"Ficlets" you ask?

"Ficlets" you ask?
A ficlet is a short story that enables you to collaborate with the world.

Once you’ve written and shared your ficlet, any other user can pick up the narrative thread by adding a prequel or sequel. In this manner, you may know where the story begins, but you’ll never guess where (or even if!) it ends.

"Ficlets" you ask?

"Ficlets" you ask?
A ficlet is a short story that enables you to collaborate with the world.

Once you’ve written and shared your ficlet, any other user can pick up the narrative thread by adding a prequel or sequel. In this manner, you may know where the story begins, but you’ll never guess where (or even if!) it ends.

Cinnamon Press: Spring Competition round up.

Cinnamon Press write....

COMPETITIONS BULLETIN

WANT TO WIN? NEED THE KNOW HOW? THIS IS A MUST HAVE, WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLICATION AS WELL AS PRIZES:

Listings plus news items and information about markets and outlets for all kinds of writing.

Are you resolved to get off to a good start to this year by making a name for yourself and your writing.

The prestige of the V.S. Pritchett Memorial Prize for Short Stories and the Crème de la Crime Search 2007. Encourage children to write, and enter the Christopher Tower or the Browning Society Prizes.

Maybe too much competition putting you off, as it were? OK, you have to enter into it to win, and sticking to the rules improves the odds no end. Most judges will tell you, around 50 per cent of entries get disqualified straight off.

Details of around 250,000 pounds in prize money each issue, 50 plus competitions for poetry, around 40 for short stories. Plus collections, anthologies, playwriting, non fiction, books etc Only £2.50; £15 for 6 pa.

Cheques payable to Carole Baldock: 17 Greenhow Avenue, West Kirby, Wirral CH48 5EL carolebaldock@hotmail.com

Mslexia 2007: WOMEN'S POETRY COMPETITION

Mslexia write....

Mslexia 2007: WOMEN'S POETRY COMPETITION

Judges: U A Fanthorpe and R V Bailey; Closing date: 27 April 2007
1st Prize £1000; 2nd prize £500; 3rd prize £250
22 other finalists will win £25 each and all winning poems will be published in Mslexia

Competition rules

YOUR POEMS
- Poems may be in any style, of any length, on any subject. Sequences will be judged as separate poems.
- Each poem should be displayed on one side of A4 paper; you may use any number of sheets.
-Please do not include your name on the same sheet as your poems. Your poems will be judged anonymously. Enclose a separate sheet with your name, address, telephone number, email address, plus the title/s of your poem/s, and your online payment reference where applicable. Please mark your envelope/email 'Women's Poetry Competition'.
-The entry fee of £5 allows you to enter up to five poems. You may submit as many poems as you like, providing each entry (of up to five poems) is accompanied by a £5 entry fee. You can Pay Online, or by cheque payable to Mslexia Publications Ltd, see below.
- If you are submitting more than one entry, there is no need for a separate envelope for each entry.
- We will not be returning your poem/s. If you need their receipt acknowledged, please enclose an SAE, labelled 'Acknowledgement'.
- No alterations may be made to a poem once it has been submitted.
- Overseas entries please use Pay Online below and email your entries to poetry@mslexia.demon.co.uk quoting your payment reference in your email. Alternatively entries can be submitted by post if accompanied by a Sterling cheque, or you can telephone the office (0044 191 261 6656) with your credit card details. We regret the Freepost facility is not available for entries posted from overseas.
- Poems should be in English (or English dialect) and should not have been published or accepted for publication elsewhere.
- Poems that have won or under consideration in other poetry competitions are not eligible.
- Poems should not be a translation of another author's work.

YOU

- We will accept poems from women of any nationality from any country.
- You do not have to subscribe to Mslexia to be eligible, but you do have to be a woman.
- Employees of Mslexia are not eligible.
- Winners will be contacted by post at the beginning of June 2007 and winning poems will be published in the JULAUGSEP issue of Mslexia.

ANNE AYLOR’S CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP

Anne Aylor writes....

ANNE AYLOR’S CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP

An exciting Bank Holiday workshop for fact or fiction will take place at the Abbey, near Abingdon, in Oxfordshire on 4 - 6 May 2007. A wonderful weekend with fabulous food, beautiful grounds and a hothouse of intensive writing. Click the link to see some photos from last year's course!

www.anneaylor.co.uk/gallery.htm

This residential weekend will include four writing sessions over Saturday and Sunday and an additional session on Saturday evening to share prepared work. Cost: £199 residential, £175 non-residential.

Click here for more info: www.anneaylor.co.uk

Anne Aylor's Creative Writing Courses
46 Beversbrook Road
London N19 4QH
tel: 0207 263 0669
email: anne@anneaylor.co.uk
web: www.anneaylor.co.uk

"NEW BEGINNINGS" : Our next meeting takes place this coming Tuesday March 20th.

Hi Scribblers,

Our next meeting takes place this coming Tuesday March 20th at 7.30pm in the Felixstowe Library. The 500 word homework assignment has been set as "NEW BEGINNINGS" - another very interesting topic with many diverse opportunities to whet the appetitie.

The open themed 1,500 word work will be read by Barry and Dick. Dick, incidentally, will be chairing the meeting - just hope he's remembered!

Liliane should be on her way to Australia by now and she will be able to keep intouch via her son's email. She'll probably miss all the snow we're promised next week!

Other news is that Alex has now found the problem with accessing our weblog and hopefully this will soon be updated then it will be back to normal. Well done Alex and thanks for all the hard work you've put in.

Hope to see you all on Tuesday.

Until then,

Keep scribbling !

Dave

THE LONG DISTANCE SCREENWRITER

Meadkerr write....

THE LONG DISTANCE SCREENWRITER

'Adrian Mead's classes are brilliant - exciting, informative and
inspirational. Nobody does it better!' Alanna Knight Crime Writer

As an aspiring screenwriter you will quickly learn that the vast majority of
PAID work comes from companies and broadcasters based in London. People
will tell you that in order to get that work you need contacts and "Insider"
information. But what if you live hundreds of miles from the media
capital? How can you build your career?

Marc Pye, Rob Fraser, Louise Ironside and Adrian Mead are successful
Scottish based writers who have written for shows such as Eastenders, Waking
The Dead, River City, The Street, Holby City, Where The Heart Is, Taggart,
The Bill, Monarch Of The Glen and numerous other film, TV and radio
projects.

Come and discover how they got started and how you too can build a career as
a screenwriter. The details of the day are as follows:-

MORNING - Adrian Mead will teach the highly practical strategy that you
need in order to work as a "long distance writer".

1. PLANNING THE TRANSITION TO BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL WRITER - Financial.
Personal. Bursaries. Building a profile. Networking.

2. GETTING YOUR WORK READ

What to write - The most recent briefs from broadcasters, producers and
financiers.

What to send - Log Lines. One page Pitches. Treatments. Spec and sample
scripts.

Who to send it to - Current opportunities.

3. MEETINGS - Scheduling meetings. Cheap travel and accommodation deals.
Pitching at meetings. When to ask for expenses.

4. GETTING AN AGENT .

5. MANAGING REWRITES AND NEW WORK.

“Informative, informal, inspiring!” Peter Haynes

LUNCH BREAK

AFTERNOON - The afternoon panel session will give you the opportunity to
ask the writers about their experiences and gain career advice.

The panel will chat about their own approaches to the subjects covered in
the morning and their experiences of working in the industry. Discover how
they deal with script editors, tight deadlines and the challenges and joys
of working as a freelancer. This is also a unique opportunity for you to
learn how professional writers manage the balance between family and career
whilst working in such a highly competitive industry.

During the coffee breaks and a light lunch you will get the chance to
network with the other attendees. This is an great opportunity to make
contacts and gain info.

Attendees at our previous classes will know already that this will be an
extremely busy but fun day, packed with the most up to date and highly
practical information.

if you want to build a career as a professional screenwriter it is essential
that you understand the road ahead and have a strategy for reaching your
goal. That's what this class will give you.

“We all do the writing courses. We’ve been taught about Structure, Tone,
Theme, etc etc etc, and now we can write wonderful screenplays, but it’s just
a piece of paper. Adrian tells us how to go about getting it from that
piece of paper and onto a screen.” James Brannigan Glasgow

BOOK NOW!

Sat 9th June
St Columba's By The Castle Church Hall, Johnston Terrace, Edinburgh
10.00 am - 4.30pm
COST £55 (inc VAT and light lunch)
CONTACT: info@meadkerr.com or 0131 554 4539 for a booking form.

To see testimonials from previous class participants go to
http://www.meadkerr.com

Leaf Books: March Newsletter.

From the Leaf Books March Newsletter....

L e a f B o o k s
March Newsletter

And a happy March to you all. I hope you'd realised that the Finnish call this month 'maaliskuu', which I'd much prefer, frankly, but there we are. It's also a very busy month on the reading side of things since we've a million micro-fiction and short stories to get through, as well as the ongoing production of our new and beautiful anthologies, both of which are attractively-designed and neither of which mention 'maaliskuu' as being Finnish for March.

Other than that, we've no announcements of immediate or urgent nature, other than to say that we're planning an ENORMOUS birthday party for Leaf to celebrate the 100+ new and established authors we've published in the last year. Quite a feat, we feel, and something to dance maniacally about. Keep an eye or two peeled.

Otherwise, and since we're so massively hip, we've made ourselves a MySpace. Far be it from us to preclude the E-masses, and if you'd like to add us as a friend and chat with us there you're more than very welcome. We can be found here: http://myspace.com/leafbooks.

With our fondest regards,

Team Leaf.

In this Newsletter:

- The Better Craftsman & Other Stories

- Novella Submissions STILL OPEN

- Brief Leaf and Root Creations

- Competition Listings - including our new Poetry Competition

- Contact Details.

News

JANUARY SALE TRANSFORMS INTO FEBRUARY SALE AND RUNS FURTHERMORE INTO MARCH AND MOST DEFINITELY REMAINS ON

First up, a reminder that *all* of our pocket-sized Leaf Books are now £1 only. Not only that, but all of our bundles are half-price and postage and packing is free. You're welcome to order online via the website, where you'll find all of the titles here: http://leafbooks.co.uk/readers/books.html.

Not only that, but Razzamatazz & Other Poems is a bargain at £6.99 per copy, while The Final Theory & Other Short Stories -- our collection of stunning and original micro-fiction is £6.99 per copy too. On top of that you can both together at a price of £12, saving yourself more than enough to buy a drink to enjoy them with.

NEW ANTHOLOGY WITH AN E.T.A OF VERY SOON

Coming this month: The Better Craftsman and Other Stories. Containing the winning entries from the Leaf Books Summer Short Story Competition, these ten unremittingly brilliant tales cover subjects as diverse as a student's getting the most out of a maverick academic, a couple's raising a family in a never-ending traffic jam and a landlubberly boy's first visit to the seaside. The competition was judged by the Leaf Team. The anthology will cost £6.99 per copy and will be available through the Leaf website or the usual channels. There'll be details and cover shots and all sorts on the website in the coming weeks, so keep an eye out for its 70s Morrocan cover and enjoy it as much as we tend to.

Also coming soon is Coffee & Chocolate--containing all of the winning pieces selected from the Coffee and Chocolate competitions we ran towards the end of last year.

NOVELLA SUBMISSIONS OPEN

Leaf Books is looking for novellas.

Traditionally, the novella is the somewhat unfortunate book that falls somewhere between a long short story and the typically-lengthed novel. We’re not sure that many novella-writers have an easy time when searching out a market, so we thought we’d lower our submission drawbridge in a heroic attempt to assist them.

Not only have we produced a beautiful range of pocket short-stories, but our new larger format books – collating poetry and micro fiction – have also opened up new possibilities for us; a novella now being something we’re keen to publish.

Mostly, we’d like to see quality stories of between 20,000 and 40,000 words, written in any genre and about anything you’d like us to read, but below are some more specific guidelines:

Send us the first twenty pages of the novella, with your name, address and contact details on a covering sheet.

Unlike our competitions, we’re not accepting online submissions, so it’s postal only, please. If you’d like your manuscript returned to you, please enclose a S.A.E with the correct return postage fee. Any manuscripts that don’t have this accompanying them will be presumed disposable!

Similarly, if you’d like acknowledgement of receipt then please enclose a stamp-addressed postcard with your manuscript.
Type and 1.5/double-space your entries, please, and don’t make your typefonts illegible or unnecessarily colourful.

Please allow up to three months for a response. Obviously we’re a collection of very busy bees, however, and if you feel unfairly ignored then please don’t hesitate to prompt/remind/shout at us.

See the website for more of this type of thing. http://www.leafbooks.co.uk/readers/books.html

*COMING SOON* - BRIEF LEAF AND ROOT CREATIONS

BRIEF LEAF – our new online writing game.
- Submit micro-fiction: intro price £3
- Entrants judge and critique one another’s work: extra critiques by the Leaf Team
- Constructive and encouraging feedback
- Community and friendly atmosphere guaranteed
- Winning pieces published online
- Cash prize based on entry money: the more entrants, the higher the prize
- New game every month

Watch the website for further details.

ROOT CREATIONS - Leaf Books is Branching Out

ROOT CREATIONS is here to help you get your work out there. Anthologies for Writers’ groups; poets who’d like something to sell at readings… we’re here to help. See our website for more information here: http://leafbooks.co.uk/root/

ONGOING COMPETITIONS

Below are the details of our ongoing contests. Kindly note our astoundingly fair and unusual caring judging policy: every competition entry will be read by at least two members of our reading panel; the short-listed entries will be read by up to ten panel members. Top that.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Competition

Short stories in the genres of science fiction and/or fantasy. Word limit 6,000.
Entry fee: £5.00 per submission.
All selected stories will be published in a Leaf Book Anthology. Overall winner receives £200. Runner-up receives 10 Leaf Books.
Closing date: 30th April 2007

*NEW* Spring 2007 Poetry Competition.

Poems on any topic. Maximum 50 lines.
Entry fee: 1 entry - £3, 4 entries - £10.
Free entry with every copy of Razzamatazz & Other Poems purchased (£6.99 per copy).
All selected poems will be published in a Leaf Books Anthology. Overall winner receives £200.
Runner-up receives 10 Leaf Books.
Closing date: 30th June 2007

All entries can be made by post or online.

See website for competition guidelines: http://leafbooks.co.uk/writers/guidelines.html

CONTACT

contact@leafbooks.co.uk

01443 665704

Leaf Books Limited, GTi Suite, Valleys Innovation Centre, Abercynon, Rhondda Cynon Taff CF45 4SN

Leafbooks.co.uk

BBC writersroom newsletter.

From the BBC Writersroom newsletter....

Welcome to the BBC writersroom newsletter.

Alfred Bradley Bursary Awards
-----------------------------
Mark Shand has won a commission for his new radio drama Abigail Adams. Several others received bursaries of up to a thousand pounds.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/alfred_winners.shtml

BANG! results
-------------
Yorkshire writer Aisha Khan has won BANG! British Asian New Generation, our new writing competition with Oldham Coliseum and Tamasha Theatre Company. Aisha and runners-up Ishy Din and Punam Ramchurn win a BBC bursary and development support from the theatres.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/bang_winners.shtml

The Crack
---------
A radio drama shorts competition for Radio Cumbria has produced five distinct new writers whose plays were recorded on location in Cumbria and broadcast this week.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/thecrack.shtml

Comedy online
-------------
Our writer in residence with BBC Comedy North, Kate Wincup, has been posting from her billet in Manchester, with all you ever needed to know about mini-pigs, her Dustin Hoffman impression and more.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/writing/blog_kate_february.shtml

Opportunities
-------------
Parsons and Naylor's Pull-Out Sections
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/parsonsandnaylor07.shtml

International Radio Playwriting Competition
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/radioplaywritingcomp.shtml

The Radio Play's The Thing
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/radio_play.shtml

More opportunities
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/calendar.shtml

REPORT OF THE MEETING HELD 6th March 2007

REPORT OF THE MEETING HELD 6^th March 2007

Apologies for absence were received from Christine, Kay and Caz

In attendance were Dick, Barry, Peter, Louis, Morag, Les, Judy, Trish, Alex, Liliane, Ruth, Kate and Dave

Scribblers News:

Alex reports that the weblog is currently unable to be updated which has been caused by an alteration to the blogging administration. Hopefully this glitch will soon be overcome.

Christine is currently suffering from dental problems and doesn’t want to go out in the cold. With the warmer weather on its way, she hopes to be able to come along to Scribblers again soon.

Kay has been caught by her daughter’s school trip having had to collect her around the same time that Scribblers was due to start. She feels bad about this especially as she suggested the homework subject of ’Slavery’.

Liliane is jetting off to Australia for six weeks to stay with her son. Over there she will have internet access so hope she will be able to keep up with all the news. Thanks to Liliane, we always have the key available for the library but, in her absence, Peter has kindly agreed to take over.

Caz tells me that she really is not up to coming along to Scribblers at the moment. She says ‘I saw Dick and Christine outside Tesco last Friday and had a little chat. Trying to explain how I can't attend Scribblers despite all my friends being there. Sue Smith came yesterday and we filled in our part of the form. The rest of the form and other bank papers, cheque books etc I hope to drop off to Peter this afternoon. Sorry it has taken me so long to get my act together. I don't know what I'm doing half the time.’

Caz went on to say that ‘on Monday 26th February we (Caz and Karl) went up to Cambridge where Liam presented his cheque to CLIC Sargent for £70.676.75.on his 12th Birthday. We drank champagne, ate cake, were on Anglia Tonight (but not in our region) and it was a real treat to see Liam so happy and well. I made a pact that we would get together on his eighteenth and I would buy him a pint.’

And then:

‘Last Friday we learned that Liam has relapsed with a tumour in his lung and starts chemotherapy this week back on C2 in Addenbrook’s for six days. He will then be due another course in around three weeks before surgery and further chemotherapy. Everyone is optimistic as it was spotted early but remain scared at the same time.’

What a terrible shock after all the efforts he made, and in Jack’s memory too. It was reported on BBC Look East today (Friday). Our thoughts and prayers are with him.

Had a brief email from the other Barry, Barry Love, who came along to Scribblers a few times during the Library renovations. He is starting another new job soon and, as he was before, is still in the lift business and being kept very busy. This is hampering his writing and, for the time being anyway, is calling a halt on his writing. He sends his regards to all.

Our new treasurer Peter is currently re-registering the new details of signatories etc., and will soon be happily settled in his counting house!

Gordon and Rexie also send their regards to everyone. Gordon, as you are aware, has a contract to run poker classes at the Man in the Moon on Tuesday evenings in Ipswich. Rexie says they are organising a Poker Tournament on 21st of April for their charity ‘Children of Pulilan Foundation’ - their website may be found at www.thechildrenofpulilanfoundation.co.uk

It’s £4.00 a ticket with some prize money - half the proceeds will go to the charity and half in cash prizes. Rexie and Gordon may be contacted by phone on 01473 729103 or 273500.

Don’t be put off if you can’t play poker as they will teach you everything you want to know!

Morag explained that she has never written any form of script before and has sent off a sample of her ’Green Wellies’ script for feedback. She says that a grant to fund the filming has been applied for. Here’s to her success.

Remember Sue? Sue Smith that is. She tells me that as far as her writing is concerned she had quite a good year in 2006, being shortlisted to the final stages in two Writing for Children Competitions, and a short story published in the children's magazine Aquila, which seems to have gone down really well and has since, I've heard, been used at Deben School to help children with their coursework!

Online Scribblers are still seeking an organiser to get the site motivated once again. There is no compulsion for members of Felixstowe Scribblers to join, but the site does offer secure areas where members may share and comment upon each others work. The competition side was quite successful last year and I feel certain that this will be re-established once an organiser is found. To either join or apply for the organising role, go to http://onlinescribblers.com

THE BILL BUDNER SHORT STORY COMPETITION

The competition has now closed and entries are currently being short listed by Felixstowe Library staff before being passed to Bill’s widow, Maureen for the final selection of winners. Whilst the adult section attracted 18 entries - from as far a field as Australia, and from various parts of Britain, there were only five entries from the children’s section despite local schools being circulated. The results will be announced as soon as possible - so best of luck to everyone who entered.

The open themed 1,500 word homework assignment was read by Trish and Louis.

Trish: The Sexton: Based on an event that happened in Devon many moons ago, the sexton had dug a grave, had trouble removing the rings from the corpse so put its finger to his mouth and then…

Louis: Excerpt from his novel (virtually complete): Based on three students living together in Toxteth who were persuaded to invest in some drugs and armed with a handful of ‘Queen’s leaves’ set about their eventful venture.

The 500 word homework assignment was set as ’Slavery’.

Les: Abolished or Pull the Other One: a look at many of the things we are slaves to.

Judy: American Dream: A profound story of how we are slaves to the American way of life.

Alex: The Offer: Base once more on true events. A lorry is stopped and its cargo of illegal Albanians all having paid their passage are now faced with a huge debt to the traffickers.

Liliane: Slavery: A cross section of facts about slavery from Roman times, the capture, ownership and sale…

Ruth: Brown Eyes: A vivid but shocking tale of the conditions for a woman on a slave ship bound for England.

Kate: Shingle Street: Descriptive words of the unique place; its solitude, and serenity sharing its own calmness with the Scribblers.

Dave: Poor Suffering Mary: Set in the time of Jack the Ripper, a young woman alone in London, hiding from but being tracked down and captured by a work master.

Dick: A Question of Honour: Concerns a merchant who complains of his treatment in the bank - later attacked by the umbrella wielding manager.

Barry: Bella: Set in Charlestown, the trial of a slave who escaped after her Matthias was shot dead for accidentally standing on his masters dog…

Peter: Mother’s Grumpy Slave: A light hearted look at the subject that perhaps lifted the spirits from the theme of the evening - this, a slave to Mother Nature.

The homework topic for our next meeting is ‘New Beginning’ - perhaps a new baby or grandparent in the family, a new job, a new lifestyle - the subject offers a very wide scope for some creative writing.

The 1,500 word open themed homework is to be written by Barry and Dick.

Our next Felixstowe Scribblers meeting is set for Tuesday 20^th March at 7.30pm in the Library.

So until then,

Keep Scribbling!

Dave

The Bridport Prize for 2007 the highest in the world for any open writing competition in the English language.

From the Bridport Prize promoters....

Dear Writer,

The Bridport Prize is up and running for 2007

Open to anyone, but entries must be unpublished

Poems up to 42 lines

Short stories up to 5000 words

Closing Date 30th June 2007

First prize in each category: £5000,
the highest in the world for any open writing competition in the English language.

Writers agents take a keen interest in competitors who reach our long list as well as the winners.

In addition:
Our top 13 stories are also submitted to the National Short Story Prize if eligible (£15,000 1st prize).
Our top 4 poems are submitted to the Forward Prize (£1000 1st prize).
Neither of the above are open to public entries.

The judges this year are: Tracy Chevalier and Don Paterson

ENTER ONLINE at www.bridportprize.org.uk

OR email frances@bridportprize.org.uk if you would like us to email or post an entry form to you.

GOOD LUCK!

Farplace Animal Rescue: International Short Story and Poetry Competition.

Farplace Animal Rescue Short Story and Poetry Competition Dear Writers Group, Some of your members may be interested in our current short story and poetry competition. Many thanks for your time. Farplace Animal Rescue www.farplace.co.uk

International Short Story and Poetry Competition We are looking for new innovative writers who can capture a reader with their style of writing. We like to be surprised. We like humour. We like suspense. We would like to be entertained… or left with Something Great to muse upon. · Entries can be on any subject and any length · Entries can be illustrated, but this is not essential · We are accepting entries from all over the world providing all entries are in English. · Two Categories – Adults and Under 13’s · Submit any number of entries · Cash prizes (10% of entry fees, divided into prizes) for top 4 entries in each category, plus your work featured on the Farplace Website! · Entries on tape or CD or by email to jan@farplace.co.uk will also be accepted. Use this same email address to ask any questions about the competition. 90% of money raised from this competition will go directly towards the animals in our care. The rest will be divided into prizes up to a maximum of £500 per category. We will also be awarding Certificates of Merit to the top 20 poems and stories that dont QUITE make the grade, in the hope that you will feel encouraged to continue writing. To enter simply send us the following details along with your story or poem (s) Name Full Postal Address Email Telephone Please also tell us where you heard about this competition. The work must be your own original story or poem. We will accept work that has been published before and work that has previously been sent to competitions, as well as new unpublished work. By submitting it here you give permission for it to be used in full on the Farplace Website if listed amongst the winners. Please understand that your work cannot be returned without a SAE with correct postage. Entries cannot be altered after we have received them. Enclose a separate SAE with correct postage for results. Cost: £5 per entry (Adults) Or £2.50 per entry (Under 13’s – put age on your entry) All entry fees should be in GB Pounds, aor we cannot consider them. Primary Schools can submit entries at the reduced rate of 50 pence each entry (minimum 15 entries submitted at one time). Please provide school contact details and pupil’s name, age and teacher. Entry fees can be sent by PayPal, cheque or Postal Order. Please make Cheques or postal orders payable to FARPLACE ANIMAL RESCUE. Post your work to: Jan Edwards, Short Story & Poetry Competition, Farplace Animal Rescue, Sidehead, Westgate, County Durham, DL13 1LE UK. Deadline for entries received: 10th April 2007 Winners will be notified before the end of May 2007 The judges of this competition: Jan Edwards, Laura Halligan, Judith Earl

next meeting takes place this coming Tuesday March 6th

Hi Scribblers,

Our next meeting takes place this coming Tuesday March 6th at 7.30pm in the Felixstowe Library. The 500 word homework theme has been set as "SLAVERY" - an interesting and topical subject.

The open themed 1,500 word work will be provided by Trish and Louis.

Hope to see you all on Tuesday.

Until then,

Keep scribbling !

Dave

REPORT OF THE MEETING HELD 6th FEBRUARY 2007

REPORT OF THE MEETING HELD 6^th FEBRUARY 2007

Apologies for absence received from Ken, Judy, Caz and Kay.

In attendance were Barry, Dick, Morag, Ruth, Trish, Les, Alex, Zoe, Louis, Lisa, Liliane, Peter, Tony and Dave.

These are very brief notes only as a catch up process after many IT problems have delayed communications. Hopefully these have been overcome now and soon it will be back to business as usual.

Ken and his wife are unwell at present and is unable to make the meeting. Judy sent a message apologising for her absence caused by the cold snap and the icy roads in the outback of Suffolk. Caz is also under the weather whilst Kay has been quite sick with a chesty cold and hacking cough for sometime. Let’s hope everyone recovers quickly.

There is a reminder that the ‘Bill Budner Writing Competition’ will close on Friday March 2^nd. The competition is open for short story entries only of up to a maximum of 2,000 words on the subject of ‘The Sea‘. Two categories, for adults and for children with prize money for each. Entry is free.

The homework assignment was set to provide the first 500 words of an entry for the competition about ‘The Sea’.

The open subject 1,500 word assignments were read by Les and Dave.

Les provided the first chapter of his novel ‘James Flint’ and Dave his possible competition entry ‘Lost in the Void’ .

Tony read out a poem ‘Cross The Sea’, then Peter shared his ‘Sea-life.’ Liliane asked ‘Wouldn’t You Like to Come and Live by the Sea’.

Alex shared ’Inside the Still Heart of the Sea’ that was based on a trued story and Trish, ’Shuddisms’. Ruth delivered ’My brother by the Sea’ and Morag ’Catch of the Day’.

Both Dick and Barry read war time convoy stories, Dick ’Home for Tea and Kisses’ and Barry, ‘OB318’

An exciting range of ideas that will provide some excellent reading for the judges of the competition.

There was a reminder to the committee members that their first meeting would take place at Dick’s on 13^th February at 7.30pm.

The next Felixstowe Scribblers meeting was set for Tuesday 20^th February at 7.30pm in the Library. The subject? ‘I Can’t Do It!’ set by Zoe.

So until then,

Keep Scribbling!

Dave

Back after a break.

Hello there dear reader.

You may be wondering why there has been a break. Blogger has been modernised and there is a technical problem with how Blogger handles Internet Explorer 7 which locked us out of our own Weblog for well over a month.

Needless to say we are rather upset about this but ho hum at least we are back in though we had to do it by loading Blogger in firefox.

Oh well - nice to see you again - sorry for the break.