January's Competition Monthly

A new year, a new start. Francesca hopes you'll find something familiar, or even better, something outside your comfort zone in this latest selection of competitions.

When I first attended Adult Education creative writing classes I'd written several short stories and poems, but not a lot else. Our tutor (author Elaine Everest), encouraged us to try our hand at all sorts of different writing. We had a go at scripts, several forms of poetry, articles, flash fiction, tips and fillers, leaflets, non-fiction books, novels and a few more things besides.

One of the most valuable aspects of these classes was that we were also encouraged to submit to all sorts of markets. Between us, we've ended up with a whole heap of different genres and types of writing published in different arenas. This success is largely due to us being pushed to write and submit outside of our comfort zone. Today, now running her own classes, Elaine still encourages us to try new things, giving us challenges that we might not normally tackle.

It's a new year, so why not try a competition outside of your comfort zone? Or dig out work you've abandoned in order to write something else. The selection this month includes short stories, novels for adults and children, script writing, poetry, flash fiction and two humour competitions. Perhaps you fancy yourself as a Ben Elton or Carla Lane? Perhaps the new Mike Leigh? Have a go and see what new doors you can open.

Good luck to you all, and don't forget to let us know of any successes you have.

Kelpies Prize 2018

Theme: Children's novel set in Scotland for either 8-10 or 12-15 year olds.

Prize: Winning author, £2,000

Closing date: 28 February 2018

Entry: Free

Details

Bridgend Writers' Circle Short Story Competition

Theme: Open. 1,500 – 1,800 words

Prize: £200 / £50 / £30

Closing date: 1^st March 2018

Entry: £5 / £7.50 for 2

Details

The International Windsor Fringe Award for New Drama Writing

Theme: Plays of 30 minutes max, 6 actors max. Only amateur playwrights.

Prize: 3 winners selected for stage performance.

Closing date: 5 March 2018

Entry: £10

Details

Brittle Star Short Story Fiction Competition (also poetry)

Theme: Open, 2,000 words max.

Prize: £250 per genre / £50 pg / £25 pg

Closing date: 14 March 2018

Entry: £5 / £3.50 each subsequent

Details

Writing Magazine Humour Short Story Competition

Theme: Humorous short story, 1,500 – 1,700 words.

Prize: £200 plus publication in magazine / £50 plus publication online

Closing date: 15 March 2018

Entry: £5 / £3 for subscriberss

Details

Edge Hill Short Story Prize

Theme: Single author collection of short stories, published between 1^st Jan & 31 Dec 2017 (not self published)

Prize: £10,000 / £1,000 reader's choice.

Closing date: 23 March 2018

Entry: Free

Details

Retreat West Flash Fiction

Theme: 'Forgetting'. 500 words max. No children's stories

Prize: £200 / 2 x £75

Closing date: 25 March 2018

Entry: £8

Details

The International Rubery Book Award

Theme: For international and self published books.

Prize: £1,500 plus read by top literary agent. Catergory winners £150 each. No publication date restriction. All genres.

Closing date: 31 March 2018

Entry: £36

Details

Twisted Mysteries Writing Competition

Theme: Read the brief, but basically what lies beneath the surface in 1933.

Prize: £100 / £50 / £25 plus all winners published in an eBook anthology.

Closing date: 30 March 2018

Entry: £5

Details

Scottish Arts Club Short Story Award

Theme: Open. Max 1,500 words. Unpublished writers only (novel and short story)

Prize: £1,000 / 2 x 100 / Scottish prize £500

Closing date: 31 March 2018

Entry: £10

Details

Writers Bureau Short Story Competition

Theme: Open. 2,000 words max.

Prize: £300 / £200 / £100 / £50 plus a WB course for all winners

Closing date: 31 March 2018

Entry: £5

Details

Writers' Forum Fiction Competition (also poetry)

Theme: Open. 1,000 – 3,000 words

Prize: £300 / £150 / £100

Closing date: Rolling.

Entry: £6 / £3 for subscribers

Details

(Writers' Forum also have a flash fiction competition each month, but the duration for each is short and you'll need to look for the current theme)

Bristol Poetry Prize

Theme: Open. Up to 100 lines.

Prize: £600 / £300 / £100

Closing date: 31 March 2008

Entry: £6

Details  (scroll down)

Wergel Flump Humor Poetry Contest

Theme: Humorous poem up to 250 lines

Prize: £1,000 / £250 / 10 x £100

Closing date: 1^st April 2018

Entry: Free

Details

Looking Ahead:

First Novel Prize

Theme: Novels over 50,000 words

Prize: £1,000 / £250 / £100

Closing date: Open February 1^st - 31 May 2018

Entry: £25

Details

Francesca Capaldi Burgess has been placed or shortlisted in a number of competitions including Winchester Writers' Conference, Twyford Writers, Chorley & District Writer's Circle, Retreat West, Cordelia.net, Meridian Writing, Flash a Famous Phrase, Wells Festival and Writing Magazine. She's had stories and a serial published in magazines worldwide and in three anthologies, including Diamonds and Pearls and 100 Stories for Haiti  plus a few articles and a poem. She is a member of the RNA New Writers' Scheme and the Society for Women Writers and Journalists. Francesca runs a writing blog along with RNA member Elaine Roberts called Write Minds.

Twitter

Introducing the New RNA Social Media Co-ordinator

Hello! For those of you who don't know me already, I’ve been a member of the RNA for the past four years. I joined the New Writers’ Scheme initially, after lots of other writers recommended it to me. I've loved every minute of being on the Scheme, and have learnt so much as well. During those four years, I've self-published two contemporary romance novels, with some more on the way, and as a result, I'm just about to graduate from the Scheme to become a full, independent member of the RNA.

I thoroughly enjoy being a member of the RNA and have thrown myself into the social life it offers its members with great enthusiasm, attending conferences, parties, afternoon teas and chapter meetings all around the country. I've also been very lucky to make lots of new friends as a result of being a member, something I didn’t expect to be doing at this stage in my life. I love the way the RNA welcomes everyone as equals, so newbies can find themselves talking to big names, and mixing with writers and publishing folk at all different stages of their careers.

In my life outside writing, I work part-time for a local charity as their communications officer, overseeing their marketing, PR, social media and website activities. I also work freelance as a proofreader, website trouble-shooter and occasional supply teacher – a real Jill-of-all-trades! I live with my husband in Bedfordshire. We have two daughters; one is now away at university and the other is studying for her ‘A’ levels.

Since autumn 2016, I have been supporting Adrienne Vaughan, as deputy editor of Romance Matters, the RNA’s wonderful magazine, and now I’m taking on the role of social media co-ordinator, with responsibility for the blog, Twitter and the RNA’s Facebook page. Elaine Everest has done a sterling job for the past five years, and we’re all very grateful to her and her wonderful team for raising the RNA’s profile in that time.

I have a great blog team to support me and we're planning to keep blogging two or three times a week, with a mixture of regular blog posts about your favourite items – competitions, new releases, interviews with book reviewers and authors – as well as news items as and when they crop up, and some new ideas too. If you have any ideas for features you’d like to see, please do let me know and we will do our best to bring the subject to you.

I look forward to taking on the blog completely from Alison May in the New Year, and to taking it from strength to strength as we move forward. Thank you for all the support you have shown the blog in the past – I hope you will continue to do so for many years to come.

*****

My latest book The Vineyard in Alsace is available now.

Is there really such a thing as a second chance at love?

Fran Schell has only just become engaged when she finds her fiancé in bed with another woman. She knows this is the push she needs to break free of him and to leave London. She applies for her dream job on a vineyard in Alsace, in France, not far from her family home, determined to concentrate on her work.

Didier Le Roy can hardly believe it when he sees that the only person to apply for the job on his vineyard is the same woman he once loved but let go because of his stupid pride. Now estranged from his wife, he longs for a second chance with Fran if only she will forgive him for not following her to London.

Working so closely together, Fran soon starts to fall in love with Didier all over again. Didier knows that it is now time for him to move on with his divorce if he and Fran are ever to have a future together. Can Fran and Didier make their second chance at love work despite all the obstacles in their way? 

A romantic read set against the enticing backdrop of the vineyard harvest in France.

Connect with me here:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Bethan James – Account Manager at PR Agency EDPR

Thank you to Ellie Holmes for this interesting interview with Bethan James. What an interesting career!

I am delighted to welcome Bethan James to the RNA Blog’s monthly series where we speak to book bloggers and reviewers and get an insight into their world. This month we are taking a slight departure by speaking to Bethan who is an account manager at PR Agency EDPR.

Welcome Bethan, tell us a little bit about yourself and your work at EDPR

My name is Bethan James and I am an Account Manager at publishing, lifestyle and entertainment

PR agency EDPR. I have previously worked in publicity and marketing for Accent Press and Oxford Playhouse, amongst others. I am an Earl Grey addict, writer and identical twin who can be found Tweeting (mostly about books) here: @thebethanjames

How long have you worked at ED PR?

I moved to London in February to start my new Account Manager role at EDPR, so it’s been nine months already. Time flies!

ED PR are described as a boutique PR Agency, what sort of authors do you work with?

One of the benefits of a boutique agency is you get to work closely with authors who write in an incredible variety of genres. I’ve enjoyed running publicity campaigns on literature in translations for independent publisher Belgravia Books, as well as titles from the ‘Big 6’ London publishers. A typical month could involve doing PR for authors who’ve penned nail-biting crime; gripping historical novels; gorgeous hardback non-fiction; trailblazing sci-fi; the latest celebrity releases (like Matt Lucas’ autobiography); and fabulous romantic fiction, of course! At the moment I’m working on lovely RNA member Elaine Everest’s heart-warming saga Christmas at Woolworths which is out on 2^nd Nov – perfect timing for a festive read.

Tell us a little bit about a day in the life of a Book Publicist

The great thing about being a book publicist is it’s never boring because no two days are ever quite the same! But in general, I’ll start my morning with a cup of Earl Grey at 9.30am  as I sift through my emails. Then I might have a PR meeting with my Director Emma Draude and the team to catch up on media coverage for titles I’m promoting. I’ll also spend some time on the phone following up with journalists about book reviews. Crafting email pitches to secure features and interviews for my authors is also a key part of the day. Other tasks can include meeting journalists, writing press releases, putting together mailing lists for book proofs, setting up blog tours, compiling PR updates for publishers, and delegating social media activity to our assistant. If one of my authors has a book launch I’ll look forward to heading along for wine, nibbles, and mingling that evening!

What sort of contact do you have with your authors before, during and after a campaign?

Ahead of a book campaign fully kicking off, a publisher will usually put me in touch with the author so I can get to know them. For example, it’s good to get a sense of how comfortable they are with broadcast interviews, what their availability is for press/ event activity, and any personal media contacts they’d like me to reach out to. It’s also really important for me to know if they have an interesting personal story they can talk about linked to the book. Is there a real-life experience that inspired your story? During the campaign, I’ll keep in regular contact with the author to set up interviews and keep them updated on coverage plus press cuttings. Afterwards, I’ll send a full round-up of all press and reviews secured. It’s nice to keep in touch and see how sales are going and hear how readers are responding to the book as well.  Communication with the author and publisher is key!

What’s the best part of your job?

The authors! Working with creative and passionate people who’ve poured their heart into a story, then helping readers to discover and enjoy it is incredibly rewarding. The buzz when you land them a big piece of national press coverage is fantastic.  (That, and all the books I get to read before they’re even out in bookshops…)

If you could give one piece of advice to authors what would it be?

Learn what goes on behind-the-scenes to bring your book-baby into the world, and gain an understanding of the wider publishing process. It all helps to avoid confusion and makes things smoother if you know the roles of different departments at a publisher and the key timelines for a book.

I’m cheating a bit here, but my second piece of advice is to communicate. This of course works both ways, but once an author forgot to tell me they were away abroad with almost no email or phone access for a month before publication! That was a bit of a nightmare publicity-wise…

What are your interests away from work? Do you ever read just to relax?

I’m a London newbie as I used to live in Wales, so I’m still enjoying everything the capital has to offer, from theatre, to art galleries, eating out, and exploring hidden gems. I’m also writing my debut novel, which is historical fiction with a dash of fantasy and romance – watch this space! That’s keeping me pretty busy, but I try and read widely as well. Sometimes it’s nice to wade through a novel without having to stop and get my notebook out to jot down a potential PR angle.

We often ask agents and publishers what they consider to be the next 'big thing' - what do you hope to see next?

I’m sure agents and publishers will roll their eyes when I say this, as in some areas it’s

already happening, but I’d love to see more cross-genre fiction making it mainstream and hitting the Sunday Times bestseller charts.  There can be a tendency sometimes for the industry to say that a manuscript that bridges genres is too confusing: What shelf in a bookshop would it go on? How could you market it and would it sell? What section of the book pages would a newspaper review it on?  I think readers deserve some credit – if it’s a good story they’ll champion and discover it. I’m sure many RNA members are already breaking the mould. Bring on that next big historical crime romance thriller…

Thank you Bethan for a very interesting insight into the world of publicity and well done for including a plug for Elaine Everest of this parish.

About Ellie:

Ellie Holmes writes commercial women’s fiction with her heart in the town and her soul in the country. Ellie’s debut release was The Flower Seller. A member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and the Alliance of Independent Authors, Ellie’s latest book, White Lies is out now.

http://Author.to/EllieHolmes    http://www.twitter.com/elliehwriter  www.ellieholmesauthor.com  www.facebook.com/EllieHWriter