ideas for writers

  • Markets For Writers

    The Fiction Desk is holding a special short story competition: “We’re always working to discover new authors and new stories to publish alongside our regular contributors. The Newcomer Prize is part of this: it’s a short story competition only open to authors who have not been previously published by The Fiction Desk, and who have

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  • Happy New Year! I know lots of you have been back blogging for a while, but I took a little bit of a break over the festive period. I hope you all had a wonderful time with friends and family and that your 2018 is going great so far. So, it’s back to my new

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  • Writing Workshop…Top Tips

    Now for the ninth instalment in my writing workshop series. I’ve covered the short story ending as well as the opening.  I’ve guided you through dialogue and focused on the importance of taking time to do things properly. I’ve also given you a competitions refresher and some general advice on the art of the short

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  • Monday Motivations

    If you’re like me and feeling that sluggish Monday-mind-syndrome, why not get it working by  entering one of my two short story competitions (with prizes!)? One of them is for a short story of up to 1000 words on the theme of TREASURE. How you choose to interpret that theme is up to you. You

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  • Monday Motivations

    I hope you’ve all had a restful Easter break and that the Easter bunny was good to you. Now, if you’re feeling a little sluggish after indulging in too much chocolate and/or hot cross buns, why not get your mind working and enter one of my two short story competitions (with prizes!) One of them

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  • It’s Friday tomorrow and the start of Easter weekend. I wish you all a very happy Easter. Before you indulge in far too many chocolate eggs, here’s my new challenge for you: Option one: Write a limerick with the word CHOCOLATE in it somewhere Option two: Write a poem on the theme of HOLIDAYS Option

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  • It’s Friday tomorrow so you’ve nearly made it to the weekend 🙂 I hope your week’s been a good one. Here’s my new challenge for you: Option one: Write a limerick with the word CODSWALLOP in it somewhere Option two: Write a poem on the theme of TRANSPORT Option three: Write a ten-word story using

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  • Monday Motivations

    A little over a week ago, I launched my two short story competitions (with prizes!) One of them is for a short story of up to 1000 words on the theme of TREASURE. How you choose to interpret that theme is up to you. You could write about money or jewels. Or the treasure may

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  • Is it Thursday already? Where does the time go?! I hope you’ve had a good week. Here’s my new challenge for you: Option one: Write a limerick with the word SHED in it somewhere Option two: Write a poem on the theme of FOOD Option three: Write a ten-word story using all of the following

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  • My Weekly Writing Challenge

    It’s Friday tomorrow and the start of the weekend. I hope your week has been a good one. Here’s my new weekly challenge for you: Option one: Write a limerick with the word POTATO in it somewhere Option two: Write a poem on the theme of DREAMS Option three: Write a ten-word story using all

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