New Free Monthly Competition NOW OPEN!

Hello everyone. A few months ago I made the difficult decision to stop running my 100-word competition due to family commitments and bereavements. I’m pleased to say life is easier and I’m throwing myself back into writing. Although I loved reading the stories, each being only 100 words, running a competition does take a significant amount of work and time, so I had to really consider whether I would pick it back up again. Flash fiction and short stories are my favourite format so I was keen to do so but have come to a compromise. So…

Yes, the good news is that it’s back but in a slightly different format. Instead of a 100-word requirement, i.e. no less, no more than 100 words, it’s now 50 words, again no more, no less. As you’ll likely know from Ernest Hemingway’s six-word piece (For sale, baby shoes, never worn), stories can be that short so you can pack a lot into fifty words.

There will be a different theme each month, with three chosen from the entries, one per author, all of which will be published on this site.

It’s still free to enter and, yes, there are still prizes!

• 1st prize: free prose critique up to 1,500 words;
• 2nd prize: free prose critique up to 1,000 words;
• 3rd prize: free prose critique up to 500 words.
• Each prize will be valid for six months from the closing date (i.e. the prizes for the top three stories for May are valid until end November) so you can combine your ‘winnings’.

• Deadline: the deadline for the inaugral competition is midnight (UK time) on Friday 31st May 2024. It opened on Wednesday 1st May.
  Each theme will open on the first day of each month, closing on the last day of each month. Please do not submit a different story outside of these dates.
• Theme: the theme (which changes each month, the next few are listed on the comp page below) for May 2024 is: ‘second time round’… however the theme strikes you. Please do stick to the theme or your story will be disqualified. The top stories are usually ones that closely follow the theme and are well written, this is a writing competition after all.
• Submissions: Max three stories per entrant. I will pick my favourite of the three to go through to the final. I’ve had trouble with contact forms on my site where they’ve garnered a lot (many each day) of spam messages so this time I’m inviting submissions via email (one email per story please) with the month, theme and story title as the subject line, e.g. MAY: Second  Time Round – Bobby’s Girl. This means you won’t receive an automated confirmation but I will reply within a week confirming receipt. All stories must be in English.
  Please include a title for each story and your name please. If you’d like a website (or sales page) linked to your name please include that. So…
  Name:
  Title:
  Story Title:
  Story:
   Thank you!
• Fee: there is no fee for entering this competition. I enjoy reading flash fiction and being a competition judge.

Further details on the https://morgenbailey.wordpress.com/50-word-comp page.

A Prompt A Day: Mon 13th May 2024

Good morning. Welcome to this feature (inspired by Story A Day May, which is running this month so have you another prompt if you pop over there!) where I post a prompt, and accompanying (though not necessarily connected) picture*, so actually two prompts.

*Today’s photograph shows a pile of (around twenty) walnuts sitting on a rough grey slab, possibly slate.  One, on top in the middle, has been split into two horizontally.

Unless there’s a name, only the first word will be capitalised so you can use it anyway you like: as a title, idea or the exact phrase used within your piece.

Being the author of (to-date) five Writer’s Block Workbooks and Ideas Diaries, I know how even a single word can help as inspiration to write something new whether it’s a short story, poem, piece of non-fiction, a script or even a novel! It could be a distraction if you’re writing something you’re struggling with or would just like to do something different.

Today’s prompt is…

Given the choice of four

Do leave a comment below if you write something inspired by today’s prompt. NB. If you post your writing it’s deemed as published so may not be accepted elsewhere.

If you’d like to suggest a prompt for me to post (ideally at least two in case one’s too similar to one already posted or something someone else has already suggested), please complete the form on the A Prompt A Day page. I will include your website link if you have one, posting them once a fortnight.

If you’re an author, editor, illustrator, agent, publisher (anything in the publishing industry) and would like to take part in a spotlight, see Saturday Spotlights or email me for details.

A Prompt A Day: Sun 12th May 2024

Good morning. Welcome to this feature (inspired by Story A Day May, which is running this month so have you another prompt if you pop over there!) where I post a prompt, and accompanying (though not necessarily connected) picture*, so actually two prompts.

*Today’s photo shows a snowy scene some cottages in the distance and woodland behind them.

Unless there’s a name, only the first word will be capitalised so you can use it anyway you like: as a title, idea or the exact phrase used within your piece.

Being the author of (to-date) five Writer’s Block Workbooks and Ideas Diaries, I know how even a single word can help as inspiration to write something new whether it’s a short story, poem, piece of non-fiction, a script or even a novel! It could be a distraction if you’re writing something you’re struggling with or would just like to do something different.

Today’s prompt is…

Her homage to Elvis Presley

Do leave a comment below if you write something inspired by today’s prompt. NB. If you post your writing it’s deemed as published so may not be accepted elsewhere.

If you’d like to suggest a prompt for me to post (ideally at least two in case one’s too similar to one already posted or something someone else has already suggested), please complete the form on the A Prompt A Day page. I will include your website link if you have one, posting them once a fortnight.

If you’re an author, editor, illustrator, agent, publisher (anything in the publishing industry) and would like to take part in a spotlight, see Saturday Spotlights or email me for details.

A Prompt A Day: Sat 11th May 2024

Good morning. Welcome to this feature (inspired by Story A Day May, which is running this month so have you another prompt if you pop over there!) where I post a prompt, and accompanying (though not necessarily connected) picture*, so actually two prompts.

*Today’s photograph shows a smiling lady with long dark hair wearing a red patterned dress. She appears to be carrying two hanging baskets of flowers on a horizontal ‘yolk’ pole and is looking at the basket on her right which is full of yellow flowers. The other basket contains red flowers.

Unless there’s a name, only the first word will be capitalised so you can use it anyway you like: as a title, idea or the exact phrase used within your piece.

Being the author of (to-date) five Writer’s Block Workbooks and Ideas Diaries, I know how even a single word can help as inspiration to write something new whether it’s a short story, poem, piece of non-fiction, a script or even a novel! It could be a distraction if you’re writing something you’re struggling with or would just like to do something different.

Today’s prompt is…

But she’s ninety-two

Do leave a comment below if you write something inspired by today’s prompt. NB. If you post your writing it’s deemed as published so may not be accepted elsewhere.

If you’d like to suggest a prompt for me to post (ideally at least two in case one’s too similar to one already posted or something someone else has already suggested), please complete the form on the A Prompt A Day page. I will include your website link if you have one, posting them once a fortnight.

If you’re an author, editor, illustrator, agent, publisher (anything in the publishing industry) and would like to take part in a spotlight, see Saturday Spotlights or email me for details.

A Prompt A Day: Fri 10th May 2024

Good morning. Welcome to this feature (inspired by Story A Day May, which is running this month so have you another prompt if you pop over there!) where I post a prompt, and accompanying (though not necessarily connected) picture*, so actually two prompts.

*Today’s photograph shows a loved-up married couple. The man is holding the woman (who’s wearing a veil) higher than him. He’s looking up, she’s looking down.

Unless there’s a name, only the first word will be capitalised so you can use it anyway you like: as a title, idea or the exact phrase used within your piece.

Being the author of (to-date) five Writer’s Block Workbooks and Ideas Diaries, I know how even a single word can help as inspiration to write something new whether it’s a short story, poem, piece of non-fiction, a script or even a novel! It could be a distraction if you’re writing something you’re struggling with or would just like to do something different.

Today’s prompt is…

Nothing to be done

Do leave a comment below if you write something inspired by today’s prompt. NB. If you post your writing it’s deemed as published so may not be accepted elsewhere.

If you’d like to suggest a prompt for me to post (ideally at least two in case one’s too similar to one already posted or something someone else has already suggested), please complete the form on the A Prompt A Day page. I will include your website link if you have one, posting them once a fortnight.

If you’re an author, editor, illustrator, agent, publisher (anything in the publishing industry) and would like to take part in a spotlight, see Saturday Spotlights or email me for details.

A Prompt A Day: Thurs 9th May 2024

Good morning. Welcome to this feature (inspired by Story A Day May, which is running this month so have you another prompt if you pop over there!) where I post a prompt, and accompanying (though not necessarily connected) picture*, so actually two prompts.

*Today’s photograph shows a column of four metal stairs on the corner of an aqua building with an aqua sky behind them.

Unless there’s a name, only the first word will be capitalised so you can use it anyway you like: as a title, idea or the exact phrase used within your piece.

Being the author of (to-date) five Writer’s Block Workbooks and Ideas Diaries, I know how even a single word can help as inspiration to write something new whether it’s a short story, poem, piece of non-fiction, a script or even a novel! It could be a distraction if you’re writing something you’re struggling with or would just like to do something different.

Today’s prompt is…

The chair was too low

Do leave a comment below if you write something inspired by today’s prompt. NB. If you post your writing it’s deemed as published so may not be accepted elsewhere.

If you’d like to suggest a prompt for me to post (ideally at least two in case one’s too similar to one already posted or something someone else has already suggested), please complete the form on the A Prompt A Day page. I will include your website link if you have one, posting them once a fortnight.

If you’re an author, editor, illustrator, agent, publisher (anything in the publishing industry) and would like to take part in a spotlight, see Saturday Spotlights or email me for details.

Word Count Wednesday: 8th May 2024

Good morning. Welcome to Word Count Wednesday. How have you been getting on?

Rather than write a little every day, which has been almost impossible due to a variety of reasons, I am endeavouring to have at least one day a week to dedicate to my writing.

I started last Wednesday by researching some outlets and wrote a short story (2,171 words) especially for a UK-based magazine, which I’m really pleased with. I left it to marinate for a few days and sent it off yesterday, ahead of the deadline.

Hopefully this will continue hereafter. I’ll let you know.

Do leave a comment below to share your progress, successes and otherwise, and of course anything else that’s happened to you, writing related, over the past seven days.

A Prompt A Day: Wed 8th May 2024

Good morning. Welcome to this feature (inspired by Story A Day May, which is running this month so have you another prompt if you pop over there!) where I post a prompt, and accompanying (though not necessarily connected) picture*, so actually two prompts.

*Today’s picture shows a royal blue heart surrounded by clouds.

Unless there’s a name, only the first word will be capitalised so you can use it anyway you like: as a title, idea or the exact phrase used within your piece.

Being the author of (to-date) five Writer’s Block Workbooks and Ideas Diaries, I know how even a single word can help as inspiration to write something new whether it’s a short story, poem, piece of non-fiction, a script or even a novel! It could be a distraction if you’re writing something you’re struggling with or would just like to do something different.

Today’s prompt is…

List ten alternatives to ‘brown’

Do leave a comment below if you write something inspired by today’s prompt. NB. If you post your writing it’s deemed as published so may not be accepted elsewhere.

If you’d like to suggest a prompt for me to post (ideally at least two in case one’s too similar to one already posted or something someone else has already suggested), please complete the form on the A Prompt A Day page. I will include your website link if you have one, posting them once a fortnight.

If you’re an author, editor, illustrator, agent, publisher (anything in the publishing industry) and would like to take part in a spotlight, see Saturday Spotlights or email me for details.

A Prompt A Day: Tues 7th May 2024

Good morning. Welcome to this feature (inspired by Story A Day May, which is running this month so have you another prompt if you pop over there!) where I post a prompt, and accompanying (though not necessarily connected) picture*, so actually two prompts.

*Today’s picture shows an illustration of a black cat with big wide yellow and green eyes and large black pupils. Its paws are up/over a ledge. This and the background is a strong mustard yellow colour.

Unless there’s a name, only the first word will be capitalised so you can use it anyway you like: as a title, idea or the exact phrase used within your piece.

Being the author of (to-date) five Writer’s Block Workbooks and Ideas Diaries, I know how even a single word can help as inspiration to write something new whether it’s a short story, poem, piece of non-fiction, a script or even a novel! It could be a distraction if you’re writing something you’re struggling with or would just like to do something different.

Today’s prompt is…

A stack of white sheets

Do leave a comment below if you write something inspired by today’s prompt. NB. If you post your writing it’s deemed as published so may not be accepted elsewhere.

If you’d like to suggest a prompt for me to post (ideally at least two in case one’s too similar to one already posted or something someone else has already suggested), please complete the form on the A Prompt A Day page. I will include your website link if you have one, posting them once a fortnight.

If you’re an author, editor, illustrator, agent, publisher (anything in the publishing industry) and would like to take part in a spotlight, see Saturday Spotlights or email me for details.

A Prompt A Day: Mon 6th May 2024

Good morning. Welcome to this feature (inspired by Story A Day May, which is running this month so have you another prompt if you pop over there!) where I post a prompt, and accompanying (though not necessarily connected) picture*, so actually two prompts.

*Today’s picture shows a sleeping baby dressed in a white hat under a pink blanket, surrounded by white cozy seat lining.

Unless there’s a name, only the first word will be capitalised so you can use it anyway you like: as a title, idea or the exact phrase used within your piece.

Being the author of (to-date) five Writer’s Block Workbooks and Ideas Diaries, I know how even a single word can help as inspiration to write something new whether it’s a short story, poem, piece of non-fiction, a script or even a novel! It could be a distraction if you’re writing something you’re struggling with or would just like to do something different.

Today’s prompt is…

Implement this tomorrow

Do leave a comment below if you write something inspired by today’s prompt. NB. If you post your writing it’s deemed as published so may not be accepted elsewhere.

If you’d like to suggest a prompt for me to post (ideally at least two in case one’s too similar to one already posted or something someone else has already suggested), please complete the form on the A Prompt A Day page. I will include your website link if you have one, posting them once a fortnight.

If you’re an author, editor, illustrator, agent, publisher (anything in the publishing industry) and would like to take part in a spotlight, see Saturday Spotlights or email me for details.

A Prompt A Day: Sun 5th May 2024

Good morning. Welcome to this feature (inspired by Story A Day May, which is running this month so have you another prompt if you pop over there!) where I post a prompt, and accompanying (though not necessarily connected) picture*, so actually two prompts.

*Today’s picture shows a colourful illustration of balloons in purple (two), blue (one) and red (one) on a cream background with colourful edges.

Unless there’s a name, only the first word will be capitalised so you can use it anyway you like: as a title, idea or the exact phrase used within your piece.

Being the author of (to-date) five Writer’s Block Workbooks and Ideas Diaries, I know how even a single word can help as inspiration to write something new whether it’s a short story, poem, piece of non-fiction, a script or even a novel! It could be a distraction if you’re writing something you’re struggling with or would just like to do something different.

Today’s prompt is…

See if your story or novel extract is better in first/third viewpoint

Do leave a comment below if you write something inspired by today’s prompt. NB. If you post your writing it’s deemed as published so may not be accepted elsewhere.

If you’d like to suggest a prompt for me to post (ideally at least two in case one’s too similar to one already posted or something someone else has already suggested), please complete the form on the A Prompt A Day page. I will include your website link if you have one, posting them once a fortnight.

If you’re an author, editor, illustrator, agent, publisher (anything in the publishing industry) and would like to take part in a spotlight, see Saturday Spotlights or email me for details.