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TIPS & EXERCISES

Exercises

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Film & TV

Free Association Character Biography

This is a great character exercise and works even in the most extraordinary of circumstances. For example, if one of your…

Alexis Zegerman

Exercises

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A Room of Their Own

Character and setting are two vital ingredients in the writing of fiction. Whatever your genre – be it Sci-Fi or romantic…

Mavis Cheek

Tips

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Deadlines and Self Discipline

I’ve always found it helpful to write to a deadline. So often when I was signing my next publishing contract the…

Mavis Cheek

All

Someone Who’ll Write… To Me

A playwriting tip and exercise inspired by Frank McGuinness’ beautiful play, Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me.
We often…

Jessica Swale

More tips and exercises

The Stories We Tell

In our new blog series, The Stories We Tell, leading writers share with you some of the inspirations, challenges and discoveries that led to the writing of their own stories, novels and poems.

Hannah Lowe – The Stories We Tell

18 May 2020 / The Stories We Tell

Electric Silences
My instinct to become a poet emerged from a desire to tell stories. Perhaps I should have…

The Stories We Tell

19 Mar 2020 / The Stories We Tell

The Haunted Library
The inspiration to write historical fiction arrives with a strange and wonderful sensation. A subject that…

Covid-19 Update

18 Mar 2020 / News

Following government advice, and with the safety and wellbeing of our staff and course participants in mind, we have made the…

Stephen Thompson – The Stories We Tell

01 Mar 2020 / The Stories We Tell

Speaky-Spokey
I decided to become a writer after reading A House For Mr. Biswas by V.S. Naipaul. …

VS Pritchett Short Story Prize – Closing 3 July

For a previously unpublished short story of 2000 to 4000 words. The winner will receive £1,000 and the winning entry will be published in Prospect online and in the RSL Review. Multiple entries to this competition are permitted but must be submitted and paid for individually, at a rate of £7.50 per entry. The competition closes on 3 July at midnight.

2020 Aurora Prizes for Short Fiction and Poetry – Closing 8 June

For a previously unpublished short story of 2000 words or less, or a poem of 60 lines. Short fiction category judged by Mahsuda Snaith and poetry judged by Helen Mort. The winners in each category will receive a cash prize of £500, feedback on a piece of work of their choice from a leading literary agent (or Editor as appropriate) and a year’s free membership to the Society of Authors. Second Prize £150 cash. Third Prize A one-day course of your choice from Writing School East Midlands. Additional regional prize of £100 for the best writer from the East Midlands. Closing 8 June at Midnight.

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WRITERS' HUB

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