inspiration

  • It’s nearly the weekend. Here’s a new story challenge for you: Can you tell a story in 22 words? You must use the following words somewhere in the story: Last week’s prompt was to tell a story in 17 words using the following words in it somewhere: Here are your fun stories: Kim Smyth: After

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  • Writing Prompts

    This week’s writing prompt is: TAKE A WALK Your walk can be real or in your mind. Use the senses as you take your walk. Describe the feel of the sun on your face, the whip of the wind or the sting of rain. There might be the scent of freshly cut grass, perhaps the

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  • Oops!

    I somehow managed to get my days muddled and released two posts at the same time yesterday! So you might have missed my story challenge. In case you did, here it is again: Can you tell a story in 17 words? You must use the following words somewhere in the story: Last week’s prompt was

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  • Bullies

    So quiet at the back, No one can see her. If she closes her eyes tight, No one can see her. The bell rings, lessons done, Now they can see her. They wait while she walks past, Now they can see her. She runs all the way home, Still they can see her. Their feet

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  • Flash Fiction Story

    As many of you know, I love writing flash fiction. Here’s a new story for you: Escape I stop, tears streaming down my cheeks. Soft whispers caress me, building in sound slowly, the harshness of the words with them. The snap of stiff wood to my right, a yell of triumph to my left. Fingers

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  • Another Interview

    One of my former Writers Bureau students, Alan Dale, asked if he could interview me for his new blog. I was delighted to be asked and to support Alan as he starts on his blogging journey. Here’s a short extract from the interview: Perhaps we could start by looking at a few aspects of short

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  • It’s Friday at last. I hope you’ve had a good week. If you’d like to feature as a guest on my blog, please get in touch. I’m looking for stories and non-fiction pieces of up to 1500 words and poems of up to 40 lines. If you can also send me a photo and a

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  • Guest Blog Post

    Last week, I announced that I was bringing back my Guest Blog Post slot. I’m looking for stories and non-fiction pieces of up to 1500 words and poems of up to 40 lines. If you can also send me a photo and a little bit about yourself too, that would be great. Please send them

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  • Guest Blog Post

    I’ve been completely overwhelmed with the support and help the wonderful blogging community has given me with my new book, Publication Guaranteed (Well, Almost!). Last week, the lovely Sue Vincent invited me to appear on her blog: I’d always loved writing, right from when I was a little girl and I was sure I was

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  • Last week, I was delighted to be interviewed by author, Sacha Black on her podcast, The Rebel Author Podcast. We spoke about how I was her writing tutor when she first started out many moons ago with The Writers Bureau, as well as about my new book and how writers can make money from readers’

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