fiction

  • Tommy’s Tale

    I’m slowly getting my writing mojo back, with a penchant for flash fiction at the moment: Tommy Coats: pink, blue, yellow, green and others every colour of the rainbow covered the pegs. All except one. Tommy Brown, outlined in bold black letters, stood above the empty peg. His blue coat wouldn’t ever rest on the…

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  • Markets For Writers

    Enjoy writing romance? Then this week’s market may be just what you’re looking for. Writing Magazine are holding their annual Love Story Competition. Here are the details: Word count: Between 1500-1700 words Prizes: 1st:   £200 plus publication in the magazine 2nd: £50 plus publication on the website Entry Fee: £5 or £3 for subscribers Closing…

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  • Darling Clarissa…

    I’ve had a few ups and downs lately, like many of us do, and it’s meant I haven’t had much time for writing. But gradually, I’ve started again. And it’s felt good. This piece is short and sweet but, as many of you know, I’ve always had a passion for flash fiction.   My darling…

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  • Markets For Writers

    This week’s market is for the flash fiction fans. The Fiction Desk is running a flash fiction competition, which invites entries of between 250 – 1000 words. The deadline is midnight UK time on Friday, 29th September. There is a first prize of £300 and two runner-up prizes of £100. The entry fee for one…

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  • Writing Workshop…Top Tips

    Here is the second in my writing workshop series. Last week was all about the opening; this week’s it’s the ending’s turn: Top Tips… For A Tremendous Short Story Ending You’re almost at the end of your cleverly crafted story, but how do you bring it to a satisfying climax? Here are some tips to…

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  • Guest Writer Spot

    I’m pleased to welcome back Nest Madden to my Guest Writer Spot. Nest was one of my talented Writers Bureau students. He completed the course a while ago (well done!) and it’s good to read his writing again. The Suprise By Nest Madden George, hated night duty. It was a boring twelve hours, stuck in…

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  • Writing Workshop…Top Tips

    Normal business on my blog will be resumed shortly but, in the meantime, I thought I’d take the opportunity to start a new series. Here’s the first in a series of writing workshops: Top Tips… For Creating A Cracking Short Story Opening Hours can be spent tapping away at the computer keys, trying to come…

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  • Markets For Writers

    Enjoy writing a story with chills and thrills? Then this week’s market is for you. ‘Writing Magazine‘ are running a ‘Paranormal Short Story Competition‘. All you need to do is give the judge a little scare in 1500-1700 words. The closing date is 15th May 2017. Here are a few more details: Prizes: 1st: £200 plus…

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  • Markets For Writers

    You have a couple of weeks to get your entry in for The Writers Bureau Short Story Competition. The closing date is 31st March 2017. Here are some details for you: Prizes: 1st: £300 2nd: £200 3rd: £100 4th: £50 All winners will also receive a Writers Bureau course of their choice, worth over £350…

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  • Markets For writers

    This week’s market is the Evesham Festival of Words Short Story Competition. There is an adult category inviting stories of up to 2500 words. The junior competition (two categories: 8-11 and 12-16) has a word limit of 1000 words. Entry is £5 for adults and it’s free for juniors. The prize in the adult category…

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