A small wooden box opens with hardly a sound,
and with a smile and a wave appears a little brown
body, whose grinning face to us seems to say
“Hello I’m Morph, are you ready to play.”
Category Archives: Events and diary dates
Weekend Writing Prompt #134 – Morphology
Filed under Comic verse, Events and diary dates, Self compositions, T V nostalgia
Colleen’s 2019 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 151 #SynonymsOnly Dig & grave ~Time is no healer
On sombre faces
tears plough lines on blackened cheeks
coffins fill the thoughts.
Echoes of playground laughter
in the minds of Aberfan
Filed under As you read it, Events and diary dates, Factual, History, Self compositions, Tanka, Uncategorized
Samiscribbles weekend writing prompt #125 ~A familiar ultimatum
I sighed in my loudest resigned manner, in the hope that someone, or something, would gauge my anger and frustration. As I replaced another clean puppy pad, the hound-dog from Hell had released another stream of steaming fluid onto the caramel coloured shag pile. Time to make my stand. “That’s it dog, once more and you’re banished,” I shouted, through my smile.
Crimson’s Creative Challenge #33
My first and instant reaction to the photo was a flashback to an amazing concert I was lucky enough to attend a few years ago. A Pogues annual tour where the band played their amazing Xmas hit, the wonderful, “Fairytale of New York,” which of course includes the melodic, lyrically masterful phrase, “You scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy faggot.” What else would you expect me to think of?
For those who like to write the Gothic genre or would like a change, info courtesy of Short Stops
A Gothic Short Story Writing Competition
Hosted by Tavistock Library https://www.facebook.com/TavistockLibrary/ and supported by Tavistock Heritage Trust https://www.heritageintavistock.org/ as part of ‘Tavistock’s 1st Gothic and Neo-Gothic Celebration – Literature, Art, Architecture, Theatre, Film and Creative Fun.’
From Saturday the 12th of October and culminating in a market and author event on Saturday the 19th of October 2019.
This new celebration aims to encompass writing, film, drama and art activities. There will be a Gothic market for writers and traders to showcase their work, and a range of related events.
Theme: A short story in the Gothic tradition incorporating folklore and myth.
Prizes: A cash prize will be offered to the overall winner 30% of all entry receipts will form the prize fund. There will also be a second prize of 30% of all the entry fees awarded to a ‘Gothic’ story based in Tavistock and incorporating its Gothic and Neo-Gothic Heritage. Additional runners-up prizes of books will also be awarded. The prize winners will be notified approximately two weeks prior to the prize giving. The remaining 40% of the entry fees will be used for administration costs and for festival and library events.
Presentation of the Prizes: The results will be announced, and the prizes presented at an event to be during the celebration.
Judging: The judging will be in two stages. The final short list of stories will be judged by a panel of librarians, authors and publishers. Shortlisted entries will be ranked by a final judging panel.
Tips: The judges will be looking for interesting and original stories that are factually correct where appropriate.
Publication: Depending on the number and quality of the entries received an e-anthology may be published.
A Gothic Short Story Writing Competition
For anyone over the age of 18
Rules and Conditions of Entry
- Entries must be in English, original and not previously published in any form or broadcast, and no longer than 1500 words (adult).
- Closing date: May 31st
- Results: Available to the public from the 12th of October 2019.
- Entries must be typewritten or word-processed on single-sided A4 paper, in 12-point typeface, double (or 1.5 times) spaced. Each page must carry the name of the story in the header or footer and pages must be numbered. Do not put your name on the story pages. Please attach a cover sheet with your name, address, telephone and if possible your e-mail contact details, title of your story, and word count. Entries may be emailed to wilkins@librariesunlimited.org.uk and a copy to myfanwyc@btinternet.com
- Entries may be delivered by hand or by post to Go Gothic – Flash Fiction Competition to Tavistock Library, The Quay, Plymouth Road, Tavistock, Devon, PL19 8HF, England. Please include your payment by cheque (in sterling) made payable to The Friends of Tavistock Library or BACS Transfer: Account name: Friends of Tavistock Library, Account number: 32152922, Sort code: 602149. Payment may also be made in cash at Tavistock Library.
- Entry fees: Adults – £3 for first entry, £2 for second or subsequent entry. If you intend to submit multiple entries, please submit all entries together.
- No manuscripts will be retained so contestants must keep a copy of their work.
- Copyright remains with the author.
- If acknowledgement of receipt is required, please include a stamped and addressed postcard.
- The judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
- In accordance with the 2018 European Union General Data Protection Regulation Act (EU GDPR) your information will not be kept on a data base or used for marketing purposes and we will only contact you to tell you if you have won the competition and when all the logos will be on display.
- Entry to the competition implies acceptance of the rules.
Filed under Events and diary dates, General competitions, Re-blogged
Flash Fiction February 2019 from Fictive Dream
The submissions window for Fictive Dream’s Flash Fiction February 2019 is now open.
During Flash Fiction February we will feature a new piece of flash fiction throughout February 2019. That’s a new story, every day, starting on 1 February for the entire month. As always we’re interested in stories with a contemporary feel.
We’ve put a squeeze on our usual word count though, so only stories of between 200 – 750 words please.
Read our Flash Fiction February submission guidelines here.
Check out the Fictive Dream website here.
For those of you who prefer to write longer stories we remain open to standard submissions (500 – 2,500 words).
We’re looking forward to receiving your best work!
Laura Black
Editor
Filed under Events and diary dates, Re-blogged, Submission calls
Bad Moon Rising
Calling #Horror #Thriller and #Paranormal #IndieAuthors For #BadMoonRising
Spots are still available!
For the month of October, Books & Such will again be featuring Bad Moon Rising! If you’re an indie author of horror, thriller, or paranormal books and would like to be featured, send me your info. Free publicity, book sales (hopefully!), new authors to follow, and more books to buy – what’s not to like?
Each post will feature one of your releases, a blurb, author bio, social media links, buy links, and a short interview. If you’d like to include a giveaway or have alternative ideas for your post, I’m open to suggestions.
This is the fourth year of Bad Moon Rising and spots tend to fill up fast, so if you’d like to be included, email me at tpolen6@gmail.com.
Filed under Events and diary dates, General post, Re-blogged, Submission calls, Uncategorized
