Something different?
The Mind Sports Olympiad  21^st – 30^th August, 2010.
The 14th annual event will be staged this year at the Soho Theatre, London. Full details about events to be held, accommodation suggestions, etc can be found on the official website at www.boardability.com.  Read more . . .

New Entry- Check NAWG out on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/National-Association-of-Writers-Groups/104560086267842
Read more . . .

New Entry – The Biography Club
A new online biography writing club.

Our biography club is a newly-launched venture for book lovers and budding writers. We specialise in biographies. The website features new book releases, news reports from the world of biographies, interviews, a chat-room, online seminars, advice pieces from authors, and more.

Email:[info@thebiographyclub.com] for further information.

Posted by Jennie Jones
The Biography Club
www.thebiographyclub.com

Are you interested in a Poetry Group that meets in Nottinghamshire?
On my AA map Blidworth is underneath the word ‘Sherwood’, as in Sherwood Forest.  This group would love to see some of you at their meetings. 

Bards at Blidworth meets every third Saturday of the month at Blidworth Library.
Telephone: 01623 794068:
email: – blidworth.library@nottscc.gov.uk
We meet from 10.00am. – 12.00pm.

We are a small, friendly group of poets (and sometimes listeners!).  At meetings we have readarounds so that round the circle we can hear each other read one of their poems and invite feedback if they want it.  Those that would like feedback are advised to bring copies of the poem they would like feedback on.

On alternate meetings we have workshops with the aim of producing a poem or draft of a poem at the time followed by a readaround.

We look to having the occasional visiting speakers.
We have so far run one national poetry competition and will do so again.
We are starting to collect poems for a publication ‘Bards at Blidworth and Beyond.’
Sent by Chris http://www.christinemichael.org

The Mind Sports Olympiad
The dates are 21^st -30^th August, 2010.

My name is Alain Dekker. I am a volunteer helper with the Mind Sports Olympiad, which has been running since 1997.
The 14th annual event will be staged this year at the Soho Theatre, London. Full details about events to be held, accommodation suggestions, etc can be found on the official website at www.boardability.com. 

Of particular interest to NAWG members would probably be the Creative Thinking World Championship which will be run by Bill Hartson: Sunday 29^th August 2010 from 2:30pm to 6:00pm

There will also be a number of other high quality fields in Chinese Chess, Go, Entropy and many other games. Spectators are welcome (free entry).
 Posted by Alain Dekker abdekker@gmail.com

Greenacre Writers invite you to a Creative Writer’s Afternoon:
Saturday 18th September 2.00pm – 5.00pm 

Write Convincing Dialogue

He said, she said, they said . . . but how did they say it? The aim of the afternoon is to meet with fellow creative writers, to work on creative writing exercises, share your work to receive supportive feedback and ideas in a friendly and stimulating environment.

There will be a small charge to include refreshments:
Members £5; Non-members £10
Venue: Finchley, London N12

For further information or to reserve a place contact:
Rosie Canning – MA Writing 020 8346 9449
Lindsay Bamfield BA (Hons) Literature 020 8343 7181

email: greenacrewriters@gmail.com
http://greenacrewriters.blogspot.com/  

Unpublished Fiction Writers Open Reading
Date of Event: 19^th September 2010

The event ‘Unpublished Fiction Writers Open Reading’, will be held on19th September 2010.
Venue Hornsey Library N8 9JA
Time 12noon – 4pm

Cost £5.00 (Free if reading)
http://blackbookevents.co.uk/#/writers-events/4541606283

Calling all aspiring writers and amateur literary scouts! If you dream of publishing your unknown work of fiction – (whether a novel, play, short story, or poem) – then here’s your chance to spread the word (literally) during this open reading. If you’re not a writer but one who enjoys listening to others’ work, you’ll find this immensely enriching.
This message was sent by: NAWG member Carol Hawthorn
email: admin@blackbookevents.co.uk

Calling all writers and photographers.
My name is Dawn O’Connor.  I’m a photographer.
I suggested to the owner of SEnine magazine that we start a similar magazine for Bromley, to my surprise he agreed so I’m now a partner in the Bromley venture, very exciting and all new for me as well. But I need some help looking for writers and photographers who would be interested in writing and/or just shooting photographic articles for this new Bromley community magazine.

Volunteer writers would be interviewing some very interesting folk and writing an article of approximately 200-500 words.  This is an unpaid position as the publication is a community magazine.

We have had the SEnine magazine (http://www.senine.co.uk/) up and running for 45 months. The journos/photogs that write/shoot the articles for SEnine are usually students who are glad of the experience to add to their CVs. There are also older folk who are interested in meeting local people covering stories.

All our stories are “Good News” tales, nothing political or to do with council issues.

You would be usually asked to cover one or two stories per month, but more if you like. Expenses can be claimed if for example you are asked to cover a play at a theatre or dining at a local restaurant.

If anyone’s interested please contact me on dawn@a1councilexchange.co.uk for more details.

Thanks – Dawn OConnor 07982 885232

Cyprus Well is calling all writers group members in the South West to complete their survey.
Filling out the survey will enter your group into a draw to win the very latest ‘Writer’s Handbook’ and ‘Writer’s and Artists’ Yearbook’. The survey closes on 1st December 2010.
Cyprus Well is the literature development agency for the SW of England and our role as a charity is to raise funds in support of the region’s vibrant literature community to enable them to take part in more of the things they love. Writer’s Groups are at the heart of what we do, so please spend a few minutes telling us about your group, and what support, information or opportunities you’d like to see offered by your region’s development agency. 

To find the survey go to: http://www.cypruswell.com/

 NB This survey is only open to members of existing writers groups.

Suspense Magazine
Suspence magazine is reaching out to all your members to offer them a very special offer. We are giving away 4 Free Electronic issues of our magazine, to increase readership and awareness, so readers and authors know they have an outlet to help feature their work. We are dedicated at helping authors with their work and bring the world of suspense/thriller together. All your members have to do is email me: – editor@suspensemagazine.com and they will have the magazine sent to them ASAP. 

The Really Big Dream Company, based at Les Cerisiers, an 18th century farmhouse set in the beautiful hills of Southern Burgundy, offers the ideal location for people who wish to fuse their pursuit of a leisure interest with having a marvellous holiday.

Whether attending one of our tutored events or hiring the house for your own group activity, you can be sure that the tranquillity, surroundings and atmosphere will blend to make this an amazing experience.

Writing events currently on offer include Kick-start your writing with Jessica Duchen, Discover your voice through expressive writing with Tony Watts, Feel the Fear and Write it anyway with Sonia Duggan and, soon to be announced, From Memoir to fiction with Miriam Halahmy.

In addition to your chosen pass-time, why not take the opportunity to sample the excellent wines and culinary treats that the region has to offer, try your hand at archery at our on site range, wander the footpaths that meander through the surrounding hills and valleys. With horse riding, boating, golf and historic sites near by, there is truly something for everyone.

Please visit www.thereallybigdreamcompany.com for more details

Writing events at The Really Big Dream Company, Burgundy France
Feel the Fear and Write it Anyway
A unique creative writing / coaching retreat with Sonia Duggan CPCC ACC
This is for you if you:

• wish you could write and lack the confidence to try
• have lost the plot in your career as a successful author
• or are somewhere in between

Using a unique blend of creative writing exercises and coaching techniques, Sonia will help you to:

identify the Saboteur in your own life story

• learn how to deal with it so that you’re free to achieve your dream as a writer
• keep your identity as a writer fizzing with energy and creativity

with an optional 1:1 coaching session for those who want it.

When? 19-25 September 2010
Where? Les Cerisiers, a traditional 18th century farmhouse with barn and extensive grounds in the gentle rolling hills of Southern Burgundy, and home grown, homemade or locally sourced food, enhanced by a local wine tasting on your first evening.

Other attractions?  10 metre flood-lit swimming pool ∞ archery ∞  walks in the beautiful Charollais hills ∞   bread-baking using the traditional wood-burning bread-oven ∞  visits to local historic towns and castles, master chocolatiers, honey and bread producers, and working farms.
For more details of to make a reservation please visit www.thereallybigdreamcompany.com

New Poetry Course at Lumb Bank
6^th - 11^th September 2010  

Poets Amanda Dalton and Ian Duhig will be tutoring at Lumb Bank, the Ted Hughes Arvon Centre in Yorkshire, 6^th -11^th September 2010.

This course is for anyone who wants to write poetry for pleasure, for fun, or for personal enrichment. poetry isn’t just something to be studied by academics; it can enrich and enhance your daily life. Seek inspiration in your own experiences, and the wild and beautiful environment around Lumb Bank.  http://www.arvonfoundation.org/pc569.html [1] 

The course is fully residential, from 6pm on Monday 6^th September to10am on Saturday 11^th September 2010. The course fee is £595 or £545, which includes all accommodation, food and tuition. We have grants available for those on low incomes; if you would struggle to afford the fee, you are encouraged to apply.

The Ted Hughes Arvon Centre at Lumb Bank is an eighteenth century mill owner’s home, set in the stunning Pennine hills above Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire. The Arvon Foundation is a registered charity, running week-long, residential writing courses for over 40 years. Our courses offer writers an informal, supportive environment in which to share, learn, discuss and progress their work. Each course has two established, published writers as tutors, as well as a mid-week guest reader.

Alongside Poetry, courses include genres such as Fiction, Playwriting, Screenwriting and Starting to Write.

Our full programme and more details can also be viewed at www.arvonfoundation.org  [2] 

Or from: Ilona Jones
Administrator of Lumb Bank
The Ted Hughes Arvon Centre at Lumb Bank
 Heptonstall,
Hebden Bridge,
West Yorkshire
HX7 6DF 

Tel/Fax: 01422 843714 

Online: www.arvonfoundation.org [3] 

Writers’ Services Worlds Literature Festival Workshops  News, from Writers’ Centre Norwich  
Re-envisioning and Redrafting the Poem with Mimi Khalvati
25th September, 10am-5pm, Prices: £60/£40 conc, Writers’ Centre Norwich If you wondered whether that poem was really finished, or are struggling to decide whether to leave out that initial stanza then come along and make the most of Poetry School founder, poet and teacher Mimi Khalvati’s knowhow. 

BOOKING:
Call: 01603 877177 For any other information on the workshops:- 

Writers’ Centre Norwich
14 Princes Street
Norwich
NR3 1AE
Tel: 01603 877177
Fax: 01603 625452
www.writerscentrenorwich.org.uk
email: info@writerscentrenorwich.org.uk 

Writing Events Bath,  Alex and Jude, bringing writers together…
Thursday 16th September 6.30pm-8.30pm  

Writers’ Clinic on ‘Point of View’ with Alex and Jude and guest tutor Kate Mitchell at Mr. B’s Bookshop Bath.  £20 
The first of our Writers’ Clinics will be an intensive exercise based workshop looking at some of the more interesting and unusual points of view. Things look different depending on who is doing the looking and their vantage point. And whose thoughts does the reader have access to. Come prepared to work! 

For more details and booking info please go to    www.writingeventsbath.co.uk

Discover your voice through expressive writing with Tony Watts
10th – 16th October 2010
Bien venue’ to Les Cerisiers, a family run creative arts centre nestling in the Charollais hills of Southern Burgundy. We are delighted to welcome writer Tony Watts as he guides you to find your own distinct voice and the ability to reach inside yourself to access the inspiration to write something that can touch other people – through their minds, hearts or spirit.
’The whole process of expressive writing is bound up with your very being. It can open up parts of your mind and memory that you thought were buried.  Your life, your experience, your memories and the knowledge you have gained along the way are assets you can apply to create work with real depth and significance’. This event is designed to assist that process – like persuading a flower to open.
For many people writing has an additional benefit: it helps heal or resolve the past, enabling you to reframe experiences in the light of your understanding now, and move your life forward.  The sessions that Tony runs are supportive and designed to build your confidence – allowing you to express yourself with freedom. 

Les Cerisiers provides an idyllic location for creative pursuits, looking out across meadows of grazing cattle and the wooded slopes of Mont St Cyr. There is a real sense of space and tranquillity yet we are only a short distance from castles, vineyards and the historic town of Cluny. Take time to discover some of the many other joys of the locality: walking, wine tasting, site seeing or just relaxing in the gardens. Non writing partners are welcome.

 For more details of to make a reservation please visit www.thereallybigdreamcompany.com

Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators British Isles Conference 2010
13^th - 14^th  November, University of Winchester Main Campus, SO22 4NR

Our third, two-day, annual conference offers the opportunity for those who are published or unpublished to network with other authors,

Illustrators and publishing professionals, to work on their craft and learn more about marketing their books and the realities of today’s children’s book market.
Speakers include Marcus Sedgwick, Lynne Chapman, Mini Grey, Linda Chapman and David Fickling. A limited number of one-on-one manuscript and portfolio reviews with editors and art directors will be available.
 We will also be offering individual website reviews with a professional web designer. There is an optional critique meet on the evening of Friday the 12th, an open portfolio exhibition on Saturday 13th and various competitions for authors and illustrators.
Join us to celebrate 10 years of the SCBWI-BI and our members’ recent success at our exclusive party on Saturday night!

Booking is now open at:  http://www.britishscbwi.org/conference2010/
Limited places available.

Bekki Hill
bekki@bekkihill.com
Conference Chair
SCBWI British Isles Annual Conference

 Kick-start your writing: Burgundy! With Jessica Duchen
19-23 November 2010

 “I’ve always wanted to write, but…”
There’s always something to stop you from writing: time, space, or simply not knowing where to start.
Do you want to ‘get rid of the buts’? If so, this inspirational workshop is for you – whether you are a complete beginner, wish to take your existing writing further, or are an experienced writer in need of fresh enthusiasm. Learn how to release those blocks and start to plan your story.

 In a small group setting in an ancient farmhouse set amid the rolling hills of Southern Burgundy, novelist and journalist Jessica Duchen helps you explore ways into writing through discussions, exercises and practical pointers. Her engaging sessions with their focus on positive group dynamic cover such subjects as ‘Why we want to write’; ‘Why we stop ourselves from writing’; ‘Finding the best stimuli’; and ‘The concept of flow’. By the end of your stay, you will go home with the tools you need to start creating YOUR novel.

 The launch of your writing is set to coincide with the launch of 2010’s Beaujolais Nouveau making this event a real French experience.

 For more details of to make a reservation please visit www.thereallybigdreamcompany.com

 Writer in the Landscape
Walking and Writing Course – 20-24 September 2010 (Mon-Fri) 

 This walking and writing course is for anyone seeking to develop their work through inspiration from the natural world and man’s complex relationship with nature. Come and explore Brittany’s immensely varied landscape as a pathway to creative resources. 

 Location:          BRITTANY,  NW FRANCE
A fantastic coastline and rich interior of forests and moors strewn with neolithic remains. 

Date:                20-24 September 2010 (Mon-Fri)
Content:           Each day will involve walking and creative writing, with short prescribed exercises, original work, group discussion and time for individual reflection. 

 Course material will be provided to stimulate ideas and offer hints of geology, archaeology and history to make the most of your experience in this remarkable region, but the focus will be on individual development in a friendly and positive environment. 

 Cost:    £365, including full board accommodation in shared rooms in a quality walkers’ gîte/traditional Breton house, transport to and from walks. Travel to Brittany is not included. 

 Course Leader:        Experienced writer and Brittany resident, Wendy Mewes. 

Details :                        http/brittanyheritageservices.com/courses.htm 
Contact:                       mewes@orange.fr 

Writers’ Retreat in Rabbie Burns Country
13^th -17^th  September 2010 

writing unlimited is heading up over the border to Dumfries, to the heart of Rabbie Burns’ country and the glorious setting of Friars Carse Hotel where Burns was inspired to write many of his well-known works. 

This rather special retreat is for writers looking for the time and space to make progress with their writing. As writers ourselves we’re more than happy to leave you alone to crack on with it, to wander in the grounds, walk by the river, take a trip into Dumfries and follow the tourist trail. 

And in the evenings, you can meet up with fellow writers and talk shop over dinner and drinks. 

Cost: £380 per person in spacious, comfortable, single occupancy en suite rooms, 4 nights, DB&B and informal lunch. 

See contacts below for more details.  

Shirley Bailey: 01772 624 757
& Sheila McAnulty: 01204 389 327 

writing unlimited
free yourself up, be inspired
96 Victoria Road
Fulwood
Preston
PR2 8NN
writingunlimited@hotmail.co.uk

The Historical Novel Society 
UK Conference 2010 - Sunday, 17th October, 2010
Mechanics’ Institute,
Manchester

 www.historicalnovelsociety.org  for more details.

The Historical Novel Society’s conference this year offers our best ever industry line-up!

• Jim Gill is a literary agent with an unmatched reputation for launching new historical fiction authors.
• Katie Espiner has specific responsibility for historical fiction at HarperCollins, editing Tracy Chevalier and Conn Iggulden amongst others.
• Marcy Posner is a senior New York agent who has just joined a new agency with a remit to find new historical fiction and YA authors.

In addition we have an amazing line up of author speakers and panels, as well as workshops and the chance to pitch to an agent or discuss your writing with an experienced reader.  The authors will include Jerome de Groot, Jean Fullerton, Elizabeth Hawksley, Doug Jackson, Ben Kane, Robert Low, Orna Ross, Mary Sharratt, Harry Sidebottom, and Ann Turnbull, as well as industry experts Katie Espiner (HarperCollins), Jim Gill (United Agents), and Marcy Posner (Folio Literary Mgmt).  See http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/uk-conference-2010.htm

 We are working together with the Manchester Literature Festival and the Manchester Libraries’ Pages Ago promotion.  Manchester Libraries’ Readers day is at the same venue on 16th October, and speakers include Alison Weir, Maria McCann and Sarah Dunant. 

 Fees are £65 (non-members), or £55 (members and special concessions) if you sign up before 31st August, and include lunch and refreshments.

 For press enquiries please contact: 01626 891962
Email: richard@historicalnovelsociety.org
www.historicalnovelsociety.org 

Associated information from    www.myfanwycook.com.

Collingwood College, Durham University. Venue for NAWG Festival of Writing 2010

There are many extra activities  that will make your stay exceptional this year, in a college that is part of Durham University.  Collingwood is in an ideal location and within walking distance from the centre of the historic city of Durham.  Or, for the non brisk walkers, the number 6 bus runs every 15 minutes from Durham Bus Station (town centre) and stops outside the college.    

Kate Walker will guide you through ‘What sort of fiction should I write?’; Creating characters; Plotting; and Writing a sex scene.  Steven Wade’s workshops cover all aspects of writing, from serious appraisal, through Preparation, Ideas and Skills; Reasearch and Synopsis + case study; and Structure and content.  Tim Wilson will guide you through what  you need to know about writing historical fiction, from the basic approach, through Research, Language and Style.  His Sunday morning session, for poets will teach  rhythm and meaning.  Also, on a fun packed Saturday,  you will have more  poetry, ‘Back to Basics’  from Bob Beagrie and ‘How to beat writers’ block’ and ‘How to write flash fiction’ from Marvin Close, who are both expanding this year’s line-up of expert  tutors.

We have an exciting first prize for our Grand Raffle.
There will be a Grand Raffle, with tickets on sale to all attending the
2010 Festival of Writing.

The first prize is a fabulous Writing Course with the Writers Bureau.
This generous prize has been given by the Writers’ Bureau.

Books, many provided by Mslexia, and a free year’s subscription to Mslexia, are just a few of the many other prizes that we are now assembling to make this a fantastic raffle for your enjoyment.

Tickets will be on sale throughout Friday and Saturday until the Draw  on Saturday afternoon.

 An introduction to the second of our Festival Activities

Relaxation Sessions with Steve Bowkett
Steve qualified as a hypnotherapist in 1991 and as well as dealing with many hundreds of clients has also run relaxation and self-hypnosis workshops up and down the country. On a number of occasions these workshops have focussed on developing creativity, dealing with writer’s block, recovering desired memories, becoming the characters in your story and other topics that may be of interest to NAWG members.
Relaxing in hypnosis is an easy skill to learn. Hypnosis is not sleep but instead is a state where the conscious mind becomes settled and calm. Attention turns inward and during such a period of tranquillity pleasant imagery (which you can choose for yourself) is imagined with great clarity. The experience is a wonderful ‘journey of the imagination’ and afterwards one feels relaxed and yet invigorated.
Steve will be running 30-minute relaxation sessions at the Festival. He will also be available throughout the weekend if you wanted to ask any questions about hypnosis and hypnotherapy. There is also information on Steve’s website – www.stevebowkett.co.uk 

The first of our Festival Activities to be introduced was:

“Harmony” with Frances A. Flint

Frances is a highly qualified Holistic Therapist. – VTCT Indian Head Massage Diploma. IIHHT – MICHT – ITEC Diploma in Reflexology and is a Member of the Federation of Holistic Therapists.
Complimentary Therapies & Personal Development – f.flint@btopenworld.com

Harmony

Congruence in Mind – Body – Spirit
This is an opportunity to re-connect with your creative self

Take the time to experience relaxation and stress relief, switch off and dream your dreams.

Frances will be at the Festival offering holistic therapies.

Reflexology – ‘Bare your Sole’
NAWG Festival price £15.00 for 45mins
Simple Foot Massage £8.00 for 20mins

Indian Head Massage - ‘Rest your Head’
NAWG Festival price £10.00 for 30mins 

His latest book, More Than Just A Game: Football vs Apartheid (co-written with Chuck Korr) is out worldwide through Harper Collins (St Martin’s Press in the USA) in English, Japanese, Korean, Italian, Dutch and Czech. It’s the true story of how political prisoners on Robben Island used football as a vehicle for resistance against South Africa’s apartheid regime, and was Book of the Week in both The Independent and The Irish Times.

Introducing Bob Beagrie, the fourth of our line up of tutors for the 2010 Festival of Writing;
Bob Beagrie lives in Middlesbrough and is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at Teesside University. As well as lecturing at B.A and M.A level Bob also works in schools and with community groups as a freelance writer. He is a Biscuit Poetry Prize winner and recipient of a Northern Writers Time to Write Award. Between 1997 – 2002 worked as Literature Officer at Cleveland Arts (now Tees Valley Arts), running the Buzzwords Programme.

His publications include: Gothic Horror (Mudfog 1996), Masque: The Art of the Vampyre (Mudfog 2000), Huginn & Munnin (Biscuit 2002), Endeavour: Newfound Notes (Biscuit 2004), The Isle of St Hild (Hartlepool Borough Council 2004), Perkele (Ek Zuban 2006) and Yoik (Cinnamon 2008), The Seer Sung Husband, (Smokestack Books 2010). Glass Characters is due to be published by Red Squirrel Press in 2011. His poems have also appeared in many magazines and anthologies. He was short listed for the Forward Poetry Prize 2009 and has performed his work across the U.K. and Europe.

Along with Andy Willoughby he also runs an independent small press called Ek Zuban, which publishes bi-lingual pamphlets and a tri-yearly writing and arts magazine entitled KENAZ. Throughout his career Bob has worked in collaboration with other writers, visual artists, musicians, actors, dancers, sculptors and film makers to explore the cross disciplinary potential of poetry and spoken word.

The Seer Sung Husband is available from
http://www.smokestack-books.co.uk/books/beagrie.html

Yoik is available from
http://www.cinnamonpress.com/titles-poetry.htm

Audio tracks and info at
http://www.myspace.com/ekzubanlive

http://www.ekzuban.org.uk/

Youtube footage of poetry by Bob Beagrie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoSPEADV5T4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP9iuKvWBso&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJACOFhV9ZE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm8DAs2zxbg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4BXqrdIBZk&feature=related

Andy Broderick will accompany Bob on his guitar as he reads a section from his latest book, The Seer Sung Husband, an epic poem of magic, love and rebellion set in Tudor England.

Andy  is a visual artist and folk musician, originally from Ireland, he now lives in Saltburn by the Sea. He has performed at folk festivals and folk clubs across the country and has worked with a number of poets, developing orginal scores to accompany their readings. 

An introduction to the third of our line up of tutors for the 2010 Festival of Writing; Tim Wilson who also writes under the name of Jude Morgan:

Tim Wilson has an M.A. in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia. His first novel was published when he was 23 and since then he has had 29 novels published which have been translated into 9 languages. He was shortlisted for Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year in 1993, twice shortlisted for the Ellis Peters Crime Writers’ Memorial Dagger, and his novel PASSION was chosen as Book of the Year 2005 by Hilary Mantel, Tracy Chevalier and Joanna Trollope. He has taught Creative Writing for ten years. He lives in Peterborough with his wife and son.

The second of our tutors to be introduced was Stephen Wade.
Steven writes across several non-fiction genres, but specialises in crime history. His recent books include, ‘Tracing Your Criminal Ancestors’, ‘DNA Crime Investigations’ and ‘Escapes from the Noose’. He has just completed his first biography: a life of Thomas Rowlandson, the regency artist. He also writes regularly for  family history magazines and for writing magazine. For the last six years he has worked as a writer in various prisons.

 His course: Writing Non-Fiction will be covered in four workshops.

1. Looking at Your Writing: Present and Future.
2. Preparation, Ideas and Skills and case study.
3. Research and Synopsis and case study.
4. Structure and Content: theme, period, people etc.

 Members of the group will be able to read and discuss their concept.

Stephen will be tutoring workshops throughout the NAWG Festival of Writing – 3rd-5th September 2010.

The first of our tutors to be introduced was Kate Walker. 

Kate Walker has been writing for Harlequin Mills & Boon Modern Romance since 1984. During that time she has over 56 novels published, with three new titles contracted for 2010/11. Her novels have been published in over thirty-five countries and around twenty different languages worldwide. Kate Walker is also the author of the award-winning ‘12 Point Guide to Writing Romance ‘(Studymates), which gives an introduction to the essential skills needed to succeed as a writer of romance. The first edition sold out and a second, expanded and revised edition was published in April 2008. The third edition of her ‘Straightforward Guide to Writing Romantic Fiction’ (Straightforward Publishing), was published in April 2007.

She has an MA in English from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and worked as a Children’s Librarian before concentrating on writing full-time. She has run writing days and workshops on fiction and has given over two hundred talks to writers’ groups, libraries, further education colleges, Women’s Institutes and other women’s groups. She has also run many internet classes and workshops and has led one day workshops on writing romance at Huddersfield, Northern College, Caerleon Writers’ Holidays, and the National Association of Writers’ Groups Writing Festival in Durham. She has appeared at Huddersfield Reading Matters Festival, the Derbyshire Literature Festival, and the North Lincolnshire Libraries’ Reading Festival. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and Romance Writers of America, has taught several times at the RNA Conference and has read and critiqued unpublished novels for their New Writers’ Scheme since 2000. In 2004 she gave seminars on writing romance at the Romance Writers of Australia and the Romance Writers of New Zealand national conferences. She has run workshops on the 12 Point Guide to writing Romance at Lincoln, Guildford and Louth Literature Festivals, Cearleon and Fishguard Writing Weekends, Arts Training Central Write Away Courses and Highland and Island Arts, Scotland.

Her upcoming releases are Claimed by the Sicilian (3 in 1 collection of reprints April 2010) A Good Greek Wife? (July 2010) and a new novel as yet untitled for late 2010.
Website: http://www.kate-walker.com/

Kate will be tutoring workshops throughout the NAWG Festival of Writing – 3rd-5th September 2010.

The prize is open to poets yet to publish a first collection, and for the first time the Escalator Literature prize will be open to applicants from all parts of England.

Sound good? Sign-up for e-news at www.writerscentrenorwich.org.uk and we’ll be in touch with application details.

Richard White
Marketing & Resources Assistant
Writers’ Centre Norwich, 14 Princes Street, Norwich. NR3 1AE.
Tel: +44 (0)1603 877177
richard.white@writerscentrenorwich.org.uk
writerscentrenorwich.org.uk
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Currently reading Tail of the Blue Bird by Nii Ayikwei Parkes
Browse our website for all our news and events:
Support for your writing: Poetry and prose workshops through 2010
Six great books for Your Summer Reads: Join online discussions, competitions & read author Q&As
Ian McEwan backs Norwich’s bid to become a UNESCO City of Literature
Keep up with WCN’s Latest News, including the lowdown from this year’s Worlds Literature Festival
For more information on any of the above events, and to join our mailing list please go to writerscentrenorwich.org.uk Writers’ Centre Norwich is a registered charity, our charity number is: 1110725. Our company number is: 5242876.

Three Playwrights Win in the 7th “Windsor Fringe Marriott  Award for New Drama Writing”
Last night, we received from our judges Jenny Seagrove and John Adams, the three winning scripts for the seventh   Windsor Fringe Marriott Award for new Drama Writing The three winning one-act plays will be performed each evening during the last three nights of the Windsor Fringe on October the 7/8/9^th,  at The  Ex Services & Social Club’ 107 St. Leonard’s Rd. Windsor SL43BZ.   At a presentation on the last night, the judges will announce which one of the three writers will receive the £500 cash prize and become the overall winner.  (Judged purely on the writing)

The three winning plays, in author alphabetical order are:
“Man of Straw” by N. Cowell from  Stockton-on-Tees. A Technical adviser to a brewery.
“Click” by Jan Perry of Leeds. An assistant lecturer at Leeds college of Art.
“We that are Left” by Peter Harrison from Cheshire. A retired BBC journalist.

A total  of 213  scripts were submitted from Scotland, Australia, Wales, Finland, England , Spain, the USA, Japan,  Eire, Jersey, N. Ireland, Norway  and the Isle of Man. The scripts were numbered and read totally anonymously by 32 readers and ten short-listed plays were forwarded to our judges, Jenny Seagrove and John Adams.

The other seven short-listed were, in alphabetical order: “Mari” by Jackie Carreira from Suffolk “Rib Day” by Chris. P. Cooper, from Wales, “New England” by Richard Fitchett, from S. London, “Islands” by Gillian Ledwick from Middlesex,  “Starters for Everyone” by Audrey Lee from Sussex, “Leaving” by Sarah Nash from N. London and  “Stephen’s Birthday Puzzle” by David Rhys Shannon from  Spain.
The directors will be announced shortly.

Editor’s notes:
The Windsor Fringe was established in 1969, making it the oldest Fringe festival in England and the second oldest, after Edinburgh, in the UK. Run by an all-volunteer committee, each year the Fringe stages an inspired and innovative programme of music, dance, comedy, drama and art.
Criteria for the competition required that the authors must be amateur playwrights. Each submitted script had to be suitable for staging in a studio theatre, be no more than 30 minute long and not have been previously performed.

Contact Ann Trewartha
Tel 01753 863218
e-mail  ann.trewartha@btinternet.com
www.windsorfringe.co.uk and info@windsorfringe.co.uk for Windsor Fringe information.

Booking information for the Windsor Fringe 24^th September – 10^th October 2010

Box Office:  01753  743915 On-line booking via: www.windsor.gov.uk

Spilling Ink Review
Are hosting four writing competitions this year.
Closing dates,
30^th June 2010, 31^st August 2010, 31 October 2010, 31^st January 2011. Details below

New Eastbourne Writers Short Story Competition
Closing date: 27^thAugust 2010 Details below

The David Ridley & Arts Advance Annual Literary Prize
The Arts Advance Writers Group is welcoming everyone to enter,
Closing date 31st August 2010 Details below

The Tenby Arts Festival, Writing Competition 2010
Closing Date 31^st August 2010 Details below

The Salopian Poetry Society Competition
Closing date 31st August 2010. Details below

Original Playwriting Competition in the South West
Closing date 15^th September 2010. Details below

The Royal Berkshire Poetry Competition
The closing date is midnight, 30^th September 2010. Details below

Northampton Writers Group
Closing Date 4^th October 2010
Write us a short story on the subject of your choice, Details below

The Big Scribble – Poetry Competition
Deadline: 18th October 2010, Details below

Ashby Writers’ Club
Mary Gornall Memorial Short Story 2010 Competition
Closing Date 15 November 2010, Details below

Claire Apps – Creative Writing for All
Short Story and Poetry Competitions
Closing Date: 30th November 2010, Details below

Brit Writers’ Awards Unpublished 2011
Closing Date for submissions 5pm, Friday 25^th February 2011 Details below

Kelpies Prize 2011
Closing Date for entries 28^th February 2011 Details  below

Grace Dieu Writers’ Circle’s 2011 Short Story and Poetry Competition Details below
Closing date: 28th February, 2011

The Neil Gunn Writing Competition
Closing date Friday 11^th March 2011.
Details below

Greenacre Writers are proud to announce their Nationwide Short Story Competition.
Closing date:  31^st March 2011
Details below

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

As a commitment to our members this page is available to Writing Groups who are members of NAWG and are running an open creative writing competition, so that they might advertise their competition to others.

Other groups or associations who are not members will be charged a fee for the privilege.  (Negotiable on submission)

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

FULL LISTINGS

• Spilling Ink Review
  Are hosting four writing competitions this year.
  Closing dates
  30^th June 2010, 31^st August 2010, 31 October 2010, 31^st January 2011.

Spilling Ink Review, is a new quarterly e-journal. The first issue was published 1^st June 2010 to a wonderful response.
Micro-fiction 30^th June 2010,
Short Story 31^st August 2010,
Flash Fiction/Prose Poetry 31^st October 2010
Creative Non-fiction 31^st January 2011

Further details about our various competitions may be found here: -http://spillinginkreview.com/competitions

The main website is http://spillinginkreview.com

Posted by Amy Burns, a PhD student at the University of Glasgow’s Creative Writing Program. Amy is also the editor of Spilling Ink Review, a new quarterly e-journal. spillingink.email@gmail.com

• New Eastbourne Writers Short Story Competition
  Closing date: 27^thAugust 2010

Theme: The Journey. Maximum length: 1500 words.
Prizes: £50, £20 and £10; website publication of winning entries.
Fee: £5 per entry/£7 for two.
Judges: Joan Moules and Peter Lovesey.
See website: www.neweastbournewriters.co.uk
for full details of Competition Rules and Entry Requirements.

NB New website domain. Please use Bing/Google for initial search.

• Closing date 31st August 2010
  The David Ridley & Arts Advance Annual Literary Prize

The Arts Advance Writers Group is welcoming everyone to enter our first short story competition.
PRIZES  1^st £100, 2^nd £50, 3^rd £25 plus 10 runners up win £10 each.
All 13 prize-winning stories will be published free of charge in an Arts Advance anthology and the winners will also receive a free copy of the anthology when printed.
CONDITIONS OF ENTRY:  Your titled short story should be 750 (min) to 1000 (max) words long and be typewritten on A4 with numbered pages. It should be written in English, be unpublished and be your original work. Stories for children will not be deemed acceptable. Please add a separate A4 sheet with your name and address (do not put your name or address on the work itself) and how we can contact you. Please repeat the title of your work here too. Please do not send short stories by email. Deadline Midnight 31^st Aug 2010. The competition winners will be named on 12^th Oct 2010 on the Arts Advance website www.artsadvance.org.uk.  A list will also appear at Trinity House Social Centre, Laygate, South Shields.
COMPETITION ENTRANCE FEE: Arts Advance can only accept short stories with a cheque payable to Arts Advance for £2.50 per entry. We will accept any number of short stories into the competition but payment per entry must be multiplied accordingly.
SEND TO:  Arts Advance (Story Competition). P.O. Box 93, Jarrow, NE32 4XY.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  For further information about our projects please visit our website www.artsadvance.org.uk
or email: info@artsadvance.org.uk
MORE ABOUT OUR SPONSOR – RELIANCE FINANCIAL SERVICES
David Ridley is the owner of Reliance Financial Services at 77 Fowler Street, South Shields. His company offers a financial planning service for pensions and investments. He is also an estate, letting agent and a property management consultant. His local business at Fowler Street will celebrate twenty years in 2010.
PROCEEDS:  All proceeds by way of the competition entrance fee and the sale of the anthology are to be retained by Arts Advance and used for the furtherance of its art and writing projects.
RIGHTS:  David Ridley (sponsor) and Arts Advance have no further claim on any of the author’s work or information that we receive, other than the planned anthology. Authors have no claim of money other than the prize money stipulated overleaf.
PANEL:  The 13 prize winners will be chosen by a panel headed by David Ridley (our sponsor). No members of the Arts Advance Writers Group, or those who have had work published in previous Arts Advance anthologies are allowed to enter the competition. The adjudication of the panel is final in all matters.
APOLOGIES:  Arts Advance apologise for the fact that we cannot return author’s short stories. Only the 13 prize winners will be notified directly. If you have not heard from us by the 21st Sept. 2010 then your short story has been unsuccessful in this year’s competition.
MORE ABOUT ARTS ADVANCE
Arts Advance is a voluntary community group based in Jarrow. We are dedicated to running small high quality projects, which engage the community in creative activities such as writing, drama and visual art. Everyone involved with Arts Advance contributes their time and skills voluntarily. To put it another way, we do it because we enjoy it! So good luck, join in the fun and get writing!

• The Tenby Arts Festival, Writing Competition 2010
  Closing Date 31^st August 2010

The Tenby Arts Festival is launching a writing competition as part of the 2010 Festival.  This is an exiting opportunity for creative writers of both prose and poetry.
Categories
Short story          maximum 1,500 words
Poetry                 maximum 40 lines
Subject Matter
Entries may be on any subject.
Prizes
The values of the prizes are the same for each of the two categories:
Winner                                     £150
Runner up                                 £70
Third place                               £3o
Full details can be obtained from:-  http://www.tenbyartsfest.co.uk/

• The Salopian Poetry Society Competition
  Closing date 31st August 2010.

Competition rules/entry forms can be downloaded from: www.thesalopianpoetrysociety.webeden.co.uk or by sending a S.A.E. to Irene Hoult – competition secretary, at 5 Squires Close, Madeley, Telford, Shropshire TF7 5RU.

• Original Playwriting Competition in the South West
  Closing date 15^th September 2010

Somerset Fellowship of Drama for many years ran an Original Playwriting Competition. This has been dormant for the last couple of  years, but is being revived. We are looking for one act play-scripts from playwrights living in the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wilshire, Gloucester and Hampshire. A press release was sent out to the various media organisations across the region a few months ago, but quite possibly wasn’t printed. At a meeting last evening, it was decided that we need to contact organisations such as yours, and ask you to pass this information on to your members.

Full details are at:  http://www.somersetdrama.org.uk/index.php?page=Original+Playwriting where you can download full rules and an entry form.

The entry fee is £20.00 per play for non-members of the Somerset Fellowship of Drama and £15.00 for individual members. Cheques should be made payable to “The Somerset Fellowship of Drama”.
(Individual membership of the Somerset Fellowship of Drama is £10.00 per year).

• The Royal Berkshire Poetry Competition
  The closing date is midnight, 30^th September 2010.

From Beat – Beat is a Fire-station Arts & Culture project.
The Royal Berkshire Poetry Competition is open to anyone over the age of 17 years-old.

Every poet is invited to submit one entry; it can use any poetic form, but must be previously unpublished, the poet’s own work and less than 40 lines.

The judges are looking for distinct poetic voices that display originality, craftsmanship and memorability. The winner, and two runners up, will be published by Beat Magazine and the poems will be displayed on the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Library Service website and in libraries around the Borough.There will an evening of ‘Poetry Raw’ to announce the winners and celebrate poetry on November  11^th 2010, to which all entrants are invited.

The winners will be notified by October 31st 2010.

Please note that for administrative reasons entries cannot be acknowledged, but a reply email response will acknowledge on-line entries.

Details are here http://www.beatmagazine.co.uk/the-royal-berkshire-poetry-competition-entry-form

Poems and completed entry forms can also be sent via post or by hand, and should be addressed to:
The Royal Berkshire Poetry Competition,
FAO Kathy Dolan (Team Leader: Adults)
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Libraries,
Arts and Heritage Service  Maidenhead Libray
St Ives Road
Maidenhead
SL6 1QU

There is a Royal Berkshire Poetry Competition Facebook page – all entries are posted here by their number.  You can check your entry here and join the page to keep up with all news.

Contact; Kathy Dolan
email: kathy.dolan@rbwm.gov.uk

• Northampton Writers Group
  Closing Date 4^th October 2010

Write us a short story on the subject of your choice.
2000 words maximum.1st Prize £150
2nd Prize £100
3rd Prize £50
Best story by a Northamptonshire writer
(if not already a prize-winner) £50
Best story by a writer who is under 18 years old
on the closing date for entries £5
Closing date for entries Monday 4th October 2010.
Entry fee £4 for each story – or £1 for each story by an Under 18 writer.
Full details and rules: – www.hebatescompetition.org.uk

The judging panel will comprise members of the Northampton Writers Group.

The Head Judge is Sue Moorcroft, author of Starting Over, All That Mullarkey, Love Writing – How To Make Money, Writing Romantic or Erotic Fiction, and much else. Her website is www.suemoorcroft.com This competition, inspired by the Northamptonshire born master of short stories, H.E. Bates, was first launched in 2005, his centennial year.

It is run by the Northampton Writers Group.
Our website is:- www.northamptonwriters.org.uk

• The Big Scribble – Poetry Competition
  Deadline: 18th October 2010

Theme for poem: ‘Home’
Max 40 lines
Prize: Publication in the Big Issue in the North with interview, and on website. Other prizes to be announced.
Judges: Peter Kalu
Rosie Lugosi
Entry fee: Minimum £3 donation per poem, all money raised goes to The Big Issue in the North Trust
How to enter: Online at www.justgiving.com/bigscribble or send cheque and poem to The Big Scribble, 10 Swan Street, Manchester, M4 5JN

Contact: Jane.logan@thebiglifecompany.com

Jane Logan
Regional Fundraising Co-ordinator
The Big Issue In The North Trust
10 Swan Street
Manchester
M4 5JN

Tel: 0161 8315556
Fax: 0161 8315577
www.bigissueinthenorth.com

Support the Trust and WIN a brand new Mini First enter here
Follow us on Twitter @bigissuenorth or find us on Facebook.

• Ashby Writers’ Club
  Mary Gornall Memorial Short Story 2010 Competition
  Closing Date 15 November 2010

Prizes: £100, £40, £20

Winners advised February 2011

Fee: £4, then £3.  Length: 2000 words max.

Details on website and entry form may be downloaded or SEND SAE:
Ashby Writers’ Club,
41 Highfields Close,
Ashby de la Zouch,
Leics LE65 2FP

www.ashbywritersclub.com
www.freewebs.com/barneyc

• Claire Apps – Creative Writing for All
  Short Story and Poetry Competitions
  Closing Date: 30th November 2010

Theme: Domestic Violence
You are invited to write a short story up to 2,000 words and/or a poem of up to 40 lines on the above theme. True stories are more than welcome. Confidentiality would be maintained.

Short Story Prizes: £70, £35, £20
Poetry Prizes: £70, £35, £20
Entry fee: £5, additional entries £3.

Any profits made will go to Womens’ Aid.
Judges: Sue Johnson, Claire Apps.
Entry forms by email:     ce.apps@tesco.net
Or website:       www.writing-experiment.webs.com
Or by post:        Creative Writing for All
35 Diglis Dock Road
Worcester
WR5 3FA

Competition Rules:  The closing date is 30th November 2010.

Short Stories:  Entries or short stories must not exceed 2,000 words and must be on the theme – Domestic Violence. Entries must be typed and double spaced.

Poetry: Entries must not exceed 40 lines, and must be on the theme – Domestic Violence. Entries can be single spaced.

Title at the top of each page. Pages must be numbered. All entries must be on A4 white paper, single sided. Entrants name and address must only be on the entry form, NOT the story/poem. Only postal entries will be accepted.

Post to: Creative Writing for All, 35 Diglis Dock Road, Worcester, WR5 3FA..  Each entry must be accompanied by entry fee and entry form. Entries will only be returned if accompanied by an SAE. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Winners will be notified at the end of December 2010. Entries must be original work and previously unpublished.
Cheques/Postal Order payable to: C E Apps

• Brit Writers’ Awards Unpublished 2011
  Closing Date for submissions 5pm, Friday 25^th February 2011

Now Open for Submissions.

Poetry, Short stories, Stories for Children, Novels, Non-Fiction, Song-writing, Screen play & Stage play (16 & under categories: Poetry, Short Stories and Song-writing) Official deadline: 5pm Friday 25^th February 2011 (UK time)

Important note: Submission lines will be closed as soon as 20,000 entries have been received.

Entry fee £10.95 for 3 entries.

Prize: £10,000 and publishing contract.

Learn more & enter your work now; www.britwriters.co.uk/register.html
Enquiries: 0871 237 4442
Email: enquiries@britwriters.co.uk

Posted by: Nathalie Banks
email: nathalie@britwriters.co.uk

• Kelpies Prize 2011
  Closing Date for entries 28^th February 2011

Manuscripts are now invited for submission to the Kelpies Prize 2011. They must be set wholly, or mainly, in Scotland and be suitable for children aged 8 to 12. They may not have been previously commercially published, although the author may have been. The judges are looking primarily for a cracking story with strong characters, believable dialogue and a compelling atmosphere. The deadline is 28^th February 2011. For full rules and guidelines, see www.florisbooks.co.uk/kelpiesprize

Further information from Chani McBain, Sales & Marketing Executive, Floris Books

Tel: 0131-337 2372
Email: chani@florisbooks.co.uk
www.florisbooks.co.uk/kelpiesprize (includes press materials)

• Grace Dieu Writers’ Circle’s 2011 Short Story and Poetry Competition.
  Closing date: 28th February, 2011

The competition is in its 7th year and we will be awarding a record £1,500 to our winners, including a £400 1st prize in both our Short Story and Poetry categories.

Poetry Competition: 1st Prize: £400; 2nd Prize: £200; 3rd Prize: £75; 4th Prize: £50; 5th Prize: £25
Up to 40 line limit – Entry Fees: £4 for one poem or £12 for 4, £2 for each additional entry over four

Short Story Competition: 1st Prize: £400; 2nd Prize: £200; 3rd Prize: £75; 4th Prize: £50; 5th Prize: £25
Up to 2,000 word limit – Entry Fees: £5 for first and £3 for additional stories

Closing date: 28th February, 2011.

Full details and entry forms can be found on our website at: www.gracedieuwriterscircle.co.uk

Alternatively to receive a competition leaflet, please send a SAE to:
The Competition Organiser,
23 Henson Way,
Sharnford,
Leicestershire,
LE10 3PN

• The Neil Gunn Writing Competition
  Closing date Friday 11^th March 2011.

The Highland Council in partnership with The Neil Gunn Trust is pleased to invite entries for the 2010/11 Neil Gunn Writing Competition.  Full details, including this year’s theme and entry forms, are available via the libraries page of the Highland Council’s website www.highland.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/libraries/neilgunn

The adult competition has both prose and poetry sections and is open to writers worldwide.

Please contact Charlotte if you require any more information.
Charlotte Macarthur
Area Libraries Officer, Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey and Lochaber
Area Education, Culture & Sport Office
13 Ardross St
INVERNESS
IV3 5NS

Telephone: – 01463 663828

• Greenacre Writers are proud to announce their Nationwide Short Story Competition.
  Closing date: 31^st March 2011

Lianne Kolirin has kindly agreed to be the judge.
The launch will be held at:Waterstones, North Finchley, London N12.
On: Sunday 5^th September, 2010. At: 3-5pm (All welcome)

Short Story Competition details,

Genre:                          Short Story – Fiction
Word Count:              Maximum 2000 words (excluding title)
Prizes:                          1^st Prize £100,
2^nd Prize £50,
3^rd Prize £20
(3 Runners up: Greenacre Times Subscription)
Entry fee:                  £5 per entry
Judge:                         Lianne Kolirin

Winning stories to be published in an anthology.
The Administrator, Greenacre Writers, 25 Chislehurst Avenue, London N12 0HU.
Entry form from:  www.greenacrewriters.blogspot.com

Closing date: 31 March 2011

Posted by Rosie Canning – MA Writing 020 8346 9449
email: greenacrewriters@gmail.com

Results of the Yule Competition (Chistmas 2009)     

Katie O’Connor
The winning entry
Christmas Shopping 
 

The busy street buzzed with shoppers crowding round moving window displays and the Salvation Army band played Away in a Manger. Angela looked at her list and drew a line through the presents she had just bought. Perfume for Joan, ear rings for Natalie and a shirt for Stuart, even though she knew he would probably change it two days after Christmas.    

Now to tackle the toy department. She felt faint on the escalator and held tightly to her bags as she felt herself falling forwards.     

The paramedics picked her up gently. “Bring the bags ” one of them said. “We don’t know who she is yet.”  They found her name and address in the worn red purse alongside a donor card. Within eight hours a team was ready, couriers were summoned and sterile packaging prepared. There was no pretty wrapping paper. No sellotape sticking to itself and yet, there would be the most personal gifts imaginable.     

That Christmas, Angela gave both kidneys, her corneas, a part of her liver and her whole heart. Two young men in Leeds and Liverpool sat at the table on Christmas day and ate a normal festive meal. A grandmother saw her family opening their presents and cried with her little granddaughter when a balloon burst. A teenager was told that, with care, she could now do all the things her friends took for granted. The surgeon kept the crumpled shopping list. Joan, perfume, Stuart, shirt. That was some list, he smiled. 

- – o-oOo-o – -    

 Kirsty Adlard
Highly Commended
Goodwill Toward Men

I’d heard of midlife crises. But they don’t happen to folks like us. Do they? I knew the oft-quoted statistic that suicide rates rise at Christmas, but that, too, was experienced by other people.
     My husband’s office Christmas party appeared to have over-run, until I picked up his ‘phone message next day.
     ‘Gone with Pamela. Will contact in New Year.’      ‘Why don’t you spend Christmas with me?’ I asked my older brother, ‘You’ll be lost without Cella, poor soul. It’s a rotten time to be taken into care;  just a week before Christmas. If you travelled in daylight, surely you’d manage it? Oh well …. I hadn’t realised the car was that unreliable.^‘    

      I hung a garland on the door. Wrote cards but didn’t post them. Bought a brace of partridge, put one in the freezer. Went to midnight Mass, overslept next day. Dressed at mid-day, had a sherry with my toast. ‘Happy Christmas!’ I wished myself merrily, dipped my hand into the almost-empty chocolate box.
     By mid-afternoon I felt hungry, the filling station was the nearest place open for frozen veg.  Harvey was packing away the baskets of baubles and flowers, a car preparing to leave the pumps.  A shabby car; a Ford. My brother’s smiling profile turned towards the passenger. Their lips puckered expectantly. The youth swept back his veil of hair, his arm casually around the driver’s shoulder. The car pulled back onto the deserted road as my tears crystallised on the frozen peas.    

 - – o-oOo-o- -    

 Elaine Brett
Highly Commended
Olden Times

My husband gazed into the bathroom mirror.
      ‘I look more like Father Christmas every year’.
     ‘Well the grandkrds will be pleased…”
     ‘You’re not taking this seriously – I need to DO something with my life!’
     He spun round and his expression took me by surprise.
     ‘Well – what do you want to do?’
     He paused.
     ‘Turn back time’.
     The moment passed but an idea had lodged in my mind then gathered momentum.       On Christmas Day – the bright, red glider lay on a runway of discarded wrapping paper while he inserted the batteries into the remote control. All morning he lived out his long held fantasy of being a pilot – interrupted only by a breakfast of sizzling tomatoes on toast – just like his Nan used to make.
       The turkey was eclipsed by a round, plum pudding, which I boiled the old-fashioned way, in a cloth, and studded with silver coins. It lit his face up – along with the brandy.
       The snow I hoped for didn’t appear – so I improvised. As the whole family returned from the afternoon walk, I hurled handfuls of cotton wool balls at him, until the penny dropped.
       We listened to the Queen’s speech and played charades, then later, when everyone had gone home, he and I toasted crumpets in front of a crackling, fog fire.
       As he settled into the warmth of our bed, I reached under my pillow and pulled out Enid Blyton’s ‘The Mountain of Adventure’ and, with love, began reading him back to his childhood.   

  -  - o-oOo-o- -  

Margaret Cronin
Highly Commended
That Kind of Girl

The night before Christmas it was – a year ago now.   I’d been dead lucky, just walked into this cushy job at the beginning of December. Only seasonal, but better than nothing.
          Me and the lads went to the disco after the pub, and there wasn’t much time to get ready. Still, a squirt of after-shave and a bit of deodorant works wonders.
          I suppose you could say I got picked up. Lovely she was. Came straight up to me before I’d got used to the dark in the basement. Tiny little thing, all long hair and big eyes.
          ‘You a model?’ She asked, pinching my best chat-up line.
         ‘Nah,’I said. ‘Why?’
         ‘Dunno. You got the body for it, and the looks.’
         ‘Not so bad yourself,’ I said.
         ‘What do you do then?’
         ‘Sort of show business.’
         ‘No. Really? I always wanted to be on the stage. Or is it tv?’
          I did a really good job, bluffing, without telling too many lies.
         When I offered her a lift home and she said, ‘OK’, I thought my luck had changed.
         I zapped the central locking, and left her to get in. They don’t like it if you’re too polite.
         She said, ‘Here. What’s this on the seat?’
         It was me Santa costume, wasn’t it? Couldn’t deny it.
         ‘Showbusiness, you said.’     

- – o-oOo-o- -     

Steve Middleton
Runner-Up
Hometime
 

Sadiq Mohammed stood in the exact centre of the tube compartment holding the pole for support. Christmas eve at five o’clock, the crush was overwhelming with a hot mixture of bodies, perfume and damp raincoats. It was bucketing down in Piccadilly above them as they headed for Green Park. He fingered his button nervously, hoping the wires would not show beneath his jacket. His lips moved silently in repeated prayer.
          Unwillingly forced against him at every lurch of the carriage Julian Stockdale stood tall, gripping the swinging handle above his head. A hell of a Friday, he would tell Penny when he got home. What he would fail to mention was that he had come a hair’s breadth away from being discovered moving the hedge fund into the futures market. He almost smiled to himself- it would have made Nick Leeson look very small beer.
          He was shaken out of his reverie by the girl facing him just the other side of the Arab. A striking blonde, she too had to hold on to the hanging strap to steady herself in the crowd. Her face remained an expressionless mask, her nose almost In his armpit. For her part, Samantha was taking him all in — pinstripe suit, Harrovian tie, gold cufflinks and expensive deodorant, he had it all. If only that little man wasn’t in the way, she thought, he might notice me.
          Sandwiched between the true enemies of Allah, mammon and immorality, Sadiq’s finger slowly searched for his shirt button.     

- – o-oOo-o- -     

David Hamilton
Runner Up
Winter Interval     

Councillor Jones protested, ‘But we always decorate the churches around Town Centre with lights at Christmas.’
          ‘As the report says, health and safety standards advise scaffolding built by accredited erectors before anyone goes high to hang wires,’ Councillor Heath retorted. ‘Scaffolding expenditure is a no-no in today’s economic climate.’
          ’Or an excuse for demoting Christmas.’
          ‘You’re outvoted, Councillor Jones.’     

In his home, Councillor Heath fiddled uselessly to coax a picture from his television. He was interrupted by the doorbell.
         ‘Ravi Chundrati, I live on this terrace,’ the caller said. ‘We’re up checking our aerial and see yours is fallen. We’re certified aerial engineers and we’ll refit it free right away.’
          ‘It’s wonderfully generous of you,’ Heath cried when they came down.
          ‘No problem, we like being good neighbours.’     

Leaving a committee meeting, Councillor Heath stopped to gape open-mouthed at the myriad colours giving Town Centre a festive brightness. Pausing beside him, Councillor Jones exclaimed, ‘Christmas atmosphere!’
          ‘But health and safety – ‘
          ‘Ah, health and safety. Was it on your mind when you let Ravi Chundrati repair your aerial free yesterday?’
          ‘He’s an accredited aerial engineer.’
          ‘Exactly. He did the same favour he did you for those churches. He likes their lights this time of year and says they were very cooperative when his group wanted their temple.

- – o-oOo-o- - 

Peter Rolls
Runner-Up
A New Word for Christmas

When I was five, Father Christmas told me he was Uncle George. Although I’d realised this the previous year, because of his purple nose.
          So, when he made his midnight visit, Jack and I were behind the door with our pillows. And we got him down and banged him a bit and I stood on his beard. And that’s when I learned a new word.
          And Mummy came and said ‘What’s the noise?’ And Uncle George shoved the beard in her hand and went downstairs.     

And Auntie Mo came and said ‘What’s the noise?’ A.nd Mummy said ‘Nothing -they’ve just attacked Father Christmas.’     

And Auntie said that wasn’t very nice.     

And Mummy said it was a shame.     

And Daddy came and said ‘What’s the noise?’ And Mummy said ‘Nothing -they’ve just attacked Father Christmas.’     

And I said my new word, which was ‘Bugger.’     

And Auntie said that wasn’t very nice.     

And Mummy said it was a shame.     

And Daddy dragged me into my bed.     

And I grinned at Jack.     

And Daddy said It’s not funny.’ But it was …     

And they all went downstairs and we heard Uncle George shouting.     

So Jack and I sang ‘Bugger, bugger, bugger’ until we fell asleep.     

And in the morning, our stockings were empty.     

And at breakfast, Uncle George had a plaster on his head.     

And Auntie said ‘Never mind.’     

And Mummy said ‘Never mind.’     

And Uncle George said ‘Never again.’     

And Daddy said ‘Happy Christmas.’     

But it wasn’t . . .     

- – o-oOo-o- -     

     The free NAWG competitions form a central part of our commitment to members and getting the right mix is important. We have returned to the traditional 9 categories plus anthology competition this year, but have tried to introduce new elements to whet the collective writing appetite of our members.     

Email secretary@nawg.co.uk if you would like a PDF copy of the entry form     

The closing date for entries – 12th April 2010 – has now passed but the categories for NAWG competitions are very similar each year and you might like to use them for creative writing suggestions within your group, so that your members will be well practiced for the 2011 competitions when they are open for entries next year.     

The 2010 competitions results will be published on this page, later in the year.     

These competitions were open to NAWG members only     

The categories we had in this year’s competitions were as follows:     

1. Open Poetry
   As the category suggests this can be in any style or form, we have increased the line limit to 40 lines this year.
2. Sonnet
   This is to be written in a traditional form. Entries that stick closely to  Petrarchan (Italian), Spenserian, Miltonian, or Shakesperian forms will certainly be acceptable; a 14 line unrhymed or unstructured poem will not be considered. As ever the judge’s decision on the matter will be final.
3. Poem to include six specific words
   Any form or subject, up to 40 lines but must include the words:
   silver, broken, ache, taint, bubble, arcane.
4. Open Short story
   Up to 1500 words, fiction on any subject or in any style.
5. Short Fantasy story
   Up to 1500 words. State whether for adult or child, and if for a child the approximate age.
6. A short story for children
   On the subject of ‘Discovery’, up to 1500 words.
7. Novel Opening
   Up to 1500 words as the opening of a novel plus a 500 word synopsis of the remainder of the plot.
8. 10 Minute radio play
   A ten minute mystery for radio.
9. Article on a local custom
   1000 words maximum on a custom or event specific to an area, not necessarily local to the writer’s home. May be accompanied by up to 2 photographs, the author and author’s family must not appear as recognisable characters in the photographs.
10. Group Anthology
    The Denise Robertson Anthology Prize.

The trustees have debated the anthology guidelines at considerable length following concerns expressed by members over the previous couple of years and have come up with the following guidelines on what constitutes an anthology for the purposes of the competition.     

Anthologies found not to meet the following standards will not be submitted to the judges. The competition administrator’s decision is final on this matter and correspondence regarding entries will not be entered into.     

The body of work to be judged in an anthology must be the work of group members.     

By this we mean that if you have an anthology with competition winners external to the group then the anthology is now eligible, but it will not be judged on that work, the main body of work in the anthology must still be the work of the group.     

The minimum presentation standard for an anthology     

Either in book format or a format suitable for presentation to a publisher.     

Consistent layout and typeface.     

Cover with the title and group name clearly printed.     

This opens up the competition to work from groups unable to afford the cost of professional publishing, at the same time ensuring that the group gain experience of  preparing an anthology.      

We hope that you found something to suit you in these 2010 competition categories and that the notes in this article helped you to meet the challenges we have set.     

Email secretary@nawg.co.uk if you would like a PDF copy of the entry form.

The closing date for entries – 12th April 2010 – has now passed but the categories for NAWG competitions are very similar each year and you might like to use them for creative writing suggestions within your group, so that your members will be well practiced for the 2011 competitions when they are published next year.

2010 competitions results will be published on the NAWG Competitions page, when they are available later in the year.

Some groups who organise open competitions and other creative writing competitions that might be of interest to members will be published on this page. Members may send details of their writing group’s competitions and if relevant to the rest of our members, they will be published free of charge – subject to the approval of the Webmaster.

Others will be charged a fee. (Negotiable upon submission)