With everything going on, I've not been on the ball with my shameless self-promotion. Well that stops now. During my recent writing competition blitz (or maybe spritz is more appropriate), I was fortunate to be shortlisted for the Hammond House 2024 International Literary Competition which also means I've been published in their latest short story... Continue Reading →
In my post "Taking Stock of 2024" I talked about how I'd been entering a lot of writing competitions, mostly for poetry and short stories. And I've been shortlisted for some too, which I'm pretty happy with. Recently I was thrilled to find out I've reached the semi-final in the Fabuly Writer's Challenge short story... Continue Reading →
When people think "writer" they tend to think "books". Even someone who's not necessarily thinking about being a writer might think "they've got a book in them". We spiel off authors of great books like Dickens, Austen, and Tolstoy as the best examples of what writing is meant to be. But this obsession overshadows all... Continue Reading →
There are many lengths of fiction out there. Poems can be merely a line, flash fiction and short stories no more than a page. It's unfortunate that in terms of fiction, shorter length works have often been overlooked. An unspoken rule that bigger is better. That weightier tomes must obviously be more meaningful, deeper in... Continue Reading →
Writing competitions can be a fun way to hone your writing skills and, if you're lucky, get your work published. Plus they may also come with a financial reward - cha-ching! And whilst there's no magic winning formula I can share, here are a few practical bits of advice about entering. 1) Plan well You... Continue Reading →
They say when your senses diminish, other senses become more astute, so your eyes improve if you’re deaf, your ears if you’re blind. I don’t know how truthful that is, but it seems as my body has diminished the strength of my mind has grown. All those books I read are now proving their worth.... Continue Reading →
He stepped back. Niamh was left with her boat in the middle of a ring of ghostly faces. ‘Finally you are here.’ The voice was cold and bottomless, hissing and crashing from everywhere at once. 'Who are you?’ said Niamh. ‘I have too many names to count but I am the greatest of all forces... Continue Reading →
The last thing Niamh remembered was drowning, so it came as a surprise when she woke up. At first she thought she was dreaming. The air had that strange grey sense of a dream. Or being underwater. She held up her hand in front of her and moved it from side to side. Her skin... Continue Reading →
‘Dad’s dead.’ The words come from Sam. My half brother and Dad's only son. ‘Did you hear me Kate?’ ‘Yes I heard you.’ I put down my duster and perch on a chair. Without looking, I reach for the notepad I always keep by the phone and start making a list. Lists are the backbone... Continue Reading →
The thin faced Drone is taking me to see The Big Guy. I’m not surprised. The day I arrived he’d told me The Big Guy was a fan of my work. I’m just happy to get away from the endless filing. We walk through the office. It’s the greyest place I’ve ever seen. The walls,... Continue Reading →
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