• Guest Writer Spot

    My weekly Friday blog post offers writers the opportunity for their work to get out there and be read by others. I’m happy to accept stories, poems, articles – in fact, anything and everything. If you would like some of your writing to be featured on my blog, please contact me here or by e-mail:…

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  • Sacha Black has kindly given her permission for me to pinch a couple of words from her blog ‘The Zen of Finding Lost Words’. So here is your new list for this week’s ten-word story challenge. Your story can be under ten words, but no more than ten and it must feature five words from…

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  • Markets For Writers

    This week’s market is The Flash 500 Novel Opening Chapter and Synopsis Competition. It’s a fantatsic opportunity to have your work looked at by  editors from independent genre publishers Crooked Cat. They’re looking for the opening chapter of your novel, up to 3000 words and a one-page synopsis. First prize is £500 and there’s a…

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  • This week’s look at an ad of old focuses on the enigma that is the “Housewife Headache”. I’m sure today’s housewife would have something to say about this!

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  • Monday Motivations

    For those of you struggling to kick-start your writing week, here are a couple of prompts: Short Story opening two lines: He couldn’t believe his eyes. Surely not right there in the supermarket? Poetry opening two lines: She watches the morning unfold, A beautiful woman with a head of gold. *** Last week, I gave…

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  • Guest Writer Slot

    My Friday blog post offers writers the opportunity for their  work to be seen and read by others. I’m happy to accept stories, poems, articles – in fact, anything and everything. If you would like some of your writing to be featured on my blog, please contact me here or by e-mail: esthernewton@virginmedia.com This week’s…

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  • My ten-word challenges seem to be going down a treat so here’s another one for you. This week, I’d like you to write a ten-word story using five of the words from the following list: Grizzle Constellate Swoosh Tweet Chortle Chair Doryphore Cameron Eucatastrophe Furuncle Here are last week’s words: Epiphany Susurrous Tintinnabulation Scintillating Umbrella…

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  • Markets For Writers

    For those of you looking for a new market for your short stories, why not try The Writer’s ‘Two Roads Diverge’ Short Story Contest? They have this to say about it: ‘Write a 2,000-word short story responding to one or both quotes by novelist and short story writer Colum McCann (and perhaps keep in mind…

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  • This ad from a bygone era is priceless:

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  • Monday Motivations

    Last week a few of you contacted me to say how helpful you found the opening lines in my Monday Motivations slot. So this week, I’ll give you two more – firstly for a short story and secondly, for a poem. Story:  Matty knew he shouldn’t have taken it. Poem: She was always there for…

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