blogging

  • In the early 80s, on a Saturday night, I could be found down the road at my friend’s house. We used to sit up in her room and listen to music. We did the usual girly thing, dressed in our ra ra skirts, swaying to and fro, flicking our hair back, singing to the latest…

    Read more →

  • Markets For Writers

    This week’s market is the wonderful Writers Bureau Annual Short Story Competition. You have until 31st March 2017 to get your story in. Here are the all important details for you: Prizes: 1st:    £300 2nd:  £200 3rd:   £100 4th:   £50 All the prize winners will also win a Writers Bureau course of their choice (worth…

    Read more →

  • A new ‘Funny of the Week‘ thread has come courtesy of Murray Clarke and his ‘helpful’ instructions: I recently purchased online a child’s car seat for our little granddaughter. It duly arrived in a large cardboard box. Eagerly, I opened the box and immediately found a small booklet on top of the seat ‘INSTRUCTIONS FOR…

    Read more →

  • Monday Motivations

    Doesn’t Monday come round quickly?! Here’s a new writing challenge for you: Write a story or poem on any of the following themes: Misery Sleep Gold Last week’s themes were as follows: Disaster Love Silence Here are your stories and poems: Robert Griffiths has a great tale to tell:                           Silence 1973 “Are you…

    Read more →

  • Guest Writer Spot

    This week,  Donny Marchand is my guest writer. He’s featured several times before in my Friday slot but if you haven’t come across his work before, here’s a little bit about him, in his own words: ‘I have only started writing for publication a short time ago, and been fortunate to have had some modest…

    Read more →

  • I was having a sort out a little while ago and came across an old photo of me in my school uniform. The photo brought back many a happy memory from times spent playing ‘It’ in the playground, to having friends round for a special treat of Ribena and fish fingers, to Bunty comic. Ah,…

    Read more →

  • Markets For Writers

    Everyone likes a good laugh so why not enter Writing Magazine‘s ‘Humour short story Competition’? You have until 15th March 2017 to craft your story. Here’s some more information for you: Prizes: 1st place:      £200 plus publication in the magazine Runner-up: £50 plus publication on the website Entry fee:     £5 but only £3 to subscribers Word limit:…

    Read more →

  • Monday Motivations

    I hope you’ve settled down into 2017 well. If you’re looking for a fresh challenge, here’s one for you: Write a story or poem on any of the following themes: Disaster Love Silence Your themes from last week were: A fresh start The dark place Monsters Robert Griffiths has sent in a super true-life story…

    Read more →

  • Guest Writer Spot

    Happy Friday! I hope the first week of this new year has been a bright one. If not, don’t worry – it’s the weekend tomorrow! As it’s Friday, it’s time for my Guest Writer Spot. It’s a pleasure to welcome Sharon Boothroyd to this slot for the first time. Here’s a little bit about her,…

    Read more →