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Tuesday, 20 January 2026

Scottish selection

 

This week's post is much earlier than usual, due to the limited amount of time left to enter one of the competitions coinciding with me actually having something ready!

I'll probably still post something on Saturday - if you'll forgive me for not finding more competitions by then.


Free entry competitions

Thanks to Eirin for telling us about this crime story competition from Glencairn Glass. The word count max is 2,000 words and your protagonist must be from Scotland. In the past a cash prize has been offered - that's not mentioned this time. Even without it might be worth a go, as the publicity for the winner is likely to be very good.

I've entered this competition before. I didn't win, but have still had good results. My first attempt gave me a character and part of the plot for the first novel in my cosy crime series. Another attempt was eventually published in TAB.


Oooh, I've mentioned Scotland. That makes it OK*, to sprinkle the post with photos from my latest trip!

*According to my own, totally made up, rules.


The current theme of the Scottish Book Trust flash fiction competition is gingerbread. The prize is only little, but it's free to enter and they only want 50 words, so that seems fair enough.

Thanks to Fiona for this short story competition from Aberdeen Performing Arts. You're asked for 1,500 to 2,000 words on the themes of anniversaries, milestones and the number ten. There's an interesting prize package – but shortlisted finalists must attend the festival. Of, and the closing date is this Sunday!

We do intend to go back to Scotland this year, and were hoping to do it earlier than our more usual autumn visit, but I'm not sure I can persuade Gary to go quite so soon.






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13 comments:

  1. ados12320 January 2026 at 09:39

    Thanks, Patsy, Eirin, and Fiona. Too short a time line for me to enter the Granite Noir comp, sadly but I shall definitely have a go at the Glencairn crime story comp. Like you, Patsy, I've successfully reused my rejected entry!
    Alyson

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  2. Sharon at A Quick Read20 January 2026 at 12:34

    Many thanks Patsy. Just a quick update - micro romance want a story, so I'm pleased about that! Well done to all with positive news.

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  3. Anonymous21 January 2026 at 08:48

    Oh that is good news, Sharon. 😊
    It’s great to have such a variety of competitions to enter, Patsy, especially when Womag submission opportunities have dwindled in the past few years.
    Dee

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  4. Marguerite21 January 2026 at 11:11

    Thank you, Patsy, Eirin and Fiona. Crime, love reading it but not my forte for writing... at all. I'm struggling with a short crime for WM at the moment - pushing me WAY out of my comfort zone! Still trying though!
    Pleased to hear your news, Sharon. I shall be waiting for it to come though my regular emails :)

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  5. Sheelagh21 January 2026 at 11:32

    Thanks everyone for all the info, like Marguerite crime is not really my genre but maybe I'll give it a go sometime

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  6. Anonymous21 January 2026 at 12:00

    Congrats to Sharon - it's always great to hear good news on here. I've written two crime-ish novels and really enjoyed doing so (although they were as much about relationships as about the crime), but for me it's a VERY HARD genre to pull off in a short story - so few words in which to credibly fit a crime, suspects, potential motives and clues, probably some sort of detective, perpetrator and a resolution. Hats off to those who can do it well.

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  7. Eirin21 January 2026 at 12:01

    Ach! Did it again. Sorry. That was my comment above about the difficulties of writing a crime short story.

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  8. Marian21 January 2026 at 12:35

    Thank you for the competition news. I'd love to be able to write a crime story, but it seems very hard! This might give me the motivation, though, even if only for the experience.
    Congratulations on your good news, Sharon.

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  9. Patsy Collins21 January 2026 at 13:04

    @Alyson – It is short notice, but I suspect there are some fast writers amongst us.

    @ Sharon – Excellent. Well done.

    @ Dee – And it's good to be able to write different things sometimes too.

    @ Marguerite – I enjoy trying competitions which ask for something I wouldn't usually attempt. Often I'm quickly reminded why I don't usually write that genre or form, but sometimes I surprise myself and come up with something I'm happy with.

    @ Sheelagh - Just don't blame me for turning you to crime!

    @ Eirin – It can be a lot to get in - I'm guessing you're not likely to attempt many of the 400 word ones for Woman's World?

    @ Marian – Give it a go! You never know until you try.

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  10. Sharon at A Quick Read21 January 2026 at 16:43

    I can write crime fiction but on a level, such as romance scams, but I'm not very good at murder mysteries. I think it's the 'surprising the reader' element that I'd find difficult. I like watching whodunits on the TV though, such as midsomer murders and patience. I try and guess the culprit!

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  11. Elizabeth22 January 2026 at 19:36

    Late to the party! Congratulations on your good news Sharon. Thanks Patsy, Eirin and Fiona for info. I've previously entered the Glencairn comp too and I think from memory the prize was a set of glasses, not that I won! I'll maybe have another go at entering with a fresh story if I can get my thinking cap on before the deadline.

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  12. Sharon at A Quick Read23 January 2026 at 13:00

    Just to say many thanks for all the congrats but micro romance is a non- paying project!

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