• You’re all clearly enjoying writing bite-size stories of just a few words. I threw in a prompt last week. So here’s another: can you tell a story in five words, with the word old in there somewhere. Here are your amazing stories from last week. Your prompt was the word red: Hugh Roberts: Red roses?…

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  • Markets For Writers

    The Big Issue Crime Writing Competition is certainly worth an entry. Why? Well, with a prize of a two-book publishing contract under the Avon Books UK imprint by HarperCollins, why wouldn’t you want to enter?! They’re looking for a 100-word synopsis and the full manuscript. To find out more about the competition, and how to…

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  • Funny Of The Week

    I think I’ll give number 65 a miss…

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  • Make sure you’re up-to-date Whether you’re working on a short story, article or filler to send to a magazine, in order to ensure that you know exactly what the editor is looking for, you must analyse the publication carefully. An up-to-date copy is essential. It’s no good borrowing a two-year-old copy of one of Aunty…

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  • Funny Of The Week

    Now there’s an offer you can’t refuse… Photo credit: Viralnova

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  • Last week’s challenge was to tell a story in five words. It was clearly no problem for you. So how about telling a story in five words – but somewhere in the story, you must use the word red. Here are you fabulous five-word stories from last week: The Bag Lady: Dressed, coffee poured, reading…

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  • Markets For Writers

    You still have time to enter The Writers Bureau’s 2019 Short Story Competition (well, only just as the closing date is Sunday!) Here is a reminder of the details: Prizes: 1st: £300 2nd: £200 3rd: £100 4th: £50 Plus all winners receive a Writers Bureau course of their choice (worth over £374). Entry fee: £5…

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  • I’m thrilled to announce that my latest book of short stories, A Walk In The Woods, is due to be released on April 20th 2019 – and it’s available to pre-order on Amazon now. Here’s a little bit more about it: An autumnal stroll through the woods, colourful leaves crunching underfoot, the air fresh on…

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  • Entering a short story competition? Think outside the box. When I ran my last short story competition, a lot of entries focused on death and an apocalyptic world. 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…

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  • Book Cover Reveal!

    A few weeks ago, I announced that I had a new book of short stories coming out soon. I promised you a sneak peek at my book cover – and here it is. I’m extremely proud to announce that it’s also been designed by my very talented daughter, Charlotte, who is an illustrator. The launch…

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