From little acorns.....
From little acorns.....
Report on the GWN event on 6 October by Sharon Webster
It is Sunday evening at the Cheltenham Literature Festival. Autumn is doing its best to beguile with its blustery rays and scattered bronzes and in the ‘Nook’ we are listening to the winners of the GWN Competition recite their poems and short stories. It is a warm, friendly atmosphere eager to be pleased and it is not difficult for the pieces are read with clarity and expression, striking in the diversity of their interpretation of the theme ‘numbers’ and hugely enjoyable. We are for a moment guests in lives touched by the routine, the tragic, the misjudged and, in the nature of these things, left to reflect, ponder, giggle.
We are not done. It is the turn of the poetry judge, Stephen Daniels, and prose judge, Amanda Reynolds to throw exerts of their collections and most recent work into the ring and to inspire with a flavour of their literary journeys.
The GWN is all about promoting writing in Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire and so it is also gratifying to note the different writing groups represented in the audience, the increased number of entrants to the competition and the various levels of experience and geographical spread of those who have been successful.
We start to make our way home. Outside it is dark now and chill, the day is ending. For some though this event will achieve what is intended, it will be a beginning.
For more photos of the event, take a look at our Competition page.
Graffiti Competitions
Graffiti Magazine Short Story Competition Rules
THEME : SILVER
(To celebrate the 25th issue of Graffiti)
1. Closing date 31 Jan 2020. Entries must be in English and be the writer’s own unpublished work. They must not be on offer for publication or entered in any other current competition.
2. Maximum length 1,500 words.
3. Each piece of work, with its title, must be in clear type on one side of A4 sheet(s).
4. The name and address of the writer and the titles of all entries should be typed on a separate sheet of A4 paper.
5. The prize-winner will be notified by post, if SAE provided, or by email if email address is provided.
6. Entries are only accepted by post. Please keep a copy of your work, as entries will not be returned.
7. The fee is £4 per story. Cheques/Postal Orders in sterling only, should be made payable to:
Catchword Writing Group
8. All entries that arrive on time will be considered by the adjudicator, whose decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into concerning the result.
9. Competitors wishing to be informed of the results should enclose an SAE marked ‘Results’ or provide an email address.
Send entries to:
Graffiti Magazine Travel Competition
C/o 33 Sandford Leaze
Avening
Glos
GL8 8PB
Prize: £100 The winning entry and short listed entries will be
published in Graffiti.
Graffiti Magazine Poetry Competition Rules
Poems on the theme of silver
1. Closing date 31 Jan 2020. Entries must be in English and be the writer’s own unpublished work. They must not be on offer for publication or entered in any other current competition.
2. Each piece of work, with its title, must be in clear type on one side of A4 sheet(s). Maximum length of poem 50 lines.
3. The name and address of the writer and the titles of all entries should be typed on a separate sheet of A4 paper.
4. The prize-winner will be notified by post, if SAE provided, or by email if email address is provided.
5. Entries are only accepted by post. Please keep a copy of your work, as entries will not be returned.
6. The fee is £3 per poem. Cheques/Postal Orders in sterling only, should be made payable to:
Catchword Writing Group
7. All entries that arrive on time will be considered by the adjudicator, whose decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into concerning the result.
8. Competitors wishing to be informed of the results should enclose an SAE marked ‘Results’ or provide an email address.
Send entries to: Graffiti Magazine Travel Poetry Competition
C/o 33 Sandford Leaze
Avening
Glos
GL8 8PB
Prize: £50 The winning entry and short listed poems will be
published in Graffiti.
Stroud Short Stories Competition.
Buzzwords - final competition call ;)
This is the last day to polish your entries and send them off to Buzzwords.
1st prize-£600. Runner-up- £300. 5 x commended-£50 each.
Sole Judge: Graham Burchell - who will read all entries
The Gloucestershire Prize- £200. (for Gloucestershire residents only).
A;; entries post marked 24.08.19 will be included - what a way to start the ank Holiday !!
Please see the Buzzwords Website HERE for more information and entry details
Good Luck to everyone
Be the next Poet Laureate...
The Hunt is on! Searching for Gloucestershire’s Next Poet Laureate.
Nominations are open from now until the closing date on Friday 27th September 2019 at 5pm
The Gloucestershire Poet laureate will be a poet, resident of the county. A page poet, performance poet, or spoken word artist that will have been nominated by people living in Gloucestershire.
The role of the Poet Laureate will be to champion poetry across the county in a range of settings providing an opportunity for the people of Gloucestershire to experience poetry in its many forms. They will support events and enable and encourage participation for all, including the most marginalised and socially excluded across the county.
Nominations and closing date
Nominations are open from now till 27th September 2019 where nominees will get a chance to share their poetry at an event on 12th October at The Olympus Theatre!
Judging who will be The Next Gloucestershire Poet Laureate
Judges from Gloucestershire’s poetry community will select the winner and nominees will be invited back to the Olympus Theatre where the current Poet Laureate, Brenda Read-Brown, will share her work and announce the new Poet Laureate.
How can I nominate a Gloucestershire poet?
If you live in Gloucestershire and would like to nominate a Gloucestershire poet: Send in an A4 attachment ( Word or PDF ) of no less than 400 words, detailing why your nominated poet should become the next Gloucestershire Poet Laureate. By email to:
I’m a Gloucestershire poet and want to nominate myself
If you are a poet living in Gloucestershire and would like to nominate yourself: Send in an A4 attachment ( Word or PDF ) of no less than 400 words, detailing why you would like to be the next Gloucestershire Poet Laureate. By email to:
SSS - Advance Notice
Thank you
...to every one who entered our Competition 2019.
We hope your enjoyed meeting the challenge of our 'Numbers' theme.
If you took inspiration from our new 'How to get started' section this year - we'd love some feedback.
The entries are now winging their way to the judges - Stephen Daniels (Poetry) and Amanda Reynolds (Prose)
We look forward to hearing the winning entries later in the year during the Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival
What a fantastic platform to celebrate your work.
Thank you for entering and enjoy a Summer of writing.
All the best
GWN Team
Final Day !
Hello Writers
We've reached the FINAL DAY of this year's GWN competition. Please send us your prose & poetry by midnight tonight.
Our judges Amanda Reynolds & Stephen Daniels are looking forward to reading your entries
We're looking forward to congratulating our 2019 winners. Good luck all!
GWN Team
Final countdown - 1 week to go !
Good morning Writers
Here’s your one week – FINAL reminder!
Our Numbers themed competition closes on the 14th July – You have just 1 week to complete and submit your entry for 2019.
Here are a few famous 'ones' for inspiration:
- One Flew over the cuckoos nest
- The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
- A Widow for One Year
- One, two, buckle my shoe
- A Room of One's Own - OK, maybe were stretching it a bit here but you get the drift !
Full details on how to enter plus a few ideas on how to get started are on our Competitions page
Good luck and we look forward to receiving your entries
Happy Writing
Countdown... 2
Good morning Writers
Here is your two week reminder!
Our Numbers themed competition closes on the 14th July – You have just 2 weeks to complete and submit your entry for 2019.
Please see our competition section for more information and ideas.
Here are a few famous Twos...
The Twin Towers (Tolkein)
A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
Richard II
And you have a full TWO WEEKS to write a couplet.
Happy Writing every one ;))
Definition of Couplet
A couplet is a literary device that can be defined as having two successive rhyming lines in a verse, and has the same meter to form a complete thought. It is marked by a usual rhythm, rhyme scheme, and incorporation of specific utterances.
It could be an independent poem, and might be a part of other poems, such as sonnets in Shakespearean poetry. If a couplet has the ability to stand apart from the rest of the poem, it is independent, and hence it is called a “closed couplet.” A couplet that cannot render a proper meaning alone is called an “open couplet.”
One of the commonly used couplet examples are these two lines from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet:
“The time is out of joint, O cursed spite
That ever I was born to set it right!”
Types of Couplets
- Short Couplet
- Split Couplet
- Heroic Couplet (Closed and Open Couplets)
- Shakespearean Couplet
- Alexandrine Couplet
- Qasida
- Chinese Couplet
Two lines - Two weeks to go ;))
Happy writing everyone!