Bush Theatre- Playwright Submissions Open

 Hello Scribblers

Here is an exciting opportunity for budding playwrights. The Bush Theatre are looking for new voices to champion in theatre. If you have an unpublished play to share, they would love to receive it during their current submission period.

The Bush Theatre, an internationally renowned home for new writing, based in Shepherd's Bush, are looking for playwrights that tell contemporary stories with wit, style and passion. They want plays that are provocative and entertaining and that reflect the diversity of  contemporary society.

Submissions are open until the 10th January 2021. Follow the link below to find out about the submission guidelines and to familiarise yourself with previous productions from the Bush Theatre.

https://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/artists/submissions/

You can also navigate around their website to feel nostalgic for a time where we could book a theatre ticket and plan an evening out at will. May those days return to us soon.

Happy Scribbling Merry Playwrights!

Your latest story prompts

Just to let you know that this week's prompt for 200 words is : "Cold and Frosty" The deadline for the story is Monday 30th November.

Meanwhile the current Repository story is : "It will be here shortly" The deadline for the story is Tuesday 1st December which should be forwarded to Liz. There is no word limit!

Looking forward to hearing the result of the Crystal Ball Award very shortly.

Stay safe everyone and remember ...

Keep Scribbling!!!

The Writing Cooperative- Some Novel Tips

 Hello Scribblers

Some interesting advice here from The Writing Cooperative; for those who are struggling to finish their work in progress. The advice focuses on what might be stopping you from finishing your novel, but it could relate just as well to a short story, flash fiction piece, or a poem.

Some of the advice particularly resonated with me. I find it difficult to let a story flow, I try to edit as I go along, rather than let the story happen naturally, before going back to edit it within an inch of its life.

Hopefully, some of the advice will strike a similar chord with others who are finding it difficult to reach a satisfactory conclusion.

Follow the link below to read the article, and to navigate around The Writing Cooperative website for more information, tips and inspiration.

The quote below, which I found on the website is my new mantra!

https://writingcooperative.com

Happy Scribbling!

Membership renewals now due! Competition votes and story prompts too.

Hello everyone!!!

Lockdown number two is proving to be another pain in so many different ways. Just praying that some time soon everyone will see sense and do what the Government ask in trying to control this spiralling virus.

Some of you will have 'extra time' on your hands so why not have a go at our two writing challenges? These are:

The 200 word Manic Monday WhatsApp group prompt is simply "Stuffed." This could be a toy for example, the gloated feeling after a big meal...etc., etc. The choice is yours! The Deadline is Monday 23rd November.

The Repository prompt is: "It will be here shortly." Could it be Christmas, the bus or train or the delivery of that special gift for your beloved? The choice, as always, is yours. There is no word limit but the deadline is Tuesday 1st December. That, my friends, will be here shortly!

Don't forget that your membership fee is due - that is just £15 for the year and will allow access to the Repository and entry into our online competitions as they happen. If your membership has not been renewed by the end of this month then I am sorry but access to the Repository will be withdrawn. Please advise Beryl or Dave if you are paying by bank transfer or by cheque. Many thanks.

Talking of competitions, the Crystal Ball competition is closed now, the entries are posted in the Repository and members can vote for their favourite this time round.  Please email your votes to erwalesisat@gmail.com by midday on the 24^th. Winners of the competition will be posted at some point on the evening of the 24^th, details of winners and authors will be listed on the competitions page of the Repository.  If you did not submit a story you are still entitled to vote, so please read and enjoy the selection of stories on the website.

Enjoy the stories on the Repository and don't forget to cast your vote!

Keep Scribbling and stay safe everyone!

The Repository prompt

 I do not know if I am shocked or amused to see so many Christmas trees and their decorations already up in front room windows. At one time the unofficial competition was to see who had the tallest, prettiest, grandest tree but maybe these days it is who puts their tree up the earliest.

Can you write a story with the titles “It will be here shortly” ?

It doesn’t have to be about Christmas, it could be about hope, expectation what ever your scribbler imagination can conjure up. As always if this prompt doesn’t inspire any story of your own choosing will be most welcome.

Happy scribbling

Prompt

 This week's member's prompt for the 200 word Manic (or whatever you want to call it!!!) Monday challenge is:

"Stuffed"

Could it be a stuffed toy bear, or that after-dinner feeling or something else, the choice is yours to make! Answers please direct to our WhatsApp page.

Good luck!!!

Lest we forget

 

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". 

Membership payments

 I hope you are all still keeping free of the big bad virus.

When I sent the renewal message round I omitted to say that our account is in the name of Felixstowe Scribblers so, to use the bank transfer facility, these are the details you will need:

Felixstowe Scribblers account number 43269426: Sort Code 20-16-12

Alternatively you may pay by cheque made payable to "Felixstowe Scribblers" and forwarded to Beryl whose address will be available on request.

We are hoping that our WhatsApp and Repository writing challenges and competitions will make an outlay of £15 great value for money! At least until we can all meet up again whenever that will be!

Keep smiling, keep scribbling and, most of all, stay safe,

Dave. 

Penguin is here to help!

 Hello Scribblers

Many of us may be struggling to find the motivation to write during this ongoing period of uncertainty and worry. It's such a shame when this happens, as the longer you go without writing, the harder it is to get back in the habit.

Penguin are here to help with some writing tips for new (and temporarily stuck) writers.

Follow the link below for some tips and advice, including self-editing and sticking with it.

https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/2016/lisa-jewell-s-top-tips-for-new-writers.html

While you are in the Penguin website, why not have a look around and see what else of interest there might be? You can search through the library of books, find out about the authors and their bodies of work, and have a look at the Penguin blog.

You can even take a (seasonally inspired) quiz to find out which literary monster you might be!

If anyone is interested- I appear to be the Snow Queen- not displeased with that!

There are all sorts of other quizzes you can take, if you are at a loose end!

For those not feeling inspired by writing tips and silly quizzes- there's also a link to some famous literary 'hopeful' quotes, such as this:

"You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them" Maya Angelou, Letter to My Daughter

Remember Scribblers: This Too Shall Pass.

https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/2020/november/best-quotes-optimism-hope-authors-books-literature.html

Happy searching and I hope you are inspired to Get Scribbling!

Membership fees and other prompts.

 It is the time of year when membership needs renewing.

Obviously we are aware of the impact Coronavirus has had on us through Lockdown number one and now a fresh but hopefully shorter Lockdown starting on Thursday. It has stopped us meeting up and, if like me, you will miss the personal interaction of our meetings. The situation has not improved so, goodness knows when we will be able to safely meet again. Let's just say the hope of an antidote is at the forefront of our minds and that this virus will diminish in its deadly ferocity.

Your committee have all agreed that it would be futile to expect the full £30 membership fee - but, because we still have financial commitments we have decided to reduce the membership fee to £15 for this year only. We hope that you will continue supporting Felixstowe Scribblers and that the reduced membership fee is welcome. Although membership is not due until 17th November, payments can be made in one of two ways:

By bank transfer to our account number 43269426: Sort Code 20-16-12

or

By cheque made payable to "Felixstowe Scribblers" and forwarded to Beryl whose address will be available on request.

We are hoping that our WhatsApp and Repository writing challenges and competitions will make an outlay of £15 great value for money!

Our current writing prompts are:

"The Bigger, the Better." 200 word maximum story to be posted in our Micro Monday WhatsApp group. Deadline 9th November.

We have another online competition for our Repository. This time it is "The Crystal Ball Competition" in memory of our much missed friend Mairead Reidy. There is no word limit, but details of the competition have been circulated by our organiser Liz. The subject matter is "The Supernatural" in whatever guise you choose. Deadline is midday Tuesday 17th November.

Good luck everyone!

It is always nice to hear of former members successes. Ally Aldridge has published her first novel "Ocean Heart" and has her first press release featured on Felixstowe Nub-News.

Stay safe!

Dave

Recent Competition winners

 As you will be aware our competitions have been organised online during the ongoing pandemic.

Results of the 2020 JACK WILKINSON TROPHY   were:

Joint 1st place: Carole  with 'The Mystery of the Missing Girl'

and  Georgina with 'Grandpa Porky - The Legend.'

2nd place: Gerry with 'The Pact.'

3rd place: Rani with 'Sugar and Spice.'

Results of the  October 2020 BILL BUDNER TROPHY were:

1st place: Jim with 'The Book Club.'

2nd place: Martin with 'Flat Share.'

3rd place: Derek with 'Newfoundland.'