A Letter from the Editor

It seems no time at all since I was announcing Trash Cat Lit was 1yr old – back in May – yet here we are, about to cross into a new year.

This year has been amazing for the magazine. We’ve published four new issues and our first print anthology for charity, The Wildlife Trusts.

We published 63 writers new to Trash Cat – and 24 writers who were repeat bin offenders. We nominated 27 writers for awards, including newly discovered Genrepunk Awards and Monarch Queer Literary Awards.

One of our nominations from last year – for the Best Small Fictions 2025 anthology – made it all the way into the book. We are exceptionally proud of Alex Herod, you should absolutely check out her winning story – click the cow on the bridge.

2025 began with a reprints only call for our Spring General issue. We had the amazing Sarah Royston as a guest editor and she helped curate the stories we published in the Recycling Bin alongside one of her own.

Our Spring Pop-Up had the theme of Collectors and Their Collections. I was excited for that one as I am an avid hoarder collector myself. In the end, 11 incredible interpretations of the theme made the final, multi-genre issue.

Summer 2025 was hella busy! Our Summer General subs were unthemed and we published 9 short stories and 12 flash fiction. We nominated 7 of these for awards, the issue was that good.

At the same time I was reading the summer subs, I was also reading for our first print anthology. I was excited to put together an actual book for Trash Cat Lit and raise money for charity. The Wildlife Trusts was selected. While there are no indigenous trash cats in the UK, the charity helps our native wild critters like badgers, deer and songbirds.

The title for this amazing collection – What Comes to Light – is the title of one of the contributor’s stories, and summed up the eclectic and revealing nature of the stories within. The cover is from a photograph of a tenacious wild plant that takes over the battered wall of my back yard all summer.

There are 27 short fictions in the book, all interpreting the theme of treasure found in unexpected places. We plan to have an EBook version of What Comes to Light mid-2026, but for now, you can purchase a beautiful hard copy for £7.50 until the end of January. Royalties of EVERY sale go to the charity.

You can see teases of all 27 stories and the contributor bios at this page: What Comes to Light

In August, we brought back our much-loved Prompted Stories challenge. It had certainly gained in popularity and I was blown away by the number and quality of submissions. What writers can do with three weird and wonderful prompts will never not amaze me.

I ended up creating a double issue – half existing Trash Family, and half new writers – to showcase the final selection.

Such a packed summer led to me needing a break. I had attended the Flash Fiction Festival in Bristol too – which was amazing. Wall to wall flash worship and the chance to meet Trash Family members face to face. Having a chronic health issue means I can get overwhelm, and sadly this happened. I very reluctantly had to cancel the Winter General submission call.

Thankfully, I recharged to promote the print anthology and read for the very exciting last call of 2025 – CATS! I let the felines take over the bin for the duration and was not disappointed by the amazing submissions. I drafted in Trash Family member, Ian Johnson to second read the submissions and help curate the final issue which will go live on 2nd January 2026.

The Trash Family really are THE BEST out there writing short fiction and supporting the magazine. That’s why I encourage repeat offenders – when I love someone’s writing, I often want more! I have to shout out to Leigh Loveday for his idea to promote What Comes To Light (he is a contributor) and his assistance in the social media posts and promotion during December. As I say, the best.

and so to next year….

After the Feline Flash issue publishes in January, the Trash Cat Lit bins start calling for Spring – and we are not holding back!

There are THREE new submission calls coming in the early part of next year. The guideline pages will go live in a couple of days, but here are some teases of what’s coming.

Our Recycling Bin is back for reprint stories in February. Flash 100-750 words, and short stories up to 2000 words which have already been published online or in print.

Here’s the TWIST – this call is only for writers who are not currently part of the Trash Family. We are keeping those repeat offenders out of this bin, we want fresh trash! Preloved Stories & New Writers.

New for March, we are opening the Mini Bin for microfiction between 50 and 175 words. This call is open to everyone and we can’t wait to see what smol delights we receive. The turnaround for this one is also smol – a ten day sub window and we aim to publish 21st March.

Oh yeah, Prompted Stories – so good, we’re doing it twice in 2026! Same fun format – blind-chosen prompts, quick turnaround, flashes up to 500 words – with some fab additions. There’s a whole new bin (red) and a whole new Trashie (Roach) which means lots more prompts.

Something else that’s new – you’ll be able to choose your three prompts from different bins. This will mean more unique selections and, we just know, more amazing stories.

Here is the page with all the details: Calls for Prompted Stories Trashie Selection and submission links will be on here April 2026. See you then!

Stay Trashy!

It really has been quite the year. Huge thanks must go to every writer who braves the Submit button and sends their treasured words to our bins – I know how hard it can be, how daunting, and appreciate every one of you that gives us a go.

Thanks also to all the other lit mags who share our posts on social media and show what the short fiction wider family is all about.

Our Trash Family has grown so much and I’ve loved watching them achieve so much in their writing worlds. So many publications, so many award nominations, so many book releases (just look at the lists in our newsletters). They are a force of nature and I’m forever honoured to have them in the bin. I’m getting to spend more time with some of them since I set up a WhatsApp community for Trash Fam members. We cajole each other into writing and submitting and share weird – like, sometimes very weird – story ideas. Along with Story Share, Bookfinder and the Trash Family Portrait Gallery – it’s a perk of being part of the Fam.

I can’t wait to welcome new people in Spring and look forward to those repeat bin offenders popping up again. Community is what it’s all about for Trash Cat Lit – that, and incredible short fiction being showcased, from both new and experienced writers, in any genre. We sadly didn’t make the Chill Subs Best Mag lists this year, but almost every Trash Family member voted for us – and that means more to me.

Hope you have a very Happy New Year, however you choose to spend it, and you check in on the 2nd January for 20 flash about cats. Thank you for your interest and support for this wee magazine, couldn’t do it without you.

See you on the other side,

JP Relph