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Monthly archive - February 2016

'Trying to write the book'

29 February 2016

‘Writer's block is a reluctance to make decisions. You're trying to keep your options open and hoping a simple idea comes along, so it's hard to commit to one. My wife once told me, as I was having trouble getting going, "That's because you're trying to write the book, and you just need to write a book.  Read more

Mslexia Women’s Short Story Competition 2016

Information

Closing date: 
14 March 2016
Entry: 
Open to women from all over the world with a story written in English Entry fee £10
Prize: 
£2,000 plus a week’s writing retreat at Anam Cara and a day with a Virago editor

MslexiaStylish and lively site for quarterly UK literary magazine read by 12,000 'committed' women writers. Good range of quality writing, information and advice with news, reviews, competitions and interviews, all presented in a friendly fashion. Praised by Helen Dunmore as 'astute, invigorating and above all an excellent read.' www.mslexia.co.uk Women's Short Story Competition 2016 is for previously unpublished stories of up to 2,200 words by women writers.

Judge: Michèle Roberts

1st Prize: £2,000 plus two optional extras: a week's writing retreat at Anam Cara* and a day with a Virago editor**

2nd Prize: £500 
3rd Prize: £250

Three other finalists win £100 each.  Read more

'Only ambitious nonentities and hearty mediocrities exhibit their rough drafts. It's like passing around samples of sputum.'