short stories
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The Writers Bureau‘s annual short story competition is now open for entries. The closing date is 31st March 2018. Here are the all-important details for you: Word limit: Up to 2000 words Prizes: 1st: £300 2nd: £200 3rd: £100 4th: £50 Plus, all winners receive a Writers Bureau Course of their choice, worth over £374.…
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As it’s nearly Christmas, I’ve opted for a magical Christmas story this week… Operation Flora No one understood how lonely it was being stuck up a tree all on your own. Flora sighed and fluttered her wings. One wing barely moved and the other nearly fell off. Her nose was feeling a bit delicate too…
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Writing Magazine usually have themed competitions, but the first one of 2018 sees an open competition. Apart from the lack of a theme, all the usual rules apply: Word Count: Between 1500-1700 words Prizes: 1st: £200 plus publication in the magazine 2nd: £50 plus publication online Entry Fee: £5 (£3 for subscribers) Closing date: 15th…
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As many of you know, one of my passions is flash fiction. But flash fiction comes in all sorts of sizes, whether it’s 500-words, or even 55-words… DEAD He was dead. Tears poured down her cheeks. How could he leave her like this? She stared at his handsome face, so full of life and love.…
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Looking at the title of one of the books on my shelf, the following story came to mind: 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…
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Attention writers! I’m looking for YOU! If you’d like your writing to appear on this page, please contact me here or by e-mail: esthernewtoneditor@outlook.com. I accept stories, poems, articles – in fact, anything and everything. All you have to do is make sure your prose is no longer than 2000 words and your poems no…
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The Reader’s Digest 100-word short story competition is back! With a first prize of £1000, it’s a competition that’s certainly worth an entry. What’s more, it’s free to enter. There are three categories – one adult category and two for schools. You have plenty of time to enter – the closing date is February 19th…
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Continuing my run of flash fiction, here’s another bite size story: The Return He came for me yesterday. I hadn’t been expecting anyone on such a viscous night. I had just stoked the fire when the knocker thudded, once, twice, three times. Somewhere inside me, a familiar sensation exploded, memories prodding and poking their way…
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The London Magazine is holding a short story competition for stories of up to 2500 words. Here are the all important details for you: Entry fee: £10 per short story (this may seem steep, but you can send in as many entries as you like) First Prize: £500 plus publication in the magazine Second Prize: £300 plus publication…
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One of my short story tips is to take a single word and then to create a story around it. In the book I’ve been reading the word ‘envy’ stood out. It set my mind working on a story… Envy I look around at my colleagues with envy. “Are you ok, Jamilla?” Shirley…
Esther Chilton 