July 2008 Archives

Ilkley Literature Festival is running competitions for both short stories and poems with separate categories for adults and youngsters.

Here's a short story competition where the word count is a maximum of 100 words with the theme of 'On the Edge.' The competition is being organised by the Stena Line Wigtown Book Festival (with BBC Radio Soctland's Book Café) to celebrate their tenth year. Wigtown is Scotland's National Book Town.

On days when I'm feeling gloomy and cynical days when the chance of being a published author seems particularly slim I sometimes daydream foolproof ways of success. Ideas I would never dream of putting into action I hasten to add.
1. Successfully audition for Big Brother and plug my book like crazy.
2. Change my name to something catchy like Enid Blyton.
2. Sing or rap the opening lines of Dr Midas as an X-Factor audition while dressed as a pirate.
3. Handcuff myself outside London's Waterstones or a top publisher wearing Dr Midas T-shirt.
Now I've added another crazy way to my list

Leeds-based charity People In Action are celebrating their 25th anniversary with 'Silver Thread' a Short Story Writing Competition. As you've probably guessed the theme is silver.

I saw the Tall Ships pass the Pier Head
I was lucky enough to see the tall ships leaving last week and even managed to get a couple of photos for my website. It was really busy in Liverpool especially around the Albert Dock and just goes to show how popular these beautiful ships are.
Hull Maritime Festival takes place this year on Saturday September 6th - Sunday September 7th. Find out more at www.hullcc.gov.uk

I've been meaning to visit Blackpool's Sea Life Centre for a while now as I read that they have an area with a Blackbeard theme. Well I've finally got around to visiting and great fun it was too.

The BA festival of Science visits Liverpool this September and there is a whole host of lectures planned including some that writers may find interesting. I'm certainly hoping to attend one or two on the events.

I don't get to the theatre very often, but once in a while a production catches my eye and I have to go. Being a kid at heart it's usually a puppet show, musical or play aimed at youngsters like 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,' 'Dr Doolittle,' and Neil Gaiman's 'The Wolves in the Walls.'
Earlier this year I enjoyed 'The Doubtful Guest' a surreal tale of a penguin-like creaturebased on the classic illustrated Edward Gorey book. I joined the Everyman/Playhouse mailing list and among the forthcoming treasures is 'Proper Clever.'

(Sky News)
Last week I mentioned plans for the baobab to be sold in the UK well now it looks like Peru are hoping to introduce one of their favourite dishes to the international market - guinea pig.

The other week at work the subject of romance writing came up and some of my (male) colleagues said writing chick lit and Mills & Boon books was 'dead easy.' Of course they hadn't written any themselves and when I suggested they were wrong and should give it a try they said they didn't have the time. Not that easy then!
Personally I've always thought writing romance and in particular Mills & Boon stories must be one of the hardest things to do. How do you come up with an original plot? Surely they've all been used.
Well if you do have an idea for one here's a wonderful competition for you.