I've been writing a short story, which seemed simple enough before I started. I'd got the beginning, middle and end, and I'd even jotted down parts of a couple of scenes. Yet as I scribbled away, it began to wriggle around. Would the story be better set in the past or the present day? Should I aim it at youngsters or adults? After a couple of false starts and much crossing out, I finally reached the end only to discover that the story isn't about what I thought it was at the outset at all. Needless to say, it's going to need some rewrites, but I hope it might be ready in time to enter in one of the free competitions that are coming up. Here's a list of some of them:
* Reader's Digest 100-word story competition, closing date: 31st January.
* BBC's Opening Lines isn't a competitiion, but there is a deadline of 13th February for story submissions between 1,900 and 2,000 words.
* Writers' and Artists' Yearbook 2015 short story competition closes on 15th February. Enter stories up to 2,000 on a theme of 'Joy'.
* The BBC National Short Story Award is for authors who have had work published nationally. Stories up to 8,000 words, deadline: 25th February.
* The Mogford Prize for stories up to 2,500 with a food and drink theme has extended its deadline to 25th February.
* On the Premises competition wants stories between 1,000 and 5,000 words on a theme of 'learning'. Closing date: 6th March.