-
Athelstone started the topic Choices in the forum
September Song 6 months, 3 weeks agoI am not going to explain what these choices mean – not now anyway. They will have an influence on your story, but I have every confidence that you will cope. You have all the skill and application necessary. I will explain them later, but that won’t be until the group becomes private.
And please don’t take these choices too seriously. Yes, there…[Read more]
-
Athelstone started the topic Q and A in the forum
September Song 6 months, 3 weeks agoAsk questions here. Also, if you have any great ideas that might be answers, feel free to post them.
-
Athelstone started the topic Rules in the forum
September Song 6 months, 3 weeks agoSome Basic Story Rules and Guidelines
The challenge is to produce a short story. In the way that the term is usually understood, what is needed is a work of fiction. By all means stretch this definition as you like, to include, for example, an imaginative account of true events, but please avoid essays, reportage, political polemic,…[Read more]
-
Athelstone started the topic Voting in the forum
September Song 6 months, 3 weeks agoOn the face of it, what you have to do is quite simple. However, those of you have been through this before in previous challenges will know that in fact it is extraordinarily tough.
When the writing stage of the challenge closes on 8 February 2026 at 22:00 UK time, the voting stage begins. No doubt most of you will have read many of the entries…[Read more]
-
Athelstone started the topic Chit Chat in the forum
September Song 6 months, 3 weeks agoWhat it says
-
Bless you Ath!! Details of the Winter comp so inspired me I had sentences in my head when I woke this morning that needed me to get up and write them down immediately. That hasn’t happened for some months, and though I know what you’ve still to reveal will change things, I’m confident l’ll be able to incorporate it with the as-yet loose ideas I…[Read more]
-
That makes me very happy. Thank you Sandra.
-
-
-
-
Terrie replied to the topic Monthly competition October 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 months, 3 weeks ago
<u>Pocket Money</u>
Hidden in gloom-light, he shadow-shifts within the numinous cloak of darkness rippling and folding into a Samhain-shadowed mist, as it protects him within its unsettled veil.
Hood pushed back, revealing small horns twisting, like red fingers, on dark hair, falling away over his shoulders, he glides over the grass.
Drawn…[Read more]
-
Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Competion – September 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 months, 3 weeks ago
I’m late with the congratulations – life has been frantic for a few days! Thanks so much for the prompt, @jillsted. A thoughtful piece from @libby is a more-than-worthy winner. And well done to @knickylaurelle for a splendidly acute story.
-
Knicks replied to the topic Monthly Competion – September 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 months, 4 weeks ago
Congratulations, Libby! Well and beautifully written to you and Ath too 🙂
-
Jill replied to the topic Monthly competition October 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 months, 4 weeks ago
(Apologies – my weak attempt at humour!)
HALLOWEEN IN NEVERSAY VILLAGE
395 words including title.
Every 31st October the Neversay villagers put on a grand Halloween party complete with disco, buffet, games and treats for the children. It saved, they decided long ago, being bothered in their homes by naughty trick and treaters and the c…[Read more]
-
Libby started the topic Monthly competition October 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 months ago
It’s October and I’m going for the obvious: Halloween. Or All Saints’ Eve or Hallowmas Eve or whatever you prefer. It doesn’t have to be ghostly though if you can give us all the shivers that would be fun.
Max 400 words, connected to 31st October in some way.
Deadline midnight 31st October.
-
Libby replied to the topic Monthly Competion – September 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 months ago
Thank you, Jill! That was a lovely surprise when I switched on this morning. Such brilliant writing from Knicks and Ath, everything so vivid and pleasurable to read.
-
Jill replied to the topic Monthly Competion – September 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 months ago
1st October 2025 and results time. Thank you Libby, Knicks and Athelstone for your beautifully written and atmospheric entries, such a pleasure to read. All worthy winners which immersed me in the diverse scenarios completely. It has been hard to choose one winner to take over the baton and set us a challenge for this new month.
Libby, as a wr…[Read more]
-
Janette posted an update 7 months ago
So sorry, Jill. I hoped to be of a mindset to join in September’s comp, only this month has thrown up too many mind-scrambling obstacles to facilitate concentration. Seems you already have some excellent stories already and I don’t envy your task.
-
Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Competion – September 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 months ago
The Artist of Wexton
A gust of icy wind blew across the beach, and I turned to one side and pulled my coat tighter. Doing so, I realised that something was wrong, but I wasn’t quite sure what. An elderly woman stood about fifty yards to the west looking out to sea. There was something almost mournful about her, and, against my usual inclination I…[Read more]
-
Sandra replied to the topic Emma Darwin has started a youtube channel in the forum Coffee Shop 7 months, 1 week ago
Fabulous indeed – thanks for the link, Libby. I’ve much enjoyed Emma’s two previous novels, so this will be a cert.
-
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Competion – September 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 months, 1 week ago
Sorry Jill, Returned from ten days away to a refusing-to-charge laptop, and three days from going away for another week I’ll not be posting anything for this month’s comp’ Looks like you’ve got some good response so I’ll aim to read ASAP.
-
No worries, Sandra. Enjoy your next time away. Yes, 2 excellent entries so far. Jill
-
-
Libby started the topic Emma Darwin has started a youtube channel in the forum Coffee Shop 7 months, 1 week ago
At present it’s only advertising her new novel.
The ad is fabulous.
https://www.youtube.com/@emmadarwinwriter/videos
-
-
- Load More
Skip to content
