Felixstowe Scribblers 2021

Saturday, 9 May 2020

National Flash Fiction Day coming up!

Hello Scribblers

National Flash Fiction Day falls on the 6th of June in 2020.
NFFD usually hold a live event, but, like many other events this year, they are adapting by holding an online event.
Submissions will be open for a week, should anyone want to enter a flash fiction story, from 25th to 31st May, for consideration for the annual online journal Flash Flood.
Submissions are free- stories should be a maximum of 500 words, and NFFD are happy to read up to three stories per author.
Winning and highly commended stories are included for publication.
Follow the link below to find out more about National Flash Fiction Day:
https://nationalflashfictionday.co.uk/

Follow the link below to find out about submissions for Flash Flood:
https://nationalflashfictionday.co.uk/index.php/competition/submit/

NFFD also hold an annual Anthology competition, and a Microfiction competition for stories up to 100 words. These won't be open again until 2021, but you can read past microfiction winners from the last eight years. It may help with inspiration for our WhatsApp group story challenges!

Good luck Scribblers and keep on flashing!

Thursday, 7 May 2020

Writers' HQ: A whole host of good stuff!

Hello Scribblers

An online resource you may like to peruse is the Writers' HQ.
They have free writing courses, writing prompts and challenges, such as a weekly flash face-off- where two opposing prompts are given and you have to pick a side!
This week's prompt is 'Never Vs Always', but time is running out- the deadline is midday Friday 8th May. But never fear, there is a new prompt every week!
The Flash Face-Off Forum offers the chance to post your story and get feedback from others, so that you can tweak and improve it.
This really is the best way to develop our writing, and without our usual supportive group, this opportunity for feedback is sadly in short supply.
Once submitted- a handful of stories are selected by the Writers' HQ folk to be read out in a live event- the first one will be at 9pm on Friday 8th May- hurry to register if you want to be involved, or just listen, before getting involved another week.

Follow the link below to register for the flash face-off:
https://www.crowdcast.io/e/flash-face-off-8-may/register

Follow this link to find out more about the Writers' HQ:
https://writershq.co.uk/

Another great resource from the Writers' HQ is a monthly list of writing competitions- see the link below for May's opportunites- some deadlines have passed, but there are many more coming up- including a short story involving bacon!
https://writershq.co.uk/writing-competitions-opportunities-may-2020/

Good luck and Keep Scribbling!
(by the way, there's a little bit of swearing on the site)

Our Writing Tasks...

Our 500-750 word story from now until Wednesday 20 May is "Tomorrow". Other stories are always welcome!

Our WhatsApp group has given you a choice. "Overflow" or, if you prefer, a 'free choice' of subject. These will last for approximately a week.

Keep Scribbling!

Keep Smiling!

Stay safe!

Monday, 4 May 2020

Segora International Writing Competition

Hello Scribblers

Another competition for your consideration!
The Segora Competitions from Poetry, Prose and Plays www.poetryproseandplays.com are now open for entries. The categories are Poetry- maximun of fifty lines, Short Story- between 1,500 and 3,000 words, Vignette- A maximum of 300 words and One-Act Plays- maximum of 35 minutes in length.
The closing date is the 15th June 2020.

The Segora weekend is held in rural France, and winners will have the opportunity to join the Segora team with other competitors and experience a weekend of poetry, prose and plays!

Follow the link below to find out more about Segora and the writing courses they offer, as well as the details of the competition and prizes.

https://www.poetryproseandplays.com/

Chesil Theatre's New Writing Festival: Take Ten

Hello Scribblers

'Take Ten' is a new biennial playwriting competition, run by the Chesil Theatre, Winchester. The theme for 2020 submissions is 'The Road Not Taken'. The winning ten plays will be performed at the playwriting festival in February 2021.

Take Ten are looking for entries following this simple format:

A play of ten minutes in length

A script involving one to four actors, with minimal props, lighting and sound

An unperformed, unpublished, original piece of work.

Entries are open until the 18th July 2020.

Follow the link below for more information about Chesil Theatre and this exciting competition.

https://www.chesiltheatre.org.uk/news

Or for further information contact:

Flavia Bateson
Chesil Theatre Marketing Team
07855 253452
flavia.bateson@starspray.org

Friday, 1 May 2020

Primadonna submissions open!

Hello Scribblers

More Book Festivals news!
The Primadonna Festival- in our very own county of Suffolk- has launched the Primadonna prize for 2020.
The Festival launched last year to give prominence to women in writing and to spotlight authors from the margins. Last year's festival was a great success, and although they are unable to run a live event this year, they are still open for submissions for this year's competition.
Follow the link below to find out more about the festival:
https://www.primadonnafestival.com/

Follow the link below to find out more about the competition.
It is open to all unsigned and unrepresented new writers (of any gender).
The aim of the competition is to open up access to the publishing industry to new talent.

Why not take a look and take a chance?
https://www.primadonnafestival.com/prize-2020

Good luck and Keep Scribbling!

The Big Book Weekend

Hello Scribblers

Following on from the news of the cancellation of the Felixstowe Book Festival- and many others around the country- some wonderful people have conjured up a virtual book festival!
The Big Book Weekend is a three-day virtual book festival- being held from the 8th to 10th May- via the online book festival site: http://www.myvlf.com/
It will bring together the best of the cancelled British literary festivals.
There will be interviews, panel discussions, performances and interactive sessions from big names, debut authors and rising talents.
With a variety on offer, for adults and children- The Big Book Festival is the closet we will get for some time to experiencing a real-life literary festival.
All you need to do is register on the myVLF website- and get involved: http://myvlf.com/

For more information follow the link to the Big Book Weekend website:
https://bigbookweekend.com/about-us

Check out the full programme of events over the three days here:
https://bigbookweekend.com/bbw-pdf-programme

REPOSITORY

The Jack Wilkinson Competition for stories about children for an adult reader, is open for entries until 1st June. Stories should be emailed in the usual way to Georgina, making clear that it is a competition entry. Your entries can be in any genre of writing and should be no more than a maximum of 1,500words. Once all entries have been received, they will all be posted on the Repository. Members will have a week to read and choose their favourite three stories. Please do not vote for your own story. Your top three choices should be emailed to Georgina stating 1st, 2nd, 3rd and the corresponding story titles. Please don’t make any comments below the stories until the outcome has been announced. All stories will be published anonymously, with only a story title and a corresponding letter of the alphabet. Once all votes are in (and scores have been double checked) the winning entries will be announced. As we are unable to present the trophy due to the existing situation, an e-certificate will be awarded to the winner. The more entries, the better, so get those scribbling sticks out! Please email all contributions to Georgina Dave

CORONAVIRUS

Due to the outbreak of Coronavirus, Felixstowe Scribblers have sadly cancelled all future meetings until such time as Government advice and restrictions are lifted.

This means a great upheaval to many of our writers, but we will do our best to keep you updated both on this weblog and by email.

We intend to maintain our writing with 500-750 word assignments that may be posted on here for a short period of time whilst our WhatsApp group will have regular 100-200 word exercises to help keep our creative minds working.

Further information will be released as soon as possible.

30 March 2020

Gipping Press

Felixstowe Scribblers chose Gipping Press to publish their 2014, 2017 and 2019 anthologies. Our reasoning was based on their enthusiastic help, great track record and, more than anything else, the quality and high standard of their work. Our anthologies are testament to their expertise.

We anticipate another anthology in 2021 and will be seeking the help once again, of Gipping Press.

We can honestly recommend Gipping Press to anyone seeking advice in publication and for their very competitive prices.

Thank you Gipping Press.

http://www.gippingpress.co.uk/GPselfpublshing.html

Where we meet

Felixstowe Scribblers meet on the first and third Tuesday of each month in The Room at the Top in Felixstowe Library, Crescent Road. Meetings start at 7.30pm and end at 10.00pm.

Details of the library are on their website at https://www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/libraries/felixstowe-library/.

Felixstowe Scribblers are indebted to the Library and its helpful staff for all their valuable assistance.

Due to the current Coronavirus pandemic, our annual membership fees have been reduced from £30 to £15 for the coming year until November 2021.

Meetings, when they are able to be organised again will allow people preferring to pay at each meeting a charge of £5.

Our writing programmes are available via our two avenues, The Repository and our WhatsApp group.

Membership is open to both published and hobby writers and whilst there are no age limits it is wise to be aware that there may be adult content included in some work.

For more information about Felixstowe Scribblers simply email our Secretary catherine.stafford1@ntlworld.com or our Chairman, Dave, at scribblers.1@btinternet.com.

Committee Members:

Hon President: Ruth Dugdall.

Chairman: Dave Feakes.

Secretary: Cathy Stafford.

Treasurer: Beryl Sabel.

Scribblers Repository Editor: Georgina Salmon.

Weblog Co-ordinator: to be arranged.

Anthology sub committee:

Beryl Sabel,

Georgina Salmon,

Dave Feakes.

WhatsApp administrator:

Justin Keogh

In Memory

Martin Enticknap One time member of the Scribblers who stayed in touch from his home on Sanday in the Orklands. 2003.

Nobby Clarke A keen sailor, he relayed many amusing tales from his past life. Died tragically in a road traffic accident in 2004.

Bill Budner A lay preacher who joined the Scribblers and provided so many prolific words in his short stories. 2006.

Jack Wilkinson Our youngest member for four years, he provided so much laughter and talented creativity before losing his life to cancer at the tender age of twelve. 2006.

Allen Williams Our Welsh wizard had a wonderful wit that kept the group in fits of laughter. 2007.

John Crowson At 97, our most senior member. He passed just a week before he was published for the very first time in the 2010 Felixstowe Scribblers Anthology. 2009.

Doreen Rayner Published and very knowledgeable Felixstowe historian and former member of the Scribblers. 2012

Les Smith Such a welcoming and endearing character, his laughter, matched with his personality and his humorous writing leaves the Scribblers much poorer for his loss. 2015

Mairead Reidy Such a warm hearted and generous person who was both extremely talented and knowledgeable. Liked and loved by all. Another very sad loss to our creative group. 2018

Dick Bradshaw A warm and friendly long term member. A wonderful and published writer with a wealth of knowledge and so many humorous tales. A very sad loss of a good friend. 2018

It is fitting that we also remember Liam Fairhurst of Soham who died of cancer in 2009. He raised enormous sums of money for charity all beginning in memory of his friend and ours, Jack Wilkinson.

Maurice James, the creator of the Coast to Coast competitions and a great friend to the Scribblers. 2010