Competition Roundup

Hello Scribblers

Just a quick round up of the competitions we have featured on the blog that have deadlines coming up:

Retreat West Novelette-in-Flash competition- deadline 14th June:
https://www.retreatwest.co.uk/novelette-in-flash-prize/

Segora International Writing Competition- deadline 15th June:
https://www.poetryproseandplays.com/

Norwich Theatre Ghost Light Poetry Challenge- deadline 30th June:
https://norwichtheatre.org/ghost-light/

Primadonna Prize- deadline 27th July:
https://www.primadonnafestival.com/prize-2020

The Walter Swan Poetry Prize- deadline 31st July:
http://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/opportunities-for-writers/walter-swan-poetry-prize

For other competitions we may have missed or neglected to mention- have a browse through the link below...

https://creativewritingink.co.uk/writing-competitions/

Your story might be just what they are looking for!
Good luck and Keep Scribbling!

Writing Magazine Grand Prize!

Hello Scribblers

How is it possible that we are at the end of May? Spring is over and we are nearly halfway through the year. I hope that some Scribblers have been able to keep active and creative in these strange and worrying times. We are lucky that we have a hobby that can take us away from the realities of the real world for a short time. 
For those who are managing to write and create, have you considered entering any of the competitions out there?
I'll do a round up of some of the upcoming deadlines in the next post, to jog your memories, but for now, here are some details of one of the biggest competitions out there.
The Writing Magazine Grand Prize is open for entries. The first place winner will receive an impressive £1,000 prize.
They are looking for submissions up to 2,000 words, on any topic, in any form. Closing date is 30th June.
Follow the link below for more details on how to enter.

https://www.writers-online.co.uk/writing-competitions/

Good luck and Keep Scribbling!

Hope you are all still safe and well. My word it has been quiet story wise recently. Unless we receive a few more stories for the weblog, then there won't be many to read next Wednesday.

Whatever happens, Georgina will post a new WhatsApp prompt for the 100 word stories on Monday and I'll do best to do the same on Wednesday for the Weblog.

Meantime Jim has sent in a link to a free competition for the - shall we say - more senior members of the group. Jim says:

Kingslear is a free competition for writers over 70. There is one category for youngsters over 60!

This is a new creative arts competition for older people stuck at home because of Coronavirus. Please look at their website kinglearprizes.org.uk

From Meg Reid comes the following message about the Book FGestival.

We were very sad to have to cancel our live festival because of Covit-19.

We have though been working on a digital offering over the same weekend- 26-28 June - and would very much appreciate it if you could pass on details to any networks to which you have access.

Details are shown below.

Thank you so much,

Meg





A ‘virtual’ Felixstowe Book Festival for 2020



Felixstowe Book Festival is going ‘virtual’ with live streamed Facebook interviews, author videos and a JustGiving page.



The Festival Book Group kick off with a birthday party to celebrate Anne Bronte's 200th birthday on Friday June 26th, at 7.30pm, on ZOOM (ID: 858 5444 7275) Nick Holland, a leading authority on the Brontës, will join in to talk about his latest book ‘Crave the Rose: Anne Bronte at 200’.



On Saturday and Sunday 27th and 28th June there are live streamed Facebook interviews, with George Alagiah, newsreader and author of ‘Burning Land’, Nick Cottam ( a virtual illustrated tour of the River Deben), Liz Trenow ( ‘Under A Wartime Sky’, set at Bawdsey Manor), Harriet Tyce (‘Blood Orange’), Paul French (‘City of Devils’) and writer and actress, Carol Drinkwater (‘The House on the Edge of the Cliff.’)



Audiences can tune in to listen and to ask questions on the Festival's Facebook page www.facebook.com/FelixstoweBookFest/ and on the website, https://www.felixstowebookfestival.co.uk.



The Festival also has videos from Iain Dale talking politics and Paul French for an author Q&A about China. Other writers will let us take a peep into the places where they write and tell us what inspired their latest books.



Interviews: A Castaway Library

We have all spent the past few months engaging in some form of isolation away from family, friends and from normal life. But imagine if our isolation was imposed not by a pandemic but by geography? In true Desert Island Discs style we will be asking several Felixstowe Book Festival guests how they would cope with life alone on a desert island, with only three books for company.



Children's Events

We will have a few fun and interactive treats in store for your little ones over the festival weekend, with plenty to keep young minds entertained and inspired.



Full details of the new programme and JustGiving is on the Felixstowe Book Festival website www.felixstowebookfestival.co.uk, but the streamed authors will be broadcast live at the following times:



Saturday 27th June

Harriet Tyce 11 am, Paul French City of Devils 2pm and Carol Drinkwater 4.30

Sunday 28th June

Liz Trenow 11.30, George Alagiah 2pm and Nick Cottam Sunday 4pm

Other videos will be shown between the above times.



Meg Reid

Director Felixstowe Book Festival

www.felixstowebookfestival.co.uk

Let's hope the current lockdown situation keeps being eased without causing a further spike in the terrible virus that is all around. Let's enjoy the sun while we can, gather some inspiration to write again and hopefully submit to our two outlets for your stories.

In due course we may have some good news for you all...

Keep smiling,

Stay safe

Dave.

Introduction to Screenwriting- free course

Hello Scribblers

The University of East Anglia are offering a free online course for those interested in developing screen-writing skills.
The course will offer introductions to:

• Basic characteristics of screen story
• Development of a basic storyline
• Story structures including The Three Act structure and alternate story structures
• Characters and developing character outlines
• The construction of scenes including the role of dialogue and character voice
• The workflow for writing a first draft of feature film screenplay
• The process for screenplay formatting
• Writing - and finishing - a first draft

The free online course is open to join at anytime, and is accesssible for a month. There is a more in-depth option for a fee, which gives access to the course for a longer period.

Follow the link below for more information about the course and how to join up.

https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/screenwriting

Longleaf Review open for Submissions

Hello Scribblers

Are you looking for a home for your writing?
Longleaf Review are currently open for submissions of Fiction, Poetry and Creative non-Fiction.
The submission window is open until June 10th. They are looking for either: one piece of creative non-fiction- under 5,000 words, three flash fiction works of up to 1,000 words, or up to five poems.
Follow the link below for more information about submitting your work.

https://longleafreview.com/submissions/

To find out more about the weird and wonderful world of the Longleaf Review follow the link below to explore thier website and read their current (winter 2020) edition.

https://longleafreview.com/

Keep Submitting and Keep Scribbling!

Fractured Flash that can break and repair you

Hello Scribblers

We have blogged about Fractured Lit before- an online weekly journal that publishes stories all year round.
They have two categories- Flash and Micro, and also hold an annual prize that is currently open for entries.
Follow the link below to find out more about Fractured and the competition:
https://fracturedlit.com/current-prize/

For those not looking to enter stories for publication or consideration for prizes- I'm including this link to some incredible Flash and Micro stories that will give you 'all the feels!'
There are links to each of the stories- Five that 'will break you' and Five that 'will repair you'.
If you don't feel like writing- the next best thing is always to read!

https://fracturedlit.com/5-flash-that-will-break-you-5-flash-that-will-repair-you/

Keep Scribbling! Or at least Keep Reading!

Brilliant Flash Fiction Journal Contest

Hello Scribblers

'Brilliant Flash Fiction' is an online quarterly literary journal.
They accept submissions all year round, and also have occasional competitions. General submissions are for a maximum of 1,000 words, with no reading fee. They pay $20 for each story they publish.
BFF are looking for original, unpublished work in any fiction genre, and they give priority for publication to those previously unpublished in the journal.
Follow the link below for information on general submissions.
https://brilliantflashfiction.com/submissions/

The current contest prompt is 'Lost in the Library' (which makes me very nostalgic for our 'Room at the Top').
The word limit is between 300 to 750 words, and there is no submission fee. First prize is $100 and the deadline is 30th May.
Follow the link below for details:
https://brilliantflashfiction.com/writing-contests/

Or just browse the website to read some Brilliant Flash Fiction...
https://brilliantflashfiction.com/

Get Lost in the Library and Keep Scribbling!

Forwarded by Jim

I really hope everyone is being careful because people are going crazy from being in lock down! Actually I've just been talking about this with the microwave and toaster and we all agreed that things are getting bad. I didn't mention anything to the washing machine as she puts a different spin on everything. Certainly not to the fridge as he is acting cold and distant. In the end the iron straightened me out as she said everything will be fine, no situation is too pressing. The vacuum was very unsympathetic... told me to just suck it up, but the fan was more optimistic and hoped it would all soon blow over! The toilet looked a bit flushed when I asked its opinion and didn’t say anything but the door knob told me to get a grip. The front door said I was unhinged and so the curtains told me to ........yes, you guessed it .....pull myself  together.

Hastings Writers' Room- Tiny Stories Wanted!

Hello Scribblers

This challenge is similar to the last post, in that it is a linked story competition. It is also very different from the last challenge, as Hastings Writers' Room are looking for tiny little stories!
They are looking for FIVE stories, each with a maximum of 29 words! The total word count must be a maximum of 145 words.
The stories can be on any theme, but they must work together as a sequence or collection.
There should be an overarching title, and each of the stories can have its own title (these are not included in the word count).
Every word must earn its place, so get your best editing hat on.
This would be a good excercise to share with fellow Scribblers via this weblog, or on the WhatsApp group.
Good luck and Keep Scribbling!
Follow the link below for more details- closing date is 31st May.

https://hastingswritersroom.org/competitions/flash-fiction-twenty-nine-competition/

Retreat West- Extended Deadline for Novelettes-in-Flash

Hello Scribblers

An interesting competition challenge for you here, something out of the ordinary.
Some regular Scribblers share stories with a linked theme or recurring characters in meetings (remember those...), well this Retreat West competition could be just the thing.
The Novelette-in -Flash aims to 'straddle the intensity of the short story and the emotional sustenance of the novella'.
Retreat West are looking for a maximum of 8,000 words, but the narrative arc of the whole piece needs to be made up of flash fiction chapters with a maximum of 500 words, that can standalone as individual stories.
The deadline was originally 31st May but has been extended to 14th June.
Follow the link below for more details about the fee, prizes and competition rules.
Try something 'novel', but do Keep Scribbling!

https://www.retreatwest.co.uk/novelette-in-flash-prize/

Bringing you up to date

Hi Scribblers,

If you haven’t already discovered them, then there are six new stories on the weblog. They are changed weekly, usually by noon every Wednesday We are starting to run short of stories so I hope you will support our efforts to keep you occupied by both writing new stories and sending them in for posting. It would be lovely to see something from the quieter Scribblers who have yet to write a 500-750 word story for the weblog or a 100 word story for the WhatsApp group.

Our new subject for the weblog is simply “TIME.” Your stories should be sent to scribblers.1@btinternet.com by Wednesday 3^rd June.

The 100 word WhatsApp theme is “The Last Dance.” A new theme will be changed every Monday, the next being Monday 27^th May.

Our aim is to try and keep you all motivated with your writing skills and to give you a platform of sorts to share them. Sadly we can’t read the stories out, but it would be fantastic to see more of the regular Scribblers posting.

Our Hon President, Ruth, has posted many helpful hints on her Facebook page, some of which have been included on our WhatsApp feature. Always worth a look.

 I had a lovely message from Ray a couple of days ago. I think it is poignant in the present situation. He says:

“I can  tell you that I do miss the meetings and believe me when I say that if I still had my car I would quite happily have driven from Kent to be at the meetings.  There are many of you I have never met - yet with so many styles of writing and content I can close my eyes and hear the stories being told out loud.

         “That is the magic that this group can invoke.  No writer is the same so one cannot be judged against another - who could say that Hemmingway was better than Steinbeck (if you catch my drift). Rather that writers enthuse others to both read and to write.

         “ I have used  the lockdown to my advantage.

         “ Listening to a CD of The Shangri-La's I  saw a story form in the way that (Remember) Walking In The Sand and Leader Of The Pack appeared to link together. Where to begin? Last year I wrote a short story that was included in the Scribblers' 2019 anthology The Perfect Day. In it the heroine looks out of her bedroom window at the street below and compares it from the present to the past. Three pages of scribbling and the first two paragraphs of that original story have expanded as she wonders about the boy she once knew.

          “All I can say is turn time to your advantage - you won't get a better chance again. Writing encourages others.”

All the best,

Ray.

Two former regulars in the wars lately are Carolyn Barnabo-Roberts who had a fall outside her home and severely damaged her knee cap. Also Caz Wilkinson has had a fall resulting in an arm in plaster for six weeks. I am sure you will all wish them speedy recoveries.

For the poets amongst us here’s the

Last Chance To Enter

We're down to the last few days of this year's 14th International Welsh Poetry Competition so still time to send us your fab entries!

Closing date: Sunday 31st May 2020

This year we are offering the following prizes:

1st Prize – £500

2nd Prize – £250

3rd Prize – £100

plus 17 runners up prizes of being published on our website and in a future anthology.

Our judge for 2020 will be Sally Spedding.
 

To enter just click here.

Closing date: Sunday 31st May 2020

www.welshpoetry.co.uk

Good luck if you do!

Stay safe, keep smiling but keep scribbling!!!

Dave

Writing Challenge Reminders.

I hope you are all safe and well.

This week has been a bit of a struggle personally but I have
just given myself a kick up the proverbial so hopefully that will buck me up.

I wonder how everyone is missing our meetings at the Library.
I know I am. We can only look to the future and hope this lockdown will
eventually end and social distancing might allow us to meet again. Meanwhile I
wonder how many of you have found the loss of meetings to be a barrier to our writing.

The inability to create our stories and share them in our
meetings has, perhaps, taken away some of our incentive. This is the reason for
our weblog to currently post stories, albeit for a limited time. We have had
remarkable support so far but are still hoping for more stories that we can
post for our colleagues to read.

The current topic is “TOMORROW.” All that is needed is
between 500 and 750 words and sent to scribbkers.1@btinternet.com by 20^th
May.

Similarly we have our WhatsApp group, the current 100 word
topic is “I FELT….” The topics will be changed weekly in future. These are
quickfire exercises.

Both for the weblog and WhatsApp, if you don’t like the

subject then don’t let that stop you. We will always accept your stories
irrespective of the set topics.

Don't forget to look at the weblog for the stories. They are worth reading.

Stay safe and healthy everyone,

Keep smiling and…

Keep Scribbling!!!

New Short Stories to Listen to...

New Short Stories For You To Listen To

My publishers, Victorina Press, have started to make videos of their authors performing story readings. I'm chuffed to have been used as their guinea pig for this project and filmed a reading of 'Death of a Superhero', the opening short story from my collection Alternative Afterlives. 

You can see the video and listen to the story:

• On YouTube
• On Facebook
• On my website

There will be more stories and author interviews coming soon. The first part of my interview might be available to watch on Victorina Press's Facebook page by the time this email goes out. If not, it will be available soon. A lot of the questions used in the interview were provided by my website users. You might be one of them :)
 

Writing Challenges

The 81 word writing challenge is an attempt to set an unofficial world record for the most contributing authors published in an anthology. We have now received over 750 stories from authors residing on every continent, apart from Antarctica. If you know any writers who lives there, please do let me know... Anyway, 750 stories means the book is 75% full.

You can learn more about the 81 word challenge, including details of why it is an 'unofficial' world record attempt, here.

The second cliché challenge anthology, Tritely Challenged Volume 2, is now full. We will be publishing the book in June 2020. This will be the last anthology published via the cliché writing challenge. It was a tough decision to make, but due to the number of challenges I run and the amount of time it takes to edit and publish these books, unfortunately producing multiple anthologies via every challenge is no longer viable. Therefore, I’m scaling things back and I will be making similar changes to some of the other writing challenges over time.

That said, the cliché challenge is still open and future submissions will be published on my website. You can learn more and submit your stories here.
 

Trish Hopkinson's 'A Selfish Poet' Blog

I recently wrote a guest post for Trish Hopkinson's blog. The website is mainly about poetry, but Trish's readers are also interested in short story writing, so I was pleased to be invited to write a piece for her.

You can read my post, 'How to Give Your Writing the Best Chance of Being Published', here.
 

To Hull And Back

The 7th To Hull And Back short story competition opens its doors on August 1st 2020, with a new whoppingly massive prize pot.

You can check out all the details here. Then try and contain your excitement for 3 months, while you wait for the mother of all writing competitions to reopen.
 

'How To' Book FREE Taster PDF & FREE Course

For those of you that are new to the newsletter, first, welcome :-)

Second, my free short story writing course is now available. You can learn more and sign up here.

Third, here is an exclusive discount code for my comprehensive short story writing course:

• EMAIL10% as you probably guessed, this code gives you 10% off :-)

Fourth, you can now order a free sample of my book How to Write a Short Story, Get Published & Make Money.

The book uses my published short stories as case studies, so you can clearly see how all the advice and tips were used in practice to achieve publishing success.

If you want to buy the full book, here is a discount code for you to use on my website:

• PDF01 gives you 33% off PDF copies of the book

Chris Fielden