Saturday 2 March 2024

More of the free things

 

Free entry writing competitions

The Black Orchid novella award offers $1,000 for a traditional mystery of 15,000 to 20,000 words.

The Wergle Flomp poetry competition offers a $2,000 prize.


The BBC short story competition requires a record of previous publication (exact requirements are specified) is open to UK nationals and residents only and offers a £15,000 prize.

Thanks to Fiona for the link to this poetry competition. She says 'looks like it will stretch my brain cells! Hopefully someone else who read the blog might enjoy it too.' The prize is a share of £1500

Womag news

The winners of The People's Friend short story bursary competition have been announced here.

Free reads



I'm taking part in (yet) another promotion which offers free reads to those who sign up to the author's newsletters. This one is for romance and cosy crime books. 


The way these things work is that each participating author shares them with anyone who might be interested and we all hopefully gain new readers. Writers are also readers, and some of you might like to learn about marketing strategies, so I thought it reasonable to include you in the 'might be interested' group.

My news

It looks as though we'll be able to get back to our travels again, reasonably soon. There are a few things to get sorted first - including me trying to get ahead with my writing so I'm free to explore, and take many, many, photos once we can get away.

UPDATE Please see HB's request for help in the first comment.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Patsy

On Wednesday morning, I lost my beloved husband to a long battle with cancer. The reason I mention this, forgive me for using your Blog, is to seek help.

The Lake District and fell walking have been a huge part of our lives. Many years ago, along a shore path at Haweswater, we came across a small metal (probably unofficial) memorial pinned to a tree. The poem struck me at the time, but I didn’t record it (pre phone camera days). It referenced companionship, and the wording was along the lines of not to be sad but to be glad for the times we’ve had etc.

I keep googling but can’t find it anywhere. I know it’s a long shot, but wondered if it may be familiar to anyone.
HB

Patsy said...

@ HB - I'm so very sorry.

I don't know that area, so haven't seen the poem, but there's one put up in the harbour which might be similar – I'll try to find that one for you in case it's the same.

Marguerite said...

I am so sorry, HB. I hope this might be it?
https://kathleenjonesauthor.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-drowned-houses-of-haweswater.html
the 11th picture down.
Patsy, thank you for the competetitions and glad you are dabbling and experimenting! Note to self: sort out those reviews!

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Patsy.

And thank you Marguerite - that's it!
I can't believe it.
I'm so pleased I reached out to my writing family. I can't thank you enough.

HB

Marguerite said...

It's my only talent, HB! I am REALLY good at google searches!

Sharon boothroyd said...

I'm so sorry for your loss, HB. Take good care of yourself.

Sheelagh said...

I too am sorry for your loss HB.
I am glad Marguerite was able to track down the poem for you & I would like to share the last verse of another poem Begin by Brendan Kennelly with you as there is healing to be found in poetry.
'Though we live in a world that dreams of ending
That always seems about to give in
Something that will not acknowledge conclusion
Insists that we forever begin'

Sheelagh said...

Thank you for the competition information & great photos Patsy. Glad to hear that you will be able to resume your travels soon

Anonymous said...

In case anybody's missed it, the winners of the TPF comp have been announced.

Anne.

Sharon boothroyd said...

The winner and runner- ups of the TPF bursary competition hasn't been mentioned on here today (Saturday the 3rd March).
Which I think is odd.
I also think it's odd how the baffling panel of celeb judges were suddenly announced after the competition had closed.
Surely it would have been better to announce them before the bursary competition was launched?
I'd assumed that it was the fiction team at TPF who were the judges.

Patsy said...

@ Marguerite – Oh, well done! Your Googling superpower has been put to excelennt use.

@ Sheelagh – Sometimes poetry can say things which can't quite be expressed in other ways.

@ Anne - Thanks. I had missed it!

@ Sharon – There's no significance to me not having mentioned the competition winners other than the fact I'd missed seeing the announcement! Sorry, I just can't keep up with everything.

Sue McV said...

HB I'm so sorry to hear of the loss of your husband. I'm pleased the poem has been found for you and hope that your writing will offer you some solace on the long road ahead.

Sharon boothroyd said...

Don't worry about it Patsy. I got the date wrong, so I'm ditzy today!

Anonymous said...


Ally27

@Patsy - Thank you, as always, for the info and I hope that you will be able to get back to your travels soon.

@HB - I'm so sorry for your loss. Sending my condolences. I'm delighted that Marguerite was able to help with the poem you were after. That really warmed my heart. This writing community really is incredible. It's so lovely to have a place where people look out for one another.

Fiona said...

So sorry for your loss HB, but how great that Marguerite found the poem. I do hope it’s a comfort for you.
Thanks Patsy for all the competition info. I have what I think is a funny poem in my files (just one as not really my style) so have sent it off to the Wergle Flomp competition. Always worth a try!

Anonymous said...

With ref to the poem about Haweswater that Marguerite found for HB, please can anyone tell me what the last two lines are? I cannot quite decipher them. Thank you.
Kind regards, Sue

Anonymous said...

Thank you to everyone for all your kind messages.

@Sue
Smile, open my eyes, love and go on.
I think the final line isn’t usually part of the poem but words from whoever left the memorial.
It’s something like “In my heart forever. Your number One.”

HB

Eirin said...

HB, I, too, am so sorry for your loss. I'm glad Marguerite was able to locate the text of the poem. Kindest thoughts travelling to you.

Anonymous said...



HB

Thank you very much for your kind assistance and for taking the time to post it.
I am so glad Marguerite found the poem for you, it is beautiful and I hope gives you some measure of solace.
You have many unknown friends in this community who are thinking of you and sending love and kind wishes of support and I am one of them.
Sue

Liz said...

My condolences, HB. I am glad Marguerite was able to find the poem for you.

Anonymous said...


Patsy, Congratulations on "Being a Mother" in the latest MW.
What a lovely, kind, insightful story about the pressures of being the mother of the
bride and juggling responsibilities on your own with two daughters and no husband for support. I gave a wry smile at the description of the absent Andy......

We who follow in your wake salute you. Kind regards, Sue

PS Did they alter the title? On my very few successes, the title has been changed from what I thought was a perfectly good one to another that I didn't think was so appropriate. Still, I suppose the subs have to earn their money?

Patsy said...

@ Sue - Thank you. On this occasion the title wasn't changed, although sometimes they are. It's rarely been obvious to me why, but I expect there are various reasons, such as it better fitting the page layout, so it doesn't sound too similar to another one in that issue or which has recently been published, as well as the editor preferring something else.