• Here it is – five-word challenge time again! For this week’s challenge, can you tell a story in five words, using the word Fine in it somewhere? Last week, your story needed to contain the word Mirror. You sent in some brilliant stories. Here they are: Christine Mallaband-Brown: Mirror maketh the woman glam. He saw…

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  • Markets For Writers

    Wanderlust is a travel magazine ‘for people with a passion for travel’. Destinations the world over are covered. They particularly like ‘off-the-beaten-track destinations, secret corners of the world and unusual angles on well-known places are always of particular interest’. If you like travel writing and are interested, they provide very comprehensive writers’ guidelines, which include…

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  • Funny Of The Week

    Well, there’s an offer you can’t…have…

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  • A story written in the first person can be very effective in creating a sense of atmosphere and making your readers feel as if they are part of the story, seeing and experiencing everything along with that character. Take the following example: I looked at the garden, at the weeds weaving their way towards the…

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  • Two years ago, my partner and I attended the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival at The Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate. Writing friends had recommended it so, for our first one, we thought we’d just go along and see what it was all about. One of the first sights we saw was Lee Child,…

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  • It’s five-word challenge time again! For this week’s challenge, can you tell a story in five words, using the word Mirror in it somewhere? Last week, your story needed to contain the word Email. You sent in some creative stories. Here they are: Christine Mallaband-Brown: Do we enter by email? My email broken, sending telegram.…

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  • Markets For Writers

    Crystal Magazine: If you’re a new writer and aren’t sure about sending your stories out, then why not try the small press? Crystal Magazine is a small press publication aimed at new and established writers. The editor, Christine Carr, is particularly encouraging to new writers who lack confidence and who are looking for that first…

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  • Funny Of The Week

    Ooh, I wonder which one could have signed the ball…

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  • Think outside the box Whether you’re entering a themed or open-themed writing competition, don’t write about the first thing that comes to mind. Jot down several ideas. The first few will probably be themes a lot of entrants will write about. Ignore these and let your mind push you forward and onto something a little…

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  • Guest Writer Spot

    I’d like to welcome Murray Clarke back to my Guest Writer Spot. He’s had stories featured on this page a number of times and always knows how to tell a very entertaining story. Sit back, relax and enjoy! FEAR OF FLYING By Murray Clarke The well-spoken, middle-aged gentleman was sweating profusely, trembling and finding it…

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