What I've been reading

When I haven't been writing, I've been reading and one of the things I've been reading is What The Dickens magazine. It  comes out every two months and it's good. It's very good and it's for writers and readers.

What's more it is FREE and downloadable here
  http://www.wtd-magazine.com 

Unique opportunity for writers wanting to write for children

New Writing South -- the literary development agency - and Theatre Centre - an organisation that commissions and tours new writing in schools - are looking for 5-10 writers in the south east to be a part of the national Skylines Project. 
Skylines is an innovative programme for playwrights to develop skills for Young People’s Theatre designed to develop a writer’s ability and interest in creating work for young audiences.

The project will involve five groups of writers from across the UK, one of which will be at The Writers' Place in Brighton.  There will be an initial gathering for all writers involved, which will take place in London.  There will then be three sessions in Brighton, led by professional writers that specialise in writing for young audiences to include exercises and tasks, with some self-guided study and an online learning/interaction element. This will culminate in a sharing event, led and directed by Theatre Centre actors and directors to showcase ideas at the end of the process with a young audience.

The introductory event will be taking place in London, ideally towards the end of March/beginning of April. Sharing will ideally take place by Autumn 2012.  The timing of sessions will be negotiated with our venue partners based on individual needs and other programming.

This is a fantastic, unique and free opportunity for writers wanting to write for children and young people. If you are interested in being a part of Skylines please contact Chris Taylor by email only chris@newwritingsouth.com saying why this project would work for you.

A WORLD AWAY FROM HOME Irish Post competition

The Irish Post is looking for an original short story of up to 3,000 words reflecting Irish life in Britain.
The winner gets free travel to Listowel Writers’ Week, which takes place May 30 - June 3, plus £500 prize money. Their work will also be published in the official Listowel
Writers’ Week brochure and in The Irish Post.
Entries can be either posted or e-mailed... Send them to: Listowel Competition, The Irish Post, Suite A, 1 Lindsey Street, London EC1A 9HP
or email editor@irishpost.co.uk
Include the story title, your name, address and telephone number.
Closing date for entries is March 2, 2012.
For full details and updates visit www.irishpost.co.uk

500 words...all about you

Psychologies magazine are running a free to enter writing competition and the subject is your own personal story.

Length is 500 words and the rules say You should write 500 words so that suggests they are not expecting anything much shorter. (Nothing longer, mind. Never ever exceed a maximum word count.)

The rules also say that it can be in any format...and that makes me curious about what they are hoping to receive.

What format could you choose other than the regular David Copperfield style? You know, I was born on...

How about:

• a letter to a relative you've never met
• a letter to your younger self
• Using recipes/food as a theme 
• Starting with the words: I don't remember

Deadline is soon - February 13th - and you can send by post to Psychologies, 72 Broadwick Street, London W1F 7EP or email competition@psychologies.co.uk. 
Read all the rules carefully here. For example, they don't want email entries sent as  an attachment.
Judges are Psychologies editor Louise Chunn and Helen Garnons-Williams from Bloomsbury. They will choose a winner and five runners-up from a longlist of 20, chosen by the Psychologies editorial team.
First prize - publication in Psychologies magazine and a place on a Writers’ and Artists’ course.