One of the lovely marketing people from Bloomsbury contacted me the other day and asked if I would let my blog readers know about their short story competition and, as it is for budding Crime writers, I am even more happy to do so. There may be another Agatha Christie or PD James lurking out there somewhere and this is a perfect opportunity to find them.
So Bloomsbury Publishing, in association with the Writers and Artists Yearbook, is launching a competition challenging writers to create a crime story in a 1000 words or less. And here is what they have to say and how to enter:
Every other month one of Bloomsbury’s Crime authors will be laying down the creative gauntlet with an original short story thus setting the theme for that month. Then it’s over to you, the British public, to do your worst. Criminally speaking of course!
Every other month, we will chose ONE winner and their story will be featured on the Short Sentence website. Once the competition has closed all the winning stories will be published as a Short Sentence eBook along with the Featured Authors’ stories. This will be available for free from all online book retailers. Each winner will also receive a Day Rover ticket to the Theakston’s Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate (2013) and a selection of Bloomsbury books. Four Runners up will receive a selection of Bloomsbury books.
We will announce OVERALL WINNER during National Short Story Week in November 2012. The overall winner will win a place at the Writers and Artists Yearbook conference for 2013 and a Weekend Rover Ticket for the Theakston’s Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate (2103).
The competition launches with a short story from debut crime author Parker Bilal on the theme of DECEP TION. Rules and details of how to enter are on the website – www.shortsentence.co.uk
Other authors taking part include Conor Fitzgerald, Anne Zouroudi, Tom Mogford and James Runcie"
Considering the amount of crime stories I have written I feel I ought to be able to produe something easy peasy but know full well that my mind would go a total blank as soon as I start to think about it. I am no Miss Marple sad to say.
So anybody out there who wants to have a go, please do - just the thought of a prize that uses the words Old Peculiar should spur you on.
You know it makes sense....
