Wednesday, 20 March 2024

Spring!


It was the vernal equinox yesterday - which gives me the perfect excuse to share some springtime photos. Not that I need an excuse...

Free entry competition news

Thanks to Alyson Faye for the link to Northern Life's short story competition. The prize is publication and a copy of the magazine.


And thanks to Alyson Hilbourne for this one - a travel writing competition with a £200 prize. Every time I post about a travel competition I feel I should enter - I probably will one day!

Thanks to Jane for the reminder about this poetry competition.


My news

The kindle versions of In The Garden Air, and Beyond The Garden Wall, both collections of 24 plant, flower and gardening related short stories, are currently free.

18 comments:

Sheelagh said...

Thanks Patsy, I didn't know that yesterday was the verbal equinox though spring is definitely in the air as your lovely photos testify to.
Once again thanks for all the info on writing & otherwise, sometimes it's a lifeline

Sharon boothroyd said...

Could I make a suggestion, please?
If any opportunities or competitions come up, it'd be good to mention if it's British or based in another country.
Maybe put the country's flag next to the listing, so we'd know?
I'm not that interested in competitions from the USA or Canada, etc.
Writing magazine mentions literary magazines that are based in the USA and Canada a lot, so there's plenty of opportunity for that kind of market in that mag.
I have access to the American writing magazines via Readly.
For me, there's very little interest in them, as they are very literary in style and tone. They concentrate on novels and serious poetry.

Sue McV said...

Hi all. I'm just looking for a bit of information. Does anyone know if ALCS payments are taxed at source before we receive them or not? It isn't something I've needed to think about before. Thanks for any help.

Marguerite said...

Thank you to all on here who have flagged up ALCS - THAT was a surprise email today :) Many thanks for the competition info. The Northern one looks good for me, well, some of the themes in the future.

Anonymous said...

Vernal, of course 😃

Marguerite said...

I'm curious about that too, Sue. I don't think I have to take any action but according to the document I've just received, no tax is deducted. From the rubric I read a few months ago, they have to inform HMRC? Any advice welcome."HMRC obliges us to withhold UK tax at the current rate of 20%." is a line straight from ALCS website. Confused...

Sue McV said...

Yes Marguerite, I have just found that comment. It seems to be saying that UK tax is deducted for UK residents and also from those UK residents living overseas unless they (overseas residents) hold an exemption certificate. So, I think we are covered. I've dropped ALCS a line asking the question and will report back.

Marguerite said...

Thank you, Sue. Mind you, we could always call HMRC - no, wait, they're going to stop the phone lines! No, wait, they've already reversed that decision!

ados123 said...

@Sue McV

Please let us know what ALCS say! I've always put my earnings from them on my self assessment - not that I ever get near to paying tax on writing earnings but I might come closer soon as I'm due my pension soon. I would HATE to pay tax twice!

Alyson

Sue McV said...

I'll certainly let you all know when I get a response.

Patsy said...

Re ALCS – I'm sure they don't take the tax off - if they did, it would say so on the statements. I always declare it as part of my income.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

You took some really nice photos!

Eirin Thompson/E.D. Thompson said...

Like Patsy, I have always declared ALCS income to HMRC and been taxed accordingly - should anyone discover that such income has already been taxed, I'd be very interested to know.

Maisie Bishop said...

Thanks to everybody for the info about ALCS income and HMRC. Thanks to this blog, I signed up to ALCS for the first time this year, and got a small payout after my lifetime membership had been deducted. I'd been expecting nothing, so it was a nice, if tiny, surprise!

Sue McV said...

I got an email from ALCS regarding the query about tax. UK residents do not have tax deducted from their ALCS payment before they receive it. So it does have to be declared to HMRC.

Marguerite said...

Thank you, Sue. I had sort of guessed as much. Thank you for confirming.

ados123 said...

Thank you, Sue. Just had an email from ALCS with questions answered, confirming the same. I always have declared it as I thought as much but you raised my hopes for a moment there...
Alyson

Sue McV said...

Yes I raised mine too. Sorry about that.