Just in case you haven't heard – My Weekly are discontinuing their pocket novels. This doesn't apply to The People's Friend. You can find the guidelines for their pocket novels, and everything else, here.
Free entry competition news
Thanks to Sharon Boothroyd for passing on the link to this novel writing competition. It's for 'first time writer and as Sharon says, they're looking for something 'literary'. The prize is £10,000.
Sharon also shared this travel writing competition. There's a paid option which offers feedback, or a free option. The prize is $300.
And thanks to Sharon, Ruth and Alyson who all told me about The People's Friend poetry competition.
Do you enjoy reading the wonderful poetry we publish in the “Friend”? Do you ever find yourself thinking, “I could do that”? Well, if you do, now is your chance! Today, we are launching our first ever poetry competition! There’s a cash prize and the winning entries will be published in our "Feel-good Fiction" special edition later this year. The writer of the winning poem will receive £150 and their work will be published in the “Friend”. Three runners-up will receive £50. All you have to do is write a poem on the theme of "harmony”. Harmony can mean a number of different things, and there is no right or wrong answer. It could be friendships or something peaceful, for example. The only thing that matters is that it is your interpretation of harmony. Your poem should be three verses of four lines. Give it a title and email it to us. The competition will be open until March 1, so get your creative hats on! E-mail your poem, along with your name and address, to pfeditor@dcthomson.co.uk
If you fancy trying that but don't usually read The People's Friend, I strongly advise getting the latest issue. As with their fiction, they have a preferred tone.
My news
I'm pleased to report that I arrived with two boxes of books and by the time I left the larger one was empty.
Please note the purple pen!
