inspiration

  • I Challenge You To…

    This week’s challenge is to write a story, limerick or poem on the subject of: Travel Last week’s theme was things that make you happy. Here are some of the funny and heart-warming pieces you sent in: Keith Channing sent in an amusing poem: If you asked me for a list Of the things that…

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  • Markets For Writers

    This week’s market is for the poetry writers amongst you. Writing Magazine is holding a cinquain open theme competition. But you’ll need to get cracking as the closing date is only a few days away on the 15th September. Here are some details for you: Prizes: 1st: £100 2nd: £50 Both winning entries will be…

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  • 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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  • 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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  • Wonderful Words

    As a wordsmith, I love learning about new words and then using them in my writing. Here are a few you may not have heard of and which may inspire you in your writing: Pusillanimous – lacking courage Vellicate – to nip, twitch, pinch Mabble – to wrap up Hebdomadally – weekly Caliginous – dark,…

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