Free entry writing competition news
Here's a competition for funny poems. You can send in a written version, or film yourself performing it. I'm almost tempted to try the latter option. The prizes are book tokens.
Promotion opportunity
If you've ever been published by Bridge House, then you're able to submit your writing news for their blog and newsletters. (The blog post is an old one, but the link appeared in the current newsletter.) Thanks to Fiona for passing on this info.
It's been a bit hot for much writing lately. The photos in this post are an indication of what I've been doing instead.
For those who enjoy short stories, here are a selection of individual stories and collections which are free when you sign up to the authors' newsletters - https://books.bookfunnel.com/short-story-smorgasbord/d0i6qzkuhv
And this one is is for longer works - whole books or sample chapters - https://books.bookfunnel.com/freejulyreads/6nqmo5v36v
Do any of you produce your own writing related newsletter? (If you'd like to, put a sign up link in the comments and I'll put clickable links in a future post.)
Discussion topic - do you subscribe to any author newsletters? What do you like / dislike about them?
5 comments:
Here's my news: I sent 3 crime stories to an online fiction project. I won't name it.They pay £15 per accepted story via PayPal. I don't have a PayPal account, so I couldn't claim it.
The ed proof read my work and he provided brief crits, but I hadn't asked for these! All he could find were wrong hyphens. I didn't want a crit, as I hadn't asked for one.
Perhaps he thought he was being helpful, but I'd worked on the stories before I'd sent them and I was happy with them. Anyway, all 3 stories were rejected. So that was disappointing.
It can be difficult to realise that not all editors will like your work. He didn't, so I'd hesitate to submit material there again.
Well done to all with positive news.
As for newsletters, I'm afraid I don't tend to bother with them, sorry. I do read blogs instead though.
I submitted the final part of my TPF serial last week, so am waiting to hear the verdict on that. I'm currently working on a short story for an Australian competition.
I'm not really keen on author newsletters. If I like a particular author's work, all I really want to know is when their next book is out, and that information is usually readily available elsewhere. I never really read author blogs either for the same reason. However, newsletters and blogs are seen by many authors as good marketing tools, so obviously a good many readers think differently from me.
I subscribe to several newsletters but dismiss those which are full of adverts (all book fairs, books and signings, but I’m not interested in those). I like a bit of “personal” and also “my writing life” which several authors do — it’s interesting and, obviously, upcoming information about their own books. Some authors take a lot of care in getting the “right” balance. A group of romantasies recently offered a free download (pdf) of a celebrity-style glossy magazine based on their books and characters. It must have taken a lot of effort although I expect they had a bit of fun doing it. Some authors, I’ve noticed, are going to Substack where there’s more interaction with readers. I like this but am not at all pro paying for newsletter content which is, essentially, advertising. Those who do charge have tiers, mostly offering a free one. I appreciate everyone’s writing time has value, but I just think it’s a sign of the times where we (could) end up paying for someone else’s advertising. (Maybe I’m too cynical!) I found a book I fancied in your last Bookfunnel, Patsy, and I was taken by the cover (unusual for me). It had a cute dog on it (I can't emphasize how much I am NOT a dog person!) and I have "found" a new author and a new-to-me genre. Just... be open to all experiences... 🙂.
I'm not too sure I'd like a critique if I didn't ask for one! I'm with you on that, Sharon!
@ Sharon - I'm sure the ed did mean to be helpful. I can understand you being surprised by the criticism though, as it's now so unusual to get any feedback from submissions. Getting criticism we've asked for is very different from the unexpected and unasked for kind.
@ Liz – Good luck with both of those.
@ Marguerite - Gosh, I didn't know anyone charged for newsletters and the like! (But then I've only recently heard some authors charge for their autograph and still haven't quite got over the shock of that!) I try hard to make mine a bit more than 'buy my book' but making potential readers aware of my books is a major reason for writing them, and I wouldn't expect anyone to pay for allowing me to share my marketing attempts.
I didn’t know about authors charging for newsletters until I read an article in last week’s Guardian magazine. Interesting reading!
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/jul/12/where-authors-gossip-geek-out-and-let-off-steam-15-of-the-best-literary-substacks
Liz - hope you get good news about your serial soon.
Sharon - that is a surprise getting a critique. My experience with too many submissions is total silence, not even a rejection, which leaves things hanging in the air. Really dislike that.
On a more positive note, I sent a Christmas story to TPF thinking it might be too late but got an acceptance a few days later, so that was lovely news.
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