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 A Mish Mash of Competitions, things to do and what to read.
An Unusual Opportunity:
Snapshots of History Message to TNW subscribers from editor Sally Bland: "If you write historical short stories then this offer is for you. At Snapshots of History we run a quarterly story competition with a prize of £15. From now until Christmas we are offering TNW subscribers the opportunity of entering free of the usual fee – just quote *TNW OFFER* - details at: http://www.snapshotsofhistory.co.uk/ Like reading crime fiction? Enjoy getting behind the scenes? Want to write your own books? Welcome to Thriller School. http://www.thriller-school.com/ Portal Entertainment and Circalit search for the writers of tomorrow - £6k Global Writing Comp to create a storyworld: http://www.circalit.com/projects/competitions/immersive Rye Writers Hub provides emerging writers with a focal point - autumn calendar at - http://newwritingsouth.com/members-area/rye-hub/ 23rd Aldeburgh Poetry Festival, 4–6 November http://www.thepoetrytrust.org/events/the-23rd-aldeburgh-poetry-festival-4-6-november-2011/ COMPS & CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS The Alan Sillitoe Open Poetry Competition First prize £200, 2nd £100, 3rd £50 and £10 for runners up. The competition will be adjudicated by Ruth Fainlight and is open for submissions from now until 10 January 2012. http://www.sillitoe.com/competitions.html Words with Jam Second annual Short Story Competition. 1st prize £500 - up to 2,500 words - judge Douglas Jackson. Closing date 27 January. http://www.wordswithjam.co.uk/#/short-story-competition-2011/4550153175 10 minute play competition 2012 from New Venture Theatre, Brighton and Sussex Playwrights - open to all. Closing date 31 January 2012 http://www.newventure.org.uk/home.asp Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2012 short story competition For published and aspiring writers alike – cash prize of £500 + a place on an Arvon Foundation residential writing course of your choice + publication of your story on the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook website. All you have to do is enter a short story (for adults) of no more than 2,000 words, on the theme of ‘identity’. Closing date 14 February 2012. http://www.writersandartists.co.uk/short-story-competition-2011/ Spotlight First Page Competition Can you write a winning first page? Writing a novel? Need a little help along the way? Hoping to attract the attention of agents and publishers? We are offering one lucky winner a major showcase and invaluable input and support. Winning prize: A Stage One mentoring package worth up to £850.00 and a Spotlight (webpage) on you and your novel. Entry Requirements: The first page of your novel + one-page synopsis. Entry fee: £16.00 Deadline: 14 February. For full details including terms and conditions go to: http://adventuresinfiction.co.uk/spot.html Ward Wood Publishing - 2012 Lumen/Camden Poetry Competition judge Carol Ann Duffy - win pamphlet publication. Closing date 14 February. http://www.wardwoodpublishing.co.uk/competitions.htm Have you got a brilliant idea for a children's novel set in Scotland? Kelpies Prize 2012 now open. - deadline 29 February 2012. http://www.florisbooks.co.uk/kelpiesprize/enter.html Southport Writers’ Circle International Poetry Competition 2012 Adjudicator: Alison Chisholm. First Prize: £200, Second Prize: £100, Third Prize: £50 (In addition: £25 Humour Prize: £25 Local Prize Rules at website. Maximum 40 lines per poem. Closing date 30 April. http://www.swconline.co.uk/ Ware Poets Open Poetry Competition 2012 Closing date 30 April. Sole Judge: Dean Parkin. For poems of up to 50 lines. Prizes: £500, £200, £100 + The RedPage Sonnet Prize of £100. For further details send SAE to The Competition Secretary, Ware Poets Open Poetry Competition 2012, Clothall End House,California, Baldock, SG7 6NU. or download flyer at: http://www.poetrypf.co.uk/images/compware12.pdf 5th Chichester Writing Festival 30 March - 1 April Kate Mosse, Mark Billingham, Joanna Trollope, Francesca Simon … http://www.westdean.org.uk/Events/ChichesterWritingFestival.aspx The Agnes Owens Writing Festival dedicated to the local writer – The Kilted Skirlie, Loch Lomond Shores 26-29 March 2012. http://www.pens-inc.co.uk/writing-festival.php Pens Inc Writing Competition - theme Local Hero - judge Agnes Owens, short fiction/poems. Closing date 15 December http://www.pens-inc.co.uk/writing-competition.php Writer’s ABC Checklist Workshops Columnist and writing tutor, Lorraine Mace, and her co-author of The Writer’s ABC Checklist, Maureen Vincent-Northam, will be leading a weekend workshop at the beautiful Baskerville Hall Hotel near the book town of Hay on Wye this spring. Arthur Conan Doyle was a regular visitor to Baskerville Hall and, although the final story was set in Devon, the idea for one of his best-loved works, The Hound of the Baskervilles, was born after hearing of the local legend. Cracking the County Magazine Market covers: analysing your market, finding unique ideas to fit your county, interviewing subjects, quotes and how to use them, the value of photographs, creating an arresting outline and writing a winning query letter. That Elusive Flash of Success covers: the art of condensing a complete story into 500 words, tantalising titles, attention grabbing opening paragraphs, effective use of dialogue, characters to believe in, tiny touches to bring settings to life, satisfying endings and originality — old themes given a unique slant. The workshops will be held on Saturday 19 May 2012 with an overnight stay for attendees at the historic hotel. Places on the course are limited. The cost is £135 per person, which includes both workshops, hotel accommodation and meals. http://writersabcworkshops.lorrainemace.com/ Creative Writing Course for 2012 in SW France with Victoria Henry, Adrian Magson, Lynn Bushell. http://chez-castillon.com/courses-tariffs "Since The Write Place Creative Writing School was formed in 2009, we have strived to realise the ambition that every single student becomes a published writer. We are proud to announce that the dream has become a reality. Although many students have won competitions and had short stories or articles published, the recent launch of the ghost story book, Things That go Bump in the Night has seen 21 more students achieve publication. The collection of ghost stories showcases some fantastic writing that cover genres ranging from the downright spooky, to horror, romance and comedy. Available as a download from Amazon, at only £3.16, this anthology of short stories has already reached number one in horror anthologies rankings. The Write Place holds classes at the Mick Jagger Centre in Dartford and welcomes anyone wishing to learn how to write or how to take their writing further down the path to publication." Catherine Burrows www.thewriteplace.org.uk London Writers’ Workshop - Schedule for 2012 Basics in Creative Writing: One-day workshop, as useful for the novice writer as for those looking to pick up tips and strategies on how to become better at their craft. How to Write and Pitch TV Drama: Over two sessions professional scriptwriter Susan Oudot will show you not only how to develop your idea into a script but how to pitch it to the industry. Writing Science Fiction: One-day workshop during which bestselling SF author David Wingrove shows how it’s done. Developing Your Writing Skills – 4-Week Course http://londonwritersworkshop.co.uk/ You'll be pleased to know that by popular demand, A STAGE KINDLY are returning to their roots with a spectacular New-Writing Revue to take place at the award winning King’s Head Theatre (now London’s Little Opera House) on April 7th. We are currently seeking outstanding material to present in the coming revue and would like to invite you to submit your work. This exclusive revue is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your work in London. www.astagekindly.com The Write Place: Creative Writing School was established to provide inspiration, information and encouragement for writers. Some of our students are published writers. All our students take their writing very seriously and are driven by the desire to get published. http://www.thewriteplace.org.uk/page2.htm Simone Mansell Broome came 2nd in the Country Living magazine poetry competition in aid of the charity Farm Crisis Network, and judged by the editor of Country Living - Susy Smith, Christopher Somerville and Kate Clanchy. http://www.simonemb.com/ What's on at the Writers' Centre in Norwich - upcoming events including big name events, a year round schedule of creative writing workshops and courses. http://www.writerscentrenorwich.org.uk/Events-all/ TNW'S editor Suzanne Ruthven has been appointed Commissioning Editor for the Compass Books imprint of O Books. Compass Books for new writers focuses on practical and informative ‘how-to’ books for writers. Written by experienced authors who also have extensive experience of tutoring at the most popular creative writing workshops, the books offer an insight into the more specialised niches of the publishing game. All submissions for Compass Books should come initially in the form of a biography, synopsis and full chapter breakdown to suzanneruthven@eircom.net. Writers' guidelines can be found at http://www.o-books.com/obooks/submissions Acorn Independent Press is helping budding authors to brave their first novel through a free scheme. Authors signing up for the Write Your Novel This Year newsletter will receive monthly emails focusing on different aspects of the novel-writing process and exercises to get them started. There will also be feature tutorials, tips and advice to keep them on track. Writers can sign up on Acorn Independent Press’ website: http://www.acornselfpublishing.com/sign-up-to-our-newsletters/ National Short Story Week 7-13 November 2011 http://www.nationalshortstoryweek.org.uk/index.htm Once Upon A Wartime: Classic War Stories for Children runs from 11 February to 30 October 2011 at Imperial War Museum London. http://wartime.iwm.org.uk/ Six Minute Magazine, a new ezine and print magazine dedicated to bringing you the very best, and newest flash fiction the community has to offer. Independently run, and without the support of unyielding advertisements, we bring you quality fiction that can be read in under six minutes, as well as a number of helpful guides on creating and polishing your work. Our staff strive to bring you quality information, and entertaining, cutting edge fiction. And from time to time, a laugh here and there! So welcome, light that cigarette, get that cup of coffee, or just find that comfy corner you call home and enjoy some great fiction. Submission Guidelines at: http://www.sixminutemagazine.com/contact Welcome to Stuff. The Poetry Trust's latest news, events, podcasts and publications. http://www.thepoetrytrust.org/stuff Diamonds and Pearls: A Sparkling Collection of Short Story Gems (Accent Press) edited by Elaine Everest Publishing today, this collection supports a breast cancer charity which is in keeping with the theme of the book. Elaine called upon well known fiction writers from the world of women's magazines worldwide to help her celebrate 30 years of her survival from breast cancer. Already the book is receiving interest from the media and looks to sell really well. Some of the published writers from The Write Place - Get Published class are featured in the book. Details and a free extract: http://www.accentpress.co.uk/category-7/9781907726583.html New Online Poetry Reading Group http://www.poetrybookshoponline.com/news/79/new_online_poetry_reading_group_january_2011_choices/ London Writers' Workshop Widely-acclaimed novelist David Wingrove, and professional scriptwriter Susan Oudot offer a range of top quality workshops for the novice writer, those with a special interest in writing and selling short stories, as well as writers looking to take their writing to the next level. www.londonwritersworkshop.co.uk In Issue II, Some Ways to Disappear (ISSN 2044-4354) continues its meandering journey through the everyday, attempting to weave fractured visual narratives with episodes of absurdity to create a rug that might be either hilarious or terrifying, we're not quite sure. In fact, it might not even be a rug, it could be a jumper, but in that case it wouldn't be woven, it would probably be knitted, or something. Bringing together specially commissioned writing alongside never published before photographic works, this second issue features Brooklyn-based photographer and writer, Charlie Engman, with his photo series, Stereogram, and short story, Whoopi and Me. It presents the brand new prose poem, SOFT SECOND SERVE, written specifically for the issue by the youngest ever British poet to be shortlisted for the Forward Prize for Best Collection 2007, Luke Kennard. http://somewaystodisappear.tumblr.com/ The Young Writers' Hub from NAWE is a news-driven resource and information directory for writers aged between 16 and 25. http://www.nawe.co.uk/young-writers-hub.html The Poetry Book Society is one of the casualties of the Arts Council cuts, losing the £111,000 it got this year. The Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy is clearly angry: "This news goes beyond shocking and touches the realms of the disgusting. The PBS was established by T S Eliot in 1953 and is one of poetry's most sacred churches with an influence and reach far beyond its membership. This fatal cut is a national shame and a scandal and I urge everyone who cares about poetry to join the PBS as a matter of urgency." You can sign a petition to Save the Poetry Book Society here: http://www.petitiononline.co.uk/petition/save-the-poetry-book-society/2631 # The Director of National Association of Writers in Education (NAWE), Paul Munden, responds to news of total funding cut from 2012. TNW says do whatever you can to protest at this unbelievable decision. http://www.nawe.co.uk/DB/nawe-news/arts-council-funding.html Academi, the literature promotion agency and society for writers, has joined with Ty Newydd Writers’ Centre to form a new national organisation known as Literature Wales - http://www.literaturewales.org/home/i/138757/ A group of writers have come together to form the Historical Writers' Association - membership details at http://www.thehwa.co.uk/ Really good to see our Prose & Poetry Prizes 2009 judge Vanessa Gebbie in this list of 12 of the best British short story writers. http://www.booktrust.org.uk/show/feature/Home/British-short-stories-booklist Our congratulations to Roshi Fernando (Impress Books) who is shortlisted for the Sunday Times Short Story Award 2011. Prior to this, Roshi won the Impress award to find new writing talent; The Impress Prize for New Writers in 2009. All the other authors (six in total) on the shortlist are prize-winning names including Booker Prize winner Hilary Mantel. http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/public/article378469.ece Find out how to enter the 2011 Impress Prize at: http://www.impress-books.co.uk/prize.html New independent publisher Mythmaker is looking for new writers to submit original children's and young adult fiction. http://www.mythmakerpublications.com/ The Manchester Fiction Prize 2011 will award a cash prize of £10,000 to the writer of the best short story of up to 3,000 words, open internationally to both new and established writers aged 16 or over. The story can be on any subject, and written in any style, but must be fiction and new work, not previously published, or submitted for consideration elsewhere during this competition. http://www.manchesterwritingcompetition.co.uk/fiction/ Rickshaw Publishing We are now officially on the hunt for quality submissions to entertain and enthral our in-house team. So all you unpublished wordsmiths out there: fire up you Interweb machines, read our submissions policy and get sending. We’re looking for authors that show bags of potential – without necessarily having a finished book – but please think how to give your projects the best chance of getting picked up. http://www.rickshawpublishing.co.uk/?q=node/57 COMPS & CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS CheerReader Once every quarter, we have a short story competition. The maximum story length is 2500 words, and you can write about any subject genre you like, but remember it has to be amusing, witty, funny, or whatever other word you may care to choose. http://cheerreader.co.uk/Competitions.aspx Foreign Flavours Call for Submissions for the Writers Abroad 2011 Anthology 'Foreign Flavours', fiction and non fiction on Food, Drink & Cooking. Entry is free, and whilst there is no payment, proceeds from the publication of the charity will be donated to The Book Bus Charity. Acclaimed author Alexander McCall Smith will be writing foreword. Guidelines at: http://www.writersabroad.com/foreign-flavours-submissions.htm Border Collie Rescue – Submissions required Indigo Dreams Publishing are seeking submissions for a new book – Because of Border Collies – which will be published to aid the work of Border Collie Rescue charity. The book will be subject related and comprise poetry, anecdotes, humour, short stories, case histories as prose, and a few black and white line drawings. Poetry to 40 lines please and prose to 1200 words – 1500 in exceptional circumstances. Please do not focus on death of a loved pet as it is highly unlikely these will be selected. Please send contributions to publishing@indigodreams.co.uk and include BOBC only in the heading. This is important as it will automatically transfer to the working folder. Any queries please email ronnie@indigodreams.co.uk INTERNET & IN PRINT Guardian's new book website for children Content designed to encourage child-to-child reading … Michael Morpurgo, whose books include War Horse and Private Peaceful, said: "This new Guardian site will open up the world of books to children. It is wonderful to see a newspaper offering something for children and taking children’s books seriously. Sharing and reading stories from the earliest age can transform a child’s life." http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/childrens-books You can enter info about your reading group, book club, writing group at this new website: http://www.readinggroups.org/ Kudos is now quarterly: more pages, more information, more time to plan ahead, still same price - http://www.kudoswritingcompetitions.com/ Paraxis is a new online publisher of short stories. We relish fiction with elements of the strange, uncanny or fantastic. We will be featuring new stories, reprints, artwork and essays. http://www.paraxis.org/ Me and My Short Stories Scott Pack reviews short story collections at: http://meandmybigmouth.typepad.com/shorts/ The Short Review Each monthly issue of the short review brings you original reviews of new, not-quite-so-new and classic collections and anthologies, written by reviewers many of whom are also short story writers themselves and who love short fiction. http://theshortreview.com/index.html History In An Hour is a series of e-books and apps to help the reader learn the basic facts of a given subject area. Take World War Two as an example, exactly what was Dunkirk about, or the Normandy Landings? During the Cold War, what happened during the Cuban Missile Crisis, why was there a wall in Berlin? In 1066, what exactly did William the Conqueror conquer? It's here in a straight, narrative, chronological order. No embedded links to divert your attention, nor a daunting book of 600 pages with a 35 page introduction. Just straight in, to the point, sixty minutes, done. This is ‘history for busy people’. Then, having absorbed the basics, you may feel inspired to explore further. The site contains a growing bank of articles, covering different aspects of history. If you would like to contribute yourself (either an ebook or an article for the blog) please contact History In An Hour and tell us your area(s) of interest: http://www.historyinanhour.com/submissions.html Meanwhile, give yourself sixty minutes and see what you can learn... http://www.historyinanhour.com The Keys by Teresa O'Brien (Breton Books) This extraordinary first collection of stories establishes Teresa O`Brien as an intriguing writer worthy of wide attention. From a woman tacking her sailboat through a storm towards home, to a mother`s aching for her worldly child, to the pain of love seen through mist over water or weathers of the heart these are forward driving stories enmeshed in loneliness, sympathy, and care. Once read, they will not easily let the reader go. Two stories included in the collection were previously published by The New Writer. The Warpknitter (TNW 73), a story about the relationship between Chris and Elizabeth. Artists, lovers, for several years, Chris's star has dimmed and he is about to embark on an affair with a woman who, he thinks, will imbue his work with much needed passion. Elizabeth, obsessed with the intricate and delicate in her work, is on the cusp of a major breakthrough just as her relationship with Chris is disintegrating. Snow Days (TNW 81). A 'snow day' is a term colloquially used in Canada for a day when schools are closed due to a heavy snowfall. The story follows a mother as she remembers the joy of having her son at home on those days and her contemplation of his life now as he lives - blithely optimistic - his life with Aids. The collection is available through www.capebretonbooks.com - see this page: https://www.capebretonbooks.com/index_fiction.jsp?pager.offset=36 Poetry and Story Therapy: The Healing Power of Creative Expression by Geri Giebel Chavis (Jessica Kingsley Publishers) Poetry and short stories can act as powerful springboards to growth, self-enhancement and healing. With the guidance of a facilitator, participants can engage with their own creative expression, and with that of others, and in doing so find opportunities to voice their truth, affirm their strengths, and find new ways of coping with challenges. This accessible book explores the therapeutic possibilities of poetry and stories, exploring ways of selecting appropriate works for discussion, and providing techniques for facilitating personally relevant and growth-enhancing sessions. The author provides ideas and suggestions for personal writing activities that emerge from or intertwine with this discussion, and explains how participants can create their own poetic and narrative pieces using other media, such as music, photographs, film, paintings, objects, and physical movement. The book references a wide variety of specific poems, short stories and films to use as prompts to creative writing, and contains a useful bibliography of poetry collections, story anthologies and film resources as well as a list of further resources and template feedback forms. http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781849058322?utm_campaign=Chavis_Poetry-and-Story-Therapy_Mar11_NUC&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=CM_jessica-kingsley-publishers&utm_content=Chavis_Poetry-and-Story-Therapy_Mar11_NUC Active indie publisher Indigo Dreams Publishing have recently released several poetry collections including Fixing Things by Roger Elkin, A Slither of Air by Alison Lock and Whale Language: Songs of Iona by Angela Locke. They have also published Roselle Angwin’s novel Imago after the previous publisher went into receivership. Imago’s outline: It starts out innocently enough: a late summer party on a Devon riverbank, a full moon. But two things happen as a result of that night: Annie’s husband is killed, and the ‘accident’ jolts her into a 700-year-old ‘memory’ that will take her to the Pyrenees and the inferno at the heart of the Cathar inquisition, into a turbulent love affair, and towards another encounter with death. Details of all of these and more at www.indigodreamsbookshop.com They also have an exciting future list which includes collections from Char March and Ann Pilling plus fiction from photographer/singer/writer Paula Rae Gibson, Frances Galleymore, James Lawless and Deborah Harvey. Indigo Dreams are always on the lookout for quality work and are particularly seeking novels and non-fiction with a USP. Full details of how to submit at www.indigodreams.co.uk Ian Seed's new collection of poetry, Shifting Registers, is out now: "The mystery and sadness of empty rooms, chance encounters in the street, trains traveling through a landscape of snow become magical in Ian Seed's poems. Influenced by European surrealism, (the poetry of Reverdy, the paintings of De Chirico and Picasso's classical period come to mind) they strike a complex chord that is completely original: 'the hand whic | Return Home | Competitions | Submissions Fee | Members Page | books | Helpful Tips for Writers | |
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