• Wonderful Words

    Last week, I wrote about taking inspiration from ordinary words and adding them into your story or poem. A couple of writers sent in pieces they’d written from the word prompts. You can find them below. Another good tool, which can help you to unleash ideas in your writing, is to take a random line…

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  • Guest Writer Spot

    Please welcome Phyllis Campbell to my Guest Writer Spot. She has sent in an excerpt from her book. You might like to find out more about her before you read the extract: Phyllis Staton Campbell, who was born blind, writes about the world she knows best. She calls on her experience as teacher of the…

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  • I Challenge You To…

    This week’s challenge is to write a story, limerick or poem on the subject of: Things that make you happy Last week’s theme was friends. They’re clearly very important to you. Here are some of the touching and thought-provoking pieces you sent in: Keith Channing sent in a clever limerick: The rumour mill lately contends…

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  • Markets For Writers

    We all like a good old love story, don’t we? So if you’re feeling in the romantic mood, try writing a story for Writing Magazine‘s annual Love Story Competition. You have until 15th September to enter. Here are some more details for you: Prizes: 1st: £200, plus publication in the magazine 2nd: £50, plus publication on…

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  • Funny Of The Week

    I love a good typo – here’s one for you. Good old Brian! Photo credit: The sliced pan    

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  • Wonderful Words

    Monday Motivations When I’m struggling to come up with an idea for a short story or poem, I’ll often have a look around me (at a newspaper, out the window, around the house) and find random words to add into the story. This often sets the creative juices flowing. Here are five random words for…

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  • Guest Writer Spot

    My Guest Writer this week is children’s author, Margaret Welwood. Here is some information about her: Propelled by the welcome question, “Grandma, can you tell me a story?” Margaret Welwood has enjoyed the journey from adult non-fiction writer and editor to children’s picture book writer and editor. In Life A (which she revisits from time…

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  • I Challenge You To…

    This week’s challenge is to write a story, limerick or poem on the subject of: Friends I’ve been away and so missed last week, but the previous week’s theme was running. Here are a couple of the poems you sent in: Keith Channing sent in a very witty limerick: Running as fast as a horse…

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  • Markets For Writers

    Enjoy travel writing? Then you might like to send an entry (up to 500 words) to the Just Back weekly travel writing competition held in the Telegraph newspaper. Prize winners will receive £200 in the currency of their choice. Entry is free. Here are the terms and conditions of entry. *** .

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  • Funny Of The Week

    Reading through the local paper recently, I came across this gem of a personal ad:  

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