writers

  • Bite Size Writing Tips

    Holiday Writing Surely holidays aren’t for writing? Holidays are for relaxing and doing nothing. For some they are but for others, they’re a time to see sights and enjoy new experiences. This is excellent fodder for stories and articles, as well as fillers and letters. You could just take some notes and photos so you

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  • Markets For Writers

    Mslexia are currently looking for poems, stories and scripts on the theme of clothes. Here’s what they have to say on the subject: ‘We look for stories of up to 2,200 words, poems of up to 40 lines, and short scripts (for theatre, radio or film) of up to 1,000 words (including character names and stage

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  • I Challenge You To…

    Last week I asked you to tell me what makes you happy. There were some heart-warming responses: Kristian: My pet chickens make me happy. Sunshine and those early signs of spring make me happy. Finding something to laugh at, that makes me happy. I discovered nearly a year ago, that writing, sharing what I’ve written

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  • Bite Size Writing Tips

    Need an idea for a story? Think books and films Bookshelves and/or DVD racks are commonly found in our living rooms, featuring all manner of titles, e.g. ‘The Grudge’, ‘When Will There Be Good News?’, ‘Robin Hood’. Think about each title in turn and you should find all sorts of ideas for short stories, or

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  • Bite Size Writing Tips

    If you’re writing something funny, don’t over-explain the humour. It’s very easy to feel as if you have to explain exactly why something is funny. You don’t. Keeping it brief and to the point will ensure the humour comes through. Too long and windy and the humour is lost. *** And here’s a tip from

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  • A Lighter Look At Life

    While in a shop over the summer, I overheard a gentleman talking to one of the assistants. “Do you have a casserole?” he asked. The assistant looked a little puzzled for a moment before taking him over to the casserole dishes. “Well, one of those isn’t going to keep the sun off my head, is

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  • A Lighter Look At Life

    Unloved 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, you see, I love cats and dogs the most, You humans aren’t the best hosts, I like to flip and flap and

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  • Markets For Writers

    Are you a Writers Bureau student – past or present? Then why not enter one of their 30th Anniversary competitions – open to students new and old. To find out more, click on the following links: Proofreading Competition Book Review Competition Flash Fiction and Poetry Competition ***

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  • I Challenge You To…

    My ‘Deer’ challenge set a couple of weeks ago produced some super stories, which I’ve already featured. Here’s another from Geoff Le Pard. Please click on the link to be thoroughly entertained: Nigel Deare and The Curse Of the Lillies #flashfiction And here are a few of your pieces from my staircase challenge: Kristian: https://talesfromthemindofkristian.wordpress.com/2018/12/06/a-challenge-falling-for-blue-eyes/ Jim

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  • Bite Size Writing Tips

    Dynamic Dialogue Dialogue is good for imparting information, but only use it to impart necessary information. The reader doesn’t need to know every little detail e.g.: “I thought you were having your hair cut today,” Sally said. Her eyes narrowed, running over her daughter’s hair. “I was, but they had a water leak. That was

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