Two years ago I was short-listed for the Winchester Conference short story prize and this year was a bit disappointed when my entry didn’t get anywhere. But one nice thing about Winchester is that every entry (winner or ‘loser’) gets feedback from one of the judges. Mine arrived today and this year it is not in … Continue reading Everyone a winner?
For people like me whose short stories come few and far between, one of the bugbears is getting the word-count right. Now that my new baby is down to 2,750, nearly all the upcoming competitions want 2000 max. – and there’s only so much editing that can be done before the thing loses its character. … Continue reading Short(er) Cuts
All over the world, bloggers, (with the exception of the indefatigable Bransford – but hey, he’s at least 7 hours behind) are shutting up shop and I should be too, but when writing gets pushed to one side a quick post reminds me I’m still a writer (and is a damned sight easier than a chapter … Continue reading Why wait?
It was only when I read Nathan Bransford’s post on writing competitions that I realised that the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award is still going strong and for a minute I was tempted to enter again for 2010. Then I remembered the whole agonising process. For those not already in the know, this is how it … Continue reading Suddenly I See
Would you blog your novel? Obviously Mr McCall Smith has done just that with Corduroy Mansions, and has doubtless been suitably rewarded, so let me rephrase it. Would you blog your unpublished novel? Because that’s the idea behind the Telegraph’s latest creative writing competition and if you have a novel languishing in a drawer (or even on … Continue reading Corduroy challenge
Ali Bacon, Author 