Publication opportunities

Publication opportunities

Railway poetry and prose project

I couldn't find the details of this anywhere I could just link to, so I've copied it all here. Doesn't look as though there's any payment, but writing isn't always about the money, is it? (Couldn't get a photo of the right train either – just this one)

Calling poets and wordsmiths!

The Watercress Line heritage railway in Hampshire is inviting poets and wordsmiths to mark 2025 as the 200th anniversary of train travel in the UK by using the themes on the official website as inspiration for their works which can be viewed here: https://railway200.co.uk/timeline/

These themes can be used as inspiration to create their own works of poetry and prose. Everyone will be able to submit 2 pieces which will then be included in an anthology of works next may. A copy of the anthology will be available to view on the watercress line website later in 2025. All works submitted will be included within the collection

From dining carts to celebrity passengers, trains in films, the environment, bed-seats, and shunters poles, there's lots to inspire to create your poems. The Watercress line will be including all poems into an online anthology

Closing date for works is 25th February 2025, works can be any type of poetry but must be inspired by the railway 200 anniversary and themes on the railway 200 timeline and must be emailed to education@watercressline.co.uk for inclusion

Free to enter

Submit up to 2 pieces max 2 sides of A4

All works must be your own work

Tuesday top tips

You may have noticed a new feature on this blog - Tuesday top tips. They'll appear whenever I think of something and have time to type it out. If you'd like to contribute one as a guest post, just let me know (email patsy@patsycollins.uk or via social media etc if that's easier.

Just send the text, and attach one or two images, if you'd like to. These can be to illustrate your post, pictures of you, your writing space, book cover etc) Also include a link to your website, sales page or whatever you have if you'd like that included. Send them anytime. I'll schedule them for coming weeks if I get lots at once. There's no payment for these either - on account of the blog not making any money.

Free entry writing competition

There's a small payment for the winners of this monthly flash fiction contest - £20. But then the entries can be small too. They want 150 - 750 words.

Tuesday top tip

Look after your eyes 

I have good news. Using a computer, even for hours at a time, won't cause permanent damage to our eyes, or result in us needing glasses if that otherwise wouldn't have been the case. 

It can tire them though, so we're advised to follow the 20, 20, 20 rule. That involves taking a 20 second break, every 20 minutes, by looking at least 20 feet away. This information, and more about our eyes and computer work is on the RNIB site here.

I don't think we need to be obsessive about it, setting stopwatches and stuff. Just try not to push yourself so hard you don't glance away from the screen or keyboard every now and then. Getting up and looking out the window occasionally is probably even better. (Photos are what I've see. when doing that in the mobile writing retreat.)

How are your eyes? Do you wear glasses when writing? (I do. I bought ones I don't like the look of in the hope it would remind me to swap them for my distance ones before I go out. I take them off for reading, as my near sight is good.)

This tip came from Patsy Collins (me!) who writes short stories and cosy crime novels. You can buy all of her books, or read them through kindle unlimited, here.

Over to you

 

Do you have any writing news?

Do you know any market news? Have you heard about any free to enter writing competitions? Or come across calls for submissions or other opportunities?

Feel free to use these photos as picture prompts. If you prefer word prompts, you may like to look at the Wednesday word of the week, on the blog on my website.

Free entry competition news

The Imison Award (£3,000) celebrates the best in new writing for the medium of audio drama. 

Free writing course

Thanks to Alyson for giving the link to this free course from The Writer's Bureau. Alyson said, 'I've no idea how good it is or whether it is trying to get you to buy a full Writers Bureau course.' I imagine they will suggest that – but that doesn't mean the free bit isn't worth a look. If you try it, let us know what you think.

Tuesday top tip!

Don't forget to back your work up!

I use two drives for backing up my work. On comes on my travels with me. The other stays home, so even if there was a complete disaster I wouldn't lose everything I've ever written. 

I have a 'time machine' feature (it's a Mac thing) which means that, as long as the drive is plugged in, automatic backups will be made, and I can go back to an earlier version if necessary.

How do you make sure you don't lose your work?

This tip came from Patsy Collins (me!) who writes short stories and cosy crime novels. You can buy all of her books, or read them through kindle unlimited, here.

More free entry writing competitions

 

Free entry competition news

The Imison Award (£3,000) celebrates the best in new writing for the medium of audio drama. 

Rosemary Gemmel's blog post includes some flash fiction opportunities.

Here's a crime novel competition. It's open to any adult who's not previously had a novel published. The prize is a $10,000 advance. 

My news

I'm tidying up my poor neglected garden (the pictures were taken on my travels - not at home!) and working on the third book in my cosy mystery series. I've also been thinking about what I want to do when that's finished. 

I've not ruled out writing more Little Mallow books, but I'm going to take a break from it and write more short stories and enter more competitions. That means I'll be searching out more of those to share with you.

My romantic murder mystery, Acting Like A Killer, is currently on offer for 99p (or 99c)

Heading home

By the time you read this, we'll be back in England and heading home from our Scottish adventure. We've had an enjoyable and interesting time, and taken many, many photos!

It's made me think about what I want from my writing life and I'll be making a few changes. Nothing drastic, more a change of focus.

Maybe with the way the womag market is going, I'm not the only person considering a few changes?

Here's a free to enter poetry competition. They're looking for something funny. You can submit text or a video and the prizes are book tokens.

This competition is for short stories. Entrants must have previously had work published. £2,000 is on offer to the overall winner.

Thanks to Alyson for mentioning this one in the comments. "Another free to enter comp here but note "Entrants must be amateur writers, and not selling their work on any platform."

I'm taking part in some more group promotion thingies with other authors - being self published means I need to find ways to reach readers. One way is through a newsletter. The promotions here and here are to, hopefully, entice more people to sign up. Potential readers are offered free ebooks for doing that.

Here is one for sales of mystery, suspense and thriller reads. The books in this promotion are all cozy (cosy!) crime available to buy or read through kindle unlimited.

These are Bookfunnel promotions. If you have books to sell and would like to take part in similar promotions, I suggest taking a look at their services.

Is writing books something you do, are considering, tried and stopped, or something you don't fancy at all? (No wrong answers! – it annoys me when people assume short forms of writing are somehow inferior to novel length works.)