Write of Passage

Competition Time!

Three weeks ago, I set a mini-competition within a mini-competition! Lots of you took part in my latest flash fiction competition where I set the theme of ‘The Discovery’.  The results can be readhere, if you missed them.

I’m now looking at running my next mini-competition, but I’m not quite sure of the theme to set. So, that’s where you come in. What theme would you like to write about? I’ve had a hoard of fantastic suggestions already, but I’m open to more.

If you have any more ideas, please leave them in the comments box or e-mail me: esthernewton@virginmedia.com.

I’m going to choose my favourite three as the themes of my next mini-competition. All three will win £10 each and a copy of my book of short stories. 

You have only have two days left – until 24th December. So get those ideas coming!

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If you’re looking for a writing competition which is FREE to enter and which has a great first prize, then the annual ‘Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook Short Story Competition’ is for you.

This year, there’s no set theme so get those ideas coming. You have until Monday 13th February 2017 in which to enter. The word limit is 2000 words. The first prize is worth £1000 and consists of a place on an Arvon residential writing course of your choice. You’ll also see your story published on the website. 

There are specific rules of entry, including the need to register on the website, so check the competition page carefully. 

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Last week’s Monday Motivations set you a Christmas theme. So, as the big day is almost upon us, I’ll stick with the seasonal theme. But, as I’m feeling generous, I’ll give you three new themes to choose from:

• The Gift
• Magic
• Snow

I’d love to see what where your creative minds take you, so get writing! Any format is accepted.

Last week’s challenge was to write a story or poem on the theme Christmas Eve.
Here are your delightful offerings:

EDC Writing‘s piece will captivate you:

“He wasn’t there, at least I don’t think so a moment ago?” she half thinks, half speaks.

“Who?” little sister says, answering her own question looking from the ‘pay here’ queue to see what kind of man has got big sister’s attention.

He is there alright, in every sense, lean, just under six foot, curly close cut hair, caressing silk, eyes dancing…

After a wonderful weekend in London seeing the Christmas lights and stunning landmarks, it’s back to reality with a bang. I hope you all enjoyed your weekend. Here’s a challenge to help you back into work mode:

Write a story or poem on the theme Christmas Eve

Last week’s challenge was to write a story or poem on the theme flashback. You crated some beautiful pieces:

Steve Walsky sent in a really lovely poem. Please visit his site to read it:

https://simplicitylane.wordpress.com/2016/12/05/flashbacks-poem/

Simon Farnell sent in a thought-provoking piece. You can read it on his site:

https://sfarnell.wordpress.com/2016/12/10/monday-motivations-flashback/

Geoff Le Pard sent in a tear jerker. You can read it via the link below:

https://geofflepard.com/2016/12/11/limes-are-the-sourest-fruit-mondaymotivations-shortstory/

And now for the infamous Rajiv Chopra and another slice of story in the Mary Jane series:

Mary Jane opened her eyes, and all she could see in the dark was a pair of glowing eyes…

This week’s market is a fun one. ‘Writing Magazine‘ are holding a dialogue-only short story competition. No descriptive narrative is allowed to accompany the dialogue so you have to let your characters’ words ‘show’ the reader who the characters are and what’s going on. Here are a few more details for you:

Prizes:

1st prize:       £200 plus publication in ‘Writing Magazine‘

Runner-up: £50 plus publication on the website

Entry fee:      £5 (£3 for subscribers)

Closing date: 15th February 2017

Word limit:    1500-1700 words

To find out more, visit the competition page

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Well, this Monday certainly came round far too quickly. I hope you all had a lovely weekend.

Here’s a new challenge for you:

Write a story or poem on the theme Flashback.

Last week’s theme was Darkness. There were some fantastic pieces:

I’ve really missed Keith Channing‘s limericks so it’s great to see him back:

Distinguishing darkness from light
Is the primary duty of sight
The differing shades
Twixt Heaven and Hades
Are as varied as daytime to night.

Adam Dixonhas written a brilliant story. I love his descriptive skills:

Darkness. How she had come to adore it. She scoffed to recall the days when she used to be frightened of it. Those days were long, long ago, a mere salty speck in the maelstrom of her memories, but she could still recollect them, most likely because they amused her. Darkness…how could she ever bear to part from…

This week’s market is for the novelists. The Exeter Novel Prize is open until 1st January. They’re looking for the first 10,000 words of an uncontracted novel, together with its synopsis. All genres are accepted bar children’s.

Prizes:

1st: £500 + a trophy

Runners-up: £75 + a trophy

Entry fee: £18

To find out more, visit the competition page

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Happy Monday! Here’s a little challenge for you:

Write a story or poem on the theme of darkness. How you interpret the theme is up to you.

Last week, your challenge was to write about the cold. Here are your interesting and entertaining pieces:

Jason Moody‘s story is superb:

Jessica woke with a start and snorted, as the bus pulled away from the lights. An old man sat next to her tutted loudly for no reason at all, but his moment of grumpiness would not infect her mood today.

She hurriedly wiped the window to her right with her coat sleeve. The amount of bodies on the bus that morning would have made health and safety blush. It felt less like a bus, and more like a sauna with all the bodies wrapped in their winter clothes and pressed in like sardines.

With the condensation cleared, she now…

My market this week is for the sci-fi and fantasy writers. Writing Magazine is holding an Other Worlds Short Story Competition. The closing date is 14th December 2016 so you still have time to get your entry in. Here are a few more details:

Prizes:

1st:                     £200 plus publication in Writing Magazine

Runner-up:    £50 plus publication on the website

Entry Fees:     £3 for subscribers, £5 for non-subscribers

Word length: Between 1500 – 1700

For details of how you can enter and to read the rules, go to the competition page

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I hope the start of a new week is going well for you. Here’s a little challenge for you:

Write a story or poem on the theme of thecold. It doesn’t have to be about the weather; you can interpret the theme any way you like.

Last week’s challenge was for you to write a poem or story on the theme of autumn with the following words somewhere in your piece:

• Red
• Goldfish
• Mustard

Here are your entertaining pieces:

Richard Mantell sent in a poignant story:

Autumn Sighs

The words of the song ran around in his head.  It had been released so many years ago and yet even now it buried itself deep into the very marrow of his soul.  Now here, walking amongst the falling leaves and crying trees, it seemed even more cutting.  Forever Autumn by Justin Hayward.  Released on Jeff Wayne’s War of The…