[UPDATED 28/1/23] It’s that time again, when writers everywhere are filled with a fresh New Yearsy resolve to polish up those unfinished short stories and put work out into the world. Besides inspiration, determination and a decent supply of snacks, you also need some idea of where to aim for when ready. And so I… Read More Short story competitions 2023
[UPDATED 13/5/22] Happy New Year, happy new writing opportunities. January seems as good a time as any to plot world domnation through words. If nothing else, it can be useful to set deadlines in order to actually finish some the many drafts languishing in your files. And some competition organisers are so forward-thinking, you could… Read More Short story competitions 2022
Dear reader, I hope your Christmas has been a happy, or at least restful one. Like so many others, my household has had a visit from the Covid fairy (the worst one), but we’re making the best of it even if the festive antigen tests are outnumbering the selection boxes. I almost didn’t bother doing… Read More A farewell to 2021
Please indulge me for another brief blog post as I tell you that my short story ‘A Guide to Keeping Birds’ has come joint second in the Bournemouth Writing Prize. The report from the judges, United Agents literary agent Sophie Scard, Picador Commissioning Editor Ansa Khan Khattak and Fresher Publishing Editorial Director Emma Scattergood, said:… Read More Bournemouth Writing Prize, a final update
Greetings, fellow scribblers. I hope you’ve all had your jabs or are at least nearing the time for an appointment. I’ve been working away on a new project that I’d like to explain a bit more about at a later date because I think it will be of interest to other writers. In the meantime,… Read More Bournemouth Writing Prize 2021 shortlist
Please forgive a little trumpet blowing. It’s been quite a while since I’ve entered any competitions, and even longer since one of my entries placed, so it was a very nice surprise this evening to stumble across the longlist for the Bournemouth Writing Prize for Short Story 2021, only to discover a story of mine… Read More Bournemouth Writing Prize 2021 longlist
Word herding 