Thank you

Thanks to everyone who commented on the blog and/or sent me information over the last couple of weeks. It's really appreciated. 

I only returned home yesterday, so haven't caught up with everything yet (not even downloading my photos, which is why you just get a couple from the phone). 

We've been away on a Baltic cruise. Gary proposed to me on a cruise ship sailing out of Stockholm and planned to take me back for our 10th anniversary. Covid delayed that, but it was worth waiting for.

This is us outside the wine library in Tallinn. We didn't go in there, but wine was drunk and books were read. I actually read as many books as I drank glasses of wine! I didn't keep track of cake consumption...

I'll be back with a proper post, full of writing related stuff and links to free to enter writing competitions, next week.

Over To You

 Do you have any womag news?

Any market news? Are you researching, writing, subbing? Had any acceptances or rejections? Still waiting to hear back on outstanding submissions? Do you have a question? Can you offer tips or encouragement to other writers?

Any other writing related news, questions and comments are also welcome.

Feel free to use these photos as picture prompts. If you'd like written writing prompts, short exercises and story/scene suggestions then you might find this book useful.

Don't forget to check the submissions database for details of which magazines publish fiction under what terms, and how to submit.

Thanks to everyone for your comments. As well as allowing us all to share information, help and encourage each other, comments also show editors, competition organisers and others that the blog is read and will therefore be more likely to provide information for me to share with you.

Matters arising...

Here are a few things which where either posted as comments to the last post, have been passed on to me since, or have a short deadline. There will still be the regular 'over to you' post next week. For that one and this, please forgive any lack of response on my part, as I may not have internet access. 

Calls for submissions

Berlin Lit are looking for poems for which they'll pay €20 – but the closing date is Monday 15th.

The opportunity for horror short stories has the same deadline and pays $20.

Free entry competition news

Thanks to Marguerite for this link. which asks for 750 words on why a particular book is your favourite and offers a £300 prize. There are junior classes as well as one for those of us over 20.

Thanks to Alyson for sending the link to this free 'prescription' competition for prose, poetry or hybrid writing. There's a £100 prize in each category - just what the doctor ordered!

womag news

Thanks to Liz who posted this link in her comment to last week's post. It's the Society of Author's proposed code of practice for magazine submissions. 

What do you think - does it sound like a good idea, and do you think publishers would adopt it?

Spring's here!

Spring seemed to be a long time coming this year – but it's definitely sprung now. That means I have even less time to spend at the computer, as I'm doing other things, but that doesn't stop it being my favourite time of year. 

Most of the photos were taken in NT gardens, but the last one is from mine. I'm really pleased with that colour combination. You could say it's the crowning glory of my garden! ;-)

Free entry competition news

Thanks to Alyson for the link to this competition. They'd like short stories which “Building Communities in the Face of Climate Change” and offer a $1,000 top prize.

And thanks to Fiona for this 'fun challenge' (her words and I agree) with a great bundle of prizes.

The annual Jerry Jazz competition, which offers a $150 prize is now open for entries.

The Scottish Book Trust have monthly (very) short story competitions. You're given a prompt and asked to write 50 words. The winning entry is published and its author will receive a mug. It's a fun way to get started with competitions, or to get you writing if you're feeling a bit stuck.

Womag news

The People's Friend now want a few more 3,000 word stories. My latest response, an acceptance, came after just ten days and that was for a 3,000 worder.

There are changes coming at My Weekly, as the current fiction editor Susan is to become overall editor. I don't yet know what impact, if any, this will have on writers.

Thanks to Lindsay for sharing this interesting link which may, or may not, shed some light on what's happening at DCT.

Thank you to everyone for your comments. As well as allowing us all to share information, help and encourage each other, comments also show editors, competition organisers and others that the blog is read and will therefore be more likely to provide information for me to share with you.

The next scheduled post will be 20th May.