A fresh beta version of Literature and Latte's Scrivener creative writing software for Windows (and Linux, if that's your thing) is now available. It's a free download and will be active until 15th August 2011. You can find more details and download the program here: http://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivenerforwindows/.
Naturally, if you're a Mac kinda person, Scrivener is available here, in version 2.0 (there's a free trial and a for-purchase version). Whichever way your operating system preferences lie, Scrivener is worth at least playing with.
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Spirit of the Marsh poetry competitions
This annual Lincolnshire-based festival of alternative therapies / healing (among other things) is again running a set of poetry competitions with different themes for different age groups. Prizes include VIP tickets to the festival. More details can be found here and here. Closing date is 6th July 2011.
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Paul Cobley: Narrative
Cobley, Paul, Narrative (London: Routledge, 2001), 267 pages, 978-0415212632
Narrative, part of the Routledge New Critical Idiom series, is a straightforward and largely chronological primer on a range of approaches to narrative theory. Sections tackle in turn some basic principles, narrative before the novel, the development of the novel, realist, modernist and post-modern approaches to narrative, narrative and cinema and a look forwards to fully digital worlds. It’s perhaps more useful to literature students as background reading than to creative writers (though the section on modernism particularly is illuminating), though as a one-volume introduction to some, at times, dense theory, this is a very good place to begin for anyone interested in the mechanics of story.
Monday, 27 June 2011
Poetry and Journalism competitions
The inaugural Ballymaloe International Poetry Prize is now open, with submissions closing 31st December 2011. The first prize is €2,000 and the winner and two runners-up will be invited to a special event in March 2012. Full details are available here: http://www.themothmagazine.com/a1-page.asp?ID=2763&page=14
The Nottingham Poetry Society Open Competition 2011 is now accepting entries of previously unpublished poems of 40 lines or under. First prize is £300. Full details can be found here: http://nottinghampoetrysociety.wordpress.com/competitions/
The GG2 Leadership & Diversity Journalism Award is open to all young journalists (under the age of 30) and will go to a new talent who has proved to be outstanding in print, online, radio or television journalism. To apply, complete the website questionnaire and submit three samples of your work. Deadline is 9th 2011. The winner will receive a bursary cheque of £500 from the Daily Mail and will have the chance, if appropriate, of a week's work experience on the newspaper. Full details are available here: http://gg2.net/awards/index.php?page=Journalist
The Nottingham Poetry Society Open Competition 2011 is now accepting entries of previously unpublished poems of 40 lines or under. First prize is £300. Full details can be found here: http://nottinghampoetrysociety.wordpress.com/competitions/
The GG2 Leadership & Diversity Journalism Award is open to all young journalists (under the age of 30) and will go to a new talent who has proved to be outstanding in print, online, radio or television journalism. To apply, complete the website questionnaire and submit three samples of your work. Deadline is 9th 2011. The winner will receive a bursary cheque of £500 from the Daily Mail and will have the chance, if appropriate, of a week's work experience on the newspaper. Full details are available here: http://gg2.net/awards/index.php?page=Journalist
Friday, 24 June 2011
Touchfreeze
I'm not a touch typist, but rather one of those kinds of people who has to look at the keyboard when I'm writing something. And I tend to use my thumbs for the space bar and the touchpad on a laptop. So every now and again I hit the touchpad and it sends the cursor off somewhere annoying, which can mean in turn that I've jumped back a sentence or two and have typed into something I've already written. This, as you can imagine, gets annoying after after a while, particularly when I'm more prone to it on some machines than others.
Turns out that a cure's been out there for a while. There are probably plenty of other utilities that perform a similar function, but I've been using Touchfreeze, a free utility to download that temporarily disables the touchpad while the keyboard's in use. Stop typing, and the touchpad's back in play Simple as that. If you're afflicted with a similar issue, give Touchfreeze a go.
Turns out that a cure's been out there for a while. There are probably plenty of other utilities that perform a similar function, but I've been using Touchfreeze, a free utility to download that temporarily disables the touchpad while the keyboard's in use. Stop typing, and the touchpad's back in play Simple as that. If you're afflicted with a similar issue, give Touchfreeze a go.
Willesden Herald Short Story Prize 2011/12
Though the submissions period doesn't open until September, competition details for this year's Willesden Herald Short Story Prize have been unveiled. Previously unpublished short stories of up to 7,500 words are sought. There's no set theme.
The contest organisers have arranged for celebrated author Roddy Doyle to judge the competition, which offers anthology publication to the ten best stories. The overall winner will also receive £300 and a special mug, and there are two additional runners-up prizes of £150.
Full details are available here. The submissions period runs from September 1st 2011 until December 16th 2011.
The contest organisers have arranged for celebrated author Roddy Doyle to judge the competition, which offers anthology publication to the ten best stories. The overall winner will also receive £300 and a special mug, and there are two additional runners-up prizes of £150.
Full details are available here. The submissions period runs from September 1st 2011 until December 16th 2011.
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Beak Books / Aurora Metro Virginia Prize novel competitions - for previously unpublished writers
Today, two new opportunities for previously unpublished novelists:
Beak Books Novel Competition
Beak Books is a new independent publishing company looking for unpublished writers. To facilitate this search, they've announced details of a first novel competition: 60-100,000 words in any genre except SF, horror, children's fiction or crime. There are small cash prizes for the winner and runners-up, plus an offer of publication to the winner. You can find full details here: http://www.beakbooks.co.uk/beakbookscompetitions.html
Aurora Metro Virginia Prize for Fiction
The Virginia Prize for Fiction is now accepting novel-length submissions from women writers aged 18 and over. Manuscripts must be complete, written in English and previously unpublished. First prize is £1,000 and a conditional offer of publication. Closing date for receipt of entries is 15th July 2011. You can find full competition details and download an entry form here: http://www.aurorametro.com/March_10_Version/Virginia_Prize_Rules.html
Beak Books Novel Competition
Beak Books is a new independent publishing company looking for unpublished writers. To facilitate this search, they've announced details of a first novel competition: 60-100,000 words in any genre except SF, horror, children's fiction or crime. There are small cash prizes for the winner and runners-up, plus an offer of publication to the winner. You can find full details here: http://www.beakbooks.co.uk/beakbookscompetitions.html
Aurora Metro Virginia Prize for Fiction
The Virginia Prize for Fiction is now accepting novel-length submissions from women writers aged 18 and over. Manuscripts must be complete, written in English and previously unpublished. First prize is £1,000 and a conditional offer of publication. Closing date for receipt of entries is 15th July 2011. You can find full competition details and download an entry form here: http://www.aurorametro.com/March_10_Version/Virginia_Prize_Rules.html
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Penguin Ireland / RTE Guide Short Story competition
From RTE's website: http://www.rte.ie/ten/2011/0611/shortstory.html
The winning short story in the Penguin Ireland/RTÉ Guide competition will be published in the RTÉ Guide and on TEN (The Entertainment Network) and the winner will be presented with a special trophy and prize.
Rules: All entries for the 2011 RTÉ Guide/Penguin Ireland Short Story competition should be original, unpublished and previously not broadcast short stories in English of 2,000 words or less. Manuscripts must be typed and cannot be returned.
Entrants name and contact details (address, phone and/or email) should be on a separate page.
The closing date is 6pm, July 15. Send your entries to: RTÉ Guide/Penguin Ireland Short Story Competition, Box 1480, RTÉ Guide, RTÉ, Donnybrook, Dublin 4.
I can't find a reference anywhere (on the RTE or Penguin Ireland sites) to a restriction on entry (for example, the competition being restricted to writers based in Ireland only). If anyone's got any information on this, please let me know and I'll amend the posting.
The winning short story in the Penguin Ireland/RTÉ Guide competition will be published in the RTÉ Guide and on TEN (The Entertainment Network) and the winner will be presented with a special trophy and prize.
Rules: All entries for the 2011 RTÉ Guide/Penguin Ireland Short Story competition should be original, unpublished and previously not broadcast short stories in English of 2,000 words or less. Manuscripts must be typed and cannot be returned.
Entrants name and contact details (address, phone and/or email) should be on a separate page.
The closing date is 6pm, July 15. Send your entries to: RTÉ Guide/Penguin Ireland Short Story Competition, Box 1480, RTÉ Guide, RTÉ, Donnybrook, Dublin 4.
I can't find a reference anywhere (on the RTE or Penguin Ireland sites) to a restriction on entry (for example, the competition being restricted to writers based in Ireland only). If anyone's got any information on this, please let me know and I'll amend the posting.
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Joe Hill: Horns
Hill, Joe, Horns (London: Gollancz, 2010), 435 pages, 978-0575099999
Ig Perrish has it all; the younger son of a well-respected session musician, with a TV star brother and a gorgeous girlfriend, the woman he’d been seeing since high school. He might not have too much purpose in life as yet, but a six-month stint working for Amnesty International will sort that out too. And then everything changes. We pick Ig up a year on, a year in which he’s spent hiding in plain sight in his home town, the chief and only suspect in the murder of Merrin, his partner. Ig wakes up one day and puts his hands to his head. And he discovers he’s started to grow a pair of horns, and with the horns, the ability to get people to tell him their innermost secrets and the talent to be able to hive them convincing suggestions as to what to do about them. Ig soon realises that he can do more than this; that he can put his new skills to purpose and find out what happened the night Merrin died.
Horns is a lot of fun, not least with the way it juxtaposes big ideas centring around temptation and its possibilities with a folksy small-town American charm. Some might be turned off a little by the way that Horns can take a very literal approach at times and perhaps also in the moments when it ducks into genre reverentiality rather than doing its own thing throughout, but with a focus on strong well-drawn and motivated characters and on moral choices rather than on action or on linear plotting, this is a work that genuinely adds something , with appeal to horror fans and wider fiction readerships alike.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Storytelling
An idea of mine (well, it's original to me and I've not seen it anywhere else) that's proved useful once or twice in workshop sessions and in coming up with ideas for my own stories is using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs for story-generation purposes.
Now you may well know the Hierarchy; it's kind of a psychology cliché, a warhorse of an idea that's been used over and over.
The Hierarchy is essentially a system of levels of different kinds of needs (physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem and self-actualisation being the ones most often cited). The Hierarchy's been expressed in many different ways and sometimes the contents differ, but for our purposes here, these'll do just fine.
Often, the Hierarchy is shown/expressed as a pyramidic diagram:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs - source
the idea being that the higher you go up, the harder it is to fully realize those needs and have them met. I remember being in a class years ago when we did a questionnaire designed to place us within this system; most people in the group came out hovering between love/belonging and esteem.
The relevance/reliability of the theory isn't at debate here (there's plenty of places on the web that'll do that for you). The interest comes in adopting the Hierarchy for generating conflict in storytelling; essentially inverting the pyramid. Many kinds of stories deal with a want or a need: boy wants girl, woman needs money to buy a present for a sick neighbour and so on.
So the idea is this; use the pyramid to help work out what's going to work in your story for your characters. For a want (an external desire), go up the pyramid, for a need (something the character must have, whether they know it or not) try going down. Move across, if you like: a person can be well-loved by their family, but not like themselves, for example. And there's a conflict source right there for you.
Think in terms of three kinds of conflict. Now not all stories will have space for all three kinds (internal to the character, external to the character, environmental to the character), but maybe pick the one or two that feel most compelling to you to write about. And see what develops from there.
Now you may well know the Hierarchy; it's kind of a psychology cliché, a warhorse of an idea that's been used over and over.
The Hierarchy is essentially a system of levels of different kinds of needs (physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem and self-actualisation being the ones most often cited). The Hierarchy's been expressed in many different ways and sometimes the contents differ, but for our purposes here, these'll do just fine.
Often, the Hierarchy is shown/expressed as a pyramidic diagram:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs - sourcethe idea being that the higher you go up, the harder it is to fully realize those needs and have them met. I remember being in a class years ago when we did a questionnaire designed to place us within this system; most people in the group came out hovering between love/belonging and esteem.
The relevance/reliability of the theory isn't at debate here (there's plenty of places on the web that'll do that for you). The interest comes in adopting the Hierarchy for generating conflict in storytelling; essentially inverting the pyramid. Many kinds of stories deal with a want or a need: boy wants girl, woman needs money to buy a present for a sick neighbour and so on.
So the idea is this; use the pyramid to help work out what's going to work in your story for your characters. For a want (an external desire), go up the pyramid, for a need (something the character must have, whether they know it or not) try going down. Move across, if you like: a person can be well-loved by their family, but not like themselves, for example. And there's a conflict source right there for you.
Think in terms of three kinds of conflict. Now not all stories will have space for all three kinds (internal to the character, external to the character, environmental to the character), but maybe pick the one or two that feel most compelling to you to write about. And see what develops from there.
All Romance "Just One Bite" Paranormal Romance Short Story Competition
From the All Romance website, a writing opportunity for those out there interested in writing paranormal romance:
Authors are wanted for All Romance's Just One Bite Short Story Contest! Thirty-two of the short stories submitted will be deemed "Semi-Finalists" and released onto the AllRomance.com and OmniLit.com websites on October 1, 2011.
Readers will then vote for their favorite short stories during 5 rounds of voting with the field being narrowed at the end of each round. The first prize winning author will receive $1000 US. The second prize winning author will receive an iPad 2. The third prize winning author will receive a $100 eBook Bucks Gift Certificate redeemable either at AllRomance.com or OmniLit.com.
Competition submissions will be accepted between July 1 and September 1, 2011. Each title must be an original, never before published paranormal romance work between 2,500 and 3,000 words and will be marketed exclusively by All Romance/OmniLit. Authors can access the terms and submissions forms via this page. Stories selected as one of the 32 will be released for voting on October 1.
Questions can be directed to: cat.johnson@allromanceebooks.com
Monday, 20 June 2011
British Airways Great Britons Olympic short film screenplay competition
The British Airways / London 2012 Olympics short film competition is now open.
As the website says: “We want you to write an original and innovative film script charting London's journey to The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“Think what this means - overnight you will become a recognised British film writer. The film will be shown on BA flights in the run up to, and during, the London 2012 Games, while an edited version will also be shown as a pre-landing film.
“Your film will also be used as part of the official London 2012 Sports Presentation Programme as well as being a part of the pre-show to the Opening Ceremony. This means it will be shown on screens in the Olympic Park, entertaining spectators and reaching a combined international audience of millions.”
Full details of the competition here: https://greatbritons.ba.com/about_film
BlueCat Screenwriting Competitions
This year BlueCat offer two written analyses for each competitoon submission. Two different readers will read each script, with each reader providing written feedback. All screenplays submitted in the first week, by Midnight June 22nd, will receive their feedback by Wednesday, July 6th.
Winner receives $10,000, with four finalists receiving $2,000 each. The best screenplay from the UK will be awarded the Cordelia Award and will receive $1,000. The best screenplay from outside the USA, Canada and the UK will be awarded the Joplin Award and will receive $1,000.
Every entrant who submits by August 1st is eligible for our Title contest, where three scripts will be awarded $250, as voted on by current BlueCat entrants.
One writer will be awarded a live, staged reading with professional local actors at Screenplay Live in Rochester, New York, as part of the 360|365 George Eastman House Film Festival. The prize includes travel, hotel and a $250 stipend.
Any screenplay submitted early can be resubmitted by November 15th, 2011. Resubmission entries will also receive one analysis.
The regular deadline is October 15th, with a final deadline is November 15th. Details of how to enter and a sliding scale of entry fees are here: http://www.bluecatscreenplay.com/submissions/call_for_entries.php
Friday, 17 June 2011
Writing competitions with July/August 2011 closing dates
Friends of Morley Literature Festival Short Story Competition 2011
Closing Date: 1 July 2011
Prizes: 1st, £50 / 2nd, £25 / 3rd, £10
For stories of up to 3000 words (no minimum). Winners will be informed by 30 September 2011. Prizes will be presented at the Morley Literature Festival in October 2011. Winning entries will be published in the Morley Observer newspaper.
Address: FM LITFEST, 84 Rein Road, Tingley, Wakefield, WF3 1JA
E-mail: fmlitfest@yahoo.com Send an e-mail to request PDF entry form.
2011 Spilling Ink Review Short Story Prize
Closing Date: 1 July 2011
Prizes: 1st, £250 + publication + free print anthology / 2nd, £125 + publication + free print anthology / 3rd, £50 + publication + free print anthology.
All shortlisted entries will be published and will receive a free copy of the print anthology.
For short stories with a maximum length of 1500 words. There is no theme. All styles (including experimental) and genre-based fiction (mystery, crime, fantasy, science fiction, historical) are welcome.
For more infomation go to: http://spillinginkreview.com/competitions/2011-spilling-ink-short-story-prize/
Mere Literary Festival 2011 - Biennial Open Poetry Competition
Closing Date: 4 July 2011. Prizes - Open Section: 1st, £200 / 2nd, £100 / 3rd, £50 / Runners-Up, 3 x £15
For poems on any topic to a maximum of 40 lines. Visit: www.merelitfest.co.uk for more details.
The Elmet Poetry Prize
Closing Date: 15 July 2011. Prizes: 1st, £300 / 2nd, £100 / Runners-Up, £50
For unpublished poems of no more than 40 lines on the theme of Connections.
Visit: http://www.calderdale.gov.uk/community/libraries/readers/poetry-competition/index.html for full details and entry form.
Closing Date: 31 July 2011. Prizes: 1st, £400 / 2nd, £50 / 3rd, £50
For stories up to 2500 words on any theme, but no stories for children. It is not necessary to have a connection to Scotland, either in the location of the theme or the entrant. Visit: www.hissac.co.uk for more details.
Brighton COW Summer Loving Writing Competition
Closing Date: 31 July 2011
A free-to-enter competition for stories about love. Stories with a minimum of 500 words and a maximum of 1000. You don't have to be a Barbara Cartland - your story can be soppy, romantic, dark, uplifting or depressing - or even terrifying, much like love itself. Visit www.brightoncow.co.uk for more information.
The 2011 Unbound Press Flash Fiction Award
Closing Date: 1 August 2011.
For fiction up to a maximum of 500 words. There is no theme. All styles (including experimental) and genre-based fiction (mystery, crime, fantasy, science fiction, historical) are welcome. Entries may be submitted via email or post. International submissions are welcomed but all entries must be written in English. As a condition of submitting, the author agrees that Unbound Press has permission to publish the material online and in print. For full details visit http://unboundpress.com
The Biographers' Club Tony Lothian Prize 2011
Closing Date: 1 August 2011
Prize: £2000
The Tony Lothian Prize supports uncommissioned first-time writers working on a biography.
For further details and entry form visit www.biographersclub.co.uk
Closing Date: 12 August 2011. Prize: £10,000. For original short stories up to 3000 words. Open internationally to new and established writers aged 16 and over. Visit www.manchesterwritingcompetition.co.uk/fiction for more information.
Sid Chaplin Short Story Competition
Closing Date: 31 August 2011. Prizes: 1st, £300 / 2nd, £150 / 3rd, £75
There will be prizes for the best entries submitted by juniors (writers of different age groups between 8 and 17 years on 31/08/11). In addition there will be a prize for the best entry from a resident within the Parish of Shildon for both the adult and junior categories.
For short stories of not more than 3000 words.
Entry fee: £2.50 (juniors free). Cheques payable to Shildon Town Council.
Address: Shildon Town Council, Council Offices, Civic Hall Square, Shildon, County Durham, DL4 1AH
The Aesthetica Creative Works Competition
Closing Date: 31 August 2011. Prize: £500 plus additional prizes
For fiction of no more than 2000 words in length. The winner and finalists will be published in the Aesthetica Creative Works Annual. To enter: http://www.aestheticamagazine.com/creativeworks
The 35th Annual Salopian Open Poetry Competition
Closing Date: 31 August 2011
Prizes: 1st, £200 / 2nd, £100 / 3rd, £50. Six consolation prizes of £25 will be paid to six runners up. All nine winners will receive a free copy of the Winter issue of Salopeot which will contain all nine winning poems.
Poems not exceeding 40 lines. The competition is open to everyone over the age of 15 years. Entries must be in English and be your own original work, and must not be entered into any other competition, nor have been a prize winner in any other competition. Visit www.thesalopianpoetrysociety.webeden.co.uk for full details.
Gemini Magazine Third Annual Flash Fiction Contest
Closing Date: 31 August 2011. Grand Prize: $1000.
Fiction to a maximum length of 1000 words, with no restrictions on content, style or genre. Entries must be previously unpublished. Both new and established writers are welcome. Six finalists will be published online in the October 2011 issue of Gemini.
Visit www.gemini-magazine.com/contest.html for full details.
Thursday, 16 June 2011
Keith Thomas: Religion and the Decline of Magic
Thomas, Keith, Religion and the Decline of Magic (London: Penguin University Books, 1973), 853 pages, 978-0140551506
Religion and the Decline of Magic is an immense work, over eight hundred pages documenting social and cultural shifts in England and Wales between the late medieval era and the end of the seventeenth century. In turn, Thomas documents change in religion from pre-Reformation Catholicism to post-Restoration Anglicanism, the changing roles and functions of magical beliefs, in the importance of astrology and of prophecy, in witchcraft, healing and sorcery, in beliefs in ghosts and folklorish creatures.
Thomas gives abundant detail, drawing on court reports of the time and a range of primary and secondary sources in bringing together a detailed verbal landscape of a country evolving in its beliefs, customs, rituals, organisation and its relationship to the seasons and to the supernatural. Though not obsessed with quirky detail and by no means a straightforward collection of bygone myths and odd occurrences, there’s a constant delight and fascination with the ways people tried to make sense of their surroundings and tried to exert some control over their lives.
Thomas’s conclusions are interesting; that though such factors as creeping urbanisation and industrialisation were important, and that a developing scientific understanding of the world becomes evident, they don’t tell the whole story. For Thomas, these practices effectively ran their course and were proved irrelevant over time and that, as much as any other factor, a developing rationalist sense of the world provoked a search for alternatives rather than those alternatives driving out what had gone before.
The work isn’t without its issues; the comparisons used repeatedly between sixteenth century English magical practices and mid twentieth century Western anthropological writings on African tribes may read as, at best, a product of the time of the book’s compilation; the sheer scope and the detail presented here may be daunting , but if you’ve got an interest in religion, in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in particular, in magic, witchcraft, astrology and/or folklore, either as social practices or as source material for storytelling, this is an essential resource.
Pottermore: what's JK Rowling up to?
Let the speculation commence!: http://www.youtube.com/JKRowlingAnnounces
British Short Screenplay Competition 2011
Though the earlier (and cheaper to enter) deadline has passed, there's still plenty of time to submit a short film script for the KaosFilms 2011 British Short Screenplay Competition. The rules are simple enough: original complete scripts with a screen running time of between five and fifteen minutes. Entries must be in English. The final closing date is 31st July 2011.
The winning screenplay will be produced and given a premiere at BAFTA before touring film festivals around the world. There are ten runners-up prizes of screenwriting software. You can find full details at the KaosFilms website.
The winning screenplay will be produced and given a premiere at BAFTA before touring film festivals around the world. There are ten runners-up prizes of screenwriting software. You can find full details at the KaosFilms website.
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
OK, O.K., okay...
Minor bugbear-type grumble. That little word that means the giving of assent, agreement; that word which may be expressed wither as a couple of letters or as a four-letter word. You know the one I mean. There are whole books about it, including OK: The Improbable Story of America's Greatest Word by Allan Metcalf (which I haven't read yet, but am almost guaranteeing, by typing this up, that I will). It's short (the word, I mean), easily recognizable and in fairly standard usage across the English-speaking world and beyond.
So why can't folks be consistent in their spelling? And, more to the point, why are so many consistently using gibberish instead of a combination of letters that have some shared meaning? OK. O.K. Okay. All fine with me, especially if they're used consistently by the same person in the larger piece that they're writing. But to see, over and over, use of "ok" instead...well, it's facepalm time as far as I'm concerned.
What's "ok" supposed to mean? It's not phonetic (see any of the others for details) and can just as easily be pronounced "ock" as any other way. It's not expressive, and can't be well accessorised with an exclamation mark for assertive emphasis. Is pressing and holding down the shift button for the space of two keystrokes, or the additional load of adding "-ay" to make something comprehensible just too much? Have we all become ee cummings fans, for one word only? Why can't folk take a moment to re-read what they've written to check for readability?
Maybe it's just me. A frowning stickler for communication. Mind you, getting that off my chest has made me feel ... fine. Perhaps I should go and read that book now.
So why can't folks be consistent in their spelling? And, more to the point, why are so many consistently using gibberish instead of a combination of letters that have some shared meaning? OK. O.K. Okay. All fine with me, especially if they're used consistently by the same person in the larger piece that they're writing. But to see, over and over, use of "ok" instead...well, it's facepalm time as far as I'm concerned.
What's "ok" supposed to mean? It's not phonetic (see any of the others for details) and can just as easily be pronounced "ock" as any other way. It's not expressive, and can't be well accessorised with an exclamation mark for assertive emphasis. Is pressing and holding down the shift button for the space of two keystrokes, or the additional load of adding "-ay" to make something comprehensible just too much? Have we all become ee cummings fans, for one word only? Why can't folk take a moment to re-read what they've written to check for readability?
Maybe it's just me. A frowning stickler for communication. Mind you, getting that off my chest has made me feel ... fine. Perhaps I should go and read that book now.
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Impress Prize for New Writers 2011
There's just (and only just) enough time to enter the 2011 Impress Prize for New Writers. The closing date is 17th June 2011 and the competition organizers are looking for unpublished writers (working either in fiction or in non-fiction) who can develop a book-length project for 2012 publication.
In the first instance send a proposal and a 6,000 word writing sample to the publishers (who are based at the University of Exeter).
You'll find full details here: http://www.impress-books.co.uk/prize.html. Good luck!
In the first instance send a proposal and a 6,000 word writing sample to the publishers (who are based at the University of Exeter).
You'll find full details here: http://www.impress-books.co.uk/prize.html. Good luck!
2012 Minotaur Books / Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition
Minotaur Books (a MacMillan imprint), together with the Mystery Writers of America, is seeking a new crime novelist in this competition open to writers worldwide. Entrants should be 18 or over and have not previously published a novel-length piece of fiction. Novels of 220 pages / 60,000 words or more are sought where murder or another serious crime or series of crimes is at the heart of the novel. First prize is publication and a $10,000 advance against future royalties. Competition entries must be postmarked no later than 30th November 2011 and received by 15th December 2011. Full details and the competition rules can be found here: http://us.macmillan.com/Content.aspx?publisher=minotaurbooks&id=4933
Sunday, 12 June 2011
Mslexia 2011 Women's Novel Competition
As their website says, the 2011 Mslexia Women's Novel Competitions is open to unpublished women novelists writing in any genre for adults, including literary fiction, women’s fiction, young adult fiction, science fiction, fantasy, chick-lit, crime fiction, thriller, historical fiction... but not nonfiction or fiction for under 13s.
The first prize is £5,000.
To constitute a novel, your book must total at least 50,000 words. The closing date is 30th September 2011 and there's an entry fee of £25.
To enter, send up to 5,000 words – which must be the first 5,000 words of your novel. Please make sure you have finished the novel before you send your entry.
Judges include broadcaster Jenni Murray, novelist Sarah Waters and literary agent Claire Alexander. There are more details here: http://www.mslexia.co.uk/whatson/msbusiness/ncomp_active.php and you can find the full competition rules here: http://www.mslexia.co.uk/whatson/msbusiness/ncomp_rules.php
Saturday, 11 June 2011
Scrivener update
Ah, I might well be sold. A few weeks ago I downloaded the Windows beta of Scrivener, a neat bit of writing software from the good folks at Literature and Latte. And I did say at the time that I'd post back on how I'd got on with the program.
Now, Scrivener was originally written for Mac, and fine and dandy as the Apple world may well be, it's not for me. I've even got a Mac, a nice white hunk of plastic, and where I work in the daytime, Apple computers are seen as the canine's gonads. That said, I can't get on with the things. I might be missing out. I may well be behind the times. I am probably resistant to incessant marketing. And my needs are simple, computer-wise; word-processing, internet access, ability to play DVDs and music. And that's it. The mechanism by which these things are accomplished is irrelevant to me. I like, in short, my technology invisible.
So back to Scrivener. Summary: it works. It isn't a replacement for a decent bit of word-processing software for final draft output, but for getting your ideas together it's pretty fine and dandy. This isn't the place for running through specs and whatnot, but as some one who's had a month of on/off playing around with the Windows version (which lags behind the native Mac version in terms of functionality), it's fun to use, easy to learn and crucially, intuitive.
I'll be buying the Windows full version when it comes online. It's inexpensive, (£30/$45 - ish) and I reckon it aids productivity. But don't believe me. Play with the free beta test version and make your own mind up. Otherwise, there are details here.
Now, Scrivener was originally written for Mac, and fine and dandy as the Apple world may well be, it's not for me. I've even got a Mac, a nice white hunk of plastic, and where I work in the daytime, Apple computers are seen as the canine's gonads. That said, I can't get on with the things. I might be missing out. I may well be behind the times. I am probably resistant to incessant marketing. And my needs are simple, computer-wise; word-processing, internet access, ability to play DVDs and music. And that's it. The mechanism by which these things are accomplished is irrelevant to me. I like, in short, my technology invisible.
So back to Scrivener. Summary: it works. It isn't a replacement for a decent bit of word-processing software for final draft output, but for getting your ideas together it's pretty fine and dandy. This isn't the place for running through specs and whatnot, but as some one who's had a month of on/off playing around with the Windows version (which lags behind the native Mac version in terms of functionality), it's fun to use, easy to learn and crucially, intuitive.
I'll be buying the Windows full version when it comes online. It's inexpensive, (£30/$45 - ish) and I reckon it aids productivity. But don't believe me. Play with the free beta test version and make your own mind up. Otherwise, there are details here.
Friday, 10 June 2011
Genre fiction opportunities
Today, a range of opportunities / calls for submissions from some publishers who specialise in romance, horror, crime and SF.
Avon Romance
All sizes of fiction, from short stories to full novels are sought for e-publication from the romance specialists. Details: http://www.avonimpulse.com
Moth Publishing Northern Crime Competition
Crime novelists in the north of England are invited to submit the first chapter/first 3,000 words of their crime novel for this competition, which has a £1,000 prize and a publishing contract on offer. Closing date is 31 August 2011, and details are available at: http://www.mothpublishing.com/competition.aspx
Inceptus Press
Inceptus specialise in fantasy and SF, horror and romance genres and are interested in novellas and full novels. More details at: http://inceptuspress.blogspot.com/p/general-submissions.html
One Buck Horror
This e-book anthology series is serious about horror fiction up to 3,000 words. Full details at: http://www.onebuckhorror.com/submissions/fiction
May December Publications
Zombie-themed fiction is the priority here (though other horror is accepted), for electronic publication. Novelettes (9-14,000 words) and novellas (up to 40,000 words) as well as full-length novels are of interest. Read the submissions guidelines at http://www.maydecemberpublications.com/submissions/ which has full details and the publisher's latest requirements.
Avon Romance
All sizes of fiction, from short stories to full novels are sought for e-publication from the romance specialists. Details: http://www.avonimpulse.com
Moth Publishing Northern Crime Competition
Crime novelists in the north of England are invited to submit the first chapter/first 3,000 words of their crime novel for this competition, which has a £1,000 prize and a publishing contract on offer. Closing date is 31 August 2011, and details are available at: http://www.mothpublishing.com/competition.aspx
Inceptus Press
Inceptus specialise in fantasy and SF, horror and romance genres and are interested in novellas and full novels. More details at: http://inceptuspress.blogspot.com/p/general-submissions.html
One Buck Horror
This e-book anthology series is serious about horror fiction up to 3,000 words. Full details at: http://www.onebuckhorror.com/submissions/fiction
May December Publications
Zombie-themed fiction is the priority here (though other horror is accepted), for electronic publication. Novelettes (9-14,000 words) and novellas (up to 40,000 words) as well as full-length novels are of interest. Read the submissions guidelines at http://www.maydecemberpublications.com/submissions/ which has full details and the publisher's latest requirements.
Thursday, 9 June 2011
Periodic Table of Storytelling
It may be familiar to some of you, but if you haven't seen the full Periodic Table of Storytelling from the good folks at TV Tropes, then pop over to http://computersherpa.deviantart.com/art/Periodic-Table-of-Storytelling-203548951
Writing competitions - novels, short stories and plays - deadlines June to November 2011
A bit of a mixed bag of creative writing opportunities today: something for the short story writer, the novelist, and the playwright. Enjoy!
Duality 5: Style
Duality is an Edinburgh-based project that produces books of short stories and illustrations based on a theme. For Duality 5 they've chosen the theme of 'style'. Contributions of no more than 5,000 words before the deadline date of 31st July 2011 are sought. More details on the Duality website at http://www.dualitythebook.co.uk/coming-soon
Trinity College London International Playwriting Competition One-act plays are sought in two categories: for performers aged 11 and under, and for audiences aged between 12 and 16. Winners in each category will receive £1,000 and have their play published; there is a range of runner-up prizes. Deadline for entry is 1st September 2011 and full details are here: http://www.trinitycollege.co.uk
Duality 5: Style
Duality is an Edinburgh-based project that produces books of short stories and illustrations based on a theme. For Duality 5 they've chosen the theme of 'style'. Contributions of no more than 5,000 words before the deadline date of 31st July 2011 are sought. More details on the Duality website at http://www.dualitythebook.co.uk/coming-soon
Trinity College London International Playwriting Competition One-act plays are sought in two categories: for performers aged 11 and under, and for audiences aged between 12 and 16. Winners in each category will receive £1,000 and have their play published; there is a range of runner-up prizes. Deadline for entry is 1st September 2011 and full details are here: http://www.trinitycollege.co.uk
Nemesis Publishing Debut Novel Competition Previously unpublished authors are invited to submit their novel (any genre) by 14th August 2011. Six will be shortlisted, with an overall winner announced in November. The prize is publication during 2012. Details: http://www.nemesispublishing.com
There's just time to enter a short story for The Guardian Annual Short Story Collection. They're looking for original and unpublished short fiction of no more than 2,000 words. Deadline for entry is 13th June 2011 and details are here: http://bit.ly/ltM0Ox
The Ruth Rendell Short Story Competition for 2011 has been announced. Stories of up to 1,000 words (in any genre) are invited. The winner will receive £1,000 and a commission to write four more stories for stroke recovery charity InterAct. Closing date for entries is 29th October 2011. More details are available here: http://www.interactreading.org.uk
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Poetry competitions July - October 2011 closing dates
I'm not one for poetry myself, but it's about time I started including more poetry competitions in these listings; after all, any vehicle that gets people expressing themselves on paper or on screen can only be a good thing.
National Poetry Competition
First prize £5,000. Open to anyone 17 and older. Poems of up to 40 lines. Closing date 31st October 2011.
Full details: http://www.poetrysociety.org.uk
Nottingham Open Poetry Competition
First prize £300. Deadline 30th September 2011. Full details: http://www.nottinghampoetrysociety.wordpress.com
John Clare Trust Poetry Prize 2011
Poems of up to 20 lines on the theme of 'celebration'. Three age categories (under 11, 11-18, over 18). Closing date is 15th July 2011. Full details: http://www.clarecottage.org
National Poetry Competition
First prize £5,000. Open to anyone 17 and older. Poems of up to 40 lines. Closing date 31st October 2011.
Full details: http://www.poetrysociety.org.uk
Nottingham Open Poetry Competition
First prize £300. Deadline 30th September 2011. Full details: http://www.nottinghampoetrysociety.wordpress.com
John Clare Trust Poetry Prize 2011
Poems of up to 20 lines on the theme of 'celebration'. Three age categories (under 11, 11-18, over 18). Closing date is 15th July 2011. Full details: http://www.clarecottage.org
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Christopher Fowler's Story Course
A heads-up on author Christopher Fowler's excellent blog and in particular his five-part online short story tutorial.
Fowler's the man responsible for the Bryant & May series of mysteries, plus loads of thriller and horror titles and several excellent compilations of short story work. There's a complete bibliography here.
Also featuring on the blog is a useful set of posts outlining his approach to short fiction. You can find these posts here. Give them a read; you won't be disappointed.
Fowler's the man responsible for the Bryant & May series of mysteries, plus loads of thriller and horror titles and several excellent compilations of short story work. There's a complete bibliography here.
Also featuring on the blog is a useful set of posts outlining his approach to short fiction. You can find these posts here. Give them a read; you won't be disappointed.
Monday, 6 June 2011
Canongate Books Young Writers' Competition 2011
Canongate Books and Don’t Panic have joined forces to uncover talented teenage writers and a potential literary star of the future. Writers aged 16-19 are invited to enter either a short story or extract of no more than 3,000 words. The story or extract must be previously unpublished, and not simultaneously entered for any other competitions.
The winner will receive a one-to-one consultation with Canongate’s Senior Fiction EditorFrancis Bickmore, £150 worth of Canongate books and their story will be published on Canongate and Don’t Panic websites. The first and second runners-up will receive £100 and £50 worth of Canongate books. All winners will receive a signed copy of Ben Brooks’ debut novel, Grow Up.
The judges will be Canongate Editor Francis Bickmore, Deputy Editor of Dazed and Confused Tim Noakes, and Canongate teen author, Ben Brooks. Entries must be submitted by 1st July 2011.
Full details here: http://www.dontpaniconline.com/canongate_young_writers
Sunday, 5 June 2011
2012 Mississippi Review Prize
2012 MISSISSIPPI REVIEW PRIZE: $1000 in fiction and $1000 in poetry and publication in the print edition
Our annual contest is open to all writers in English except current or former students or employees of the University of Southern Mississippi. Fiction entries should be short stories of 8,000 words or less; poetry entries should be three poems totaling 10 pages or less. There is no limit on the number of entries you may submit. Fee is $15 per entry, payable to Mississippi Review. Each entrant will receive a copy of the prize issue (for $10 additional get a one year subscription to the magazine). No manuscripts will be returned. Results will be posted on our website. Please do not send a SASE. Previously published work is ineligible. Deadline is December 1st 2011. Winners will be announced March 2012. Publication is scheduled for June 2012.
Please put "MRPRIZE 2012," name, address, phone, e-mail address, and title on page one of each manuscript. Please do not include a cover page. These are complete guidelines. Questions? E-mail elizabeth@mississippireview.com. Send entries to MR Prize at the address below.
Send entries to:
2012 Mississippi Review Prize
118 College Drive # 5144
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
Our annual contest is open to all writers in English except current or former students or employees of the University of Southern Mississippi. Fiction entries should be short stories of 8,000 words or less; poetry entries should be three poems totaling 10 pages or less. There is no limit on the number of entries you may submit. Fee is $15 per entry, payable to Mississippi Review. Each entrant will receive a copy of the prize issue (for $10 additional get a one year subscription to the magazine). No manuscripts will be returned. Results will be posted on our website. Please do not send a SASE. Previously published work is ineligible. Deadline is December 1st 2011. Winners will be announced March 2012. Publication is scheduled for June 2012.
Please put "MRPRIZE 2012," name, address, phone, e-mail address, and title on page one of each manuscript. Please do not include a cover page. These are complete guidelines. Questions? E-mail elizabeth@mississippireview.com. Send entries to MR Prize at the address below.
Send entries to:
2012 Mississippi Review Prize
118 College Drive # 5144
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
Sky Arts and IdeasTap: £30,000 bursary for young artists
IdeasTap, the online arts and funding organisation for young creatives, have teamed up with Sky Arts to launch a new bursary for young artists.
The Sky Arts Ignition: Futures Fund will offer five young artists £30,000 each to fund their work for a full year. The fund is open to artists aged 18-30 living in the UK and Ireland, and is designed to bridge the gap between formal education and becoming a working artist.
The Sky Arts Ignition: Futures Fund is open to individual artists working in visual art, theatre, performance art, film, music, dance or literature.
The scheme will provide each artist with a mentor from Sky, who will help develop their skills and knowledge in the arts and commercial sector. The artists will also have the opportunity to showcase their work on Sky Arts – be it on TV, online or on demand.
The deadline for applicants is 19th September 2011. Two winners will be selected during this round of funding. The next round will open in early 2012 from which three further winners will be chosen.
For more information, and to apply for the Sky Arts Ignition: Futures Fund please visit: www.ideastap.com/skyartsfuturesfund
It’s free to become an IdeasTap member and just takes a few minutes - sign up here: www.ideastap.com/Register
The Sky Arts Ignition: Futures Fund will offer five young artists £30,000 each to fund their work for a full year. The fund is open to artists aged 18-30 living in the UK and Ireland, and is designed to bridge the gap between formal education and becoming a working artist.
The Sky Arts Ignition: Futures Fund is open to individual artists working in visual art, theatre, performance art, film, music, dance or literature.
The scheme will provide each artist with a mentor from Sky, who will help develop their skills and knowledge in the arts and commercial sector. The artists will also have the opportunity to showcase their work on Sky Arts – be it on TV, online or on demand.
The deadline for applicants is 19th September 2011. Two winners will be selected during this round of funding. The next round will open in early 2012 from which three further winners will be chosen.
For more information, and to apply for the Sky Arts Ignition: Futures Fund please visit: www.ideastap.com/skyartsfuturesfund
It’s free to become an IdeasTap member and just takes a few minutes - sign up here: www.ideastap.com/Register
The Last Symbol, by Dan Brown
Say what you like about Brown, he must be doing something right. He’s pleasing a lot of people with his Robert Langdon books, and pretty much single-handedly reinvented the modern-chase-after-ancient-secret thriller subgenre. This time out, Langdon’s in Washington DC USA
No, it’s not great art, but it functions as a brilliant machine, at least for the first 200 pages. Punchy sentences, short chapters which cross-cut between the hare and the assorted hounds all combine well to push the narrative forwards. That said, the villain’s easily guessable and Langdon doesn’t actually do much in the second half of the book. The book’s aggressively pro-Masonic stance may pass some by, annoy others and intrigue others still more, though it’s perhaps refreshing to have a conspiracy theory about secret plotters who are supposed to be decent, progressive seekers after truth than maniacial nutters after world domination/one million dollars etc. Best read in a single sitting, perhaps – the pacing’s much more effective this way – with a glass of something to hand.
Friday, 3 June 2011
Charlie Kaufman scripts online
A big fat tip of the hat to my man John Ashbrook (AKA Cellulord) for this but it's too good not to pass on. Charlie Kaufman's scripts are online. You can find them via here: http://cellulord.blogspot.com/2011/05/being-charlie-kaufman.html and if you've not seen the resultant films, by all means do so. My favourite? Adaptation, for loads of reasons. But, that's like just my opinion. Thanks again to John for the heads-up. And, indeed, to Mr K, for a) doing that there writing thing and b) sharing.
Writing competitions fiesta
The Alan Titchmarsh Show People’s Novelist Competition launched, closing 1st July, criteria at http://www.harpercollins.co.uk/News_and_Events/News/Pages/HarperCollins-and-Alan-Titchmarsh-Launch-Novelist-Competition.aspx
Myriad Editions competition for a first graphic novel in progress by a writer over 18 of any nationality but resident in the UK.
http://www.myriadeditions.com/FGNC
Well Versed is the weekly poetry column of daily UK newspaper the Morning Star, published every Thursday, in print and online. Poetry editor Jody Porter. Under the stewardship of the late and esteemed John Rety, Well Versed developed into a widely-read forum for new and established writers. Send submissions, with biographical information, to: wveditor@gmail.com Poems need not be overtly political, but space is limited so they must be short to medium in length. http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/
£10,000+ Writers' Awards launched by Stephanie Hale of Oxford Literary Consultancy to find new writing talent.
http://www.oxfordwriters.com/awards/
Unbound is a new way of bringing authors and readers together. Unbound is a new way of connecting with writers. Most of the writers on our site will be well known, others will appear here for the first time.
What's different is that instead of waiting for them to publish their work, Unbound allows you to listen to their ideas for what they'd like to write before they even start. If you like their idea, you can pledge to support it. If we hit the target number of supporters, the author can go ahead and start writing (if the target isn't met you can either get your pledge refunded in full or switch your pledge to another Unbound project).
http://www.unbound.co.uk/
The 2011 Luke Bitmead Writer’s Bursary now open for entries.
First 3/4 chapters of a novel by 31 August.
http://www.legendpress.co.uk/
IdeasTap, the online arts and funding organisation, has teamed up with Sky Arts to launch a new bursary for young artists. The Sky Arts Ignition: Futures Fund will offer five young artists £30,000 each to fund their work for a full year. The fund is open to artists aged 18-30 living in the UK and Ireland, and is designed to bridge the gap between formal education and becoming a working artist. The Sky Arts Ignition: Futures Fund is open to individual artists working in visual art, theatre, performance art, film, music, dance or literature. The deadline for applicants is 19th September 2011. Two winners will be selected during this round of funding. The next round will open in early 2012 from which three further winners will be chosen.
http://www.ideastap.com/Opportunities/Brief/f5eebaff-7f13-40bb-bfa8-9ef10145a8b1#Overview
The University of East Anglia (UEA) and Guardian Masterclasses have joined forces to offer a series of courses that will be accredited by the UK's leading university for creative writing. The starting point for this ground-breaking initiative has involved the creation of three distinct course levels – introductory, intermediate and advanced – all of which will be taught by respected, award-winning writers including Bernardine Evaristo, Adam Foulds, Sarah Hall, Gillian Slovo.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian-masterclasses/uea-guardian-masterclasses
Guardian Weekend Summer Fiction Special Short story up to 2,000 words by 13th June, UK residents only ...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/may/14/fiction-special-short-story-competition?CMP=twt_gu
The VS Pritchett Memorial Prize £1,000 for an unpublished short story from UK/ROI residents of up to three years.
Deadline 30 June - rules and entry form at
http://www.rslit.org/content/pritchett
Flash Fiction: 250 words inc title
Closing date 30 June.
Fee: £3 single entry. £12 for six entries.
Prize: 1st £75, 2nd £15, runners up £5. Publication opportunities.
Email entry and Paypal payment via competitions page at www.earlyworkspress.co.uk OR entry fees as cheques (made out to Kay Green) with paper copy to Earlyworks Press, Creative Media Centre, 45 Robertson Street, Hastings Sussex TN34 1HL
Don't forget to include contact details, inc email if possible. For full details, please visit the Competitions page at: www.earlyworkspress.co.uk
Lionel Penrose Prize for a Short Story on Global Peace
This prize was created in memory of Professor Penrose, an eminent geneticist and one of only four psychiatrist Fellows of the Royal Society in the last century. He chaired the Medical Association for Prevention of War, a predecessor of Medact.
Looking for optimistic stories of around 2500-3500 words that will inspire the public to work towards peace. It should contain some factual information about the peace movement, such as important figures, achievements or failures. However fictional elements are equally welcome. You can take an original approach but some important points at website.
The prize is open to all but the story should not previously have been published. The first prize is £500, second prize is £300 and winning stories will be published in Medact's Communiqué. Closing date 1 July 2011.
http://www.medsin.org/news/451
Short Story Competitionmax 1500 words, UK entrants only, theme is Tunbridge Wells and surrounding area.
Closing date 1 July. £3 entry fee.
http://www.tunbridgewellswriterscircle.co.uk/
Hissac Annual Open Short Story Competition
of the Highlands & Islands Short Story Association
£400 first prize. Closing date 31 July. 2,500 word max.
Entry fee: £5 per story or £12 for 3
No connection to Scotland required, either by entrant or theme. Entries can be posted or submitted on-line. Full details on the website or send SAE to 20 Lochslin, Balintore, Easter Ross IV20 1UP.
Payment by cheque of Paypal via the website
www.hissac.co.uk
The 9th Annual Seán Ó Faoláin Short Story Competition 2011The competition is open to original, unpublished and unbroadcast short stories in the English language of 3,000 words or fewer. The story can be on any subject, in any style, by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world.
Closing date 31 July.
http://www.munsterlit.ie/SOF%20Page.html
New Eastbourne Writers 2nd National Short Story Competition Theme: ‘Lucky Break.
Maximum Length: 1500 words
Prizes: £100, £50 and £25; website publication of winning entries
Fee: £5 per entry/£7 for two.
Closing date 27 August. Judge: Vanessa Gebbie
http://www.neweastbournewriters.co.uk/
Earlyworks Press Memoir & Journalism CompetitionA story from your or your family's experience or a journalistic piece on a crrent event or issue in the news. Max 2000 words
Closing date 30 August.
Fee: £5 per entry.
Prize: 1st £100, 2nd £50 runners up £10
Email entry and Paypal payment via competitions page at www.earlyworkspress.co.uk OR entry fees as cheques (made out to Kay Green) with paper copy to Earlyworks Press, Creative Media Centre, 45 Robertson Street, Hastings Sussex TN34 1HL
Don't forget to include contact details, inc email if possible. For full details, please visit the Competitions page at: www.earlyworkspress.co.uk
Wellington Town Council Short Story Competition 2011Open to all. Max 4,500 words. Closing date 31 August.
Entry fee £3, prizes £150, £100, £75.
Go to the home page
http://www.wellington-shropshire.gov.uk/and scroll down for rules and entry form
The Write Place Open Short Story CompetitionClosing date 31 August.
Submit: Short story, open themed, 1,500 words max. Fee £4.50 per entry, (optional one page critique £4.50) Prizes: 1st £100, 2nd £75, 3rd, £50. Entries to Francesca Burgess, 34 Capelands, New Ash Green, Longfield, Kent, DA3 8LG. Make cheques payable to ‘The Write Place’.
More information at www.thewriteplace.org.uk or from f.capaldi.burgess@btinternet.com
Write a Short Story for Bedtime - most any genre - 1st prize £500. Free entry, UK residents only.http://www.avogel.co.uk/story/
The Short Story
The Short Story website is designed to showcase the best short stories from around the world. The idea is simple. Submit your story and you will automatically enter The Short Story competition.
First prize: £300
Second prize: £150
Third prize: £50
The winners will be published on the website. Deadline for submissions 15 September.
http://www.theshortstory.net/
The Society Of Women Writers & Journalists: International Online ‘Life Writing’ Competition
‘Life Writing’ is a fluid term used to describe the recording of experiences and memories, whether one’s own or another’s. It covers biography, memoir, diaries, letters and personal essays etc., and, more recently, digital forms such as blogs and email. It can also be linked with genealogical study when recording one’s life, it is common to become curious about the lives of others that have affected one over time and, if they have not recorded their own life, to start doing it for them.
3,000 words maximum, open to any writer world-wide of 20 years old and over. There are two categories: one for 20/40 year olds and one for the over 40s.
Three prizes in each category. 1st £3,000. 2nd £1,000. 3rd £500.
Entry fee is £7 payable with submissions. Submissions by email only.
The judges are Sophie King for 20/40 year olds category and Katie Fforde for over 40s.
Closing date 30 September. Full details at:
www.swwj.co.ukhttp://www.swwj.co.uk/lifewritingcomp.html
Leaf Books Open Competition 2011
Sometimes what your write just doesn’t seem to fit a genre or size, maybe it’s not quite what competitions are asking for. Do you write for children? Graphic Novels? Cartoon strips? Or maybe you have missed a deadline and have this
fabulous poem/story/microfiction that you want to send now. This is your opportunity to send ANYTHING. It can include any sort of writing, illustration, graphic pieces or a combination of anything. Bear in mind that we want to print it in the magazine so sending sculpture might not work. Word limit 1,000 words, size limit 4 A4 pages or 2 A3 pages. If you want your work returned please send an SAE with the correct postage.
Prizes: £100 cash and free copies of Writing and Illustrating the Graphic Novel, The 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance and The Creative Writing Handbook.
All winning and commended entries will be published in the Leaf Writers’ Magazine.
Entry Fee £4 for a single entry, £10 for 3 entries.
Closing date 30 September.
http://www.leafbooks.co.uk/New/For%20Writers/CurrentCompetitions.html#Open
The Yellow Room Autumn Short Story Competition
For Short Stories of less than 2,500 Words.
Closing date 30 September.
1st Prize £80, 2nd Prize £45, 3rd Prize £20
The winning story will be published in The Yellow Room Magazine.
Entry Fee: £4 (or £10 for 3 stories)
http://www.theyellowroom-magazine.co.uk/www.theyellowroom-magazine.co.uk/Competitions.html
Earlyworks Press Short Story Competition
Closing date 31 October.
Fee: £5 up to 4000 words. 4000 to 8000 words, £10. Max 8000 words.
Prize: 1st £100 Publication opportunities.
Email entry and Paypal payment via competitions page at www.earlyworkspress.co.uk OR entry fees as cheques (made out to Kay Green) with paper copy to Earlyworks Press, Creative Media Centre, 45 Robertson Street, Hastings Sussex TN34 1HL
Don't forget to include contact details, inc email if possible. For full details, please visit the Competitions page at: www.earlyworkspress.co.uk
Art Bexhill Science Fiction Challenge: Alien Co-operation
A short story, comic strip or artwork on the subject of meeting and co-operating with aliens
Closing date 30 December.
Fee: £5 per entry.
Prize: 1st £100, 2nd £25 runners up £5 plus Abbadon and Solaris books. Possible publication opportunities.
Email entry and Paypal payment via competitions page at www.earlyworkspress.co.uk OR entry fees as cheques (made out to Kay Green) with paper copy to Earlyworks Press, Creative Media Centre, 45 Robertson Street, Hastings Sussex TN34 1HL
Don't forget to include contact details, inc email if possible. For full details, please visit the Competitions page atwww.earlyworkspress.co.uk
Ascent Aspirations is seeking contributions for a volume of previously unpublished children’s stories of around 1500 words for ages 9-12.
http://www.ascentaspirations.ca/childrensstorycontest.htm
Myriad Editions competition for a first graphic novel in progress by a writer over 18 of any nationality but resident in the UK.
http://www.myriadeditions.com/FGNC
Well Versed is the weekly poetry column of daily UK newspaper the Morning Star, published every Thursday, in print and online. Poetry editor Jody Porter. Under the stewardship of the late and esteemed John Rety, Well Versed developed into a widely-read forum for new and established writers. Send submissions, with biographical information, to: wveditor@gmail.com Poems need not be overtly political, but space is limited so they must be short to medium in length. http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/
£10,000+ Writers' Awards launched by Stephanie Hale of Oxford Literary Consultancy to find new writing talent.
http://www.oxfordwriters.com/awards/
Unbound is a new way of bringing authors and readers together. Unbound is a new way of connecting with writers. Most of the writers on our site will be well known, others will appear here for the first time.
What's different is that instead of waiting for them to publish their work, Unbound allows you to listen to their ideas for what they'd like to write before they even start. If you like their idea, you can pledge to support it. If we hit the target number of supporters, the author can go ahead and start writing (if the target isn't met you can either get your pledge refunded in full or switch your pledge to another Unbound project).
http://www.unbound.co.uk/
The 2011 Luke Bitmead Writer’s Bursary now open for entries.
First 3/4 chapters of a novel by 31 August.
http://www.legendpress.co.uk/
IdeasTap, the online arts and funding organisation, has teamed up with Sky Arts to launch a new bursary for young artists. The Sky Arts Ignition: Futures Fund will offer five young artists £30,000 each to fund their work for a full year. The fund is open to artists aged 18-30 living in the UK and Ireland, and is designed to bridge the gap between formal education and becoming a working artist. The Sky Arts Ignition: Futures Fund is open to individual artists working in visual art, theatre, performance art, film, music, dance or literature. The deadline for applicants is 19th September 2011. Two winners will be selected during this round of funding. The next round will open in early 2012 from which three further winners will be chosen.
http://www.ideastap.com/Opportunities/Brief/f5eebaff-7f13-40bb-bfa8-9ef10145a8b1#Overview
The University of East Anglia (UEA) and Guardian Masterclasses have joined forces to offer a series of courses that will be accredited by the UK's leading university for creative writing. The starting point for this ground-breaking initiative has involved the creation of three distinct course levels – introductory, intermediate and advanced – all of which will be taught by respected, award-winning writers including Bernardine Evaristo, Adam Foulds, Sarah Hall, Gillian Slovo.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian-masterclasses/uea-guardian-masterclasses
Guardian Weekend Summer Fiction Special Short story up to 2,000 words by 13th June, UK residents only ...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/may/14/fiction-special-short-story-competition?CMP=twt_gu
The VS Pritchett Memorial Prize £1,000 for an unpublished short story from UK/ROI residents of up to three years.
Deadline 30 June - rules and entry form at
http://www.rslit.org/content/pritchett
Flash Fiction: 250 words inc title
Closing date 30 June.
Fee: £3 single entry. £12 for six entries.
Prize: 1st £75, 2nd £15, runners up £5. Publication opportunities.
Email entry and Paypal payment via competitions page at www.earlyworkspress.co.uk OR entry fees as cheques (made out to Kay Green) with paper copy to Earlyworks Press, Creative Media Centre, 45 Robertson Street, Hastings Sussex TN34 1HL
Don't forget to include contact details, inc email if possible. For full details, please visit the Competitions page at: www.earlyworkspress.co.uk
Lionel Penrose Prize for a Short Story on Global Peace
This prize was created in memory of Professor Penrose, an eminent geneticist and one of only four psychiatrist Fellows of the Royal Society in the last century. He chaired the Medical Association for Prevention of War, a predecessor of Medact.
Looking for optimistic stories of around 2500-3500 words that will inspire the public to work towards peace. It should contain some factual information about the peace movement, such as important figures, achievements or failures. However fictional elements are equally welcome. You can take an original approach but some important points at website.
The prize is open to all but the story should not previously have been published. The first prize is £500, second prize is £300 and winning stories will be published in Medact's Communiqué. Closing date 1 July 2011.
http://www.medsin.org/news/451
Short Story Competitionmax 1500 words, UK entrants only, theme is Tunbridge Wells and surrounding area.
Closing date 1 July. £3 entry fee.
http://www.tunbridgewellswriterscircle.co.uk/
Hissac Annual Open Short Story Competition
of the Highlands & Islands Short Story Association
£400 first prize. Closing date 31 July. 2,500 word max.
Entry fee: £5 per story or £12 for 3
No connection to Scotland required, either by entrant or theme. Entries can be posted or submitted on-line. Full details on the website or send SAE to 20 Lochslin, Balintore, Easter Ross IV20 1UP.
Payment by cheque of Paypal via the website
www.hissac.co.uk
The 9th Annual Seán Ó Faoláin Short Story Competition 2011The competition is open to original, unpublished and unbroadcast short stories in the English language of 3,000 words or fewer. The story can be on any subject, in any style, by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world.
Closing date 31 July.
http://www.munsterlit.ie/SOF%20Page.html
New Eastbourne Writers 2nd National Short Story Competition Theme: ‘Lucky Break.
Maximum Length: 1500 words
Prizes: £100, £50 and £25; website publication of winning entries
Fee: £5 per entry/£7 for two.
Closing date 27 August. Judge: Vanessa Gebbie
http://www.neweastbournewriters.co.uk/
Earlyworks Press Memoir & Journalism CompetitionA story from your or your family's experience or a journalistic piece on a crrent event or issue in the news. Max 2000 words
Closing date 30 August.
Fee: £5 per entry.
Prize: 1st £100, 2nd £50 runners up £10
Email entry and Paypal payment via competitions page at www.earlyworkspress.co.uk OR entry fees as cheques (made out to Kay Green) with paper copy to Earlyworks Press, Creative Media Centre, 45 Robertson Street, Hastings Sussex TN34 1HL
Don't forget to include contact details, inc email if possible. For full details, please visit the Competitions page at: www.earlyworkspress.co.uk
Wellington Town Council Short Story Competition 2011Open to all. Max 4,500 words. Closing date 31 August.
Entry fee £3, prizes £150, £100, £75.
Go to the home page
http://www.wellington-shropshire.gov.uk/and scroll down for rules and entry form
The Write Place Open Short Story CompetitionClosing date 31 August.
Submit: Short story, open themed, 1,500 words max. Fee £4.50 per entry, (optional one page critique £4.50) Prizes: 1st £100, 2nd £75, 3rd, £50. Entries to Francesca Burgess, 34 Capelands, New Ash Green, Longfield, Kent, DA3 8LG. Make cheques payable to ‘The Write Place’.
More information at www.thewriteplace.org.uk or from f.capaldi.burgess@btinternet.com
Write a Short Story for Bedtime - most any genre - 1st prize £500. Free entry, UK residents only.http://www.avogel.co.uk/story/
The Short Story
The Short Story website is designed to showcase the best short stories from around the world. The idea is simple. Submit your story and you will automatically enter The Short Story competition.
First prize: £300
Second prize: £150
Third prize: £50
The winners will be published on the website. Deadline for submissions 15 September.
http://www.theshortstory.net/
The Society Of Women Writers & Journalists: International Online ‘Life Writing’ Competition
‘Life Writing’ is a fluid term used to describe the recording of experiences and memories, whether one’s own or another’s. It covers biography, memoir, diaries, letters and personal essays etc., and, more recently, digital forms such as blogs and email. It can also be linked with genealogical study when recording one’s life, it is common to become curious about the lives of others that have affected one over time and, if they have not recorded their own life, to start doing it for them.
3,000 words maximum, open to any writer world-wide of 20 years old and over. There are two categories: one for 20/40 year olds and one for the over 40s.
Three prizes in each category. 1st £3,000. 2nd £1,000. 3rd £500.
Entry fee is £7 payable with submissions. Submissions by email only.
The judges are Sophie King for 20/40 year olds category and Katie Fforde for over 40s.
Closing date 30 September. Full details at:
www.swwj.co.ukhttp://www.swwj.co.uk/lifewritingcomp.html
Leaf Books Open Competition 2011
Sometimes what your write just doesn’t seem to fit a genre or size, maybe it’s not quite what competitions are asking for. Do you write for children? Graphic Novels? Cartoon strips? Or maybe you have missed a deadline and have this
fabulous poem/story/microfiction that you want to send now. This is your opportunity to send ANYTHING. It can include any sort of writing, illustration, graphic pieces or a combination of anything. Bear in mind that we want to print it in the magazine so sending sculpture might not work. Word limit 1,000 words, size limit 4 A4 pages or 2 A3 pages. If you want your work returned please send an SAE with the correct postage.
Prizes: £100 cash and free copies of Writing and Illustrating the Graphic Novel, The 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance and The Creative Writing Handbook.
All winning and commended entries will be published in the Leaf Writers’ Magazine.
Entry Fee £4 for a single entry, £10 for 3 entries.
Closing date 30 September.
http://www.leafbooks.co.uk/New/For%20Writers/CurrentCompetitions.html#Open
The Yellow Room Autumn Short Story Competition
For Short Stories of less than 2,500 Words.
Closing date 30 September.
1st Prize £80, 2nd Prize £45, 3rd Prize £20
The winning story will be published in The Yellow Room Magazine.
Entry Fee: £4 (or £10 for 3 stories)
http://www.theyellowroom-magazine.co.uk/www.theyellowroom-magazine.co.uk/Competitions.html
Earlyworks Press Short Story Competition
Closing date 31 October.
Fee: £5 up to 4000 words. 4000 to 8000 words, £10. Max 8000 words.
Prize: 1st £100 Publication opportunities.
Email entry and Paypal payment via competitions page at www.earlyworkspress.co.uk OR entry fees as cheques (made out to Kay Green) with paper copy to Earlyworks Press, Creative Media Centre, 45 Robertson Street, Hastings Sussex TN34 1HL
Don't forget to include contact details, inc email if possible. For full details, please visit the Competitions page at: www.earlyworkspress.co.uk
Art Bexhill Science Fiction Challenge: Alien Co-operation
A short story, comic strip or artwork on the subject of meeting and co-operating with aliens
Closing date 30 December.
Fee: £5 per entry.
Prize: 1st £100, 2nd £25 runners up £5 plus Abbadon and Solaris books. Possible publication opportunities.
Email entry and Paypal payment via competitions page at www.earlyworkspress.co.uk OR entry fees as cheques (made out to Kay Green) with paper copy to Earlyworks Press, Creative Media Centre, 45 Robertson Street, Hastings Sussex TN34 1HL
Don't forget to include contact details, inc email if possible. For full details, please visit the Competitions page atwww.earlyworkspress.co.uk
Ascent Aspirations is seeking contributions for a volume of previously unpublished children’s stories of around 1500 words for ages 9-12.
http://www.ascentaspirations.ca/childrensstorycontest.htm
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