Reading reading reading! Like many writers out there, the urge to write as been less than the urge to eat my least favourite food, although for some others the need and will to write has never been greater – Carpe Diem and all that. However, having spent many hours staring at a blank screen with a keyboard that seems to have lost all its letters and is holding the space bar to ransom, I have been reading instead. I found a great second-hand book site Awesome Booksand bought enough books at remarkably low prices to get me through to the Spring equinox. Meanwhile, I have this superb collection of short stories from Fairlight Books to review for @TSS – long or short reading, I love it all and there is so much to learn from other authors. This week I was engrossed in Stacey Hall’s The Familiars (@stacey_halls) and prior to that The Lost Book of Salem by Katherine Howe and prior to that the brilliant The Vanishing Witch by Karen Maitland. Seems January brought about a incursion into witchiness. Mind you, I did make the long-list for Fantastic Books Publishing’s fantasy horror competition, which was quite a surprise!

So, if like me you’re in the Can’t Write A THING RIGHT NOW camp, or the OMG I just HAVE TO WRITE THIS NOW camp, February is a good time to be upping your skills, giving yourself a break and entering some competitions. And with that in mind…

WRITERS’ AND ARTISTS’ SHORT STORY COMPETITION

The Writers’ and Artists’Short Story Competition is open to both published and unpublished writers.Submit short stories of up to 2,000 words. This year’s judge is Alysoun Owen who is the Editor of the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook and the Children’s Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook and has worked in publishing for more than 25 years Deadline – 12th February, Free entry

REFLEX FICTION FLASH FICTION COMPETITION

The latest round of the Reflex Fiction Flash Fiction Competition is open to stories of between 180 and 360 words. The judge is author, Sophie van Llewyn.

Prize – First prize: £1,200 / Second Prize: £600 / Third prize: £300 / Fourth prize: £150 / All long-listed stories will also be published online. 

Deadline – 28th February, Entry fee – Choose your own entry fee (suggested fee is £7).

Full details – Visit the Reflex Fiction website

MARGERY ALLINGHAM SHORT STORY COMPETITION 

The judges of the international, Crime Writers’ Association Margery Allingham Short Story Competition are seeking entries of up to 3,500 words that fit the legendary crime writer’s definition of what makes a great story: “The mystery remains box-shaped, at once a prison and a refuge. Its four walls are, roughly, a crime, a mystery, an enquiry and a conclusion with an element of satisfaction in it.” 

Prize – £500 and two passed for CrimeFest 2022, Deadline– 26th February, Entry fee – £12.

Full details – Visit the Crime Writers’ Association website.