Monday 9 November 2020

Let's be positive

November can seem a bleak month, even without lockdown, but there are reasons to be cheerful. I've got berries, bees, butterflies and blossoms in the garden and indoors I have stories which can take me anywhere and allow me to experience anything I wish – even if I do have to write some of them myself.

I hope you too have things to be cheerful about?

Free entry writing competitions

Thanks to Alyson Hilbourne for passing on the link to this free competition. You're asked for 50 words exactly, and could win a £25 voucher. There don't seem to be any restrictions on who can enter, but I suspect the prize will only be valid in the UK.

This competition is for work in any format, and genre and in any length – but it must be written in response to one of the prompts provided. You must upload the entry to your blog, Facebook page etc and then enter a link. The winner will receive a book token. (If you enjoy writing to a prompt, I strongly recommend this book!)

The annual Writers' and Artists' Yearbook short story competition is open. As usual there's no theme, you have up to 2,000 words and the prize is an Arvon residential course.

Here's a 'life writing' competition. The prizes for first place are '£1500, an Arvon course, a writing mentor, two years’ membership of the Royal Society of Literature, and an optional development meeting with an agent or editor'. Runner up prizes are pretty good too.

My news

I've been shortlisted in this competition – the final results will be announced at the end of this month. A story entered into another competition was selected to appear in the anthology (that makes two months running as I won the previous competition).

The process of submitting my latest novel, Acting Like A Killer, is underway. I've decided to target appropriate publishers directly, rather than attempt to get an agent. I'll let you know how I get on. (You can also sign up to my newsletter if you're interested in hearing more about my writing.)

The photo is of one of the locations in my novel – can you guess where it's set?


Womag news

The People's Friend have a large stock of shorter stories. They'd appreciate submissions of 2,000 and 3,000 words. 

10 comments:

Lynn Love said...

I confess, I don't know the castle but will be intrigued to find out where it is. Good luck with subbing - hope you find success with it

Marguerite said...

Guessing we will have to buy the book of the film to find out the castle ;) Lots of interesting looking comps here - might try the W&A again...,.
Well done with the shortlisting, Patsy.

Natalie Aguirre said...

Congrats on the contest. Fingers crossed for you. And good luck finding a publisher.

Jenny Worstall said...

Congratulations, Patsy!

Lindsay said...

Well done on the comp. Good luck with the novel.

Anonymous said...

Well done on the shortlisting, and another novel, Patsy. You're a whirlwind! Thanks for all the info, too. Good wishes. Kate Hogan

ados123 said...

Good luck with finding a publisher, Patsy.
Thanks for the comps too.
Alyson

carrie said...

Well done on the comp, Patsy and good luck with finding a publisher - not the easiest thing as I'm finding out myself!

Patsy said...

@ Lynn – It's Pendennis Castle.

@ Marguerite – It might be a while before that film gets made! Thanks for the vote of confidence though.

@ Natalie, Jenny and Lindsay – Thank you!

@ Kate – I'm a whirlwind some of the times, then slip into the doldrums and do very little.

@ Alyson – thank you.

@ Carrie – not easy at all. Good luck to you too.




Maureen Brannigan said...

Good luck, Patsy. Rooting for you. Maureen B