[Updated 16/10/18] ]It’s hard to keep track of all those deadlines, so here is an (updated) list of the main short story competitions coming up in the second half of the year. The management cannot take responsibility for any must-enter-them-all panic attacks, though I have no doubt you’re just one short edit away from victory.… Read More Short story competitions to fill the second half of your year
[UPDATED June 28] Keeping up with short story competition deadlines is a full-time occupation, and I don’t know how many things I’ve intended to enter only to forget about them until the day of/after. So I’ve decided to compile a calendar of everything I know so far that’s coming up this year. I will endeavour… Read More The unweekly herding: a list of short story competitions 2018
I’m trying to work on a book at the moment, so this latest herding is novel-related rather than short story. I’ve returned to a project I abandoned some time ago, but I’m really struggling to get back on track with it. And the fact that it’s our so-called summer isn’t helping, either. Looking out the… Read More The unweekly herding: novel ideas
The subject of this week’s herding is literary magazines – in particular, what to submit and how long to wait for a response before abandoning all hope. Making the grade Firewords literary journal has launched a podcast series which is very informative. Episode two deals with the submission process from an editor’s perspective, and the two speakers –… Read More The weekly herding: the submission mission
Eagle-eyed regular readers may have noticed something particular about my weekly news round-up – it isn’t exactly what you might call weekly. In my defence, The Utterly-Random-Whenever-I-Feel-Inclined Herding really doesn’t have the same ring to it. But as we’re here now, we might as well look at some interesting writing bits and bobs I’ve seen knocking about… Read More The weekly herding: Abraham Lincoln, the value of art and the importance of support
It’s no secret that it is difficult to earn a living as a writer. But it is particularly disheartening to hear that even established writers struggle to make ends meet, despite their seeming success. The Independent website today featured an interview with Man Booker Prize longlisted author Donal Ryan, who revealed that he has had no choice but to… Read More The weekly herding: it doesn’t pay to be a writer
For anyone starting the year with fresh writing enthusiasm, there are a lot of opportunities around at the moment in the form of short story competitions and magazines with open submission windows. So this week’s Weekly Herding looks at some of the most interesting with this special round-up (yes, I’m afraid I’m back on the agricultural references again).… Read More The weekly herding: comps and subs
Tentatively dipping a toe into 2017, The Weekly Herding is a look at all the shiny writing-related news I’ve stumbled across over the last week. And what I’ve been struck by recently is a number of exciting writing opportunities for Irish writers. Fiction at the Friary Cork-based writers may be interested in a terrific new initiative… Read More The weekly herding: back at it
There was one massive news topic on the literary landscape this week, and that was the controversial keynote speech given by US author Lionel Shriver (We Need to Talk About Kevin) at the Brisbane Writers Festival on the subject of ‘fiction and identity politics’. Far from taking the stance of inclusion expected by the festival organisers, Shriver spoke… Read More The weekly herding: we need to talk about Lionel
I’ve read some very moving editorials today marking the 15th anniversary of 9/11. Given the day that’s in it, I thought I’d share a couple of them instead of my usual writing round-up. Sometimes true stories are more remarkable than anything we can make up. One is a first-hand account in the Independent, which captures the panic and… Read More The weekly herding: 9/11
Word herding 