Glossy Planet is a new magazine which will run a monthly challenge for short, topical pieces of prose or poetry (1,000 words or two pages). The theme will be announced only shortly beforehand, and the first is ‘Monsters we Made’. First prize $1,000…
Hey look, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about. We’ve all had problems when our stories require us to write about, well… sex. Myself, I find that the narrative either slips towards a biology text, or towards one of the less successful Carry On films. That’s if I can get any words down at all. I find myself suddenly approving of the Ancient Greek idea that all the action in a drama should take place off stage, and just be mentioned. Show don’t tell? Maybe not this time.
It’s OK: help is at hand. Natali Simmonds, who knows a thing or two about literary intimacy, has some helpful advice in Writer’s Digest.
The Michael Round Prize 2025 is now closed. Thanks to everyone who took part.
The competition, which was free to enter, is for pieces of fiction up to 1,200 words long, and is dedicated to the memory of our late and much-missed Chairman. The competition attracted more than 270 entries from 37 different countries. Thanks to our hard working panel, the judging process is already well in hand and we will announce the results at our November meeting.
At our regular meeting on 13 October, Stella led a session on writing memoir, life stories and autobiography. Memoirs have become an increasingly popular form of creative writing in recent years (even putting aside all the stories which are really lightly veiled autobiographical fragments). After all, if we accept the old advice to ‘write about what you know’, what could be a more appropriate subject than your own life?
Update: The notes and reading list from the meeting are here:
Peter gave a presentation on the benefits, disadvantages and risks of entering competitions (and he does actually recommend it). You can see the presentation, with commentary, below.
Jane Austen stands high in the ranks of English writers. If we have to think of one example of painting, we are likely to pick the Mona Lisa: if we have to name one piece of classical music, it might be Beethoven’s fifth symphony. The play, I suppose, is Hamlet, but surely the novel must be Pride and Prejudice. However, it isn’t always appreciated that Austen was in some important ways an innovator. She was a pioneer and prime user of the technique of Free Indirect Style (the name varies a bit) in which the thoughts and feelings of a character are expressed through the voice of the narrator. She does it with such skill we don’t even notice, but some of her finest moments are delivered this way.
Jo will kindly hosted our Summer Party on 9 August – a very pleasant afternoon for a glass of Pimm’s (or two).
Croydon Writers 