Felixstowe Scribblers 2012

Meeting report for 21st February

2012-02-22T23:47:00.002Z

If you didn't attend you missed a great meeting. Details are as follows.

Apologies came from Les, who is at present having to look out for Joan who has not been well. Carolyn who is off travelling again, Our treasurer Beryl who has unfortunately sprained her wrist and lastly Caz.

Members present were; Dave, Dick, Ally, Liliane, Sally, Cathy, Sandy, Martin, Ally, Tony and yours truly.We welcomed Lyndsay into the fold, hoping she will be a regular visitor and contributor.

We had just two readings for the evening as it was one of our critique meetings.

Dave was first to read from his novel provisionally entitled Shadow of the Trees. We listened to two chapters, the first being 'Confrontation' which came as mid way through the novel so the characters were fully formed. The novel is woven round the events following a nasty motor accident involving Pauline, one of the main characters, who was in collision with a nefarious character called Noye in his sports car. The accident was entirely his fault and he was convicted and sentenced to a spell in Hollesley Bay Prison from where he escaped.

Another character is Billy, a policeman who gets emotionally entangled with the victim, Pauline and causes a rift between himself and his wife, Judy. The chapter tells of his ferocious argument with Judy as she confronts him about his attachment to Pauline.

The second chapter was 'On the Run' and describes how Noye escapes from the prison and has reached his parents house to gather some clothing and food. He is confronted by his father who tells him what he thinks of his activities. The argument is heard by Noyes mother who enters the kitchen and begins to berate her son. This drives him crazy and he picks up a kitchen knife and stabs his mother, then in a fury stabs his father who is about to attack him.

These were powerful chapters and the meeting offered what Dave considered to be plenty of helpful feedback.

The second reader was Tony. I am rather at a loss to describe the plot of his novel other than to say it borders on being a classic and of a genre that is not at present recognised.

The novel is called Sword of the King and the chapters were from the very beginning and called 'The pebbles of Power'

Tony's novel has cleverly woven together homework from the years gone by until reaching what he finally considers to be a finished novel. He tells us that there is already interest in his production so we wish him well in the venture.

This was an evening enjoyed by all and hopefully of use to Dave and Tony.

The homework subject for next meeting on the 6th March is 'BLANK' chosen by Lyndsay.

Good luck and keep scribbling.

Barry.

Critique session

2012-02-22T12:45:00.002Z

Our meeting last night produced two very different extracts from Tony and Dave's work.

Tony provided a lengthy reading from his completed fantasy work which is being submitted to a publisher for consideration today. Fingers crossed and good luck Tony.

Dave read two chapters from his ongoing work that was inspired from a homework assignment about a year ago. Plucking chapters from the middle of the work is not always ideal but it provoked some useful comments.

These type of meetings occur just twice a year but they give indepth feedback to the benefit of both the author and the audience. It is a shame that all work cannot go through this procedure but that is really an impossibility with the usual homework assignments.

Both Tony and Dave benefitted from the meeting and all those present seemed to enjoy the procedings.

Keep Scribbling

Our next meeting...

2012-02-20T19:15:00.003Z

Tuesday 21st February, 7.30pm, The Room at the Top, Felixstowe Library.

This meeting will be the third in the series of our popular critique meetings when two members of our circle share parts of their ongoing work with the group. There will be both discussion and critique on the works which, in the previous meetings, has proved extremely helpful to both writer and audience alike.

So come along to the meeting and listen to the works of Tony and Dave.

No homework assignments for this meeting... so come along and join in.

Keep Scribbling!!!

Paragraph Planet - February newsletter

2012-02-20T00:13:00.001Z

Welcome to the February Newsletter for Paragraph Planet, the website which invites pieces of fiction of exactly 75 words.

January’s archive is now online - http://www.paragraphplanet.com/jan12archive.htm - and it’s the usual mixture of twist short stories, extracts from published novels and work-in-progress. There’s stories of murder, To-Do lists, kidnapping, emigrating, and a fireman‘s lift.
Some fantastic new authors have been submitting their flash fiction or novel extracts. Get involved now via http://www.paragraphplanet.com/submission.htm

Plus, I’m proud to announce further author interviews have now been added to the site. Recent interviewees include Gabrielle Kimm, Lizzie Enfield and Araminta Hall. Link to all the interviews here http://www.paragraphplanet.com/interviews.htm

Find out more about Behind The Scenes of a Writing Magazine (yes, this one) by reading the new online and downloadable What The Dickens magazine, edited by Victoria Bantock of Writers’ Gifts. http://www.wtd-magazine.com

Oh, and if you haven’t got enough to link to, on a personal note I’ve recently updated the directory for the Distracted Dad column I write for a Brighton Magazine. So if you want to know precisely how to access a column about an owl, a fridge freezer, George Harrison, or the tooth fairy, try http://www.richardhearn.talktalk.net/distracted-dad.htm

Have a good rest of your month.
Richard Hearn
http://www.paragraphplanet.com

Stagefright

2012-02-18T20:29:00.004Z

Don't Miss!

Until Saturday 25 February

A Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds Production

Stagefright
With the Stagefright run extended until Saturday 25 February there are plenty of chances to catch this funny and spooky production, don't miss out!

'Gothic creepiness meets knowing comedy... this play could become a favourite.' Libby Purves, The Times

‘delicious slice of gothic horror... this production is certainly worth catching' EADT

'a delightfully funny and scary night... great to see our students clutching each other & screaming with glee' Cambridge International School

Click here to book now

Tickets £8.50 - £20

Don't forget our Under 26 Saver - £8.50 in advance

View the Stagefright Trailer »

Theatre Royal
Westgate Street
Bury St Edmunds,
IP33 1QRAdd us to your address book

FELIXSTOWE MIND BODY SOUL EXHIBITION

2012-02-18T01:01:00.000Z

Established 1999 www.lifearts.co.uk

10am to 5pm – Sunday 4th March
Felixstowe Leisure Centre, Sea Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk IP11 2BA

Treat yourself, family & friends to a “feel good day”!
· TASTER TREATMENTS
· INTERNATIONAL READERS
· UNIQUE & UNUSUAL GIFTS
· NATURAL CRYSTALS & GEMS
· CRAFTS & DISCOUNTED BOOKS
· INSPIRING WORKSHOPS
· STAGE MUSICIANS & PERFORMERS
· REFRESHMENTS

ON STAGE:
Rami - Didgeridoo, Jaw Harp, Overtone Singing, Symphonic Gongs, Khoomi Mongolian Throat Singing & Symphonic Gongs
Jonathan Hughes - Cello
African Drumming / Bollywood Belly Dancing / Saxserenade / and more …

TALKS/WORKSHOPS
TIMINGS
TITLE
10.30am
Fantastic Food for a Fitter Future! - Maggie Franks
11. 05am
Brandon Bays ‘The Journey’ - Joanna Dayton
11.40am
Detox Your House Forever : Eco cleaning Sally Mittuch BA HONS
12.15pm
Understanding Living Consciousness Dean Rees-Evans MSc
1pm
Mediumship demo – Maureen Hinton with her guide “Maorijohns”
2pm
Celtic Ballads and Bards - John Goodluck and Jo Arcand
3pm
How to Heal Yourself of Cancer! - Julia Fairfax ACHO BA HONS GRCCT
4pm
African Drumming Workshop - Eddie Mann

Admission includes talks/workshops and stage demonstrations (exception only medium demo-£3)
Adults: £3.50
Concessions: £2
16 and under: FREE

For further Information for visitors and interested
exhibitors contact Chris Cozens
Tel: 01394 277589 / 07969 770741
Email: chris@lifearts.co.uk
Website: www.lifearts.co.uk

Hey there Pen Tale Friends

2012-02-16T23:55:00.003Z

So, for our first email of 2012, we wanted to take a moment to re-introduce you to PenTales so you know exactly what we're all about. Here it goes:

PenTales is trying hard to build a culture - online and offline - where people stop and ask each other about the things we all care about, no matter where we are from or what age we are. What sort of things, you ask: well, universal human things like home, love, fear, friendship, regret...

Why? We believe that by sharing perspectives on the same topics we sometimes learn that while we're unique, we're not actually all that different from each other.

How? We try to encourage people to share stories in person and online. With your help, we've hosted live storytelling events in all different parts of the world (did you know we've got an awesome storytelling series in Reykjavik and Lahore?). We've built a simple website where anyone can send in their stories on our themes - in any medium.

And now? We'll keep thinking of new ways to get you guys to share stories. Plain and simple. Hopefully you'll help along the way.

Life Lessons
The idea behind the project is that if we pool all our lessons and nuggets of wisdom, we just might all be little bit smarter. Like owls. Owls are apparently wise.

Is there some life motto you always return back to? Something you wish someone had told you when you were younger? Well, this is your chance to share some of your hard-learned lessons with the rest of the world.

We're asking people - old and young - to give us their nuggets of wisdom.

Answer these 5 questions and help us build an arsenal of advice for humanity.

Hemingway Room
ATLANTA.BERLIN.LAS VEGAS.
In September 2011, PenTales announced the opening of the PenTales Hemingway Room - a small beautiful room in an apartment in Prenzlauer Berg, one of Berlin's most inspiring and creative neighborhoods. We've had some amazing people join us there, including Lady Gaga's old DJ and an award-winning film director. It's been such a success, we're taking this idea to other cities. Creative people can now apply to stay for free in Atlanta and Las Vegas. The only requirement: they produce creative work during their stay. Check out the BLOG for more info on how to apply and how to host your very own Hemingway Room.

Join
PenTales is a passion project run by friends. We're all just volunteers who hope we're doing a little good in the world. We're excited for anyone to join us and pitch in - in whatever shape or form. Here are some ways you can join the fun: host a storytelling event, become a regular contributor (writing / video / photography), help us with any tech stuff (we're not very good at it), copyediting, social media, and the list goes on and on and on...

TV
We have an awesome YouTube channel where we share all the videos from our events. PenTales fans also add short videos on our themes. Tune in and send in your own video story today.

Salon Nights
PenTales holds live story-sharing events in 26 cities around the world.
The events are run by friends, friends of friends, and kindred spirits, who, like us, believe in the power of storytelling.
Whether in Pakistan or Iceland, the salon nights all share the same universal topics. We then use the power of the web to make the tales told at the live local events available across borders. The larger idea is to create a connection between people of different background by getting them to talk about the same things.

www.pentales.com

Questions / Comments / Stories? Always send to writepentales@gmail.com

Cancer Research UK Relay For Life poetry competition

2012-02-16T23:46:00.001Z

Last year we had a good responce to our competition but hope to have an even bigger one this year. The winning poem "Pass the Parcel" by Sally Adams was read out at the Opening ceremony and it was a poignant moment.

We wonder if your members would like to enter the competition and maybe some would like to join us at Ickworth Park on 23rd June 2012?

The details of how to enter are on the website www.poemforlife.com

Julie Grimsey
Bury St Edmunds,
Relay For Life committee

Competitions...

2012-02-16T23:42:00.001Z

http://www.jbwb.co.uk/writingcomps.htm

http://www.bridportprize.org.uk/stories.htm

I have been perusing the 'interweb' and wondered if any of you would be interested in these competition pages.

The Bridport page is a particularly good competition page with high value prizes for short stories and poetry or flash fiction. With the homework we all subscribe to, these sites would be a good way for any one interested to get their work 'out there'.

There is usually an entry fee but it all provides good practice.

Barry

Happy Valentine's Day...

2012-02-14T12:07:00.003Z

Conjures up many a thought for a story - wonder what yours would be?

On the run for 19 years

2012-02-09T23:42:00.003Z

Eddie Maher, known as "Fast Eddie", has been arrested in America on immigration charges. He has been wanted in this country ever since he vanished after a £1 million theft from a security van in Felixstowe in 1993.

The alleged crime happened outside Lloyds Bank in Hamilton Road, when a colleague made a delivery to the bank while Maher waited outside in the vehicle. The van vanished and was later found empty on the seafront. Gone was £1 million pounds in coins and notes.

Suffolk Police are liaising with US authorities and wish to interview Maher in connection with the robbery in 1993.

Meeting report for 7th Feb 2012

2012-02-09T23:11:00.003Z

Here's to all members that braved the cold and crunchy weather on Tuesday evening.

Ten of us made it to the meeting: Dave, Caz, Carolyn, Dick, Tony, Rani, Liliane, Martin Barry and Ray.

The homework subject was NEWS and we had the usual diversity of entries ranging from true life to way out there.

Herein a short indication.

Tony gave us a stand up version of a news summary with many misprints.

Rani, another portion of her Ed stories. Where the narrator was checking papers and hearing strange voices.

Lilian, a long conversation piece with lots of chit chat.

Martin. A touching story from Anglia News of a tragic accident involving Kelly Green and her donations to other people in need of organs.

Ray reflected on his youth in Kent when he was a butcher's boy with many famous or soon to be; people.

My contribution was a brief run through of three weeks in America, trapped behind the Iceland volcano.

Dave gave us more involving Pauline called The Waiting Game.

Caz amused us with her shopping spree with a reluctant partner, searching for a red coat and the Lost Glove (ed: what about this as a follow up to the Lost Sock???)

Carolyn had a piece of most truth about the time
when a relative has to be told he is too old to drive. (but never too old for emotional blackmail.)

Finally Dick gave us a true story of how Herr Hitler spoiled his perfect day out at the seaside when war was declared.

Thanks to all and the next meeting will be on 21st Feb where there will be no homework, just two long pieces read by Dave and Tony, with the meeting giving feedback on their efforts.

Keep Scribbling.

Barry.

Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds - exciting production

2012-02-08T12:04:00.003Z

To enlarge please use your zoom control

The News

2012-02-07T22:58:00.003Z

Ten brave souls ignored the cold, icy weather to attend our meeting tonight including Rani who is down from London. Once again we heard ten very diverse stories all delivered with professionalism capturing the imagination of everyone in attendance.

Great meeting, shame that some had to understandably call off and miss the entertainment.

Thankyou to those who came along.

The Scribe

Tonight's meeting is ON...

2012-02-07T13:29:00.002Z

The NEWS is that despite the inclement weather the decision has been made to go ahead with tonight's meeting at the Room at the Top in the Library. Start time remains at 7.30pm. The topic for tonight is 'News', so there may be plenty to hear.

Hope to see you this evening... take care and be safe...

Keep Scribbling!

Coming to the Leisure Centre soon...

2012-02-03T16:49:00.001Z

Grace Dieu Writers' Circle 2012 Writing Competition

2012-02-03T16:41:00.001Z

Poetry Competition: A poem on any subject – maximum 40 lines
1st Prize: £500; 2nd Prize: £200; 3rd Prize: £100; 4th Prize: £75; 5th Prize: £50
Entry Fees: £4 for one poem or £12 for 4, £3 for each additional entry over four

Short Story Competition: A story on any subject – maximum 2,000
1st Prize: £500; 2nd Prize: £200; 3rd Prize: £100; 4th Prize:£75; 5th Prize: £50
Entry Fees: £5 for first and £3 for additional stories

Closing date: 28th February, 2012.

Full details and entry forms can be found on our website at www.gracedieuwriterscircle.co.uk

Prole Laureate Competition

2012-02-01T22:53:00.000Z

The Prole Laureate Prize for poetry 2012 closes in a month on 1st March. There is a small entry fee that goes towards publication costs of Prole, Poetry and Prose.

We are open to all forms of poetry: free, blank, structured, rhymed, humorous or serious. There is no line limit. You write it, we’ll read it. Once the short list is formed, it will be sent to our Judge. This year Andrew McMillan has kindly agreed to make the final choices.

A brief summary is below. Full details are available from our website here: http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/page6.html

Winner: £130, publication in April 2012 issue of Prole and on the website.
The right to call yourself Prole Laureate!
Two runners up: £25 each, publication on our website and possible publication in our April 2012 print issue.
All entires must be previously unpublished.
By email.
Your name, contact details, paypal reference number and poem/poems should be contained in the body of the email and sent to
poetrycompetition@prolebooks.co.uk
If you want to include a short bio, feel free.
By post.
Contact details should appear on each page used.

Cheques should be made payable to Prolebooks.
Mail to:
Prolebooks
15 Maes-y-Dre
Abergele
Conwy
LL22 7HW

£3 for first entry, £2 for subsequent entries.

CREATIVE PRINT PUBLISHING LTD - FEBRUARY 2012 HISTORICAL and MYTHOLOGICAL COMPETITION

2012-02-01T16:37:00.001Z

UNPUBLISHED FICTION AUTHORS PRINT READY COMPETITION

This competition starts February 2012.

The closing date for this competition is the 29th February 2012 23:59 BST.

FEBRUARY 2012 - HISTORICAL and MYTHOLOGICAL

This is a genuine, no fee competition that stretches over 12 months.Each month a different genre; each month a winner. Winners are offered a contract, paid royalties, and receive full promotion and marketing strategies.This is not a competition with prizes. There is no entry fee.

Only Print Ready novels of genuine merit will be chosen.

Your book could be a winner.

Full details of rules, genres and how to submit,on our website, http://www.creativeprintpublishing.com/publishing/competitions.phpEntry form here: http://www.creativeprintpublishing.com/publishing/competitions/competition-entry.php

NEW February issue of WritingRaw.com online

2012-01-31T22:49:00.001Z

Let the world know about WritingRaw.com and all the good things we do for up-and-coming writers.

Thank you everyone for the show of support these last few weeks. The submissions to WritingRaw.com have been amazing. As you will notice we have changed format again based on some of the suggestions we received. The site has a much sleeker design, better online font, no more "Like" buttons or other outside forces that have slowed the site down in the past. We have gone back to basics… concentrating on the written work and the promotion of it.

Besides fiction, poetry, essays and other various forms of writing, we would also like:

· 500 words or less essays about your struggle to write or published in the traditional sense (put Struggle in the subject line of the email)

· 500 words or less essays about your struggle to write or published in the traditional sense (put Struggle in the subject line of the email)

· Books to Promote between stories, poems and articles (we are closing the Bookstore and placing these book promotions on every page everyone can see them) Send us a jpeg of the cover, a brief synopsis, and ordering information with the actual link (put Promotion in the subject line of the email)

· Artists to highlight monthly: If you are interested, please send 5 jpegs with a short bio - and be sure to include any links you would like to appear (put Art in the subject line)

Send any of these to Weeb at weeb@writingraw.com

Again, thanks to everyone for your show of support - either through submissions or comments. So now it's up to YOU to SPREAD THE WORD: Don't let us die! Let the world know about WritingRaw and all the good and positive things we do for up-and-coming writers.

The Staff of WritingRaw.com
_____

In the February issue:

FICTION:

· 2061 by J A Williams: What will the world look like after 50 years of Global Warming? And when THE BIG ONE hits the West Coast, what will remain? This is a microcosm of one possible future for mankind… Unless we wake up!

· Burgermen by Alan Zacher: Tom Mayor is being threaten by the manager of a grocery store for quitting and not giving two-weeks notice. For two weeks, the manager terrorizing Tom by phone, and then shows-up at his mom and dad's home at 2 a.m. with a gun.

· Coming of Age at Brighton Beach by Vivian Conejero: In 1970s Brooklyn, a sheltered and shy Latin American teenager ventures to the beach by herself, the year she turns eighteen. By the end of her visit to Brighton Beach, she realizes that she is no longer a child.

· Empath by Sabrina Sumsion: When a woman can feel the emotions of others, she must learn to insulate herself from the outside world. When the violent world comes to her, she fights against the inevitable to save another's life.

· Fishing Story by Billy Rutter: Like most fishing stories, life at times makes it difficult to decipher fact from fiction and is often riddled with disappointment that goes unseen. A masterfully crafted narrative, "My Fishing Story" is about a boy who discovers lower lifeforms and a man in search of a higher power.

· Hackademic by Ian Boulton: Roy teaches investigative journalism to a large group of international students at a London university. News has been his life but to the young people he teaches he is an anachronism, a figure from history. How can he cope when keeping up-to-date has been both his profession and his passion but every day brings fresh evidence that the world is passing him by?

· Population One by David Bridge: In the middle of a desert, in a country far from home, Andrew Finsbury puts the finishing touches to his business, which looks set to make him a millionaire. But will he overcome the prying state bureaucrat who has the power to turn his dream to dust?

· Olde Camden Road by Robert Welsh: Sean Garrity lives a quiet if unfulfilling life in the town where he grew up in rural Pennsylvania. But fate intervenes one evening when he finds himself exploring an allegedly haunted road in a remote part of the county. Olde Camden Road developed a notorious reputation with the locals over the decades as an area rife with paranormal occurrence. Like many, Sean ignored the legends as he grew up and busied himself with everyday things. But tonight he is going to discover the road's deepest secrets and the truth will change him forever -- if he can survive til morning.

· Sidestep by Alessandra Siraco: Childhood was always fun, until you thought of getting older. Mark and his sister Jessie, in the midst of contemplating clouds and forts, wonder what happens when you grow up and need to leave childhood behind--and they wonder why a strange couple is standing on their grandfather's backyard hill.

· The Fairy and the Princess by Katie Alford: A harmless fairy prank goes wrong leaving Alyn in the power of a very angry human court. But that proves not to be the worst event of the day.

· The Raggedies by Tom Sheehan: Young Thornwell didn't have a hint at what "The Book" was, though the other town kids in the group he had enlisted in, these new friends of his, spoke of it with admiration, love, and whatever else was coming at him that he couldn't figure out. It had drawn him in because they seemed to be on fire every time they talked about it, "The Book." In time, the sheriff learned the whole story about "The Book," and the young west trying its best.

· The Staircase by Gibson Culbreth: After a disappointing evening Courtney and Eric find themselves stuck in a stairwell. The unlikely pair try to mend their unraveling lives through cigarettes and screaming.

· Woodland Stalker by Kristopher Miller: Ben Matthews is hunting moose in the frozen wilderness of Canada. When he finds his prey, he finds something else that takes it... something that will hunt Matthews deeper into the woods. What is hunting him is far more ferocious, cunning, and terrifying than any wild animal he's ever seen.

NEW!
Season 3, Episodes 3: Give Me My Robe, Put On My Crown

POETRY:

· Brine by Allegra Freund
· Cottonwood by Scott Lutz
· Do I Have A Right? by Susan M. Bell
· Endless Conception by Matt Panetta
· My Pen by Chris Birrane
· Now Until Forever by Matt Panetta
· On The Road Beyond the Midnight Passion by Matt Panetta
· Pandora's Box by John Ernest Giffard
· That Cezanne Girl by Joseph Grant
· The Infinite Ecstasy by Juliette Beswick Pokletar
· Times Square by Jordan Elizabeth Mierek
· Until He Came by Elaine Rosenberg Miller

ASSORTED:

· Artist of the Month: Jason Denaro

· Humour Is A Funny Thing by John Joyce: Humour is a funny thing don't you think? Everyone has an opinion on humour, and say have a sense of humour and like a good laugh. It even has its own memory since we gladly recall funny situations years later.

· Lost & Found in Ohio by Steve Myers: A search for a lost mother and lost time.

· Sagging Middles: The Intimidating Space between Beginnings and Endings. AND… Plot Outlines: Who Could Ever Remember The Machinations of These Weird Characters? by Milton Trachtenburg: Imagine that two of your favorite characters from fairy tales become a writer and an agent. In a blending of what I imagine to be their personalities with the content that a writer and an agent might discuss, Little Red Writing Hood, a agent of sterling reputation discusses sagging middles with her client---surly, egotistical yet somewhat skillful writer, Big Bad Word Wolf. If there is a lesson to be learned here it may be that every writer can benefit from learning the rules of the writing road...as well as table manners if he happens to revert to his true persona.

· Shylock in the Twenty-First Century by Christopher Nagle: Nearly 67 years after the end of The Holocaust, Jews are still the most widely and vehemently loathed ethnic minority on the planet. The geography and cultural setting for this has changed, but its intensity now threatens the global order. What is to become of these extraordinary people, and the attitude of their neighbors towards them, as this undoubtedly convulsive century unfolds?

· What I Seen by Derek Frazier: In the Piney Woods of East Texas, there is no difference between faith and reason. Perception is reality, even when the subject is a hairy cryptid denied existence by mainstream science and traditional religious beliefs.

7 QUESTION INTERVIEWS:

· Joe Haldeman: SciFi author currently working on the Marsbound series. Current release: Earthbound

· Ed Kovacs: Author of Storm Damage (his current novel) and Unseen Forces

· Margaret Maron: Author of the Sigrid Harald and the Judge Deborah Knott series. Current release: Three-Day Town

· Kyle Mills: New York Times bestselling author of twelve books, including the latest in Robert Ludlum's Covert-One series, The Ares Decision. Current release: The Immortalists

· Jonas Saul: Author of the Sarah Roberts and the Drake Bellamy series. Current release: The Kill

· REPRINTED: 7 Question Interview with Literary Agent: Lucinda Blumenfeld

RIB RAW

BOOK REVIEWS

Give us a look, am sure you will like what you see and read. If you have an interest in being part of WritingRaw.com, please visit the site and do a little exploring. Am sure we have a niche for just about everyone and anything. Thank you.

Weeb
WritingRaw.com
Join us on Facebook
Join us on Twitter

Free Writers' Newsletter

2012-01-30T23:39:00.002Z

Poetry competition winners and new magazine

This month, firstwriter.com has announced the winner, runners-up, and special commendations of its Tenth International Poetry Competition, as well as releasing Issue 20 of firstwriter.magazine, Hieroglyphs.

Shelley Griffiths, from Sidmouth, Devon, was announced as the winner of the competition for her poem "Estuary Mud", and wins £500 (around $750).

Shelley Griffiths was born in Portsmouth, UK in 1969, but was soon moved to the Cotswolds where she spent the formative years of her childhood with her two siblings and a dog called Buffy. At the age of eight, she moved to London where she stayed until she graduated with an English and Drama degree from Kingston University in her early twenties. After teaching for a few years, Shelley turned her hand to painting, and achieved global success with her abstract impressionism, painting under the name LAURIE MAITLAND. Royalties from print sales enabled Shelley to return to her first love – that of writing, and to study for a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing at Exeter University, Devon.

Shelley still lives in Devon, where she continues to paint, alongside writing poetry, screenplays and novels – the first of which, Hailstones in May by Laurie Maitland, is now available on Amazon. The second novel, The Ganesha Keystone, will publish on Amazon in March 2012.

Shelley hopes to earn just enough from her writing and painting to move to a house with a bigger garden so that she can have chickens which she plans to name Betty, Marjorie, Ethel and Mabel.

Jessica Prather, of Hilliard, Ohio, wins $150 for submitting the best entry from the United States with her poem "Mortar", and Alice Stride of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, wins £100 for entering the best runner-up poem from the United Kingdom, "Walnuts and Apples". The winning poems can be read online at http://www.firstwriter.com/competitions/poetry_competition/previous_winners/10thpoetry.shtml.
International Copyright Registration

Register your copyright online for instant copyright protection in more than 160 different countries worldwide. Click here for more information.

All the winners will also be published in a future issue of firstwriter.magazine, and receive vouchers worth £24 / $36 – as will the ten Special Commendations:

Pauline Asper, United Kingdom, "Maturity";
Christine Bond, United Kingdom, "Shamus Heaney. Queens University 1968s Heaney: Queens University 1968";
Richard Tyley, United Kingdom, "Home Sweet Home";
Joris Heise, United States, "Ashlie, the Student in Special Education";
Harvey Rothenstein, United States, "Our Example";
Kathleen Strafford, United Kingdom, "Under the Card Table";
Sarah Hosking, United Kingdom, "Armistice, November 11th";
Kate Brown, Australia, "102 degrees";
Ginna Wilkerson, United States, "Laws of Travel";
Tom Brown, United Kingdom, "Birds".

firstwriter.magazine Issue 20: HieroglyphsThe latest issue of firstwriter.magazine has also just been released, featuring quality fiction and poetry submitted from around the world, plus your first chance to see not just the winning story from our Seventh International Short Story Contest, but also all ten Special Commendations. To view the magazine click here. To enter your work in our Eighth International Short Story Contest click here.

If you submitted work for issue 20 you can check to see if your work has been included by viewing the magazine online (click here). If your work has not been included then, unfortunately, on this occasion your submission has not been successful. We'd love to see more of your work, though, and are now accepting submissions for issue 22 of the magazine. We accept poems up to 30 lines and short stories up to 3,000 words. You can submit your work for consideration online at http://www.firstwriter.com/Magazine/submit.shtml

The Bridport Prize 2012 website is now open for entries

The Bridport Prize is the richest open writing competition in the English language, with £5,000 first prize for a short story (of up to 5,000 words); and £5,000 first prize for a poem (of up to 42 lines). The category of Flash Fiction attracts £1,000 to be won for the best short, short story of under 250 words. [To read the full article, click here]

For details of over 150 writing contests, click here

Short stories required for new greeting card concept

The Circle of Joy is a new concept in greeting cards, with each card pairing a commissioned illustration on the front with a related short story on the back. The range of "storycards" will be launched in mid-2012, with the initial forty cards focusing on everything from the "Joy of Weddings" to the "Joy of Golf", from the "Joy of Birthdays" to the "Joy of Wine". At the end of each story, readers are invited to visit the Circle of Joy website, where they can enjoy thousands more anecdotes, stories and photos posted by other users, share their own stories of joy if they wish, as well as order more storycards from the webshop. [To read the full article, click here]

New website for travel writers
World of Travel Writers is a unique website where travel writers across the world can meet up, share their travel writing experiences and travel stories, and find markets and contests for travel writers all on one website. World of Travel Writers will be updated every two months: Feb/Mar, Apr/May, June/July/ Aug/Sept, Oct/Nov, December/End of Year issue.
The website needs articles by travel writers; press releases about new markets for travel writers; press releases about upcoming writing competitions and photography competitions. It also needs news that pertains to travel writing. [To read the full article, click here]

Jewish Women's anthology seeks submissions
Submissions are being sought for a new anthology, Just Between Us – Jewish Women Get Personal. The stories should be personal true slices of life showing how you have grown, overcome challenges, gained wisdom, etc. All subjects are welcome: Dating, marriage, pregnancy, birth, nursing, raising children, mikveh, holidays, living in Israel, divorce, widowhood, illness, grandmotherhood, etc. Humor is welcome, as is poetry. [To read the full article, click here]

One month left to apply for £30,000 Futures Fund
Last year IdeasTap opened a fund in partnership with Sky Arts to give five young creatives the chance to win £30,000 each. They have already awarded funding to opera director Daisy Evans and visual artist Phoebe Boswell, and they will be taking applications for the remaining three bursaries until February 24, 2012. [To read the full article, click here]

New site for writers
Voices in Space is a new site that includes a free online writers’ forum, where writers can post original fiction, nonfiction, and poetry; receive critique from a global community of readers; and read new works by aspiring and established authors. The site also lets writers’ workshops create groups, through which their members can connect and share writing.Since Voices in Space is a new site, still in its beta stage, they are searching for writers and readers to populate the site with works and feedback. To visit the site, click here

Resources for writers at firstwriter.com
Visit firstwriter.com for the following invaluable resources for writers:
over 850 literary agencies
over 1,400 book publishers
over 150 writing contests
over 1,400 magazine publishers
and more...

National Poetry Anthology 2013

2012-01-30T23:36:00.002Z

Please find below details of this year’s National Poetry Anthology 2013, which some of your members may be interested in. It is free to enter and will publish 250 poets as regional winners, with an overall winner taking the £1,000 first prize.
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Have you entered the biggest free-to-enter annual poetry competition there has ever been?

The National Poetry Anthology has been discovering new poetry talent for the past 14 years.

We pick 250 regional “poet laureates” – then put their winning poem in the book.

They get a free copy and then get to vote for the best poem in the book. The overall winner gets £1,000 and a magnificent trophy to keep for life.

You can see all of the previous winners and their winning poems on our website at www.unitedpress.co.uk/free-poetry-competitions/previous-npa-winners.html

If you haven’t entered before – why not?

Just send up to three poems (160 words and 25 lines maximum each, including blank lines) on any subject.

You can submit your poems online at www.unitedpress.co.uk/submit-poetry-online/ or post them to United Press Ltd, Admail 3735, London, EC1B 1JB.

If you have never entered one of our competitions before now is the perfect time to do so, because first-time entrants will receive a free copy of the National Poetry Anthology 2012, in which you can read all 250 winning entries from the last book. But hurry because we cannot keep this offer open for long.

Jamie Garner
United Press

V.S. Pritchett Memorial Prize

2012-01-30T23:26:00.001Z

The Royal Society of Literature is delighted to announce that the submissions for the thirteenth V.S. Pritchett Memorial Prize are now open.

This prize for the best unpublished short story of the year was founded by the RSL at the beginning of the new millennium to commemorate the centenary of an author widely regarded as the finest English short-story writer of the 20th century, and to preserve a tradition encompassing Pritchett’s warmth of feeling and mastery of narrative.

There is a prize of £1,000, and the winning entry will be published in Prospect and the RSL Review. In addition to this, there will be an opportunity to appear at an RSL event with established short story writers in autumn 2012.

The judges this year are Jane Gardam, Aamer Hussein and Penelope Lively.

The closing date for entries is 29th June 2012.

David K. Nouvel
The Royal Society of Literature
Somerset House, Strand
London WC2R 1LA
020 7845 4676
www.rslit.org

Follow us on Twitter: @RSLiterature
Like us on Facebook

Our next meeting

2012-01-29T23:49:00.002Z

A reminder that our next meeting is not until Tuesday week - that is 7th February when the homework assignment will be 1,000 words on 'News'.

Let's hope you've got some!!!

Keep Scribbling!

2012-01-28T17:46:00.004Z

I have been asked by The Theatre Royal to spread the word to all of our thespian members and those who enjoy an evening at the theatre. There will be more literature at our meeting on Tuesday 7th February. That's the day you should bring in your thousand words on 'News' along.

For further information on the production contact the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds at marketing@theatreroyal.org

Click on image to view.

WREKIN WRITERS – DORIS GOODERSON SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2012

2012-01-22T00:19:00.001Z

It's that time of year again...Doris is back!
Yes, the Doris Gooderson short story competition is open and waiting for YOUR entries.
So come on, put pen to paper and get those creative juices flowing.

COMPETITION INFORMATION

Rules of Entry:

1. Entries must not exceed 1200 words, be in the form of a short story and written in English.
2. Prizes: 1st = £150, 2nd = £70 and 3rd = £40. Further prizes may be awarded at the discretion of the judge.
3. An entry fee of £3 is required, or £5 for 2 entries. (1 entry = £3, 2 entries = £5, 3 entries = £8 (£3+£5), 4 entries = £10, and so on.)
4. Postal entries from overseas can only be accepted with an entry fee in sterling.
5. This entry form can be photocopied if required.
6. An entry form must accompany your entries.
7. The Closing Date is 9th July 2012.
8. Entries should not have the author’s name or any other identifying marks on their typescript but each page should contain the story title in the footer or header.
9. All entries must be on white A4 paper (or foreign equivalent), and be double-spaced, typed, and on one side of paper only.
10. No entries should be submitted into any other competition, whilst this competition is running, but may be entered elsewhere after 30th September 2012. No entries should have been published elsewhere (including on the Internet, where it has been involved in an editorial process.)
11. Entries failing to meet all of these rules will be disqualified. Fees from disqualified entries will not be returned.
12. Copyright remains with the author, although winning entries will be published in the Wrekin Writers 2012 Anthology and may also be published on the Wrekin Writer website.
13. The judge’s decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
14. Winners will be notified by 30th September 2012.
15. This competition is open to any one, of any age, from anywhere in the world.
16. No postal entries will be returned unless a stamped addressed envelope is enclosed.
17. No postal entries will be acknowledged unless a stamped addressed post card is enclosed.
18. Entries with insufficient postage will NOT be collected from the Post Office, but returned to sender.
19. Entry indicates an acceptance of these rules.

Electronic Submissions
For the 2012 Doris Gooderson Short Story competition, we are able to accept electronic submissions, subject to the following:

20. All the rules above apply.
21. Entries are submitted by email to dorisgooderson@gmail.com by 11.59pm BST on 9th July 2012.
22. Send your entry as an attachment to the email. All submissions must be accompanied by a completed entry form, which must be attached in the same email.
23. Entry fees should be made by PayPal to wrekinwriters@gmail.com. The same fee applies for electronic entries as postal entries.
24. Fees from disqualified electronic entries will not be refunded.
25. There is no need to sign an entry form for electronic submission, however, entering this competition electronically means that you accept and abide by all rules of the competition.
26. Do not send payment by PayPal and then post your submission. Only pay by PayPal if you are going to submit an email entry.

LAST FEW DAYS FOR SUBMISSIONS

2012-01-22T00:15:00.002Z

UNPUBLISHED FICTION AUTHORS PRINT READY COMPETITION
This competition started January 2012.The closing date for this competition is the 31st January 2012 23:59 BST

JANUARY 2012 - SCIENCE FICTION
This is a genuine, no fee competition that stretches over 12 months.Each month a different genre; each month a winner. Winners are offered acontract, paid royalties, and receive full promotion and marketing strategies.This is not a competition with prizes. There is no entry fee.Only Print Ready novels of genuine merit will be chosen.Your book could be a winner.Full details of rules, genres and how to submit,on our website, http://www.creativeprintpublishing.com/publishing/competitions.php
Entry form here: http://www.creativeprintpublishing.com/publishing/competitions/competition-entry.php

Phillip Grizzell, Creative Print Publishing Ltd.

2012-01-19T22:10:00.003Z

The Springfield Follies were formed in 1948, to raise funds for Springfield Junior School. The group was set up by Bert Taylor, Bob Sharman, and other members of the Parents’ and Teachers’ Association, along with the school’s headmaster, Mr Leslie Stow, who had a great enthusiasm for drama.

Over the decades, the Follies have performed popular annual pantomimes at various schools, including Springfield, and Chantry, Copleston and Westbourne High Schools, as well as Olde Tyme and variety shows across the Ipswich area.

Some of the current members have been with the Follies for nearly 50 years, but the friendly group, which feels like one big family, is always keen to welcome new members with new ideas as well.

The Springfield Follies continue to raise funds for local charities and good causes.

So why not go along to one of the shows at the Kesgrave Community Centre and support the Springfield Follies to help local charities.

An opportunity for short story writers...

2012-01-19T14:40:00.002Z

To enlarge, click on image.

2012-01-19T00:39:00.002Z

MEETING REPORT FOR 17th JANUARY 2012.

Apologies: Barry, Les, Caz, Sally, Liliane.
Present: Tony, Dick, Ali, Sandy, Cathy, Beryl, Martin, Carolyn, Ray and Dave (chair).

The evening started with a little panic when nine brave souls were queued outside the library awaiting the key to get into our meeting place. Finally Dick arrived with it and we made it inside but only after a certain member managed to activate the alarm instead of unsetting the system.

Liliane couldn’t be with us so Barry, who had the key then went on a mercy mission to the hospital to collect Les and wife Joan leaving Dick with the key and Dave the dubious honour of taking the chair.

Neither Caz nor Sally could make the meeting and so the evening seemed quite depleted in numbers compared to the last Bill Budner competition.

It was nice to see Ali back with us again after a long break brought about by work related courses throughout 2011, a wedding and a significant birthday. Now 2012 is here, Ali hopes to get back to writing with the ultimate aim of publication.

Trish has now moved out of Trimley where she lived and is enjoying her new home in the country. Just a shade too far away to come to our meetings though she remains very much in our minds.

The beauty of the Bill Budner Competition is that it has now been staged fifteen times including this meeting. Those meetings have produced some tremendous and diverse entries and, more than that, have now seen eleven different winners. Amazing!

The competition commenced with Tony reading Paris April (author Carolyn) a story of a photograph, the last one on the roll of film...

Dick read Cheat (author Ali) a wife finds a necklace in her bed etched with the letter ‘C’ and seeks revenge...

Ali read Forever Came Today (author Ray) A tale of the tomb of the Unknown Soldier who awaited his wife...

Cathy read Bobby Moore’s Assistant (author Martin) The hilarious but unlikely tale of selecting a football team to represent heaven against the red devils from the other place...

Beryl read The Bullring (author Tony) An account of every move and turn in a Spanish bull fight...

Martin read Body of Evidence (author Dave) The story of the growing suspicion a husband had for his wife Jessica...

Carolyn read Over My Dead Body (author Beryl) Dennis puts up a fight against going into a care home or having a team of carers to look after him in his own home...

Ray read The Night Before Christmas (author Cathy) A wartime story of a little girl with her mother and grandparents when a telegram is delivered...

Dave read Not A Wise Move (author Dick) A woman discovers her husband is having an affair and decides his lover must die. She hires a hit man to do the task...

Sandy did not enter the competition.

With the votes cast in which every story gained votes the result was:

In joint third place: Carolyn, Tony and Cathy.

Runner-up Martin

The Winner: Ray: with his story ‘Forever Came Today’.

A photograph appears next down on our weblog and also in the Roll of Honour.

An excellent evening of entertainment with some really good and diverse stories and some very close voting. Well done Ray! Our 11th winner!

Rounding off the evening Dave played a tape of 50 word stories that were written and recorded in a meeting back in 2004. Rachel Sloane, then a Radio Suffolk presenter, came along and asked that we all wrote these stories about a place we remembered. It is surprising what you can do with fifty words as the tape proved.

Those stories were broadcast in Writers’ Tales on Friday 21st June 2004 and for Dave and one or two others it brought memories flooding back of the Scribblers of the day...from our late and lamented Allen, to young Jack who is sadly missed.

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 7th February when the homework assignment will be up to 1,000 words on “News”.

Until next time,

Keep Scribbling!

Dave deputising for Barry.

For all your research and information
visit your local Felixstowe Library
and the Suffolk Record Office .

And the latest winner is.....

2012-01-17T22:57:00.008Z

Ray Foster seen here being presented with the Bill Budner Trophy by previous winner Dave Feakes. Well deserved Ray!

A silver meeting coming up...

2012-01-14T22:13:00.003Z

A reminder that the next meeting will be on Tuesday the 17th January is the Bill Budner evening when members are invited to bring along up to 1000 words their chosen subject to try and win the silverware.

Entries must be anonymous of course and writers will only be revealed at the end of the meeting when the Bill Budner Trophy will be awarded to the author of the best story.

Should be another great night so hope to see you there.

Keep Scribbling!!!!

Don't let WritingRaw die!

2012-01-08T18:53:00.001Z

I know that some among us have contributed over the years to this magazine, but sadly it seems that this number is too few. I shall endeavour to be one that sends a short story or piece to them on a more regular basis so it would be good if we, as a group, tried to keep this site alive.

http://www.writingraw.com/

Barry

WritingRaw ... where to now?

2012-01-08T10:09:00.002Z

SPREAD THE WORD: Don’t let us die! Forward this or send a message to all of your writer friends that we are out there. Let the world know about http://www.writingraw.com/ and all the good and positive things we do for up-and-coming writers.

People would like to know what has happened to the January issue of WritingRaw.com. The answer is easy, but quite sad too. We did not get enough submissions to put together a new issue. Fiction-wise we did but there were only 6 poetry submissions, 2 for the contest, and some of the people who were doing columns were not able to do them for January. I am again lost on how to proceed with the site. Without submissions there is no point – unless I can figure out a way to redevelop the site into something that does not require submissions. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I believe in what we are doing, and believe in all of the authors who have appeared on WritingRaw.com, but it would seem that an online literary magazine just does not work. Am in the process of discovering how to continue with the material that I do have… Again, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Weeb
WritingRaw.com

AGM and four little words.

2012-01-04T20:14:00.003Z

The AGM had only eight members in attendance but that gave us more time for a convivial chat after the AGM proper was closed.

Members present were, DAVE, DICK, LILIANE, BERYL, MARTIN, CAROLYN, TONY and yours truly.

With so few numbers we managed to complete the business in good time to get a tea break in before a four word exercise.

The meeting was chaired by Dave and with no business from the last meeting outstanding we had a general discussion on how we thought the group was coping with todays pressures of life and Dave revealed that the Weblog has been visited by double the numbers from last year, with interested parties from all over the world, including Russia!

The question of Committee ratification was covered by everyone present thanking each and all for their work throughout the year and each committee member agreeing to continue for another year. Be careful what you wish for.

The Treasurer (Beryl) gave her brief report with the group holding a healthy if not excessive balance.

My meeting reports seem to be received quite well so they will continue.

One last item was the suggestion by Dick for a new format at one of our future meetings. He has kindly volunteered to write slips with different genres, i.e. western, romance, historical and on the prior meeting each member will draw from Dicks hat one slip and that will be their genre subject for the next meeting. The date for this change was agreed to be 21st August this year instead of a four word session. The change of format will be advised the week before.

Thus ended the AGM for the year ending 31st December 2011.

There followed a brief four letter exercise. My description will be brief as we had limited time available.

Dicks four words were; NOTEBOOK, GALOSHES, CUCUMBER and HOMEWORK. A report on allotment thieves.

Liliane had HANDCUFFS, STILETTO, ASKEW and SNOWDROP. Another Police investigation into a Snowdrop thief.

Beryl had SEETH SQUELCH, WRECKAGE and SUBTERRANEAN. Children's fantasies about the sea.

Carolyn had RESOLUTION, CARNAGE, MECHANICAL and SOLIDITY. A moving story with Champagne.

Tony. ANAEMIA, CLOISTER, HOUSEHOLD and WINDOWLENE. Thoughts from a lady cleaning windows in and old house.

Martin. STATISTIC, ALPACA, BLOCKBUSTER and FEEDBACK. A strange story narrated by a Polar bear cub.

Dave. SOFTLY, HORSE, INGENIOUS and EXTRAPOLATE. A few words of Cindy in long boots questioning a man named Horse.

Finally my four words were. CARNIVAL, BED, SCRABBLE and PURGATIVE. A short story of The Rubicon Rebels and the day of The Carnival.

Another meeting where we all agreed with Dave's remark that we are proud to be in a group that can produce quality work no matter what the subject and time allotted.

The next meeting will be a Bill Budner evening on the 17th January. Bring along an anonymous 1000 words on any subject to be read by another and be marked in order of preference to find this quarter's cup winner.

Hope to see you there.

Regards your old/new secretary.Barry.

New Competition - Final Chapters: writing about the end of life

2012-01-04T20:09:00.000Z

FINAL CHAPTERS: WRITING ABOUT THE END OF LIFE - COMPETITION

Talking or reading about other people’s experiences helps us cope with our own ups and downs, but such comfort is seldom there when our life is nearing its end or people close to us are dying. So the Dying Matters Coalition is running a writing competition to stimulate discussion of dying and bereavement.
Closing date: 31 March.
No entry fee.
Visit http://www.dyingmatters.org/finalchapters .

Weekend Residential Course at Mendham.

2012-01-03T22:39:00.003Z

To enlarge simply click on the images.
For more information check the website: mendham-writers.com

Tonight's the night...

2012-01-03T11:27:00.003Z

Our AGM takes place this evening in the Room at the Top, Felixstowe Library starting at 7.30pm. It is expected to be quite a brief affair unless YOU have any issues to raise. The AGM will be followed by another of our very short and popular creative writing exercises which have proved so inspirational since they were introduced.

Come along to the meeting, have your say on the progress of the Scribblers but remember to bring along pencil and paper for the creative writing exercise and four words, each on a separate small piece of paper.

So we move into 2012 with positive thoughts for our friendly group in the forthcoming months.

Happy New Year to everyone and remember:

Keep Scribbling!

The Scribe

STILL TIME TO ENTER

2012-01-02T17:55:00.004Z

Happy Holidays from Unbound Press & Spilling Ink

Write 500 words or less for a chance to win a brilliant iPrize!!

All genres welcome, online & postal entries accepted and we accept online entry fees in £, $, € (payment by cheque must be from a UK bank, GBP)

Closing Date: January 9, 2012Winning and short-listed entries notified no later than January 31, 2012

Full details on the website

UNPUBLISHED FICTION AUTHORS PRINT READY COMPETITION

2012-01-01T14:43:00.002Z

This competition has now opened and runs until the deadline on 31st January 2012 23:59 BST.JANUARY 2012

"SCIENCE FICTION"

This is a genuine, no fee competition that stretches over 12 months.Each month a different genre; each month a winner. Winners are offered a contract, paid royalties, and receive full promotion and marketing strategies.This is not a competition with prizes. There is no entry fee.

Only Print Ready novels of genuine merit will be chosen.

Your book could be a winner.

Full details of rules, genres and how to submit,on our website:

http://www.creativeprintpublishing.com/publishing/competitions.phpEntry form here: http://www.creativeprintpublishing.com/publishing/competitions/competition-entry.php

Phillip Grizzell
Creative Print Publishing Ltd

5 minute fiction competition

2012-01-01T14:38:00.001Z

A new short story competition has been launched at www.5minutefiction.co.uk and should be of interest to our members.

Full details are on the website.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

2012-01-01T14:35:00.001Z

From firstwriter.com newsletter

2011-12-30T17:46:00.002Z

Writers' & Artists' listings disappear from website

In the days before the internet, writers in the UK would generally turn to The Writer's Handbook (published by Macmillan) and the Writers' & Artists' Yearbook (published by A&C Black) for listings of literary agents, magazines, and publishers, etc. At the start of 2011 both these publications had online versions: the listings on the website for The Writer's Handbook were available to those who had purchased the print product, and those for the Writers' & Artists' Yearbook were available to anyone for free. At the end of 2011, however, both of these online services have ceased to exist.

Earlier this year Macmillan announced that they would cease publication of the The Writer's Handbook altogether, leading to the closure of the website service (see fwn 95), and while A&C Black appear to be continuing with the Writers' & Artists' Yearbook, this month has seen a redesign of their site where the free listings that were formerly available have disappeared without warning – replaced instead by a series of tips and suggestions that shepherd writers towards an array of services and conferences marketed at wannabe writers, ranging from about £100 to over £1,000 in price.

A&C Black claim that they intend to re-introduce the listings "over the coming months", but this will come as cold comfort to anyone who was in the process of working through the listings to try and find markets for their writing. "This is one of the problems with these free services," observes firstwriter.com Managing Editor, J. Paul Dyson. "With no sense of accountability to their users (since they aren't paying customers), there's nothing to stop them from withdrawing the service without warning, leaving their users high and dry."

The old listing service on the Writers' & Artists' Yearbook website was notable for its extreme slowness (click a link, then go and do something else while you wait for it to respond), paucity of information, lack of features, and a narrow concentration on UK markets. However, A&C Black have promised improvements to at least the search facility when the service returns. "A&C Black's plan seems to be to use these listings as a come-on to writers so that they can get them to their site, where they can then try and sell them expensive premium services. If the listings are to become something of a sideshow, it will be interesting to see whether or not their promises translate into a commitment to providing the kind of online listing service 21st century users expect."

Disappointed users of the Writers' & Artists' Yearbook listings who would like a more reliable and international service can subscribe to firstwriter.com for as little as $4.49 / £2.65 / €4.49 a month, with substantial savings of up to 35% available for longer term subscriptions. firstwriter.com listings include advanced search systems searching as many as 20 different criteria, and providing practically instantaneous results. Extensive information covers the US, the UK, and other English-speaking nations, including details provided by agents / publishers / magazines / competition organisers themselves; information sourced by researchers; feedback from other users; and independent assessments from other resources. Advanced user-specific database functions means the site tells you which listings you have looked at and when, and tells you if a listing has been updated since you last looked at it. You can save specific searches to get one-click access to them from your own personalised home page, and even add personal notes to listings, which you can search for keywords, and which can include reminders to pop up at a specific date. You can even tell the site your interests and receive email updates whenever listings that match them are added or updated!

To subscribe now and begin benefiting from these features immediately go to www.firstwriter.com/subscribe

Please see our sidebar for two new features on Felixstowe Scribblers weblog, for competitions and to find an agent....

Keep Scribbling!!

Merry Xmas to everyone....

2011-12-23T22:01:00.003Z

...and a Very Happy, Healthy and Profitable New Year!

Aiki jutsu - or 'Do as you're told Scott!'

2011-12-23T21:47:00.004Z

From the files of the Ipswich Evening Star, Thursday 22nd December comes news of our former regular Scribbler Scott before he took to the martial arts. Could it be he took them up when he got married - but wife Aimee, as reported below has the upper hand on him! Just pays to do as you're told Scott! Well done Aimee!

To enlarge, simply click on the images

The final 2011 meeting report.

2011-12-23T20:53:00.001Z

This will be the final meeting report of 2011 and I wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and a productive New Year.

Members present at the meeting were Dave, Dick, Caz, Tony, Cathy, Liliane, Sally, Sandy, Jack, Sarah, Jane, Ray, Martin and finally the old men Les and myself.

Apologies from Carolyn with her son from the States on a visit and Beryl feeling unwell. Get well soon Beryl and I hope Carolyn has a good visit with her son.

The meeting was a short version of our four word exercise to accommodate the best part of the meeting with our festive get together, mince pies and the like. Apologies to the Library for any crumbs that were left behind.

We started the words with four picked by SANDY which were PANIC, PROTEGE, XMAS AND HORSE. Entitled The stand in reindeer, we had a humorous tale of Prancer the reindeer being too ill to help with the sleigh and the offer of a horse to stand in for him.

Next came JACK who just about almost finished his piece containing the words LOVE, ORIGIN, HOLLY AND ICE.
We had just a few words from Jack with his usual flair for excellent writing until we reached the ending which found us chuckling at 'B....., run out of time!'

SARAH picked LETHAL, STUFFING, SNOW AND EPHEMERAL. A strange combination of words but giving us a short piece concerning Bambi and her fawn Mindy and the fright imposed by some human hunters in the forest.

JANE had LIGHT, ANGEL, BLIZZARD AND SPARKLE. Unusually free of murder and mayhem Jane gave us a very funny account of a local Amdram production or words that could equally apply to a school panto.

RAY had the words DOSSIER, VINTAGE, BARKING AND RACIST. This was a few words of mainly vocabulary from four local skinheads talking the talk over a pint or three at the pub.

MARTIN was on form again with COCKEREL, INCONCEIVABLE, COURAGEOUS AND SURRENDER. Comedy seemed the main theme on the night and this was no exception with Martins rendition of someone being given the mundane task of checking all the Christmas deliveries at the North Pole from Amazon, Argos et al.

LES had us chuckling again with his short coming out party piece containing the words
CORRUPT, DISTASTEFUL, CHRISTMAS AND SOCIALITE. I have included Les's touching and very clever poetic tribute to the Scribblers and what the group means to him.

My piece had the words 1996, 200 (which turned out to be Zoo really. I should have gone to Specsavers) PROLIFIC AND DEPRAVITY. My attempt at humour was trumped by the comical knowledge that I had misread one of my words.

DAVE had PEST, BRAVE, FABLE AND AGE. Another funny contribution based around trains (what else) and the groom's imprisonment in the guards van.

DICKS words tested yours truly when writing (scribbling) notes for this account. SERENDIPITY, DRAGON, QUINTESSENTIAL AND GLUE. (Thank goodness for spellchecker) His was a tale of Merlin and his attempt to concoct a lethal mixture for the dragon. A very informative chemistry lesson.

CAZ gave new meaning to the panto cry of 'he's behind you!' with her piece containing the words REASON, HEEBEJEEBIES, (???) a tale of a poor unfortunate being chosen for the back end of the donkey in the Nativity. Caz also gave us a tribute from herself to us all of how much the group mean to her.

TONY had the words APOLOGY, CHARITABLE, MOTORBIKE AND TOWN woven into a comic tale which included nearly all those present at the meeting and involving many motorbikes.

CATHY had VACUUM, GALACTIC, CRACKERS AND MEETING. An incredulous passenger listening in to two old ladies and their spectacular Christmas lists.

LILIANE's words were KINGDOM, PRODUCTION, PROVOKE AND PROTEST. A neat and quite topical story of Royalty letting the hoi polloi know the cost of heating the palace as how taxes had to be raised to pay for keeping it warm.

Last but not least we had SALLY and her words LEFTOVERS, JUGGLE, INCREDIBLE AND INTEREST. Another comical look at the way Christmas dinner is cooked and the use of the eventual leftovers.

Personally I thought the scant time allowed to write (fifteen minutes) produced the usual high quality pieces from a group that blends well together. If I have made any slight mistakes in translation of your work, then I hope I am forgiven.

From Les.

Christmas Wishes

May you write your dreams this coming year
may your pen be bold, may your ming be clear,
Have faith in yourself and the courage you need,
so that all you write is a pleasure to read,
you all make me proud to be a part,
for which I thank you with all my heart,
I hope it is clear for all to see,
The Scribblers bring joy to an old man like me.
I wish you all a very Happy Christmas
and a peaceful New Year.
Les Smith

It just remains for me to wish all present and all unable to attend an extremely Happy Christmas, and to thank Les for his touching poem, a fitting ending to the year 2011.
See you all in 2012
Regards
Barry.

Battered Moons Poetry Competition

2011-12-22T11:18:00.001Z

The Battered Moons Poetry Competition is now open to all UK residents 18 or over.
The finals judge will be Michael Symmons Roberts, with Cristina Newton as preliminary judge.

The 3 winners and 4 commended poets will be invited to read their poems at the Swindon Festival of Literature on Friday 11th May 2011, when Michael Symmons Roberts will hand out prizes and read his work.

Winning and commended poems will appear in the Battered Moons Poetry Pamphlet and website. For poems up to 40 lines. Supported by the Swindon Festival of Literature and Arts Council England.

Entry fee: £3 each poem or £10 for 4. First prize £300; second, £150; third, £75. Closing date for entries is 29th February 2012.

For further information, entry form and to enter, visit http://batteredmoons.blogspot.com . Postal entries also accepted.

LAST TEN DAYS FOR SUBMISSIONS

2011-12-21T12:48:00.002Z

UNPUBLISHED FICTION AUTHORS PRINT READY COMPETITION
This competition starts December 2011.The closing date for this competition is the 31st December 2011 23:59 BST.DECEMBER 2011 -

YOUNG ADULT & TEEN FICTION
This is a genuine, no fee competition that stretches over 12 months.
Each month a different genre; each month a winner. Winners are offered a contract, paid royalties, and receive full promotion and marketing strategies.
This is not a competition with prizes. There is no entry fee.
Only Print Ready novels of genuine merit will be chosen.
Your book could be a winner.
Full details of rules, genres and how to submit,on our website, http://www.creativeprintpublishing.com/publishing/competitions.php
Phillip Grizzell
Managing Director

Farewell 2011 Felixstowe Scribblers - here's to 2012!

2011-12-20T23:49:00.002Z

What a splendid evening at Scribblers tonight.

To begin we had some pretty imaginative stories in the 15 minute allotted time so thanks to everyone who attended for providing another memorable evening.

We followed with our enjoyable Christmas party and can now look forward to our own festive season.

Merry Xmas everyone, and a happy and profitable New Year!

Keep Scribbling.

LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR - TONIGHT!

2011-12-20T13:10:00.003Z

Felixstowe Scribblers final 2011 meeting takes place tonight in The Room at the Top in Felixstowe Library starting at 7.30.

There will be a short creative writing exercise - so please bring a pencil and paper together with four words each written on a small slip. These will be deposited in Dick's hat, shuffled round then simply draw four words out and you'll be able to create a short masterpiece around them!

It's all good fun....

The evening will finish with a little party before we close the chapter on 2011. If you'd like to bring along some goodies to add to the Christmas cheer then please do!

Until this evening....

Keep Scribbling!

Spa Pavilion

2011-12-19T16:32:00.002Z

The future of the Spa Pavilion hangs in the balance after Suffolk Coastal District Council announced it could no longer afford to give the necessary financial commitment to the venue.

An options appraisal on the venue has found that without significant investment the theatre will become unfit for purpose and it is believed it will cost £3million to bring it up to modern standards.

Suffolk Coastal District Council are now calling on entertainment and leisure companies across the country to bring forward proposals to save the Spa.

Geoff Holdcroft, cabinet member for economic development and leisure, said: “The harsh facts are that the Spa is not generating the audiences it used to nor those enjoyed at comparable venues.

“It urgently needs a large financial commitment just to get the building up to scratch and to give it a chance to attract the audiences that would make it viable.”

The council currently spend £250,000 each year for theatre company, Openwide Coastal, to operate the venue. The council are intending to withdraw funding at the end of June.

Ray Holburn, of Openwide Coastal, said: “This is disappointing news but we recognise the financial pressures facing the council, and it has become increasingly clear that the Spa does need a significant and urgent investment to help make it an attractive venue for customers and indeed performers.”

Shows at the Spa will continue as advertised until June.

Bring them home safely

2011-12-16T12:07:00.000Z

Wherever You Are (Military Wives with Gareth Malone) Official Video

www.youtube.com

Christmas Carol Service in aid of EACH

2011-12-15T22:57:00.003Z

EACH East Anglian Children's Hospices - Christmas Carol Service - with ICGC Ipswich Community Gospel Choir - at St Augustine's Church, Bucklesham Rd, Ipswich, Monday 19th December at 7:00pm - free entry, but funds collected for EACH. Please do come along!

From the guv'nor

2011-12-15T20:14:00.005Z

Hi Scribes.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a very literary
New Year.

Just click on the Christmas Card.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Card

All my best wishes.

Barry.

Merry Christmas from BBC writersroom

2011-12-15T20:05:00.002Z

We want to wish all of our BBC writersroom subscribers a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Stay tuned to the BBC writersroom website for lots of exciting new competitions and opportunities in 2012.
As a special Christmas treat for you - we've put together a selection box of scripts from our favourite Christmas episodes of BBC continuing dramas over the past few years.
Download them using the links below. Enjoy!

EastEnders
-------------
Christmas Day 2009 part 1 & 2 by Simon Ashdown
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/downloads/scripts/eastenders_christmas2009_parts1and2.pdf
Christmas Day 2007 - part 1 by Simon Ashdown http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/downloads/scripts/eastenders_christmas2007_part1.pdf
Christmas Day 2007 - part 2 by Simon Ashdown
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/downloads/scripts/eastenders_christmas2007_part2.pdf

Holby City
-------------
"Snow Queens", Series 13, Episode 11 by Martha Hillier (Christmas 2010)http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/downloads/scripts/holbycity_s13_ep11_christmas2010.pdf

Casualty
-------------
"Winter Wonderland", Series 25, Episode 17 by Daisy Coulam (Christmas 2010)http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/downloads/scripts/casualty_s25_ep17_christmas2010.pdf

Opportunities
-------------
New Writers Awards for Playwrights 2012Deadline: 19 December 2011Bursaries and professional mentoring for emerging playwrights based in Scotland.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/new_writers_awards_scotland.shtml
Little Pieces of Love
Deadline: 20 December 2011
Writers are invited to submit their short plays for a Valentine's themed event at the Southwark Playhouse.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/little_pieces_of_love.shtml
Immersive Writing Lab Competition
Deadline: 21 December 2011
Create a cross-platform storyworld and win a £6k development fund.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/immersive_writing_lab_2011.shtmlRed Planet Prize
Deadline: 16 January 2011
£5,000 cash prize and entry to a mentoring scheme for an original TV script. http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/red_planet_prize_2011.shtml
Script Space 2012
Deadline: 31 January 2012
Open competition that invites submissions of new, unperformed one-act plays from UK-based writers.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/script_space_2012.shtml
Theatre Trail Writers Competition 2012
Deadline: 31 January 2012
Have your play performed at next year's Arundel Festival Theatre Trail.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/theatre_trail_2012.shtml
One Act Playwriting Competition
Deadline: 31 January 2011
The Drama Association of Wales' One Act Playwrighting Competition is now open for submissions.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/one_act_playwrighting_comp.shtml
The BBC Writersroom Future Talent Award for Writers
Deadline: 01 February 2012
Opportunity for north-based student/recent graduate drama writers to access development opportunities and mentoring from the BBC.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/future_talent_award_for_writers.shtml
TenFour Theatre presents - A Table for Six
Deadline: 20 February 2012
TenFour is now accepting submissions of monologues for its Spring production of A Table for Six.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/tenfourtheatre_spring20121.shtml
Saturday Shorts 3 - Scriptwriting competition
Deadline: 01 March 2011
Bristol Folk House are looking for fifteen-minute scripts for a performance event in summer 2012.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/saturday_shorts_2012.shtml
The Windsor Fringe Kenneth Branagh Award 2012
Deadline: 05 March 2012
The Windsor Fringe is now accepting unpublished one-act plays from amateur playwrights for its 2012 Award.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/windsor_fringe_2012.shtml

Flash Fiction Prize

2011-12-14T23:53:00.005Z

Happy Holidays from Unbound Press & Spilling Ink

Write 500 words or less for a chance to win a brilliant iPrize!! All genres welcome, online & postal entries accepted and we accept online entry fees in £, $, € (payment by cheque must be from a UK bank, GBP)

Flash Fiction Prize
Now Open!

Closing Date: January 9, 2012

Winning and short-listed entries notified no later than January 31, 2012
To Enter Visit http://www.unboundpress.com/ or http://www.spillinginkreview.com/ orClick Here

1st Prize – iPad2 and publication in our 2012 annual print anthology
2nd Prize – iPod touch and publication in our 2012 annual print anthology
3rd Prize – iPod nano and publication in our 2012 annual print anthology
Shortlisted Entries – publication in our annual 2012 print anthology
Shortlisted & Honorable Mentions will receive also receive a free copy of Story.Book, our 2011 annual print anthology

Entry fee:
GBP – 1 for £5 or 3 for £10 (cheques accepted from UK banks)EURO – 1 for €8 or 3 for €16USD – 1 for $10 or 3 for $20To Enter Visit http://www.unboundpress.com/ or http://www.spillinginkreview.com/ or Click Here

Due out very soon....

2011-12-13T23:03:00.006Z

Our friend Chris Down Under in Cairns is hoping his book will be out before Christmas though time is getting short now.

Whether or not it makes the deadline it is a title that certainly catches the eye and, guys, before you get the wrong idea order your copy now!

Simply click on the image to enlarge

Thanks Guys. Nooky's just gone to the publishers and should be out next week! Your acknowledgement of its existence is a World First for the Felixstowe Scribblers! Pat yourselves on the back and thank the speed of the Homing Pigeon that brought the message to you!
Like some other things in life, I'm finding that the cover acts as a mirror to the mind of the reader. I've had comments like, 'Huh! What Filth!', 'Now that's interesting!', 'Any pictures?' and so on. The latest was from a school colleague who lives outside Melbourne (and I don't mean Woodbridge!), who said, 'I think I could learn something from that. I'll have a copy!' That's one!
Please wish all Felixstovian quill scratchers, our best wishes for a fine and restful Christmas, and a kaleidoscope of ideas in the new year. Cheers, Chris and Rebecca

CREATIVE PRINT PUBLISHING LIMITED FREE BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS

2011-12-12T19:55:00.002Z

We are giving away three copies of three titles this month.
A chance for three lucky winners to get their hands on one of three paperback titles.
Winners will be notified by email.
Books will be shipped on or before the 20st December 2011.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
1. Open to all.
2. Paperback book giveaway - there will be three winners chosen for each title.
3. You must provide a genuine email address and delivery address through the online form.
4. Free shipping included. If non-delivery then a replacement will be sent, the re-shipping costs to be bourne by the winner
This competition is organised and administered by Creative Print Publishing Ltd. an independent publishing house with no legal or financial connections to any other company or entity.
All decisions are made by the management of Creative Print Publishing Ltd and their decisions will be final.
Good luck!
Be sure to enter for a chance to win FREE BOOKS
How to enter.
Click on this link or copy and paste in the address bar of your browser http://www.creativeprintpublishing.com/publishing/author-giveaways.php

Phillip Grizzell, Managing Director, Creative Print Publishing Ltd

MEETING REPORT 6TH DECEMBER 2011

2011-12-08T17:12:00.002Z

Good day Scribes.

This is the penultimate meeting report for the year and the last containing homework, which was REBELS.
Those present included:
DAVE, DICK, LILIANE, CAZ, SANDY, SALLY, TONY, BERYL, MARTIN, RAY, SARAH AND BARRY.

Apologies came from Carolyn, Les and Cathy.

We started the session with a tale from our esteemed Treasurer, BERYL. Her piece was entitled THE SISTER, a couple of pages from her work in progress novel. We look forward to reading more about Rudolph and his partner Roma together with his two Aunts, Annie and Hettie.

Next came our resident comedian TONY. What can I say about his piece. I sat bemused, as did most other listeners at his rendition of part of a sequel to his Sword of the Kings. This was called (I think) WIND ISLAND and suffice it to say I just noted the two words in my minute book. ‘Plus one.’ These seemed to encapsulate the convoluted language of his chapter. I’m sure it will make sense one day.

Our youngest member was next, SALLY gave us a very bored housewife’s view of her early life with her then handsome husband Jonathan who had attracted her greatly when she was younger but his appeal had steadily declined until she was simply a lady who loves nothing more than a good book and a glass of wine. A REBEL WIFE hopefully is not a peek into her future. Still, she has been warned now.

Sally brought her mother as usual and SANDY amused us all with MARCH TO MILE END, a story of mother and daughter Mabel and Jane, and Mabel’s insistence that they follow the example of Wat Tyler and the Poll Tax Rebels and march to Mile End with demands similar to those of the Peasants revolt. After her daughter explained the distance to Mile End ... They took the train!

LILIANE was next with THE LAST CITY TO FALL, the story of Antwerp enshrined in a very informative account of the way Europe was shaped by the various Kings and Queens of Holland, Belgium and other rulers of Germany etc. I could not possibly give you the names and titles of her extensive research but would say that the history lesson was engrossing.

CAZ gave us REBEL, telling of the way she and her brother coped through their early years and how her rebellious brother went from Military school to live in Germany where he was involved in a serious accident while in Berlin. Caz told with feeling how she was torn at the time, from being able to visit him in hospital and trying to cope with terrible news about Jack, her son who grew to be a rebel in his own right and a gifted writer until he was cruelly taken from Caz and her family.

DICK, our deep voiced schoolteacher (retired) gave us A RISK FOR THE TEACHER.
This was one thousand words telling of a schoolteacher rebellion in Lowood School because of the way the children were treated and the dire state of the food being served from the dirty and scruffy school cook. The rebellion was a risk in those early days when the school board were as likely to sack the complainants rather than the offending culprits.
Charlotte Bronte would have been pleased to have this piece as part of Jane Eyre.

DAVE was in the spirit world with REBEL IN THE SKY where his subject rebels against the norm to dwell in the in between world and wait for opportunities to take his revenge on Hatcher, a bully from his early life and one who had subsequently killed the narrator by forcing his car off a cliff. His obvious relish at the many ways Hatcher had been thwarted and persecuted until his eventual demise makes us all wary of the way we treat Dave.

BARRY. My piece was an attempt at humour which was received quite well I thought. It concerned a few words from an ongoing project about The Rubicon Rebels entiltled
TILTING AT WINDMILLS. My group of feisty residents of the Rubicon Rest Home told of a residents meeting and the way the convoy of mobility scooters should behave on their next foray into town.

RAY captivated us all with a surprise account of his early life and his desire to engage with the law. Not on the wrong side of course but completely against his father’s wishes he followed his dream and went to Law School. His piece entitled YOU ONLY GET ONE LIFE told us how, when he had passed his exams he became disillusioned with the workings of our high courts, explicitly the Old Bailey and how he performed his one and only criminal case only to go into another arm of jurisprudence.

MARTIN was a playwright for tonight and gave us some narrative from a play he is writing. The piece was part of his play ST JOAN THE FIGHTER involving two rebellious teenagers, Anne and Sophie.

SARAH was in attendance but due to other commitments she was unable to complete a homework piece, but just came to meet and listen to our stories.

Thus concluded the meeting.

My thanks to all who attended and I’m sure you all join me in wishing Les’s wife Joan a speedy recovery after her unexpected trip to hospital.

The last meeting of 2011 will be in the normal place on the 20th December when you are encouraged to bring four words on separate slips of paper. We shall have a short writing exercise until the extended break where we can partake of refreshments and the usual mince pies etc to get us in the mood for Christmas.

One final note about the Scribblers Meal at the Brook a week ago. We had a good turnout and a very enjoyable time was had by all while sampling the excellent carvery put on at the venue. Everyone left feeling very satisfied I think. Thank you Les for organising.

Regards to all and see you on the 20th. NO HOMEWORK, just four words.

Barry.

The International Rubery Book Award

2011-12-07T19:30:00.000Z

The 2011 RBA short story winners have been announced!

Please visit our website for details of the winners and those shortlisted and longlisted. The Judge's report is also available on the site.

We would like to thank Paul McDonald for his efficiency and enthusiasm in the judging process.
May we take this opportunity to thank everyone who entered. We really enjoyed reading all the stories.

Our next story competition will launch next year. Meanwhile our book award is currently running.

www.ruberybookaward.com submissions@ruberybookaward.com

Parallel Dimensions!

2011-12-07T11:30:00.000Z

The 3rd annual festival of Fantasy, Horror and Science-Fiction will take place on December 10th, 2011 at West Kirby Library, Wirral. Participants include Tim Hulme, Jon Mayhew, Mjke Wood, Adele Cosgrove-Bray and others.

This FREE event begins at 2pm. Hear new fiction, talk to the authors.

West Kirby Library is located in The Concourse which is next to West Kirby train station. Trains between West Kirby and Liverpool run every 15 minutes. A frequent bus service run to Birkenhead and Liverpool from outside the station. Bus #347 runs every ten minutes. Also, there is an ample car park to the rear of The Concourse.

We hope to see you there!

Don't confuse Parallel dimensions with the poetry event also taking place in the library on the same day. Ask the staff for directions to our room!

Adele Cosgrove-Bray.

Website: http://adelecosgrove-bray.blogspot.com/

Another publication by a Scribbler!

2011-12-06T23:35:00.004Z

Here is the latest book by one of our members. A true and amazing story of one man's journey through enemy occupied territory in the 'Summer of '43'.

Yes that's the title of Sandy Stafford's intriguing publication. Costing just £5, ten per cent of the profits will be donated to St Dunstan's, a really wonderful cause.

http://www.st-dunstans.org.uk/

A rebellious evening at Scribblers...

2011-12-06T23:32:00.004Z

Yet another eclectic evening in the world of creativity. Such good work from everyone on the subject of REBELS. A joy to listen to all the stories - it's almost free entertainment!!!

Competitions by Chapter One Promotions

2011-12-06T23:28:00.001Z

To enlarge simply click on the image.

Children of Pulilan Foundation - forthcoming quiz events

2011-12-06T11:13:00.002Z

There are two charity quiz nights arranged for 2012: Saturday 25th February and Saturday 5th May. These will be at Ipswich Wanderers Football Club, Humber Doucy Lane, Ipswich IP4 3NR
7:00PM for 7.30PM start.

The cost is £5.00 per head, maximum of 4 per team. There will be Prize Money for the winning teams. A light buffet is included and a licensed bar will be available.

These two events are Charity Quiz nights to raise money for underprivileged children in the Philippines.

Children of Pulilan Foundation Charity Reg No 1105367
www.thechildrenofpulilanfoundation.co.uk
email: childrenofpulilanfoundation@hotmail.com

TRIBUTE TO A TEXAN LEGEND

2011-12-05T23:50:00.003Z

It's twenty-three years on and twenty-three years gone,
Since December six, eighty-eight,
And his final song had echoed out
Within his homeland Texas State.

The voice that passed away that day,
Was more than desperate and sad -
He'd never sing alive again
And that, my friends, was all so bad.

Yet in our minds, our hearts, our homes,
Melodies linger on and long,
Down the volume, he'll still be heard
So high above his mourning song.

A man whose life was full of grief,
His wife hit by a killer truck
Claudette died on her motorbike.
Then another tragedy struck.

Two sons died in the burning flames -
Gone were Tony and Roy DeWayne -
At his Hendersonville homestead.
Just how could he survive the pain?

Deathly anguish and bitter thoughts,
Replaced with professional calm
He rose again above his grief,
His loyal fans were in his palm.

Each song he sung, a masterpiece
The Texan sang so beautiful,
Etched on the world's eternal disc
Voice unquavering, powerful.

Listen to his ballad "Claudette",
His "Crying" and his "Blue Bayou".
Then "It's Too Soon to Know" and yet
If "Only the Lonely" weren't true.

"In Dreams" of his "Pretty Woman",
Was he "Running Scared" from "The Crowd"
Way down to his "Sleepy Hollow"
To write and sing, vibrant, aloud.

Record, perform, on stage his act,
Immense applause that will not end.
As the world pays great homage to
"'Roy Orbison"' - Texan legend

(c) 2011 Dave Feakes

Rebels.....

2011-12-05T23:46:00.002Z

....that's the 1,000 word homework assignment for our next meeting - Tuesday 6th December (tonight). Usual place, usual time.

After the meeting the committee will meet for a few minutes to confirm dates of the 2012 meetings.

Keep Scribbling!

December 2011 issue of WritingRaw.com is now online

2011-12-02T11:45:00.002Z

“The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.”
Mark Twain

WritingRaw is a monthly literary magazine dedicated to new and emerging writers. Our goal at WritingRaw is simple - to serve the literary community with the opportunity to have their work online and out in the world. In this world of disappearing literary magazines, WritingRaw is providing the blank pages for writers to fill. To view someone's writing, click on the link and a pdf version of the piece will open in your browser.

· Besides the New York Writers Workshop providing a column, we are starting two new ones this month: Self-Publishing: How We're Doing It by Martin Willoughby and Book Awards Column by Mary Greenwood. These columns are sure to provide some valuable information concerning how a writers group formed their own publishing company and a description of many book awards won by Mary Greenwood in her amazing career. We are always up for more… drop me an email and let's talk about starting your own column, weeb@writingraw.com

· Drop Us A Line: Let us know what you think of the site, or about something you've read, or promote something through a letter to the editor. Next month we would love to start a "Emails to the Editors" section of WritingRaw. In the subject line, write "Letters" and send to weeb@writingraw.com

· FLASH FICTION REVIEWS: Send us your flash fiction book reviews - no more than 250 words per review. Send to weeb@writingraw.com

· This month's winner is Denny and Maya Hoffman! January Contest: Write a 500 word or less piece using the following prompt: Write a fairy tale based on a top news story from the last 3 months. The deadline for this will be December 25. The winner will receive a $20 gift certificate from Amazon.com and be posted on WritingRaw.com.

The Staff of WritingRaw.com (Ditch, Weeb, Rib)

New in this issue:

FICTION:
· 4:30 by Joe Riley: Nights of drinking, forgetting, and wanting to forget: flirting with a beautiful woman, hung over dragging yourself to work, discovering a good friend is in a coma.

· A Fading Star by Derek G Rogers: Harry Sheffield had been there done it and been lauded for it. But that was then...

· Away In A Manger, A Baking Pan For A Bed by Barbara A. Beswick

· Catch The Air by Sara Davis: Desperate and displaced, Nina finds herself frantic and deep in the thick of an unplanned felony. As night closes in around her, she makes the decision to sieze back the life she handed over so long ago, before it's taken from her forever.

· Houses Close To The River: A Novella by Zdravka Evtimova

· Macilroy, the Reluctant Dad by Dean Scurlock: John Macilroy - annoyance to his grandmother, amatuer time traveler, professional burk - has one mission while exploring the time vortex: To go back in time and kill Hitler.

· Pal Joey by Kim Offenburger: The only things that Joey wants are his cell phone... and a pillow.

· Probing Feelings by Ronald L. Cherry: To be a woman head of a department in such a male-dominated organization as NASA, you have to be tough and shield your emotions. Your work is your all that matters. But sometimes the unexpected can penetrate the toughest shield.

· Station of Mind Over Matter by Nick Millini: After receiving the opportunity to become a famous musician, Niall Everhart heads for the big city in hopes of fulfilling his dream. Along the way he meets Blair Raymond, an eccentric yet pleasant man who wants to help Niall achieve. Will Niall find success or will the pressure of being in this new world be too much for him to handle?

· Trivia by Steve Myers: The story deals with the near impossibility of capturing a life. Almost all that is known is trivia while the experiences of war and personal tragedy escape.

· The Green Eyed Monster of It by Joe Riley: After discovering his girlfriend with another man, a young man comes to terms with the end of their relationship.

· The Visit by Frank A. Baburek: Does a family's bond during life continue after death? We all have feelings for those we have been close too in life after they die but do they reciprocate?

· 'Tis The Season by Jason P. Henry: Hell hath no fury like that of Santa and a woman scorned. 'Tis the season to be... sorry!

POETRY:
· Broken Room, Fixed Photo by Kristopher Miller
· Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by Peter Fraser Macdonald
· Lost Words by Jason Anderson
· My Eyes Are Full Of Tears by G David Schwartz
· Poetry Of Dead Things by Denny and Maya Hoffman
· Red by Denny and Maya Hoffman
· Riding the Rails by Mike Berger
· She Walked Through The Door by Juliette Beswick Pokletar
· The Cuckoo's Nest by Michael D. Brown
· The Idol on the Square by Kristopher Miller
· Tracking The Blues by John McKernan
· Will-yng by Marrilynn Ready

ASSORTED:
· Artist of the Month: by Eleanor Leonne Bennett
· Chemical Neutral by Rick Bailey
· Fat Sex: Alice in Cyberland by Rebecca Jane Weinstein
· Satan Speaks by Christopher Nagle
· The Silent Lion by Elaine Rosenberg Miller

INTERVIEWS:
· Daniel M. Annechino
· Alan Bradley
· Colin Cotterill
· Julie Hyzy

REVIEWS:
· Allbooks Review
· Between the Sheets: The Secret of Crickley Hall by James Herbert
· Flash Reviews

really BAD Shakespeare Season 3 Begins!
Episode 2 online NOW: Nothing In His Life Became Him Like The Leaving It

NEW EPISODES ON THE 15th OF EVERY MONTH

WritingRaw.com is alive and thriving.

Weeb
WritingRaw.com

Xmas is coming...

2011-11-30T16:26:00.001Z

When filling out your Christmas cards this year, why not take one card and send it to this address:

A Recovering Soldier,
c/o Queen Elizabeth Hospital,
Mindelson Way,
Edgbaston,
Birmingham,
B15 2WB.

If everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these special people, who have sacrificed so much, would get.

CREATIVE PRINT PUBLISHING LTD

2011-11-30T12:05:00.002Z

UNPUBLISHED FICTION AUTHORS PRINT READY COMPETITION
This competition starts December 2011.
The closing date for this competition is the 31st December 2011 23:59 BST.DECEMBER 2011

YOUNG ADULT & TEEN FICTION
This is a genuine, no fee competition that stretches over 12 months.

Each month a different genre; each month a winner. Winners are offered a contract, paid royalties, and receive full promotion and marketing strategies.This is not a competition with prizes. There is no entry fee. Only Print Ready novels of genuine merit will be chosen.

Your book could be a winner.

Full details of rules, genres and how to submit,on our website, http://www.creativeprintpublishing.com/publishing/competitions.php

Last chance to write a poem about your town

2011-11-30T00:30:00.000Z

Now is the last chance for a member of Felixstowe Scribblers to write a prizewinning poem about their town. Your poem could win you £1,000 in the Local Poem Competition.

It’s free to enter this annual competition and it’s open to all UK residents, young or old. All you have to do is send up to three poems about life in your own home town or area to “Local Poem”, United Press Ltd, Admail 3735, London, EC1B 1JB or visit the website www.unitedpress.co.uk and enter online, or call 0844 800 9177.

The best poem will win £1,000 cash and you can send up to three entries, which must be no more than 25 lines and 160 words each.

“The competition is designed to encourage more people to get involved in writing poetry. Your entry can be about something or someone from your home area,” explained a United Press spokesman. “We find that poems written from personal observation and experience are the most heartfelt and expressive, so we’re expecting some great entries.”

Last year’s winner was Pamela Griffiths from Sheffield and previous winners came from Bristol, Oxford, Stafford and Rotherham. Previous winning poems have been about village life, a river, a tower, a country walk and local history.

The closing date is December 31st 2011.

Spot the difference!

2011-11-29T23:56:00.006Z

A lovely social evening for the Scribblers at the Brook Hotel, Felixstowe, where they gathered for their annual Xmas meal and not a single pencil in sight!

The numbers were slightly depleted because of illnesses so we wish those who were unable to attend, a speedy recovery.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday 6th December in the Room at the Top when the homework assignment is to produce up to 1,000 words on "REBELS".

Prole Poetry and Prose: Issue 6

2011-11-26T17:54:00.002Z

Prole Poetry and Prose has just launched issue 6, a collection of quality and accessible fiction, memoir and poetry. Prole can be purchased here: http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/page5.html

Our second, international Prole Laureate poetry competition is now open for entries. Prole is an unfunded publication and any profit from this competition will be used to assist in the running of the journal.
Brief details are below:

Time scale
All entries should reach us by March 1st 2012.
Winners will be announced in our April 2012 issue of Prole and on here on our website 30th April 2012.
Fees
Single entry £3
Subsequent entries, £2 each

Prizes
Winner: £130, publication in April 2012 issue of Prole and on the website.
The right to call yourself Prole Laureate!
Two runners up: £25 each, publication on our website and possible publication in our April 2012 print issue.

How to enter
By email.
Your name, contact details, paypal reference number and poem/poems should be contained in the body of the email and sent to :
poetrycompetition@prolebooks.co.uk
If you want to include a short bio, feel free.

By post.
Contact details should appear on each page used.
Cheques should be made payable to Prolebooks.
Mail to:
Prolebooks, 15 Maes-y-Dre, Abergele, Conwy. LL22 7HW

Prolebooks are now publishing poetry pamphlets/chapbooks. We are not accepting direct submissions for these but would welcome queries if your members feel they have a collection that we might be able to publish.

Our first two pamphlets are Nan Hardwicke turns into a Hare by Wendy Pratt, and Merlin's Lane by Robert Nisbet. Both publications have received great reviews and are available here: http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/page10.html

Brett Evans and Phil Robertson
Editors, Prolebooks

New book available very soon

2011-11-26T12:34:00.010Z

Two books from author Marion Maz Mason. Her latest is due out soon and although her subject is medical, she has had the support of a consultant at Papworth Hospital along with other medical people. She has recently been interviewed on BBC Radio Suffolk advertising a week-long exhibition of the art from her first book, illustrated for children.

CPAP and Ventilator Secrets.
Available from 5 December 2011
From http://www.hope2sleep....co.uk/
Freephone telephone orders: 0800 002 9711
Also bookshops and other on-line book-stores.
Recipes by: As I Live And Breathe

Also available from Marion is
A Monkey, a Mouse and a CPAP Machine.
ISBN 978-0-9569455-0-1

Daily Mail Covers Star City Sculpture Launch

2011-11-25T21:38:00.001Z

The Daily Mail will be including their coverage of the A Sporting Chance For Peace sculpture launch in tomorrows edition (Saturday). Please feel free to pick up a copy. If you are not in the Birmingham area it will be available online. You may wish to google by way of 'The Lord Mayor Anita Ward' 'Star City' 'Sculpture' and 'Donald Brown'. You should find it with that information.

Once again, thank you for all of your support and remember, the official online location to follow this project is the www.theglobalgallery.org site. Membership is completely free and all updates and announcements will be sent to you automatically by email.

There are just 21 days left to enter the Writing The Wrongs competition. Be sure to join www.theglobalgallery.org site for all updates.

Donald Brown

Pen Tales

2011-11-21T23:32:00.004Z

2012 is just around the corner. This is the perfect time to reflect on the years behind us and consider those ahead. You know, try to learn from the stupid things we (and others) did last year or the year before, or the year before that...

So, in the spirit of learning from mistakes, we invite you to participate in PenTales If Only I'd Have Known Story Project.

The goal is to collect stories that have life lessons for all of us. For example, we recently interviewed a New York shopkeeper who had a great tale about his 95 year-old immigrant dad, an amateur boxer in the 1930s. Among many things, we took away that it takes grit and smarts to survive robberies, rising rents, and changing times. He sums it up with: "You never know how you'll handle yourself in a time of war."

We're particularly excited about nuggets of wisdom from those people who have been around a lot longer than us. We believe that those are the stories that are the most valuable to preserve, learn from, and share. So, if you're headed home for Thanksgiving, we've got an assignment for you: interview your moody great uncle, wacky aunt, or didactic dad and ask them what they'd wish they'd known. (The stories they'll come up with are the sort of stuff you can't make up... trust us!)

As always, we're open to all sorts of media (whatever tells your story best).

+Video Interview (2 min or less)

+Audio Interview (2min or less)

+Image and caption (30 words or less)

+Text (500 words of less)

We're hoping you'll send us at least 31 Life Lessons by January 1, 2012, so we can share one with you every day for the first month of the year. That way, we're sure to be off to a good (and mistake-free) start.

Love,
Stephanie, Saskia, Ezra, Olivia, Louisa, Aswini, Maham and the rest of the wonderful PenTales crew from all around the world.

PS: Need a hobby? Shoot an email to writepentales@gmail.com and we'll loop you in!

eBook Conversion Services and Book Cover Design Services

2011-11-21T18:25:00.002Z

CREATIVE PRINT PUBLISHING LTD
eBook Conversion Services and Book Cover Design Services

Here at Creative Print Publishing Ltd we offer eBook conversion services and cover design services second to none.

If you wish to expand your sales market into the ebook arena then you need a quality conversion service that replicates your hard work into a ebook version. After many hours spent bringing together your final manuscript only to be let down with a plain flat un-interesting cover, then you are looking for High quality Book Cover Design . With afordable prices and quick turn-around service to meet your deadlines.If you want your book to be stunning, and... look much more professional, and... look so unique that everyone wants to pick it up, then this will be one of the most important steps you'll ever take.

Take a look at our large selection of stunning original cover designs.
For a FREE Book Cover Design quote, please complete the quote form link at http://www.creativeprintpublishing.com/publishing/book-cover-design/free-book-cover-design-quote.php

For our ebook conversion service follow the link http://www.creativeprintpublishing.com/publishing/ebook-services.php

If you wish to ask questions then email Phillip Grizzell, Managing Director of Creative Print Publishing Ltd at phillip@creativeprintpublishing.com

Warning and disclaimer

2011-11-21T00:51:00.002Z

Whilst Felixstowe Scribblers are always pleased to publish details of competitions, companies and associated information on all manner of subjects appertaining to writing and publication, we recommend that before taking up any offers or sending money for anything posted here, that it remains their own responsibility to check and research companies credentials wherever possible.

The best advice is :

"When in doubt - don't!"

This follows a report by one of our Scribblers who researched Ashgrove House Publishing Ltd
and was linked across to the previous company by the Book Publishers whose comments can be found at http://www.kinglakepublishing.co.uk/

10th ANNUAL WOODBRIDGE XMAS HOLISTIC CRAFT & HEALTH FAYRE

2011-11-20T12:36:00.001Z

From 10am to 4pm Saturday & Sunday 19-20 November
Community Hall, Station Road, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 4AU

Fantastic stage and workshop programme - Enjoy a “feel good day” at our Xmas family fayre!

Admission:
To celebrate 10 years since the event began, all this is at the original 2001 admission price of just £2!
So it’s concession time for everyone, plus 16 and under come in for free Plus 1st 50 each day get in for FREE!

For more information about the Woodbridge Xmas Craft & Health Fayre and natural healing courses in East Anglia
go to http://www.lifearts.co.uk/

Chris Cozens - Life Arts

4 Days To Go

2011-11-20T12:30:00.000Z

There are just 4 days to go before the launch of the A Sporting Chance For Peace sculpture at Star City in Birmingham at 12 noon. For those of you who are able to attend, I look forward to seeing you there.

The First Writing The Wrongs Competition
There are 27 days to go before the closing date for the first Writing The Wrongs competition. (December 16th) Please note that for Members of the www.theglobalgallery.org site this competition is completely free to enter. Membership to this site is also free. The top 10 quotes will be posted on the site for the Member’s votes and the winner will receive a cheque for £100.

The Second Writing The Wrongs Competition
Please wait for the date to be announced before submitting a new quote for the second Writing The Wrongs competition. Entry for all Members will be free.

For more information visit www.theglobalgallery.org site.

Donald Brown
Founder

Meeting of 15th November 2011.

2011-11-17T23:43:00.005Z

Those of you who didn't attend missed another really entertaining meeting.

Members present were; DAVE DICK CAROLYN, RAY, LILIANE, TONY, MARTIN, BERYL, SARAH, LES, SANDY, SALLY, CATHY BARRY.

Angela e mailed and said she was back in the country but unfortunately could not attend. There will be further news on a writing course being held by Maureen Blundell at Angela's Villa in Tuscany when I have the details.

The homework subject was a story with a connection to the place or the word 'ARIZONA.'

RAY suggested the word Arizona last meeting so we heard his rendition of NOBODY COULD MAKE IT UP first. This began with a writers convention in Phoenix and a blonde called Sherry asking a writer if he could handle a gun, then going on to recount a meeting with aliens who sucked up zombie like creatures from Phoenix then sent them back as unsuitable thus saving the earth from colonisation.

DICK gave us an insight into the Apache nation with THE MAIL MUST GET THROUGH and how the man in charge of the Pony Express convinced Cochise to allow the mail riders free and unhindered passage through their territory.

CAROLYN gave us a poignant story of A ROAD TRIP TO ARIZONA when she really wanted to be in Paris. Told of her friend Monique who she never met until recently, having corresponded for many, many years. This was when Carolyn finally made it to Paris.

LILIANE told of THE FLAGSTAFF STONE. This was a story of a young girl selected by a Hopi Indian ghost to be the one who steals the stone from Flagstaff and return it to the Back Mesa.

TONY entertained us with DARK STAR, the story of a low budget film by that name and its connection to a garage in Benson Arizona. Not forgetting his own rendition in song!!!!

MARTIN had a piece called ARIZONA IS THE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. This was a section of a play he is at present writing. Very well written and we wait for some more.

BERYL told us about VISITING HER BROTHER, a trip she will always remember when she traversed many states and National Parks while visiting her brother in Boise, Idaho.

SARAH read us her moving story, written in a novel way with the first person narrator being the battleship ARIZONA. We had the story told in her unique fashion of the life and eventual death of the ship in Pearl Harbour at the time of America's entrance to the second world war. Moving stuff!

LES was a true entertainer with his extremely funny piece SUNG, yes, he sang the piece to the tune of 'Rang time cowboy Joe. Everyone loved it and for me was the highlight of the evening.

SANDY was troubled, having to follow Les and his song but her piece proved to be another very funny story called COWBOY HUNT. A story of Di going to Arizona intent on finding a true life cowboy to woo her off her feet. Unfortunately she discovered the cowboys were all intent and in love with themselves and their mounts so she decamped to Los Angeles where things were six time the cost and decided she was better off back home in England.

SALLY told of a young girl deciding to go against her father's wishes and row a boat to THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAKE where she met and fell in love with a tall, handsome Indian warrior.

CATHY. Her story, PUBLIC LAW 503 told us of the hardship and injustice meted out to a mainly innocent part of the public in America during the war, when people of Japanese descent were interned in what turned out to be nothing but prison camps during WW2.

BARRY. My own part in the meeting was through a story called RICHARD PAXTON McCULLOCH, an entrepreneur who bought the old London Bridge in the 1960's and transported it to Arizona, and Lake Havasu, brick by numbered brick.

Finally DAVE gave us TAKEN, the story of Geronimo, Yet another example of a minority people being oppressed and transported from their homes onto reservations where the American military were surprised to find that the Native Indians were less than happy with their lot.

Please excuse the brevity of the comments to some of the stories and if small details are reported wrongly then put it down to old age.

The evening was a resounding success once more and was peppered with fact, fiction, faction and prose then a song by Les. All in all a brilliant evening.

Thank you all for coming and as I asked before, could all those not already booked, please contact me by the 19th if you wish to come to the evening meal. At £9.50 a head for a really good carvery it is well worth it.

The next meeting will be on the 6th of DECEMBER when the subject word is REBEL or REBELS.
Good scribbling and see you at 7.30 at the Brook on the 29th of this month.

Barry.

Grace Dieu Writers' Circle 2012 Writing Competition

2011-11-17T23:36:00.001Z

Our 2012 Writing Competition is now open. For 2012 we have increased our prize pot and have a £500 first prize for both our Short Story and Poetry Competitions with total prize money of £1,850. Details below:

Poetry Competition: A poem on any subject – maximum 40 lines
1st Prize: £500; 2nd Prize: £200; 3rd Prize: £100; 4th Prize: £75; 5th Prize: £50
Entry Fees: £4 for one poem or £12 for 4, £3 for each additional entry over four

Short Story Competition: A story on any subject – maximum 2,000
1st Prize: £500; 2nd Prize: £200; 3rd Prize: £100; 4th Prize:£75; 5th Prize: £50
Entry Fees: £5 for first and £3 for additional stories

Closing date: 28th February, 2012.

Full details and entry forms can be found on our website at www.gracedieuwriterscircle.co.uk

Tony Gutteridge
Competition Organiser

Three weeks to our next meeting...

2011-11-16T12:32:00.002Z

November is one of those months with an 'extra' Tuesday in it, meaning, for Scribblers, there is a three week gap to our next meeting which will be on 6th December. With only two meetings left this year it seems that time has flown by at a considerable pace.

This year has seen the quality of our creative homework assignments increase enormously making each our meetings the place to go for some of the best entertainment you will find anywhere.

We may be a significantly small group by others benchmarks, but its the quality that counts. And we've got it! Proud to be amongst so many talented writers, bless 'em!

So here in Suffolk we say, and mean,

Keep Scribbling!

Arizona Homework Assignment

2011-11-15T23:58:00.003Z

Another fascinating meeting at Scribblers. Subject, set by Ray at the previous meeting, was Arizona. Who thought it would be all Cowboys and Indians? Actually it was a real mixture of factual and fictional creations and even song from not one, but two of our writers. There was laughter a plenty coupled with sadness, emotion and shock at the injustices to a nation....

Brilliant subject, fantastic work from the wordsmiths of our Felixstowe Scribblers!

Keep Scribbling!

Summer is going....

2011-11-15T17:29:00.002Z

... but look what dear Les calls a balanced meal - an ice cream in each hand!

Multi Story.co.uk

2011-11-15T00:24:00.000Z

We thought perhaps our site may be of interest to your writing group members.

www.multi-story.co.uk is a site spotlighting fiction in all genres. Aimed primarily at short story writers there is still plenty to interest the novelist too. The site, which is run by published writers, features interviews with, and articles by, a range of publishing professionals. We always welcome news and comment on our Have Your Say page.

We will be hosting competitions for stories of different lengths on a bi-monthly basis. Closing dates: last day of February, April, June, August, October, December

We are currently hosting a competition for flash fiction pieces of no more than six hundred words. It is open-themed, the entry fee is £5 for one story or £8 for two and the closing date is 29th February 2012.

There are cash prizes of £300 for first place, £100 for second, £50 for third and the winning entries will be published on the site. The judge, Lucy Floyd, had eleven novels published before turning to writing screenplays for film and TV and remains a regular contributor of short stories and serials in magazines around the world. Her work has been translated into thirteen languages.

Helen Foley

FREE Sample Chapters of The Realm of the Hungry Ghosts

2011-11-15T00:19:00.002Z

I always think it rather unfair to ask people to buy my fiction without actually providing a reasonable sample to get their teeth into. In bookshops, of course, the book can be lifted off the shelf and the first few pages, at least, read – but on the Internet, it isn't always as simple as that.

With my latest novel, The Realm of the Hungry Ghosts (now available for pre-order) I have therefore decided to try something quite new. Instead of simply placing the samples on my website, as I have in the past, I wanted to try to give a little something back in the process and, yes, also generate a little additional interest.

So this is the deal and how it works: I'm offering all those interested THREE FREE SAMPLE CHAPTERS of The Realm of the Hungry Ghosts – delivered directly to their e-mail inboxes. Each sample sent out will include a personalised message from me ON THE SAMPLE ITSELF and will have a unique number.

In order to qualify for this, all you have to do is forward this e-mail to at least five people who you think might be interested in receiving samples themselves – making sure that you also send the e-mail, with the recipients visible, to me. (So that means you will actually be sending it to 6 people – your five friends and gary@garymurning.com .) This offer, of course, applies to EVERYONE WHO RECEIVES THIS E-MAIL. If it's been forwarded to you and you do indeed want your free samples, simply follow the instructions.

I could make things right again…

For Sonny Moore, writer and family man, chance discovery and the force of untethered past are about to impact on his life in ways both unimaginable and profound. Faced with events he cannot explain, and those he does not even wish to contemplate, his world and the worlds of those closest to him spiral down into a realm of need and hurt, where ghosts walk – and occasionally resemble those closest to him.

"A book that refuses to be comfortably straight-jacketed into one genre, The Realm of the Hungry Ghosts takes the reader into a complex supernatural thriller that, at its heart, reveals a satisfying, thoughtful literary novel. Murning is a storyteller from the old school, where language and character are paramount, and the cast of characters take us from past to present, through love, suspicion and finally to resolution. Lyrical and thought-provoking, this is a novel to be savoured."
Ruth Dugdall – author of The Woman Before Me and The Sacrificial Man.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Your patience is, as ever, appreciated and I look forward to sending out your FREE SAMPLE CHAPTERS.

Gary

Tuesday's meeting

2011-11-14T20:41:00.003Z

The meeting starts at 7.30 in the usual place, the Room at the Top. I suspect many of you will have travelled there via Arizona - the subject for the 1,000 word geographical assignment.
See you there - the Room at the Top that is!

We will remember them

2011-11-11T11:05:00.002Z

They shall grow not old,
As we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them,
Nor the years condemn,
At the going down of the sun
And in the morning
We will remember them.

Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

Writing The Wrongs Competition Update

2011-11-09T17:33:00.001Z

For your clarification - it will be necessary for you to become a member of www.theglobalgallery.org so that you will be kept fully informed about the Writing The Wrongs competitions. Membership is free. The tggwtw@gmail.com email address will be for the submission of quotes only for the competition.

The latest blog on www.theglobalgallery.org site is:

Writing The Wrongs Competition Update

The date for the launch of the A Sporting Chance For Peace sculpture is November 23rd 2011. This will coincide with the promotion of Writing The Wrongs competitions and will be a joint event with Trading Standards Institute - http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/policy/index.cfm

Venue Star City in Birmingham UK

Time 12pm to 3pm

The Writing The Wrongs competition will run alongside the creation of the A Sporting Chance For Peace sculpture throughout 2012.

In light of the launch date you are all now welcome to submit your quote for the first Writing The Wrongs competition.

Entries to tggwtw@gmail.com and include your name

Good luck to you all.

This and other updates and announcement of competition winners will be made via www.theglobalgallery.org so please be sure to join.

Donald Brown
Founder

Next meeting

2011-11-09T13:04:00.001Z

I hope you have all been on a long trip to 'Arizona' and readied a piece for next Tuesday.

I have a request for you that all who are interested in attending our meal on the 29th of November please let me know by the 19th, that is ten days from now, to let the hotel know how many are intending to come.

I believe the meals will be approximately £9.00 per person and it is open to all, partners included of course.

Barry

BBC writersroom newsletter.

2011-11-08T20:30:00.003Z

Welcome to the New Writing Talent Search: Heartlands
--------------
Passionate about writing television drama for the BBC and live in the 'heartlands' of England?BBC writersroom and the Doctors team at BBC Birmingham are searching for exceptional new and emerging writers from the Midlands who want to write drama for television. Heartlands will provide an industry training and development opportunity for writers with some of the most experienced producers in the country. The talent search opens on 14th November - find out how you can enter:http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/heartlands_new_writing_talent_search.shtml

Heartlands Launch event
--------------
To mark the launch of Heartlands, BBC writersroom will be hosting a very special Q&A event at the Library Theatre, Birmingham on Monday 14th November at 6pm.
Will Trotter (BBC Executive Producer, Drama Series) Peter Lloyd (Senior Producer, Doctors) and Paul Ashton (Development Producer, BBC Writersroom) will be on hand to answer your questions.
Book your FREE place at the Heartlands launch:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/heartlands_launch_event.shtml

Scripts
-------
Our scripts are in PDF format - if you can't read them, download Adobe Reader from http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/categories/plug/acrobat/acrobat.shtml?intro

Hidden - Episode 1 by Ronan Bennett
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/downloads/scripts/hidden_ep1.pdf

Merlin - The Wicked Day by Howard Overman
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/downloads/scripts/merlin_s4_ep3.pdf

Outnumbered - Series 4, Episode 5 by Guy Jenkin & Andy Hamilton
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/downloads/scripts/outnumbered_s4_ep5.pdf

Torchwood - Miracle Day: Episode 1 by Russell T Davies
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/downloads/scripts/torchwood_miracle_day_ep1.pdf

Don't forget you can browse through all of the scripts in our script archive.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/script_archive.shtml

Submitting your script to BBC writersroom
-----------------------------------------
Want to write for the BBC? Find out what to send us on our script submissions page.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/writing/submissions_writersroom.shtml

Blog----Death in Paradise writer Robert Thorogood shares his advice on securing your first TV commission, top tips on how to submit a short story for the forthcoming Opening Lines series from Radio 4's Gemma Jenkins, and an update on the Salford Sitcom showcase.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/

Opportunities
-------------
Marza Storycircus competition
Deadline: 15 November 2011Global search for high-concept stories to be developed into animated feature films.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/marza_storycircus_2011.shtml

Everyword Festival: BBC writersroom workshop
Deadline: 18 November 2011
Book a free place on our script writing workshop at the Liverpool Playhouse.http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/everyword_2011_workshop.shtml

Immersive Writing Lab Competition
Deadline: 21 November 2011
Create a cross-platform storyworld and win a £6k development fund.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/immersive_writing_lab_2011.shtml

Brockley Jack Studio Theatre: Write Now
Deadline: 25 November 2011
New writing festival in SE London which gives emerging playwrights the opportunity to see their work performed.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/brockley_jack_write_now_2011.shtml

Cahoots Theatre Company
Deadline: 26 November 2011
Opportunity for writers in the Midlands to have their play produced and performed at the Century Theatre, Leicestershire.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/cahoots_2011.shtml

BBC Comedy: Jesting About 2
Deadline: 28 November 2011
Are you a writer, performer or comedian? BBC Comedy are searching for the next generation of comedy talent.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/jesting_about_2.shtml

Write for EastEnders: E20
Deadline: 30 November 2011
The EastEnders: E20 Writers School is now open to applications from writers aged 16-22.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/e20_writing_school_2011.shtml

New Writing Talent Search: Heartlands
Deadline: 02 December 2011
Want to write drama for television? BBC writersroom and BBC Birmingham are searching for exceptional new writers from the Midlands.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/heartlands_new_writing_talent_search.shtml

BBC Radio 4: Opening Lines
Deadline: 02 December 2011
The BBC Radio Drama Readings Unit welcomes unsolicited submissions for their annual series, Opening Lines.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/radio_4_opening_lines_2011.shtml

Steyning Festival Theatre Trail 2012
Deadline: 02 December 2011
Steyning Festival Theatre Trail 2012 is seeking 6 new plays from playwrights in the South East.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/steyning_festival_theatre_trail_2012.shtml

TC Brian Way Award 2012
Deadline: 09 December 2011
£6,000 prize for a play that stimulates the imagination of young audiences.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/tc_brian_way_2012.shtml

The BBC Writersroom Future Talent Award for Writers
Deadline: 15 December 2011
Opportunity for north-based student/recent graduate drama writers to access development opportunities and mentoring from the BBC.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/future_talent_award_for_writers.shtml

Circalit: Get your film made
Deadline: 15 December 2011
Submit a 3-5 minute original comedy script and have it produced by award-winning filmmaker, Jason Wingard.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/circalit_get_your_film_made_2011.shtml

New Writers Awards for Playwrights 2012
Deadline: 19 December 2011
Bursaries and professional mentoring for emerging playwrights based in Scotland.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/new_writers_awards_scotland.shtml

Theatre Trail Writers Competition 2012
Deadline: 31 January 2012
Have your play performed at next year's Arundel Festival Theatre Trail.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/theatre_trail_2012.shtml

One Act Playwriting Competition
Deadline: 31 January 2011
The Drama Association of Wales' One Act Playwrighting Competition is now open for submissions.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/one_act_playwrighting_comp.shtml

Hung, Drawn and Quartered

2011-11-05T11:50:00.004Z

This post has been removed to "Short Stories" - see the tab at the top of the page.

Best Magazine

2011-11-02T19:28:00.001Z

Caz is featured in this week's issue of Best Magazine ...

Meeting report for the 1st November 2011

2011-11-02T16:49:00.002Z

As 'Ghost stories' was the subject of our homework for tonight I suppose one could say it was a horror of a meeting. In truth the meeting was full of what I expect with our group. Packed with pieces that show how talented everyone is. As a group we all seem to gel perfectly now, we have writers with a talent for humour, some for stranger than fiction, some for true life and others for dramatic content. All these were present last night and it was a privilege to take notes and in some small way take part in a brilliant meeting.

So now for the nitty gritty.

Members present were: DAVE, DICK, BERYL, TONY, CAROLYN, LILIANE, RHANI, RAY, MARTIN, SALLY, SANDY, CATHY, LES AND YOURS TRULY.

Welcome back from Oz to Carolyn, from sickness to Cathy and adios to Robyn, away to Turkey. We wish you and Turkey the best for the future.

Apologies from Pamela who will not be attending for a while and from Caz.

Now for the important stuff.

RHANI began with her story entitled 'PRINCE OF DENMARK. EARL OF MARCH.' This was a piece concerning battle field mapping in the present day and a horse called Hamlet, and the appearance of a ghostly rider in the yard.

RAY gave us a trip down 'ROUTE 66' in the mind of an old biker. Thinking of his dear departed friend and the ghostly ambulance of Wrotham Hill in Kent.

BERYL with 'A FITTING REVENGE' related a very clever spoof rendition of Hamlet by Will Shakespeare and the ghostly presence of Hamlet's father tormenting Gertrude for marrying Claudius.

MARTIN and 'THE LEGEND OF HONESTY ISLAND' was all at sea with a tale of the disappearance of the good ship Majestic in piratical times and its eventual discovery.

SALLY had us on tenterhooks with 'THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT.' Her story was so gripping with Jimmy and his sleepless night alone.

SANDY had some 'UNINVITED GUESTS' and told of how the party with old friends descended into dark revelations resulting from a seance with an upturned glass.

CATHY'S title was a simple 'ECHOES', Jakes solitary holiday in a cramped holiday let and his foray to the local pub and videos of a mysterious old man and a melodeon.

LES regaled us with his customary humour in 'TIGOR, THE TRANSPARENT, TRANSYLVANIAN TRANSVESTITE' a ghost with a bent for silk underwear and his seduction lessons for Ben.

BARRY. My modest piece was a story of young men bullied and murdered then exacting a terrifying revenge entitled 'THIN ICE'

DAVE kept us in a ghostly atmosphere with 'FOOTSTEPS' the story of Sophie and her windswept journey home and eventual ghostly evening indoors.

DICK held our attention with 'TIMESLIDE' a story of the ghostly appearance of a train driver and fireman which halted a train and stopped a calamitous collision with a landslide..

TONY's 'A LOCKED ROOM' was a quirky story of a young offenders Academy and the school for lockpickers where the instructor gets locked in with a vampire.

CAROLYN was back from a trip to Australia but due to fatigue and her husband's sudden illness (not serious, thankfully) she had been unable to present a story tonight.

LILIANE was the final reader and by no means least we had a story of girls and 'THE GHOST OF THE OLD QUARANTINE STATION' where ghostly presences from the days of early settlement in Sydney made for a memorable journey back in time.

Finally I would say that we all had a memorable journey on the night and my thanks to all who attended. It would be great for all those that cannot attend to sometimes see the quality of literature produced here and a half page synopsis of each story at each meeting would be challenging for me and would still only tell part so I apologise to our writers from all the meetings if my report does not seem to do them justice.

The next meeting will be on the 15th of November when we should all have done our homework and produced another memorable piece on 'ARIZONA' picked by RAY.

Until the next time
Your hon. sec.
Barry.

Scary, Scary Night...

2011-11-02T00:13:00.004Z

A good turnout for the Scribblers Ghost Story meeting with some excellent scary stories... roll on next year!!! Well done everyone! Now I have to try and go to sleep....

November 2011 issue of WritingRaw.com is now online

2011-11-02T00:08:00.001Z

“Here is a lesson in creative writing. First rule: Do not use semicolons.
They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing.
All they do is show you've been to college.”
Kurt Vonnegut

WritingRaw is a monthly literary magazine dedicated to new and emerging writers. Our goal at WritingRaw is simple - to serve the literary community with the opportunity to have their work online and out in the world. In this world of disappearing literary magazines, WritingRaw is providing the blank pages for writers to fill. To view someone's writing, click on the link and a pdf version of the piece will open in your browser.

· Besides the New York Writers Workshop providing a column, we are starting two new ones this month: Self-Publishing: How We're Doing It by Martin Willoughby and Book Awards Column by Mary Greenwood. These columns are sure to provide some valuable information concerning how a writers group formed their own publishing company and a description of many book awards won by Mary Greenwood in her amazing career. We are always up for more… drop me an email and let's talk about starting your own column, weeb@writingraw.com

· Drop Us A Line: Let us know what you think of the site, or about something you've read, or promote something through a letter to the editor. Next month we would love to start a "Emails to the Editors" section of WritingRaw. In the subject line, write "Letters" and send to weeb@writingraw.com

· FLASH FICTION REVIEWS: Send us your flash fiction book reviews - no more than 250 words per review. Send to weeb@writingraw.com

· This month's contest winner is Suzanne Little, based on the outdated expression: "The cat's pajamas." December Contest: Write a 500 word or less piece using the following first line: "The candle flickered... then died." The deadline for this will be November 25. The winner will receive a $20 gift certificate from Amazon.com and be posted on WritingRaw.com.

The Staff of WritingRaw.com (Ditch, Weeb, Rib)

New in this issue:

FICTION:
· A Lost Weekend by Derek G Rogers
· The Annoying Office Plant by Kristopher Miller
· Last Chance by Alice Baburek
· Laura by Patrick J Stephens
· Paper Cut by Kristopher Miller
· Providence by Nadine Ducca Deharbe
· Ripping Blues From Your Womb by Stephanie Renae Johnson
· Strikeprice by Andrew McGregor
· Terminal Virginity by Paula Schonauer
· The Boy and Grandfather by Katherine Dalton
· Waiting To Be Called by William J Fedigan

POETRY:
· Almost a Sonnet for the UberModels In Their Underwear by Tonn Pastore
· Bid Me My Love; I Will Hold Thee by Naseeha Mahir
· Boxes On The Shelf by Gina Hickman
· Confuse Me by Pearanotta Ransome
· Cowgirl Dreams by Tandy Belt
· Darkest Before Dawn by Lo-Arna Collins
· If It Wasn't For Your Love by Angela Stevenson Ringo
· Picture, Cap and Gown by Michael Lee Johnson
· Roxy by Jessie Rose
· Spectrums by Shalisa Spence
· The Tree by Niko Sheffield
· Vows by Juliette Beswick Pokletar
· Womb Sunrise by Andy N
· Words by Shelby Thomas

ASSORTED:
· Artist of the Month: by Brittany Vandegraft [Fae/Lexi]
· I Call Bullshit by Joshua Hess
· The Reading Fee by Frank Joussen

INTERVIEWS:
· Joanna Bourne
· Melinda Leigh
· Jack McDevitt
· Robin Perini

REVIEWS:
· Allbooks Review
· Between the Sheets: The Devil All the Time by Donald Ray Pollock
· Flash Reviews

really BAD Shakespeare Season 3 Begins!
Episode 1 online NOW: Why Then Tonight Let Us Assay Our Plot

NEW EPISODES ON THE 15th OF EVERY MONTH

Let the world know that WritingRaw.com is alive and thriving.

So, what are you waiting for? Stop in and discover a new and emerging voice today.

Weeb
WritingRaw.com

CLICK HERE to Order
Shame: A Novelette by R. E. Heinrich
For the Kindle

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TONIGHT

2011-11-01T14:50:00.003Z

Hope you weren't too frightened last night with all the Halloween trick and treating.... so why not come along to Scribblers tonight and be really scared...with our Ghost Story theme.... It will be a real treat.....to see and hear all the ghoulish stories.

The "fun" begins at 7.30.

Keep screamin'

The Scribe.

ps please leave your broomsticks outside.....

Charity quiz night

2011-11-01T10:44:00.001Z

Date: Saturday 19 November 2011
Venue: Ipswich Wanderers football ground, Humber Doucy Lane IP4 3NR
Entry fee: £5:00 per head, maximum 4 in a team.
Prize money to be won.
Light buffet included.
7:00 pm for 7:30 start.
Licensed bar available.
Contact: Gordon 01473 729103 Robin:07899987540 Pat 07771743440 Rita:07832523794 Roger 07863716021
Monies raised will go towards underprivileged children in the Philippines.
Children of Pulilan Foundation Charity Reg No1105367
www.thechildrenofpulilanfoundation.co.uk

Our Next Meeting

2011-10-30T21:41:00.010Z

Halloween is virtually here.... just a spooky time for everyone.... play safe, keep safe and hope to see you all at Scribblers on Tuesday, start 7.30 in the Room at the Top, when we will hear all the haunting 1,000 word homework assignments on 'A Ghost Story'....

Keep Screaming!!!!