short stories
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If you like entering short story competitions with a theme, then the HG Wells Short Story Competition might be the one for you. Entries of between 1500-5000 words are required on the theme of space. The closing date is 17th July 2016. There are different prizes depending on your age group (under or over 21)…
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This week, it gives me great pleasure to welcome my brilliant student, Jason Moody to my Guest Writer Spot. You may be familiar with his name; he often takes part in my weekly writing challenges and entertains us with his witty limericks and stories. Here’s a little bit about him in his own words: ‘I’m…
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I hope you’ve all had a good week. Here’s my latest challenge for you: Option one: Write a limerick with the word KNIT in it somewhere Option two: Write a poem on the theme of SUNSHINE Option three: Write a twenty-word story using all of the following words: BEAUTY, DRUNK, CRACKERS, CHEESE, LADDER and PIQUANT…
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This week’s market is an ongoing one. ‘1000 Word Challenge‘ run quarterly themed competitions for stories up to 1000 words. The current theme is ‘Lift’. Here are some more details for you: Prizes: 1st: £100 2nd: £50 3rd: 25 Entry fee: £5 or £8 for an entry with feedback The closing date for the current…
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I hope you’ve all had a restful Easter break and that the Easter bunny was good to you. Now, if you’re feeling a little sluggish after indulging in too much chocolate and/or hot cross buns, why not get your mind working and enter one of my two short story competitions (with prizes!) One of them…
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This week I’m welcoming a new writer to my Guest Writer Spot. Nest Madden is one of my amazing students and he thought you’d all like to read a story with an Easter theme. Here’s a little background detail on Nest: ‘Nest is a decorated security specialist who has over thirty years’ experience in front…
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It is with great pleasure that I welcome talented short story writer Adam Dixon back to my Friday slot. He’s written several excellent stories for my Guest Writer Spot. Please visit his blog to read these and some of his other works. Here is a little bit about him, in his own words: ‘My name…
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Thank you to all of you who responded to my request for help in deciding which type of writing competition to run. I’ve taken note of every comment and I’m now pleased to announce the launch of the 2016 writing competition: I’m running two competitions – a flash fiction competition up to 100 words and…
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In my writing challenges, I often give you a theme to write about, but this is usually restricted to poetry. My motivation for you this Monday is a theme, but there’s no restriction; it can apply equally to poetry or prose: Theme: Fear. Here’s my flash fiction piece on the theme: The Rider He…
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My motivational tip for you this week is in the form of a last line. Sometimes, if you’re given a theme, opening line, or even last line, it can start the thought processes working and before you know it, you have a story. Your last line: If only, he thought. This is the story I…
