short stories

  • I met fellow editor, Emma Mitchell at Harrogate Crime Festival this year and we had a good chat about all sorts of things to do with editing, especially our thoughts on the use of the Oxford comma! Emma’s recently brought out a wonderful book of short stories with all the proceeds going to charity. Please…

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  • Markets For Writers

    My first market of the year for you is a short story contest. The Scottish Arts Club Short Story Competition is open to writers worldwide. The word limit is 2000 words. Here is some information on the prizes: 1st: £1,000 2nd: £500 3rd: £250 The £600 Isobel Lodge Award is open to unpublished writers born,…

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  • Paperback Launch Imminent!

    As many of you who have self-published will know, formatting your book, ensuring the book cover looks right etc, isn’t easy and there’s many a hurdle to be overcome along the way. This is exactly what’s happened with A Walk in the Woods. But, I think (fingers crossed!), I’m almost there. So the paperback version…

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  • Markets For Writers

    Fancy a themed competition? Retreat West are holding a flash fiction competition for stories up to 500 words on the theme ‘Earth’. Here are some more details for you: Prizes: 1st: £200 2 x runners-up: £100 Entry fee: £8 Closing date: 29th December 2019 For more information and to read previous prize winning entries, click…

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  • Markets For Writers

    You’ve got plenty of time for this week’s market – the closing date for The Writers’ and Artists’ Short Story Competition is 13th February 2020. Stories are invited on any theme, up to 2000 words. The competition is free to enter. A winner and two runners-up will be chosen. Prizes include a place on one…

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  • Markets For Writers

    Iron Press is looking for short stories for a new anthology, titled Aliens. Here are some details for you: ‘This is not a competition. There is no fee and no prizes. Authors included will receive two free copies. Extra copies can be ordered at trade price and writers may be invited to read their work…

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  • It’s my pleasure to introduce Hugh Roberts as my interviewee this week. I met Hugh at the first Bloggers Bash in London and we’ve remained good blogging friends since then. Hugh writes short stories, a real passion of mine, too. He’s put together two short story collections. In the interview, he tells us more about…

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  • Markets For Writers

    The Fish Short Story Prize is accepting entries for short stories of up to 5000 words. Here are some more details for you: Prizes: 1st: €3,000 plus a five-day Short Story Workshop at the West Cork Literary Festival 2nd: A week at Anam Cara Writers’ Retreat and €300   3rd: €300 Seven Honourable Mentions receive…

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  • Free – For You!

    For those of you who haven’t yet read my latest book of short stories, A Walk in the Woods, you can get it free – today and tomorrow! Tempted? Here’s an extract from one of the short stories, The Dark Place: I hate this dark place. A cobweb gently glides over my cheek, its maker…

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  • Markets For Writers

    Fly on the Wall Press is looking for submissions of collections of poetry, as well as collections of flash fiction/short stories and individual short stories. The closing date is 15th November 2019. What are they looking for? Writers who have a strong voice and style. A manuscript with a theme or story arc. Writers unafraid…

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