The Monthly Flash #03

Posted by Mick North in New Writing, News, The Monthly Fiction Flash on February 1, 2012

A white mountain range rose in the distance and against that backdrop the caribou moved on and on. Then they vanished. Fred craned his neck as far as he was able but only the brick terrace across the road now filled his field of vision …

Read Christine Howe’s story, Day of the Caribou>>

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The Weekly Poem #27

Posted by Mick North in New Writing, News, The Weekly Poem on February 1, 2012

Short and sharp, sweet and sour – South Lakeland’s former Poet Laureate Maggie Norton gets her ticket punched en route to Penrith in A Late Love Poem>>

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Words by the Water competition deadlines looming

Posted by Mick North in Competitions, News, Opportunities on February 1, 2012

You have until 10 February to send in your entries to two competitions being organised as part of the Words by the Water Festival of Words and Ideas in Keswick this March.

Read more>>

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Free festival tickets for young and enquiring minds

Posted by Mick North in Events, News, Opportunities on February 1, 2012

Young people will be able to attend the Words by the Water Festival of Words and Ideas in Keswick for free, thanks to a new bursary scheme. Anyone aged 17-25 can apply for a place, and successful applicants will be given tickets to see up to ten events of their choice.

Read more>>

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Liars’ League – and other write ideas

Posted by Mick North in Events, News, Opportunities, Submissions on February 1, 2012

Sedbergh’s Write Idea festival is back at the end of February with another three days of events to enliven England’s Book Town.

Topping the bill this time is Sedbergh’s take on one of the country’s most innovative live fiction events, Liars’ League – and they’re looking for Cumbrian ‘liars’ to contribute to a show scheduled for Friday 24 February. Read more>>

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Wanted – poets in bloom

Posted by Mick North in Events, News, Opportunities on January 31, 2012

Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery have asked poet Carolyn Richardson to organise a seasonal poetry gig as part of their First Friday series of events – and Carolyn’s looking for poets to join her for the spring-themed reading in May.

Read more>>

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The Weekly Poem #26

Posted by Mick North in New Writing, News, The Weekly Poem on January 25, 2012

The nearest you can get to loft living in Carlisle, Shaddon or Dixon’s Mill is now a huge block of swanky apartments, itself dwarfed by the defiant finger of Dixon’s Chimney. Kathleen Jones’s great grandad knew it before the floors were sanded.

Read the poem, Dixon’s Mill>>

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YAK YAK

Posted by Mick North in Events, News on January 25, 2012

C-Art, the Eden Arts project which co-ordinates and promotes an annual open studios event with visual artists throughout the county, is organising its first ‘forum’ event.

YAK YAK invites creatives of all kinds (musicians, painters, craftspeople, writers, filmakers et al) to get together to meet and learn about each others’ work, share experiences and ideas, and generally socialise. Read more>>

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Ear ear

Posted by Mick North in Competitions, News, Opportunities on January 18, 2012

In collaboration with Edinburgh-based Maison Vee’s jewellery, Maryport-based The Journal and Original Plus Publications has announced the free-to-enter Silversmith Poetry Competition.

But not that free. All poems have to be about earrings. Read more>>

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Crime writer Reginald Hill dies

Posted by Mick North in News on January 16, 2012

Cumbrian crime writer Reginald Hill, best known as the creator of detectives Dalziel and Pascoe, has died aged 75 after suffering from a brain tumour.

Fellow authors have been quick to pay tribute. On Twitter, Ian Rankin wrote: “A lovely man, fine writer, great wit …” Read more>>

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Working Nights – A Festive Flash

Posted by Mick North in New Writing, News, Short Stories on January 12, 2012

Our Consulting Flash Fiction Editor, Brindley Hallam Dennis, sent us this story in the Christmas hols, in the hope that we might be able to rattle it out in a truncated Christmas issue of The Weekly Word. Sadly, we were so truncated by confectionery and cut-price single malt that we couldn’t get off the sofa. So treat this offering by Jenny Harrow as a late Christmas card and unexpected gift.

Read Working Nights>>

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The Weekly Poem #25

Posted by Mick North in New Writing, News, The Weekly Poem on January 12, 2012

From Back o’ Skiddaw to the roof of the world – in this week’s poem, the well-travelled Angela Locke reflects on journeys corporeal, spiritual, and political.

Read the poem, After the sky burial: Tibet>>

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Mslexia Women’s Short Story Competition 2012

Posted by Mick North in Competitions, News, Opportunities on January 12, 2012

“There’s no recipe for a good short story – in fact, they need to be unexpected, surprising. The most familiar material can be surprising if it’s seen freshly.”

So says Mslexia competition judge Tessa Hadley. To see if you can surprise her, read more>>

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