First blog post

You are now privy to my innermost thoughts, and if I still had any aspirations left to fulfil you would have been welcome to those as well.

Just for the record, I’m not sure whether to describe myself as a virgin or a newborn, for neither is correct at the time of writing. Of course, like everyone else, I was once both, but quite a few gallons of water has flown beneath the bridge since those far off days.

Let’s just say that I am here whether you like it or not … you will all just have to get over it.”

Result of the APRIL 2016 CW Competition, and full list of votes cast.

The result of the April 2016 Creative writing Competition is as follows …

Our clear winner for the month was  THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD. Written by Peter Barnett  with 27 points.

In second place came  WRECKED. Written by Americanmum  with 19 points.

And just behind in third place was  DOGGERLAND. Written by Giselle with 16 points.

Congratulations to our winner Peter Barnett for his winning story, and to our talented runners up.

As is the custom, Peter  will be invited to set the topic for June 2016 which will have the standard word limit of 500 to 3000 words.
Thanks also to all the other entrants who gave both their time and talent in support of our little group, and not forgetting those who joined in the voting process and added their valued support.

Anyone who is interested in reading the top placed stories, or any of the other stories entered, will find details of how to find them on this link

http://my.telegraph.co.uk/groups/creative-writing/forum/topic/the-april-2016-creative-writing-competition-where-to-find-the-stories-and-how-to-vote/

Here is a link to a table of all the votes cast , prepared and supplied once again by  AmericanMum whose ready assistance in collating the votes as they come in is greatly appreciated.

LINK … CW VOTING. APRIL 2016. – Sheet1

Bleda’s Bar is open.

Despite the damage caused by the fracas on Friday night, the rear entrance to the bar is in use this evening and all are welcome to drop in for a chat. At around eleven pm it is hoped that it will be possible to announce the winner and placings of the April 2016 MyT Creative Writing Competition.
Come as you are and please wear a hard hat.
All welcome.

Straws in the wind.

Sampling from my admittedly small sphere of public awareness i.e. family, friends, and neighbours, plus snatches of conversations in shops, supermarkets, and sporting venues, one can usually get a fair idea as to what is the general feeling about this or that current topic of interest.

I am happy to admit that the outcome of the forthcoming referendum does not seem to figure very highly on the agenda of most people that I encounter, but when it does it seems to me that an overwhelming majority can’t wait for a Brexit victory to be announced. In fact, I will go further and state that I do not know, nor have I personally heard tell of, anyone who intends to vote to stay in the EU.

Now that might just be that I move in very limited and jaundiced circles. And to rejoice in the possible victory of the Brexit cause is not the same as actually voting that way on the day.

But would anyone else care to comment on what their personal day to day experience has been in respect to this contentious matter.

The May 2016 Creative Writing Competition. Details of competition, and how to enter.

 

A FREE ENTRY WRITING COMPETITION OPEN TO ALL!
Details of the MAY 2016 Creative Writing Competition.

The topic for MAY has been set by the winner of the March 2016 competition ‘Lostinwords’  who has commented as follows …

“It came to me that my choice for May will be “On The Road”.
Your story could be about tramps, hitch-hikers, itinerant workers, wandering minstrels, gypsies – anyone whose home is the road. There are those who are on the road to somewhere while others are getting away. Then there are those whose job is tied to the road – drivers of buses, lorries, cabs for example.
I think there’s plenty of scope here. So, jump into your automobile, turn up the music volume, fold the roof down and speed off into the unknown. As Leonard Cohen wrote: “You try the handle of the road, it opens, do not be afraid”.
**********************************************************************************

For those that missed them, links to all the March entries, including the top three, can still be found on this link …
http://my.telegraph.co.uk/groups/creative-writing/forum/topic/the-march-2016-creative-writing-competition-where-to-find-the-stories-and-how-to-vote/
**********************************************************************************

The length of the story in May should be the regular “between 500 and 3000 words”, and competitors are reminded that multiple entries can be accepted, particularly of the shorter variety.
Closing date for entries will be by Midnight on the 31st. of May 2016.
The period for receiving votes will be announced when the competition closes, and votes will not be accepted until after the competition closes.
************************************************

Entries.
Publish stories on your personal blogs and  post a link to your story in the form of a comment on the group post that can be found on this link …

http://my.telegraph.co.uk/groups/creative-writing/forum/topic/the-may-2016-creative-writing-competition-details-of-competition-and-how-to-enter/

If you are unable to do this, post your entry as a separate “Update” or “Discussion” in the Creative Writing forum at …

<a href=”http://my.telegraph.co.uk/groups/creative-writing/” rel=”nofollow”> http://my.telegraph.co.uk/groups/creative-writing/</a>

***********************************************************************

The “prize” for winning this March competition will be to set the topic for July 2016.
The competition is open to anyone with an interest  in short story writing, particularly (but not exclusively) to members of the MyT site and/or the Creative Writing Group and Short Story Club sites.

After the competition closes there will be a vote to decide the first three places.
Just after the closing date, details of how to vote and a vote collection point will be set up as a “Discussion” on the Creative Writing Group page.
**************************************************************

Links to some previous  winners  can be found here …
<a href=”http://my.telegraph.co.uk/groups/creative-writing/forum/topic/short-story-winners/” rel=”nofollow”> http://my.telegraph.co.uk/groups/creative-writing/forum/topic/short-story-winners/</a>

A list of  detailed rules for  the competition can be found here …
<a href=”http://my.telegraph.co.uk/groups/creative-writing/forum/topic/the-creative-writing-competition-rules-and-regulations/” rel=”nofollow”> http://my.telegraph.co.uk/groups/creative-writing/forum/topic/the-creative-writing-competition-rules-and-regulations/</a>

FOR BACKGROUND REFERENCE ONLY.
There  is a topic For New Members which explains a  little more about this forum:

<a href=”http://my.telegraph.co.uk/groups/creative-writing/forum/topic/for-new-members/” rel=”nofollow”> http://my.telegraph.co.uk/groups/creative-writing/forum/topic/for-new-members/</a>
**********************************************************************

So, off you go, and mind the traffic.

 

The APRIL 2016 Creative Writing Competition. Where to find the stories and how to vote.

ALL MyT SITE MEMBERS ARE  INVITED TO READ AND ENJOY THE STORIES ENTERED IN THE APRIL 2016 CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITION.

If, having read all the stories, you would like to register your vote for the winner and placings, then the instructions below will tell you how to go about it, This is not obligatory, but if you choose to join in your participation will be very much appreciated.

JUST FOLLOW THE LINKS TO ALL THE STORIES (which are listed below), AND YOU WILL FIND EACH STORY IN TURN.

********************************

The deadline for entries into the April 2016 Creative Writing Competition passed at Midnight on the 30 th. of April.

The topic for the stories was set by the winner of the February 2015 competition, SEADAMS who commented as follows …

“For April I suggest that we write  “A ‘DESCRIPTIVE STORY’ of an object, a place, or a situation, with a minimum of dialogue, or preferably no dialogue whatsoever.”

Thank you to  the  14 writers who have entered a story, and thanks in advance to all those readers on the MyT site who I hope will now support the competition by reading the stories and registering their vote in the form of a comment on the collection point post to be found on this link …
http://my.telegraph.co.uk/groups/creative-writing/forum/topic/the-april-2016-creative-writing-competition-where-to-find-the-stories-and-how-to-vote/

*************************************************************************

VOTING PROCEDURE.

As in previous months, when voting it would help if voters would make sure to quote the name of the story when posting their vote.

Voting can now commence and will continue until 11 p.m. on SUNDAY the 8th. of May 2016.

There are no restrictions as to who is allowed to vote, all that is asked is that the voter reads all the stories and votes according to their preference. A brief reason for the choice is welcome but not mandatory.

Voters are requested to vote 5 points for first place, 3 points for second, and 1 point for third place.
Please do not submit any other point combinations such as 3/3/3, 4/4/1, 5/2/2, etc.

Writers are requested not to vote for any of their own entries. There will be no detailed summaries posted as to how the voting is progressing throughout the voting period but as soon as possible after voting closes a tabulated list of results will be posted separately and the winner declared.

*************************************************************

PLEASE DO NOT COMMENT AT LENGTH ABOUT THE STORIES OR RECORD ANY THOUGHTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ON THEM, UNTIL AFTER VOTING CLOSES.

IF YOU WISH TO DESCRIBE IN DETAIL THE REASONS FOR YOUR CHOICES, OR COMMENT AT LENGTH ABOUT SOME OR ALL OF THE INDIVIDUAL STORIES, A SEPARATE PAGE WILL BE SET UP AT THE END OF THE VOTING PERIOD AND AFTER THE RESULT HAS BEEN POSTED.

*************************************
A TOTAL OF 14  ENTRIES HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED AND HERE ARE THE LINKS TO ENABLE YOU TO FIND THEM …

 

HAWTHORN SANCTUARY. Written By Fizzeerascal.
https://fizzeerascalstories.wordpress.com/

**************************************

ESCAPE. Written by Colmore.
http://my.telegraph.co.uk/colmoreblog/

*************************************

THE FAR WINDOWED WALL. Written by Chester_Goode.
http://my.telegraph.co.uk/dodgecity/chester_goode/12622/the-far-windowed-wall/

*************************************

GRANDFATHER. Written by Lostinwords.
https://lostinwords2.wordpress.com/2016/04/27/april-2016-competition/

************************************

WRECKED. Written by Americanmum.
http://my.telegraph.co.uk/americanmum/americanmum/197/april-creative-writing-entry/

***********************************

ONE FOR THE ANALYST’S COUCH. Written (?) by Atiller.
http://my.telegraph.co.uk/attila/atiller/15998440/a-story-for-the-april-2016-cw-competition/

***********************************

OUR WALK. Written by Capucin.
https://davidgoodwin935.wordpress.com/2016/04/28/our-walk/

**********************************

CUPID GOES ON A PICNIC. Written by Expatangie.
http://my.telegraph.co.uk/expatangie/expatangie/189/cupid-goes-on-a-picnic-2/

********************************

NOT PLAIN ON SALISBURY PLAIN. Written by Charles Stuart.
http://my.telegraph.co.uk/furryfeatures/furryfeatures/108/not-plain-on-salisbury-plain/

********************************

THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD. Written by Peter Barnett.
https://aasof.com/2016/04/30/the-house-of-the-dead/

*******************************

FETCHED UP. Written by Seadams.
http://my.telegraph.co.uk/seadams/

******************************

DOGGERLAND. Written by Giselle.
https://chateauxenespagne.com/stories-2016/doggerland/

******************************

BRUSSELS. Written by PavlovaQueen.
http://www.pavlovaqueen.com/archives/317

******************************

THE VIEW FROM ABBEY ROAD. Written by Colmore (2)
http://my.telegraph.co.uk/colmoreblog/colmore/11/the-view-from-abbey-road-2/

******************************

I hope that you will all enjoy an hour or so relaxing in the company of  our writers, and then feel moved enough to comment and/or vote in the competition.

 

 

 

All is not necessarily lost …

The April 2016 Creative Writing competition closes at midnight tonight.

A story of just 250 words could change your life.

Details of the competition can be found here on this link … http://my.telegraph.co.uk/groups/creative-writing/forum/topic/the-april-2016-creative-writing-competition-details-of-competition-and-how-to-enter/

There is still just time to compose an entry and discover the joy of writing.

Even William Shakespeare had to start somewhere … and he had to go about  it with a sharpened goose feather, animal slurry, and by the light of a candle.

Just think what he might have written if he had been given access to a keyboard!

Harry Potter perhaps?

Glossy, but totally unfit for purpose.

The referendum is now upon us (though the rumble of its approach seems to have lasted an eternity), and H M Government, or more accurately parts of the government, have taken it upon itself to produce a dossier (no apologies for using that word) of what it describes as ‘the facts’.
But why did No.10 think it appropriate to waste so much money on something that is proving to be so unfit for purpose?
The paper is hard, shiny, and much too thick … have you tried using yours yet?

Result of the MARCH 2016 CW Competition, and full list of votes cast.

The result of the MARCH 2016 Creative writing Competition is as follows …

Narrowly in First place with 30 points was  …  WAITING FOR DR. BLACK  Written by Lostinwords.

In Second place with 28 points was …  LOVE AND DEATH AT ST. CLUEDO’S  Written by Giselle.

And close behind in Third place  with 27 points … LEONIE SCARLET. Written by Capucin.

Congratulations to our winner LOSTINWORDS for his winning story, and to our valiant runners up.

As is the custom, Lostinwords will be invited to set the topic for May 2016 which will have the standard word limit of 500 to 3000 words.
Thanks also to all the other entrants who gave both their time and talent in support of our little group, and not forgetting those who joined in the voting process and added their valued support.

Anyone who is interested in reading the top placed stories, or any of the other stories entered, will find details of how to find them on this link …
http://my.telegraph.co.uk/groups/creative-writing/forum/topic/the-march-2016-creative-writing-competition-where-to-find-the-stories-and-how-to-vote/

Here is a link to a table of all the votes cast , supplied once again by courtesy of AmericanMum whose assistance in collating the votes as they come in is greatly appreciated.

LINK … CW VOTING MARCH2016