short stories
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I’m thrilled to announce that my new book, Short Story Focus, is now available to buy! Click here for the UK and here for the US. Here’s a bit more about it: Do you enjoy writing short stories but feel you’re not getting it quite right? Perhaps your opening lacks that necessary spark, or it’s
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After writing the first book in my series, A Helping Hand For Writers, I didn’t know what to focus on next. Publication Guaranteed (well, almost!) covered all sorts of areas of writing, with the aim of helping you to become a published writer. So where did I go from there? I asked you guys and
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As many of you know, I’m a tutor for The Writers Bureau, which I thoroughly enjoy. Recently, we’ve joined the virtual teaching world and have been tutoring some Zoom courses. They’ve been great fun and have ranged from Making Money From Your Non-Fiction, to Flash Fiction, to Rediscovering Your Writing Mojo. I’ve loved teaching in
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I hope your 2022 is going well so far. Here’s my first Guest Writer of the year. It’s Murray Clarke with a New Year story. THE HAIR OF THE DOG By Murray Clarke William, looking decidedly worse for wear, lurched back across the room clutching two pints of foaming ale. ‘Here you are, mate,’ he
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I’m also back with my five-word story challenge. Another big thank you to Lance Greenfield for looking after my challenges over the last few months. My word for this week is: POST So can you tell a story in five-words, using the word POST in it somewhere. I’m really looking forward to reading your stories.
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The Fridays are whizzing by; I can’t believe it’ll be Christmas Eve next week! This Friday, I’d like to welcome Helen Johnston as my Guest Writer. She’s written a super short story for us. Autumn By Helen Johnston Autumn blew into my life on a windswept September day. I had been living in New York
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How’s your week been? I’m sure it’s been hectic, if it’s been anything like mine. Well, it’s time for my Guest Writer Spot, so sit back and enjoy an entertaining story from the lovely Ritu Bhathal. Where do the Colours Come From? By Ritu Bhathal “Oh, Matty, not again!” I placed my cup of tea
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I’ll be back with my short story challenge soon. In the meantime, Lance Greenfield is holding my Monday and Thursday challenges if you’d like to take part. You’ll find him at https://lancegreenfield.wordpress.com/ I also promised I’d publish all your wonderful five-word stories from several months ago. Well, here they are. The prompts were: KISS SANDWICH
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It’s Thursday and your new five-word challenge is here. As I’m going to be out of action after my surgery, here are three prompts to keep you going. I’ll publish all your stories when I’m recovered and back blogging. Prompts: KISS SANDWICH DEODORANT Here are your STAMP stories from last week: Kim Smyth: Dad loaned
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For part one, click here For part two, click here The knife came from nowhere. Eleanor hadn’t seen it before. All she saw was a shimmer of silver and then there was a sea of scarlet. Her mummy didn’t even get a chance to scream. Mrs Draper did. She screamed before she ran down the
Esther Chilton 