We're having a party on 23rd December. Your invitation is here - just in case you missed it.
As always, feel free to use my photos as writing prompts. If you prefer words to images for that purpose, take a look here. or visit the blog on my website for the Wednesday word of the week.
Free entry competition news
Here's a great opportunity for unpublished novelists. There are generous cash prizes, mentoring, courses and agent representation on offer.
Thanks to Sharon Boothroyd for the link to The Cheshire Prize. There are cash prizes on offer for poetry, short stories, flash fiction, scriptwriting and children's literature. Unfortunately you must live in Cheshire to enter. Or, if you do live there, fortunately you will only be competing against a limited number of other writers.
Womag / competition news
Best have announced a new competition - for romance stories. Sorry, I haven't been able to get a photo or screenshot yet. I think the rules are the same as usual.
It's the winter solstice tomorrow (in the northern hemisphere). I like to celebrate the turn of the seasons and the fact the days will gradually be growing longer. This year, weather permitting, that will take place at Avebury. Do you celebrate or mark the solstice in any way?
Looking forward to the party on the 23rd, yum yum.
ReplyDeleteThings have been a bit quiet this end towards the end of year but I did have a recent acceptance from TPF & I had a story published in the special this week so that was nice to coincide with Christmas.
Tomorrow morning at 8.35 just before the sun rises I will tune into the Winter solstice celebrations in Newgrange (Each year, the Winter Solstice sunrise illuminates the inner chamber of Newgrange, a UNESCO World Heritage Property & one of Ireland’s most iconic prehistoric monuments & this is available to view at gov.ie/opw. ). I love the ability to join in & experience that sense of wonder & awe from the comfort of my own home.
Thank you, Sheelagh. I enjoyed 'visiting' Newgrange this morning. Shame about the cloud, but fascinating all the same.
DeleteHB
I have never been to Stonehenge, but I think visiting on one of the solstice dates would be amazing. Newgrange sounds a wonderful place, Sheelagh.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the 23rd.
Re last weeks comments – I am not one to complain… or whinge… but Marguerite did jump in very quickly, with her ‘may I bring two guests as Dee isn’t bringing Richard’ request, as I was about to ask someone else. It was very generous of you Patsy, to add that extra place.
Just waiting for my guest’s reply, I hope it doesn’t get lost in the post.
Dee 😊😊
Don't worry, Dee, Mr Rochester has been in a foul mood all week. I doubt he'll come. You know how he is. 🤣
DeleteFestive greetings, everyone. The Newgrange celebrations sound intriguing, Sheelagh - I will try to tune in for those. I've had a quiet December regarding acceptances, but I haven't submitted very much, so that's fair enough. And I've been very lucky to have had a a number of seasonal stories in various magazines, submitted much earlier in the year - I do really love to be part of readers' Christmases. Looking forward to catching up with everybody at the party. Thanks, Patsy, for hosting us again on this blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the competitions, Patsy and thanks to you and everyone who has made contributions during the year.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid we have visitors on the 223rd so will wish everyone season's greetings and have a very good holiday.
Alyson
Thank you for all the opportunities, Patsy and Sharon, even if Cheshire isn't my base, Sharon has provided many other avenues. As for the solstice, for me it is astronomical (my interest) and I have written an incontrovertible proof that winter is absolutely no more than 6 weeks. (I'm sure it breaks down somewhere but that's what I'm sticking with!) It works on the premise that if 21st December is mid-winter... then, surely we'll nearly in spring? And November is autumn, surely?
ReplyDeleteWell done to Sheelagh and Eirin for having some seasonal stories published. I have been trying, without success, to send my Toasted Cheese: keeps getting bounced back. I'll keep trying...
Thanks for all the updates, Patsy. I’m afraid I don’t have any writing news. I have got quite a few stories ‘out there’, but nothing to report.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the get-together on Tuesday!
I had an 'on file' acceptance from Andrew Shaw. I've yet to have one of these published, but it's lovely to receive a positive response. Especially as, having passed the 12 week cut-off, I'd already written it off.
ReplyDeleteSee you on 23rd...
HB
Thanks for the competition info Patsy and thanks also to whoever shared the Val Wood Secrets competition some months back.
ReplyDeleteMy story was a runner-up and is published on her website, so really pleased with that.
https://www.valwood.co.uk/val-wood-prize
I have a story in the People’s Friend Christmas double issue out this week - reminds me I need to start submitting some more.
Looking forward to the 23rd!
Well done, Fiona. My story was the other runner up! I was delighted and amazed!
DeleteCongratulations Helen - I really enjoyed reading your story.
DeleteWell done to all with positive news. I hope everyone has a relaxing, peaceful break and with our creative batteries re- charged, we'll be ready to start 2026 with fresh inspiration and enthusiasm!
ReplyDeleteI had an acceptance the other day from TPF.
ReplyDeleteI realised that not only will the party be from 5-6 in the morning here, but because we're 11 hours ahead, it'll also be on Christmas Eve, which rules me out completely. So I wish everyone a very happy and peaceful Christmas, and hope you enjoy the party.
Congratulations on the acceptance, Liz. I am extremely curious what pictures are on Christmas cards there... snow? robins? Surely not? I couldn't get my head round having a 'Christmas dinner' in the UK in June.
DeleteThank you, Patsy and Sharon for the info. Apart from a Christmas story published in WW earlier this month, I’ve no other news. With being very busy with work and the run up to Christmas, I haven’t written anything for a while. Hope to get back into it in the new year with a few ideas going around in my head.
ReplyDeleteA very Merry Christmas to all. Enjoy the party.
Michael
@Fiona and @Helen - just read both your Val Wood stories. Excellent! I very much enjoyed them. Deserved winners.
ReplyDeleteAlyson
Thanks Alyson!
DeleteThank you!
Delete@Marguerite - there are some northern hemisphere Christmas style cards in the shops. But Australian Christmas cards mostly feature native birds and animals or Santa in shorts. Christmas dinner in summer is fine - it's just a roast dinner, after all.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that, Liz. Santa in shorts! Love it! As for the roast dinner, yes, and I have one regularly (well, the veg anyway), it's just it's sometimes a bit hot for one in our summer. I think it's because of what you're used to and how in the background, 'White Christmas' was on TV every year when I was growing up. It's pretty much come down to birds (robins) and animals (reindeer) on cards here now, as opposed to the colourful and cute that surrounded my childhood.
DeleteSorry, I've not been around. We had a big family party (I have lots of cousins and one hires a village hall so we can all get together with most of the extended family) and then Gary and I went to Avebury (which is also a UNESCO world heritage site) for the solstice. Inside the west Kennet longbarrow people had lit candles and insence and were singing - it was quite magical. I may have hugged a few of the stones too!
ReplyDelete@ Sheelagh - congratulations on the publications.
ReplyDeleteThe Newgrange broadcast sounds great (I'm hoping to visit for real next year).
@ Dee - A couple of years ago, we spent New Year's eve in the van on The Drove by Stonehenge, so it was our first view of the year. That was great, but I think the solstices would be too crowded for me.
I'm intrigued about your guest – I do hope they make it.
@ Eirin - Congratulations on the Christmas stories. It's a nice thought that they're part of Christmas for the readers.
@ Alyson – Have fun with your guests. Happy Christmas!
@ Marguerite – November was most definitely still autumn this year, and I can see bulbs beginning to show in the garden, so I think your theory is right!
@ Marian - All we can do is write them, send them out, and hope! Good luck to yours.
@ HB - Yep, any positive response is great. Well done.
@ Fiona and Helen - many congratulations to you both! And thanks for the reminder that real people genuinely do have success in the competitions I post about.
@ Sharon - That's the perfect festive wish for writers! Thank you - and I hope it comes true for you.
@ Liz - Congratulations on the acceptance and happy Christmas.
@ Michael - Congratulations on that publication, and best of luck with the new, yet to be written, stories.