Getting Published isn't easy! but you've just taken the first step by finding the best creative writing community on the web!
We're all about helping each other with publishing short stories, poems and articles and ... getting them paid for!
We do this by publishing our work in progress on the Arena area of the site where other members comment and star rate our efforts.
When our short stories, poems, book chapters or articles get SPOTLIGHTED we can then submit to the RESOURCE section of the site. Selected submissions are published and paid for.
The RESOURCES give us up to date information on paying markets for our short fiction, poetry and articles.
They also list current creative writing competitions including poetry contests, short story contests and non-fiction contests. Many of these also offer publication either on the web or in print.
Mustn't forget our terrific Events Diary listing which has around 20 UK events added on a monthly basis, taking place 6 months ahead so you can get your pitches before editors well before hand.
Oh and did I tell you about the Forums? Our members come from all over the globe and you can chat about a whole range of writing issues and some off-topic subjects too! A great way to get front line help and make new friends too.
Register now as a WRITER to join in all our community activities including full access to the Arena where you can publish your short stories, poems, articles and book chapters for review and critique.
To join us just click the Join The Writelink Community banner at the top of the page and select the WRITER option.
Alternatively, is you'd like to look around first, Register as a READER to explore our community at reader level.
Hope you'll stay around and join the other published authors on the site!
Sue Kendrick
Editor, Writelink
Spring Fever Poetry Competition 2008 – Results
Sarah James almost re-wrote the history of Writelink’s open poetry competition by entering three poems and taking First and Third places and Highly Commended with the third! Only the ever consistent Jay Smedley prevented Sarah from making a clean sweep!
According to judge, Diane Simkin, these three entries “jumped out” at her and only minor details separated them. The three poems were, Cumulus and The Tree Surgeon by Sarah James and Remembering Uncle Norman by Jay Smedley. The poems, along with all the results and reports can be read on the competition website.
http://www.writelink.co.uk/springfever
Spring Fever proved to be the best ever this year with some very high quality entries. We posted a range of spring like photographs to the competition site and the effect they had on the standard of entries was hugely impressive and will definitely be something we will be looking to repeat next year.
Our next open competition is Novel Beginnings calling for the first chapter of a novel.
http://www.writelink.co.uk/novelbeginnings
FUTURE PROSPECTS
Crystal balls at the ready! Our latest Arena competition wants you to put your protagonist into the not too distance future and give us a glimpse of the world through their eyes.
Global warming, genetically modified food, cloning, stem cell treatment, political spin, terrorism or a brave new world of peace, prosperity and spiritual enlightenment. Your take rests with your imagination and your ability to tell it as a piece of short fiction in no more than 300 words.
You can enter as many times as you like, but please post directly to the competition page:
http://www.writelink.co.uk/arena_main.php?cat=a_futureprospects
Entries close 10th May.
Cash prize of £20 for the winner.
FIRST CHAPTER NOVEL WRITING CONTEST
They say everyone has a book inside them so now is your chance to prove it by submitting the opening chapter to a novel.
You can write on any subject or genre, but you’ll need to ensure your work is a real page turner to be in with a chance!
We've cash prizes and copies of top novel writing software for the winners!
See the competition website for full details:
http://www.writelink.co.uk/novelbeginnings
Confounded Commas! Online Quiz
Here's a very simple quiz which tests your list making skills within sentences. You've just 7 minutes to beat the clock!
http://www.writelink.co.uk/res_freebies.php
JOLLY JAPES - Latest Arena Competition
You can’t beat a good laugh for raising the spirits so our latest Arena competition is all about fun and testing your comedy writing ability! We’ve run humorous competitions before, but Jolly Japes will be a Writelink first as we’re calling for a comedy sketch!
All you need for this is a sense of the ridiculous, a bit of imagination and a good kettle to keep you well supplied with tea and coffee while inspiration strikes! When you’ve got those in order, make sure your sketch features a recognisable situation, such as:
A wedding
A séance
First driving lesson
Preparing to go on holiday
Training a dog
Buying at auction.
You can use these examples if you like or think up another situation, but you should have us cracking our sides within 300 words!
As usual there is £20 for the top entry but we’ve also got copies of top comedy writer Brad Ashton’s book, The Funny Thing about Writing Comedy for the runners-up.
Brad has written more than 1,000 television and radio shows including material for Tommy Cooper, Bob Monkhouse, Les Dawson, Dick Emery, Frankie Howard and David Frost and for 14 weeks, he was Head Writer for the great Groucho Marx.
If you can’t wait to see how you fare in the Arena competition, Brad has kindly offered Writelink members, (Readers & Writers) a discount on his book. Normal price is £12.50 but only £10 to Writelink members including postage, Cheque to Brad Ashton, 7, Abbotshall Avenue, Southgate, London N14 7JU.
All entries must be posted to the Jolly Japes page by the 10th April.
http://www.writelink.co.uk/arena_main.php?cat=a_jollyjapes
Markets Our markets listings have been compiled by, Sue Kendrick.
All the listings accept freelance submissions and are bona fida paying markets.
All have a web presence and most have on-line writers guidelines.
Competitions Our competition database is continually updated.
All contests are current and offer cash prizes and in many cases publication.
The most recent additions appear on the page but don't forget there are many more in the database!
Just use the search box.
You can also add your own writing contest but please remember, all competitions MUST offer cash prizes.
No prizes in kind, publication only or percentage of entry fees. No listings of contests linking to sites offering adult content!
Events Diary Every month our Events Diary is updated with listings taking place six months ahead.
This is to give you plenty of time to research and pitch ideas for articles to editors who often have a lead time of anywhere between 3-6 months.
This month Maureen Vincent-Northam has compiled our listings.
Internet Middle Men
Fed up with following up those queries and submissions that took up so many hours of your time last year? Here's an alternative way to get published and/or get paid.
By: jak - January 4, 2008
Light... Camera...
Photography means ‘drawing with light’, and light is a critical element that separates a so-so photograph from a great one: how much, and where from.
By: audu55 - March 23, 2007
Doing Durazno
Share my first experience of serious research for a travel article ...
By: Chausiku - January 13, 2008
Cry of Eagles
A story grows like a stalagmite, drip by drip by drip.
By: Liz Smith - April 6, 2008
In the Firing Line
When the flag is flying, keep out!
By: Wordmate - April 3, 2008
Confounded Commas!
Our latest online quiz will soon have you whipping those confounded commas into shape!
Software Software for writers comes in all shapes and sizes.
Sophisticated plotting tools to help you write your novel or packages simply designed to help you organise your files.
Most allow 30 day free trial and some are completely free.
Publishers All the publishers listed here are main stream publishers.Many specialise in different types of books so check their requirements carefully.
The most recent additions to the database are shown on this page but you can also search for a specific genre by using the search box.
WE DO NOT LIST POD OR SELF PUBLISHING COMPANIES
