Womag news
TPF have answered some of the questions about their bursary prize, which were raised in my last post and elsewhere, on the fiction editor's blog. Now I understand where the prize money is coming from, I can understand why this prize is for new writers only. They've also updated the rules for the competition, which I'm less positive about.
TPF have answered some of the questions about their bursary prize, which were raised in my last post and elsewhere, on the fiction editor's blog. Now I understand where the prize money is coming from, I can understand why this prize is for new writers only. They've also updated the rules for the competition, which I'm less positive about.
I've started updating my magazine fiction submissions database. If you spot anything which isn't right, or even better have something to add, please let me know (in a comment, email, tweet etc)
Free entry writing competition news
This competition is for the best piece of writing of to 2,500 words (fiction or non fiction) on the theme of language and offers a £3,000 prize.
And here's a poetry one from the same people, with the same prize.
This competition is for stories of 400 - 500 words (written to a supplied prompt) and offers $100 AUD as first prize.
Other opportunities
Thanks to Sharon Boothroyd for this publication opportunity – "The Daily Mirror are now publishing short stories in their community page.500 words and you need send a photo of yourself.
There's no fee.
I guess they'd want stories that reflect modern society in some way. They'd need to appeal to a newspaper readership of both sexes and ages."
If you have books to sell, then having work published in a national paper might be good publicity – but there's no guarantee it will help sales (it didn't for me the one time I tried it). There's also the possibility that publishing credits will help when submitting to agents/publishers, or impress your granny, or just make you happy.
btw, although they don't pay for fiction, there's a chance to earn money from non fiction stories here.
btw, although they don't pay for fiction, there's a chance to earn money from non fiction stories here.
My news
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17 comments:
Thanks for the updates Patsy. My writing will be taking a back seat for a while as my lovely sister has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness & will need my support. I will continue to read & appreciate the blog in the meantime. So thank you for everything
@ Sheelagh - I'm so sorry to hear that. Sending a virtual hug.
Morning Patsy
Thanks for your very helpful info.
Quick question. A good 10 years ago or so I had a short story published in The Weekly News. Not a magazine but still published and paid for. I think that rules me out, even though nothing since! Am I reading that right? Thanks.
@ Helen – Yes, I think so, especially as TWN was owned by the publishers who produce TPF.
Having said that, please don't rely on my opinion, or that of anyone else except the organisers. If the rules or terms aren't completely clear, check with the people who set them. That goes for everyone in every competition, not just this case. I'd hate you to miss out on a great opportunity because I didn't think you were eligible, and claiming 'oh, but Patsy said' isn't ever going to get anyone out of trouble!
I'm sorry to hear this Sheelagh. Sending you vibes of comfort.
To me (and I'm sorry to keep banging on about it) the t&C's for this TPF bursary are not clear enough.
Surely if you're not a recent published paid writer, you should be eligible? There's someone fretting on FB that they can't enter it because they had last had a story published in 1976- to bar someone on that is ridiculous.
Some concerns have been raised about the exact terms of copyright,too.
Also, I'm wondering if the winner of the 10k prize is aware that they need to produce fiction content for TPF for a year? TPF will provide mentoring and a contract.
An amateur writer may not have the discipline or motivation to do carry out that condition.
I don’t think I’d be able to supply fiction content to TPF for a whole year. I start writing a story when I feel an ideal is developed enough to put down on paper, without thinking of what magazine it might be suited to initially. I’ve been submitting work to TPF intermittently for over three years and haven’t been able to crack their market. Would an amateur writer who’s never been published before get it right for them first time? Don’t get me wrong, there might be an unpublished genius or two out there, and good luck to them. But it might be a case of the judges picking out the best from a bad bunch. No offence intended.
As usual, thank you for publishing this info, Patsy. And thoughts are with you, Sheelagh, at this time.
Michael
I am sorry to hear that, Sheelagh... and, as all above, sending lots of positive thoughts.
I had a chuckle about TPF - my VAST back catalogue of two published stories (!) - NOT in TPF - prohibits my entry. Michael is probably right: if many of us haven't cracked it with sheer force and determination...
On a lighter note, Beth Kempton is running a short (5 day) free course on How to get a book deal: https://dowhatyouloveforlife.com/product/how-to-get-a-book-deal-jan-2024/
I have done several of Beth's free online courses and they have valuable information, This is a new one and I shall be investigating...
Thank you, Patsy for all the useful snippets and competitions. Just seen the new guidelines from TPF on their website too... they have hit the ground running since the New Year!
Thanks for the update, Patsy.
I have fallen for the dodgy TPF competition rules. I went with the “Entrants must be Amateur Writers” in the full T&Cs, got all geared up and worked on a story to enter, only to realise from the fiction editor’s blog that, having had a competition entry published, I’m not eligible! Never mind. I’m sure I’ll find a home for it somewhere.
Much love and hugs to Sheelagh.
HB
Very sorry to hear your news Sheelagh. Tough times ahead. Sending you positive thoughts and wishing you the strength you need.
Ally27
Happy New Year everyone!
@Patsy: Thank you, as always, for the updates and for the links to writing competitions.
@Sheelagh I'm sorry to hear about your sister and I'm also sending you a virtual hug.
In terms of the PF Bursary competition, I have also been grappling with the ts + cs. I totally agree with Patsy that it's always best to check with the organisers to ascertain whether or not you are eligible. I have only had two short stories published - in another publication - and do not consider myself to be an established writer, nor do I make a living from writing - not yet, anyway. Despite the fact that the ts + cs appear to have been amended at least twice, I still found the wording somewhat vague. In an earlier blog post, the rules stated that entrants must not have had a short story published but the q+a posted on the 11th, state "The term ‘amateur writer’ includes anyone who has never had a short story published in a magazine and who does not make a living from writing fiction." I'm confused by the choice of wording, as "includes" implies that it is still possible to enter if you have had a short story published. I emailed Lucy, explaining that I wasn't sure whether or not I'm eligible to enter, as I have had a couple of short stories published. I was expecting to receive a clear cut yes or no but was told that if I'm not sure whether or not I'm eligible, they will read my author bio to decide. Erm, okay. It seems that even they are not even sure whether or not I'm eligible. My bio is not likely to offer any further relevant info that will help to ascertain my eligibility, so it seems to me that they still want to read the story. That doesn't make me feel very positive, as I still have to invest time and effort in writing a story that may not even be considered. I'm now faced with a dilemma and am not sure if I should still have a go. The prospect isn't exactly filling me with confidence. I don't think I've ever been in a situation where I've queried my eligibility and have felt even more confused afterwards.
On a more positive note, here is a link to a poetry competition that I stumbled across earlier. https://www.yafflepress.co.uk/yaffle-s-nest. Wishing you the best of luck if you enter.
Wishing you all writing successes, peace, positivity and light, as we move through cold and dark January, to brighter days and months ahead.
A
The BBC is also running a short story comp with amazing prize money - in this case 15,000 pounds to thw winner - and this one is for already published writers only. It's here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/lsyJ2hYZRrPm58P6drV4qk/2024-bbc-short-story-awards-open
I'm not sure whether I count as a British national, but even if I do, I'm definitely put off by having to post 8 copies of my story from here to the UK - postage is really expensive. But this one's definitely worth published writers having a shot at, I think.
Good assortment of opportunities. Sorry it didn't help your sales when you were published in a national paper.
Yes, it's the term 'and does not make a living from writing fiction' that is unclear.
Unless you're a best selling novelist or a playwright, tv/ film dramatist who does?
It's really difficult to make a good, full- time living from just selling womag fiction.
There simply isn't enough markets around now for anyone to rely on it for a living - unless you have other strings to your bow, eg: hosting talks, running workshops and selling features.
Even freelance journalism is under threat with AI!
Even doing bits and bobs like this might not bring in mega bucks.
Sheelagh, I am so sorry to hear about your sister, particularly so soon after losing your brother. Thinking of you and wishing you health and strength.
Patsy, thanks, as ever, for keeping this blog going. Wishing all who come here a productive writing year in 2024.
Ally27
@Sharon Boothroyd: I agree. It's also the term "established writer." At what point is it acceptable to call oneself an established writer? They have made a distinction between amateur and established but what does amateur even mean in this context? I wouldn't dream of referring to myself as an established writer with only a couple of acceptances to my name because I fear that I would be laughed at. I had expected to be told yes, you're able to enter, or no, you're not. As further clarification is unlikely to be forthcoming, I'm just going to close my eyes and hope for the best. Good luck to everyone who enters.
I worked in PR for many years and, just as with PF stories, we worked well in advance to get maximum publicity for everything we did.
To me it seems PF is getting very little ‘free’ publicity for such an investment. If I was handling PR for it, I’d expect to see the competition as headline news in titles like Writing Magazine and Mslexia, on every writing website, in competition listings and splashed across social media, as well as making it into newspapers, especially regional. But all of that would require a PR plan that would have begun about six months ago.
Just done a Google search and apart from a couple of writing blogs like this, every other bit of coverage that has come up is on the PF website.
Also, launching a competition in the PF dated Jan 13th with a closing date of 5th Feb seems an extremely short time to allow both publicity and entries. Hardy any time for would-be entrants to buy a couple of copies and read them!
It saddens me because as writers we all want PF to do well. It’s an extremely important short story market, but I just feel they’re missing out big time on publicity opportunities, which could help to create more sales and more readers.
Thanks for sharing Patsy.
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