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

March Competition Monthly!

Welcome to another competition monthly from Francesca Capaldi Burgess!

Some good news from me to begin the month. In February I got news that I'd won the Retreat West Themed Flash Competition for November. If you'd like to read my entry you can do so here. If you'd like to share any competition success on a future RNA competition blog, you can get in touch with me via Twitter. 

This month I've been thinking about the importance of competition deadlines. If you don't enter a

competition by the date stated, you'll almost certainly be disqualified. But is there an optimum time to enter competitions within the time frame? First of all you have to check whether a competition has an opening date – some do.

Let's face it, many of us enter competitions as close to the deadline as we can, whether from being overkeen editors, having too much else to do or simply putting things off. However there could be an advantage to getting our entries in sooner rather than later. 

Consider the person doing the judging, or the initial judging if the long/short list is going on to someone else. Having judged competitions myself, I know that the entries that dribble in at the beginning of the time period get more attention than those that come with the deluge at the end. Judges in that position may well be looking for reasons to reject a story, having so many others to read. If something at the start of your story doesn't appeal to them they may not even read to the end, so a wonderful denouement could be for nought. 

I realise I am also guilty of leaving competition entries to the last minute, but getting them in quickly may well increase our chances of being shortlisted. It certainly can't do any harm. 

Good luck to everyone! 

Sci-Fi London 48-hour Flash Fiction Challenge
Theme: You'll be given a title / dialogue / optional scientific idea when you register.
Prize: £500 plus publication in New Scientist Magazine
Competition deadline: You'll have between 11am on 8th April until 1am on 10th April
Entry: Free
Details


Bath Novel Award
Theme: Unpublished or independently published novels for adult or YA. First 5,000 words plus 1 page synopsis.
Prize: £2,000 / £500 / Literary agent introduction for all those shortlisted.
Competition deadline: 24 April 2017
Entry: £25
Details


NAWG 100 Mini-Tales Competition
Theme: Open. Exactly 100 words, excluding the title
Prize: £75 / £25
Competition deadline: None. It's a rolling competition. Each round ends when 100 are received. Subsequent entries go into the next round.
Entry: £3
Details


Win Your Way to Swanwick 2017
Theme: 'Escape'. 1,000 words max
Prize: Fully inclusive week at 2017 Summer School
Competition deadline: 30 April 2017
Entry: £5
Details 


Bristol Short Story Prize
Theme: Any theme or genre. 4,000 words max
Prize: £1.000 / £700 / £400 / 17x £100
Competition deadline: May 3 2017
Entry: £8
Details 


Yeovil Literary Prize: Short Story
Theme: Open. 2,000 words max
Prize: £500 / £200 / £100
Competition deadline: 31 May 2107
Entry: £7
Details 


Yeovil Literary Prize: Novel
Theme: Open. Synopsis and opening chapters, 15,000 word combined length.
Prize: £1,000 / £250 / £100
Competition deadline: 31 May 2107
Entry: £12
Details 

Thanks, Fran and good luck to everyone!

Francesca Capaldi Burgess has been placed or shortlisted in a number of competitions including Twyford Writers, Winchester Writers' Conference, Chorley and District Writers' Circle, Flash a Famous Phrase, Meridian Writing, Wells Festival and Writing Magazine. Her shortlisted entry for The People's Friend serial competition will be published in May. She's had stories published in magazines worldwide and in three anthologies, including Diamonds and Pearls and 100 Stories for Haiti. She is a member of the RNA New Writers' Scheme and the Society for Women Writers and Journalists.

Twitter

Write Minds Blog

If you would like to write for the RNA blog, then please contact us at elaineeverest@aol.com

This blog was prepared by blog team member, Louisa Heaton.

February Competition Monthly

Welcome to yet another competition monthly update from Francesca!

How's the year going so far? I hope you've made a start on this year's competitions.

I know I've mentioned themes before, but something to bear in mind is to make sure you are actually keeping to the theme.

It's tempting, if you have something you've already written that you want to use, to send out

something that has only a weak connection. Or maybe none at all. I have read entries when I've been judging short story competitions which seem to have no relevance to the theme whatsoever. It's as if the writer didn't notice there was a theme, or forgot about it.

And don't make it too subtle. At The Write Place Creative Writing School I once judged a national competition with the theme of 'Ten'. Now perhaps it's down to my lack of sporting interest, but I couldn't see the connection to the theme in a story that was essentially about a man having a bad day and being sent off the football pitch, thus decreasing the number in his team. Perhaps you've already got there. It wasn't until I mentioned it to my husband that he pointed out that eleven team members minus one is ten. Of course. It still didn't make it to the short list!

Good luck to everyone, and don't forget to let me know of any competition success you have.




**Closing Soon**
Brigend Writers' Circle Short Story Competition
Theme: Open, 1,500 – 1,800
Prize: £1200 / £350 / £30
Competition deadline: 1 March 2017
Entry: £5 / £7.50 for 2 Details 



Words for the Wounded Independent Author Book Award
Theme: Self published works of fiction and non-fiction
Prize: Review of book and article about author published in Frost online magazine
Competition deadline: 11 March 2017
Entry: £12.50 Details 



Limnisa Short Story Competition
Theme: Open, up to 3,000 words
Prize: Week's retreat in Greece / 2 x 50% off workshops
Competition deadline: 15 March 2017
Entry: Free, as long as FB page is liked or follow on Twitter Details



MsLexia Women's Short Story Fiction Competition
Theme: Open, 300 – 3,000 words
Prize: £2,000 / 2 x £100 For winner also week's writing retreat and day with Virago Editor.
Competition deadline: 20 March 2017
Entry: £10 Details


MsLexia Flash Fiction Competition
Theme: Open, up to 300 words
Prize: £500 / 3 x £50
Competition deadline: 20 March 2017
Entry: £5 Details 



Flash 500 Flash Fiction Competition
Theme: Open, 500 words
Prize: £300 / £200 / £100 Publication on website
Competition deadline: 31 March 2017
Entry: £5 / £8 for 2 Details



Exeter Short Story Prize & Trisha Ashley Award
Theme: Open, up to 10,000 words
Prize: £500 / £150 / £100
Competition deadline: 30 April 2017
Entry: £10 Details




Good luck to anyone who enters!

Francesca Capaldi Burgess has been placed or shortlisted in a number of competitions including Twyford Writers, Winchester Writers' Conference, Chorley and District Writers' Circle, Flash a Famous Phrase, Meridian Writing, Wells Festival and Writing Magazine. Her shortlisted entry for The People's Friend serial competition will be published in May. She's had stories published in magazines worldwide and in three anthologies, including Diamonds and Pearls and 100 Stories for Haiti. She is a member of the RNA New Writers' Scheme and the Society for Women Writers and Journalists.

Twitter
Blog



If you would like to write for the RNA blog, then please contact us elaineeverest@aol.com

This blog was prepared by blog team member, Louisa Heaton.

Chatting with Margaret Mounsdon

Those of us who write short and long fiction know the name of Margaret Mounsdon so it is a delight for us to welcome her here today and be able to ask about her writing life.

Welcome, Margaret. You are known for writing short stories as well as longer fiction. Do you have a preference?

I love writing both short stories and longer fiction. I tend to do short stories in between the longer fiction to make a change. It’s good to have different disciplines and I find this way of working suits me.

How long does it take to write a short story? Do you plan before starting to write?

I can rough out a short story in an afternoon but that is only the beginning. I rewrite several times and edit constantly, reading out loud etc for things that just don’t sound right. Then I put it away for as long as possible – at least a week, before casting a fresh eye on it. It is amazing what you can pick up that way – typos; glaring errors; all that sort of thing.

What is your latest writing project?

A pocket novel set in a sleepy village. It’s got a dash of romance; a missing will; serious conflict; a pet’s grooming parlour and there’s even a ghost.

How did you start out as a writer?

In spring 2000 I went to a writers’ day and sat next to Sue Curran at one of the workshops. She was looking for manuscripts of a romantic nature for the now defunct Heartline Books. I sent her mine and it was published under the title Never Say Goodbye. They also published my second novel The Peacock House. I had started a third but after they folded I sent it to My Weekly and it was published as a pocket novel. I’ve now had published 25 novels, all on Amazon with a 26^th self published novel.

What is your typical writing day like?

There is no typical day. I am not one of those people who insist on no interruptions but I am usually at my desk by nine and I knock off about four. The only rule I am meticulous about is when I sit down to write, I will not get up again until I have done 1000 words. It is amazing how your work grows.

Do you still have a writing goal?

Some of my ‘long’ short stories have been 10,000 word cosy crime dramas and I would love to write a series of cosies if I could find a suitable market.

Links:

Margaret’s Amazon page

Blog:              

Website:         

 Twitter:  @SwwjMargaret

The Swallow House Summer

When Issy Dillaine discovers she was adopted as a baby she sets out to discover all she can about Amy Grant, her birth mother. Her quest for the truth leads her into a world of Z-list celebrities, as well as the arms of investigative journalist Ed Stanwood. But Ed has a secret of his own. His uncle was the QC who had headed up the prosecution team working to convict Amy Grant of fraud.

Angela’s Return Home

(Due out on 1^st September 2015)

It had been years since Angela Banks had seen Russ Stretton. She’d been a teenager with a massive crush on him and now he was back with emotional baggage in the form of a five year old son and a sophisticated French ex-wife who was intent on winning him back at all costs.

Thank you Margaret. Your output is amazing.

The RNA blog is brought to you by

Elaine Everest & Natalie Kleinman

If you would like to write for the blog please contact us on elaineeverest@aol.com

Nora Fountain: Blackthorn Child

A big hello to Nora Fountain who is our guest on the blog today.

Nora, you have written short stories for the women’s magazine market as well as novels. What would you say is your favourite form of storytelling?

I prefer to write novels. I’ve written lots of short stories and sold some of them but it’s not really my thing. I very much admire those who can turn out short, snappy stories. I like to get my teeth into a story, with the freedom to develop characters, and more than one or two of them. I like to get inside their heads and become that character. The first draft is the bare bones of the story, then comes the best part, editing and polishing, going through several times, the characters developing each time till I know them like old friends. As they develop they suggest little twists and turns of their own. In the end I love them all – even the baddies. They are me. I am them, and I’m sorry to have to say good-bye to them.

Would you recommend that those new to writing try their hand at writing long and short fiction?

If they want to. I don’t think it’s always necessary. I always wanted to write longer, more in-depth stuff. However, I didn’t really have a clue when I started Blackthorn Child, which began life as Downton’s Heir (!) and grew with every rewrite until it reached 180,000 words. Fortunately I’ve always enjoyed the art of précis but I’m now aware of the practicalities of producing such a long book. Publishers do not want to invest large sums in new writers.

I tried writing for M&B for a while, reading their authors voraciously. I loved writers such as Charlotte Lamb, Penny Jordan and Sara Wood. There was a seamless quality to their writing it is difficult to emulate. I did try, though, around a dozen times. On three occasions they read a partial and asked to see the rest. I was quite excited the third time but in the end it was turned down. I submitted one to Robert Hale, minus the steamy bits and it was accepted. Hurrah! They went on to take several more. These went into large print and translation in some cases. I carried on with full-length fiction and, to my delight, Thorpe bought Love Thine Enemy direct from me.

We’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading, Love Thine Enemy, Can we expect more historical novels from you with overseas settings?

I certainly hope so. Blackthorn Child went back and forth to agents and publishers till I changed tack and put it on Kindle. It soared to the top of three of their lists, occupying top spot for a while.

I am currently writing another historical set in Puglia where my youngest son lives, designing houses and teaching yoga. I have lots more research to do but I’m enjoying it. I’m also writing a contemporary romance set in Africa called Tropical Madness. It’s a year now since the accident that wrote off my car and broke eleven bones – a bit of a setback but I’m getting back in the saddle with interruptions for physio, etc. Perhaps I should write a hospital drama.

There are certainly a few health issues in Cupcakes and Candlesticks. This is my latest novella with a mature hero and heroine and set in the Dorset I love. When Rob announces he is leaving Maddy and their four children she is shocked but she picks up the pieces and forges a new life for the family out in the sticks. There she meets the gorgeous Guy Deverill, a landowner with angst of his own. I sold the large print rights to Cupcakes and Candlesticks to Thorpe and in the same week brought out the Create Space version of Blackthorn Child – or rather my son Basil did. He’s been a driving instructor for a couple of years but now has another string to his bow, offering services to novelists, formatting, putting on Kindle, etc. I’m no techie and couldn’t manage without him. My younger daughter played her part designing the cover for the paperback so it’s something of a family production.

Please tell us more about your five novels that are being reprinted by Samhain?

The American publisher Samhain have started a new line called Retro Romance. They’ve taken five of my novellas and given them gorgeous new covers which is all rather exciting. They can be viewed and are available on line from Samhain.

These days authors have to promote themselves on social media. How much time do you spend online? How does it help your work?

I probably spend far too long online, mainly Facebook where I have two pages, one an author page. I enjoy keeping up with news of my extended family- recently extended to include my first great-grandson, Alby Koa. Don’t ask. I’ve never heard of the names, either, but I do know he’s absolutely gorgeous with silky dark hair and eyes that will probably be brown. It’s great to hear news of other writers’ successes, too. I occasionally post on Twitter but I think I need lessons on using social media to the best advantage.

Nora Fountain is a professional writer and translator. Her short stories have been published by People's Friend, Yours, Australian Women's Weekly, Woman's Day and Fiction Feast, among others.
Her novels are mainly in the contemporary romance genre published by Robert Hale and My Weekly Story Library. Nora has also written historical romance. Her books are available on Amazon.
Five novels are currently being reprinted by Samhain as part of their Retro Romance series and are available from the publisher as ebooks.
Nora lives in Dorset and is a member of the Society of Authors and the Chartered Institute of Linguists, and is a committee member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

Links:

 

Website

Amazon  

Thank you, Norah. It’s also good to hear you are well on the way to recovery after your accident.

The RNA Blog is brought to you by,

Elaine Everest & Natalie Kleinman

If you would like to write for the blog please contact us on elaineeverest@aol.com

Meet the gang behind Romaniac Shorts!

Today we welcome The Romaniacs who will introduce themselves and tell us all about their fabulous charity anthology.

We are honoured to be on the blog today to tell you about our anthology, Romaniac Shorts.

We each have our individual strong points which has been amazingly productive in getting the book to this stage. Here’s how we did it …

Promo Chick – Lucie

I love promotion so took the reins, sourcing blogs and sites to visit, including the RNA, and writing the launch posts. I may consider ordering a sandwich board…

Cover Girl – Vanessa

 We all brainstormed the kind of look we wanted for the cover before I started work – style, colour scheme etc– and I took everyone’s input and designed a bright, bold, illustrative cover. The different colours and styles of the shorts represent not only the eight Romaniac’s but also our eight differing writing styles – an eclectic mix that blends together beautifully!

Strapline Sweetie – Laura

I tend to throw every idea in my head into the Romaniac pot, which the ladies miraculously manage to sort, and that's how the strap line came to be. In true Romaniac form, we voted, and 'Fashionably Brief' won.

As a lover of concision, I enjoyed the challenge of putting together the Amazon description.

Grammatical Goddess – Jan

 With very little experience at writing short stories or flash fiction, I felt nervously excited by the challenge and found the whole process from budding concept to blossoming creation to full bloom Romaniac anthology, hugely gratifying. I've also a good eye for detail so thoroughly enjoyed helping to wheedle out those grammatical gremlins and pesky typos.

Yummy Mummy – Catherine 

I've been in charge of the baby board meetings. They like to give the okay on everything. Here they are signing off the final proof.

 Magnificent Multitasker - Celia 

I have never had any confidence in writing short stories until meeting The Romaniacs, but in the last few months I have read their excellent work, picked up tips and had lots of advice. With the launch of our first book I'm proud to be part of this excellent collection.  With the amazing support from the others, even with lots going on in my very busy day job, I have managed to not only contribute to the anthology but, hopefully, give a lot of advice and encouragement back.

Dame Discussion – Debbie

There’s nothing better to get creative juices flowing than to have a discussion about things. And there’s nothing I’m better at than adding my two-penneth (which I did several times whilst compiling our anthology stories!) When deciding which charities to support, it was me who suggested Dyslexia Action as I felt it was a more general cause that everyone could relate to.

Tech Queen – Sue

As Geek Girl, it was my job to format and load 'Romaniac Shorts' onto Amazon through Kindle Direct Publishing. Loading it was relatively straightforward but the formatting took extra work. It wasn't until I had everyone's stories that all the little differences in presentation were apparent. Things like font, margins, indents, speech marks, spacing, etc, all these had to be adjusted for continuity purposes. I also had to make sure I had an up to date copy of the anthology as it circulated the group for proofing and editing. From a technical point of view, I think we've all learned a great deal from the process - it's been a lot of work but it's also been great fun and extremely rewarding.

 

Romaniac Shorts is a diverse collection of short stories and flash fiction and is available to download now on Amazon. All proceeds shall be donated to Dyslexia Action and the RNA. 

Thank you, ladies!

Brought to you by the blogging team of Elaine Everest, Natalie Kleinman and Liv Thomas.

Please contact us at elaineeverest@aol.com if you wish to be featured on our blog.