poetry
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Well, some of you certainly enjoyed last week’s writing challenge – Keith Channing! Scroll down to read some simply brilliant limericks. This week’s writing challenge will gradually wean Keith off the limericks – it’s for a rhyming poem. Not every line has to rhyme, but they can if you like. It can be as short…
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This week, my Monday motivation takes the form of a picture – and a grisly one to make you sit up, get thinking and write! Looking at the photo, here’s what came to mind for me: The Killing The knife plunges in, Blood oozes out, Splashing me, cascading down, Again I stab, deeper this time,…
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If you’re feeling the after effects of Christmas and feeling a little low, here’s a silly poem to cheer you: Who am I? I’m not a creature who is loved the best, In fact, most say I’m an awful pest, It’s not my fault, I don’t mean to be, Nature made me as I am,…
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As the year draws to an end and we think about welcoming in a new year, our thoughts often turn to the different seasons and what they’ll bring. Will 2015 be full of darkness and despair, like the first poem, or will it bring lightness and cheer like the second? Dark Thoughts for All Seasons…
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It’s easy to get stuck in a rut with our writing. Perhaps you’re a novelist and the right words won’t come. Or if you write short stories for the women’s weeklies, it can be difficult to come up with a new idea. Article writers often specialise in writing about specific issues. It’s easy to become…
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This week, I’m giving the poets amongst you something to work for: The Poetry Society’s National Poetry Competition 2014 is up and running. With a first prize of £5000, £2000 for second place, £1000 for third place and seven commendations of £100, it’s definitely worth an entry. There is a fee for each poem entered…
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Some of you weren’t too keen on last week’s poetry challenge while others thought they’d give it a go, some for the first time. This week, it’s back to prose for my new challenge: I’d like you to write a short story in 20 words – yes, just 20! It can be done. Here’s a not particularly…
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A lot of you enjoyed my tongue-in-cheek poem, ‘Things I’d Love An Editor To Say‘, so I thought I’d work on another. Hope you like it: A Writer’s Craft Where is the best place to sit and write? Out in the sunshine, with glorious views in sight, Or stuck inside, computer to hand,…
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Say yes to rejection! The word of the week on my blog has been ‘rejection’ and how it’s something we all have to cope with if we want to be successful writers. My tip for you, and something which I’ve put into practice over the years, is for each rejection you get, set it aside…
Esther Chilton 