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Our writing competition heats up (despite the cold)
Filed under: Competitions and Offers
As winter approaches and the days get shorter, so does our productivity: 8pm in November and you’re heating your milk ready for bedtime, compared to 8pm in June, when you’re out washing the car or sitting in the garden with a glass of rosé, enjoying the evening sunshine. At least – this applies to me.
However, many of you dedicated writers out there are continuing to cram the hours into your day.
In October alone, we received over one third of our total writing competition entries to date. Read more
Right Words: a competition for young writers
Filed under: Competitions and Offers
A guest post from writer, translator and editor Daniel Hahn:
I’ve always been interested in writing. Being a writer, that’s not surprising – but I don’t mean that I’m interested in writing just for its own sake, but for the ways in which it can be useful beyond the merely enjoyable (and perhaps self-indulgent). The way in which encouraging people to write about a subject is to encourage them to pick it apart and think about it, process it, form views about it, reconstruct it in a way that makes sense to them and their world. Young people, especially.
Which is why for some years, I’ve been talking to friends at Human Rights Watch about setting up a writing competition for young people. What better way to get teenagers to wrestle with an important issue, we thought, than by inviting them to write about it? Read more
Is it 2010 already? It is for the Yearbook
Filed under: Competitions and Offers
I’m feeling deliciously light and cool despite it being muggy outside. And it’s not just because I’m sitting near the air con unit – it’s because the 2010 edition of the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook has gone to the printers bang on time!
So, the shiny red cover may be Read more
‘247 Tales’ competition!
Filed under: Competitions and Offers
It’s pens (and computers) at the ready for the 247tales writing competition from our colleagues over at Bloomsbury.
You’ll recall that Beth won last month’s competition on the theme of ‘April’s Fool’, writing her tale about a jester’s search for love in 247 words exactly (well done, Beth). Read more
Kaye Umansky: How I write
Filed under: Authors and Books, Competitions and Offers
Guest blogger Kaye Umansky has written over 130 children’s books. How did she find writing a story for Bloomsbury’s 247tales?
Author Kaye Umansky
Write a story in 247 words. Phew! That’s a tall order, right? I write longer notes to the milkman.
I was given the title “Spring Cleaning” and the suggestion that the story should centre on Pongwiffy, a witch of dirty habits. Seven books are coming out about her this year, so it made sense, as I am currently in the Pong Zone, as I call it. Read more
247 Tales: the first winner
Filed under: Competitions and Offers
Over at 247 Tales the challenge is on… It’s a Bloomsbury competition for children, and right now, the first winning story, When I Grow Up (246 words) by Tomas, age 8, is up on the website for all to admire and read.
Each month, a different Bloomsbury author will pen 247 words on the theme de month. Their stories also feature on the site and 10 runners-up each receive a signed copy of the latest book by that author.
I think it’s a marvellous idea. And I’ll bet that squeezing an idea in 247 little words is a lot harder than you’d think. I’m wondering if this month’s author Julia Green found it difficult? I’m going to try to find out … Read more
Rosey Darbishire – what inspires her?
Today’s guest blogger is Rosey Darbishire, winner of our Writers’ & Artists’ 2009 short story competition. Rosey has already enjoyed some success writing radio plays, but winning the competition has been a high point for her, she says. Knowing that a lot of you have been keen to find out more, we asked her to share what inspires her and why she writes…
Recently I was ordered into a tiny red plastic Postman Pat van by a three-year-old. He told me that I had to stay there. As I sat, knees to chest, I thought about the power children have over those who love them. That was the start of In the Wendy House and a milestone after many years of hopes, and a few years of hard work. Read more
The winner: ‘In the Wendy House’
Filed under: Competitions and Offers
We’ve only just announced the winner of our short story competition, but I thought you’d like to know a little more… It seems only fair seeing as I’ve already shared a few comments about the rest of the shortlist.
In case you missed it, the winning entry is In the Wendy House by Rosey Darbishire (applause, lots of applause!). Read more
Short story competition: we name the final shortlist!
Filed under: Competitions and Offers
As you know, for this year’s Writers’ & Artists’ competition, our shortlist comprised just six stories, picked from thousands of entries. They’re all deserving of worthy mention, and I can honestly say it was a close-run thing.
So, I had the six stories to read. Know, blog readers, that I took my time, read them carefully, made notes as I went along, went back to sections, and generally pondered and mulled for a considerable amount of time. Read more
Writers’ & Artists’ short story competition: our shortlisted six
Filed under: Competitions and Offers
I’ve been reading, and re-reading, the six shortlisted stories for our annual Writers’ & Artists’ short story competition. This year is the first time I’ve had the honour – and the responsibility – of choosing the ultimate winner. In competitions past, I’ve assisted during the early stages, slimming down a long list into a medium list and then a shortlist before passing it on for that all-important final decision. Read more
Buy the 2011 Yearbook
The Writers' & Artists' Yearbook is available at a discount from our online bookshop. Get all the information, contacts and advice you could need.-
Win, Win, Win! We are giving away 5 copies of Qatari Voices, a collection of essays which will inspire new writers. For details of how to enter this giveaway go to 'The Accidental Writer' >
On camera: Jon McGregor
"Being longlisted for the Booker Prize changed everything - it was the launchpad for my writing career." Click to view our video with novelist Jon McGregor »
On camera: Justin Cartwright
"Just write... If you're any good you may not know it, but certainly someone else will." Click to view our video with novelist Justin Cartwright »
On camera: Julie Myerson
The novelist and journalist Julie Myerson on how she got that all-important first publishing deal. Click here to view our video exclusive »