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!!
Friday, 30 December 2011
Friday, 23 December 2011
Aiki jutsu - or 'Do as you're told Scott!'
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.
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.
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.
Thursday, 22 December 2011
Battered Moons Poetry Competition
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.
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.
Wednesday, 21 December 2011
LAST TEN DAYS FOR SUBMISSIONS
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
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
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Farewell 2011 Felixstowe Scribblers - here's to 2012!
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.
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!
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!
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!
Monday, 19 December 2011
Spa Pavilion
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.
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.
Friday, 16 December 2011
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Christmas Carol Service in aid of EACH
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
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.
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
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
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
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Flash Fiction Prize
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!
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
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
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
Due out very soon....
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
Monday, 12 December 2011
CREATIVE PRINT PUBLISHING LIMITED FREE BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS
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
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
Thursday, 8 December 2011
MEETING REPORT 6TH DECEMBER 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
The International Rubery Book Award
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
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!
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/
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/
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Another publication by a Scribbler!
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.
A rebellious evening at Scribblers...
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!!!
Children of Pulilan Foundation - forthcoming quiz events
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
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
Monday, 5 December 2011
TRIBUTE TO A TEXAN LEGEND
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
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.....
....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!
After the meeting the committee will meet for a few minutes to confirm dates of the 2012 meetings.
Keep Scribbling!
Friday, 2 December 2011
December 2011 issue of WritingRaw.com is now online
“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
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
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Xmas is coming...
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.
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
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
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
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.
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.
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Spot the difference!
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".
Saturday, 26 November 2011
Prole Poetry and Prose: Issue 6
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
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
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
A Monkey, a Mouse and a CPAP Machine.
ISBN 978-0-9569455-0-1
Friday, 25 November 2011
Daily Mail Covers Star City Sculpture Launch
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
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
Monday, 21 November 2011
Pen Tales
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.
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
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
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
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/
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/
Sunday, 20 November 2011
10th ANNUAL WOODBRIDGE XMAS HOLISTIC CRAFT & HEALTH FAYRE
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
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
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
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
Thursday, 17 November 2011
Meeting of 15th November 2011.
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.
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
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
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
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Three weeks to our next meeting...
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!
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!
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Arizona Homework Assignment
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!
Brilliant subject, fantastic work from the wordsmiths of our Felixstowe Scribblers!
Keep Scribbling!
Multi Story.co.uk
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
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
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
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
Monday, 14 November 2011
Tuesday's meeting
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!
See you there - the Room at the Top that is!
Friday, 11 November 2011
We will remember them
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)
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Writing The Wrongs Competition Update
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
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
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
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
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
BBC writersroom newsletter.
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
--------------
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
Saturday, 5 November 2011
Hung, Drawn and Quartered
This post has been removed to "Short Stories" - see the tab at the top of the page.
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Meeting report for the 1st November 2011
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.
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...
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
“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
Join us on Twitter l Join us on Facebook l Join us on MySpace
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
Join us on Twitter l Join us on Facebook l Join us on MySpace
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