
May 2021
- Coltman St. Phil Cosker May 2021>>>More
- Chernobyl. Phil Cosker May 2021>>>More
- Ryker. Phil Cosker May 2021>>>More
- The Black Shield of Falworth. Phil Cosker May 2021>>>More
- Hair. Phil Cosker May 2021>>>More
April 2021
- Crossing the Border. Phil Cosker April 2021>>>More
- The Present. Phil Cosker April 2021>>>More
- Tea Ceremony. Phil Cosker April 2021>>>More
- A few Sherbets. Phil Cosker April 2021>>>More
March 2021
- After the Big Sleep. Phil Cosker March 2021>>>More
- Compline. Phil Cosker March 2021>>>More
- Macaroni Cheese. Phil Cosker March 2021>>>More
- What a laugh. Phil Cosker March 2021>>>More
February 2021
- Scrapbooks. Phil Cosker February 2021>>>More
- Cowboys. Phil Cosker February 2021>>>More
- P.O.W. Phil Cosker February 2021>>>Mo
- Billy Spider. Phil Cosker February 2021>>>More
January 2021
- Mary. Phil Cosker January 2021>>>More
- The Leader. Phil Cosker January 2021>>>More
- Rain. Phil Cosker January 2021>>>More
- Shooting Rats. Phil Cosker January 2021>>>More
- Harry. Phil Cosker January 2021>>>More
Stories from 2020
December 2020
- Christmas. Phil Cosker December 2020>>>More
- Happy Christmas. Phil Cosker December 2020>>>More
- Monsignori. Phil Cosker December 2020>>>More
- Sound. Phil Cosker December 2020>>>More
November 2020
- Thor. Phil Cosker November 2020>>>More
- Murder on the shore. Phil Coske November 2020 >>>More
- Wasaman. Phil Cosker November 2020 >>>More
- Repurposed. Phil Cosker November 2020 >>>More
- The school run. Phil Cosker November 2020 >>>More
October 2020
- ‘Fetch’. Phil Cosker October 2020 >>>More
- The Welsh Dresser. Phil Cosker October 2020 >>>More
- The Lift. Phil Cosker October 2020 >>>More
- Lily. Phil Cosker October 2020 >>>More
September 2020
- Homage. Phil Cosker September 2020 >>>More
- The Tank. Phil Cosker September 2020 >>>More
- The Wall. Phil Cosker September 2020 >>>More
- The Speech. Phil Cosker September 2020 >>>More
August 2020
- Runnymede. Phil Cosker August 2020 >>>More
- Lave sus Manos. Phil Cosker August 2020 >>>More
- The Garage. Phil Cosker August 2020>>>More
- Walking Rough. Phil Cosker August 2020 >>>More
- 1945. Phil Cosker August 2020 >>>More
- Emory. Phil Cosker August 2020 >>>More
July 2020
- Cats. Phil Cosker July 2020 >>>More
- Resting Place. Phil Cosker July 2020 >>>More
- The Plague. Phil Cosker July 2020 >>>More
- Empathy. Phil Cosker July 2020 >>>More
June 2020
- Emily. Phil Cosker June 2020 >>>More
- Valdemar. Phil Cosker June 2020 >>>More
- The Stretcher. Phil Cosker June 2020 >>>More
- The Funeral. Phil Cosker June 2020 >>>More
May 2020
- God. Phil Cosker May 2020 >>>More
- Cabin Fever. Phil Cosker May 2020 >>>More
- Bottle of Drink. Phil Cosker May 2020 >>>More
- Barking Mad. Phil Cosker May 2020 >>>More
- White Chairs. Phil Cosker May 2020 >>>More
April 2020
- Exposure. Phil Cosker April 2020 >>>More
Phil Cosker 