[Updated 2/6] There’s something very satisfying about flash fiction – really good flash can give you a tantalising glimpse of a whole world in miniature and leave you thinking about it long after reading. If this is an area you excel in, there are plenty of opportunities for you to send out your work. Here’s… Read More Flash fiction competitions 2023
[UPDATED 6/8/22] High time for a fresh round-up, I feel. Here are the novel competitions currently open for entries, with a wide variety of prizes and judges. They range from established awards like the Bridport Prize to newcomer the Cheshire Novel Prize (which ambitiously promises feedback on every single entry!). Entering competitions like this can… Read More Novel competitions for 2022
Unsurprisingly, my most read posts this year have been competition round-ups, short story awards being of particular interest. Everyone likes a list (my annual stats have quadrupled since last year as a result of featuring them), and it’s handy to have chronological guides for the main ones so you don’t have to worry about missing… Read More A farewell to 2019
I’m on a social media break at the moment for family reasons, but I had to do a quick post to tell you about a wonderful charity anthology I’m delighted to have contributed to. No Good Deed is published by literary one-stop shop Retreat West, which is run by publisher and teacher Amanda Saint. She… Read More Retreat West charity anthology ‘No Good Deed’
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
I’ve had an oddly up-and-down seven days in terms of writing. Last Friday, I found out I’d made the longlist for the Colm Toibin International Short Story Award (shortlist to be announced tomorrow, but I’m telling myself not to get my hopes up – you know yourself). Then I had the lovely news that a flash fiction piece… Read More A good – and bad – writing week
Word herding 