Category Archives: writing prompt

The Things What We ‘Ave Been Doing

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The last we spoke to you lovely folks at Short Stops, we were announcing the release of the latest issue of Bunbury Magazine, the Unexplained Special. The response to this issue has been phenomenal and we want to thank all you lovely Short-Stoppers for coming by and reading it along with all the regular Bunburyists.

We do know as well that Short Stops has new visitors every day. We would not want all you wonderful folks to miss out so once again, here is a link to the Unexplained Special.

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We here at Bunbury do not rest on our laurels however! We have been working tirelessly to make the experience for our readers and followers as immersive as possible. Last year, we started a blog of our own; a place where we could have a rant and rave about this, that and the other. Since then, we have upgraded to a fully fledged site with as much detail about who we are and what we do. It is home to our blog (more on this in a moment) and details of upcoming issue and more (again, there will be more on this in a moment!) Come and have a look at our new shiny-dancing website here: www.bunburymagazine.com

Firstly, we would like to welcome a new member of our team. Rhea Seren Phillips who is joining us as Executive Editor. She has had many fantastic poems and stories printed in Bunbury in the past and it is a genuine pleasure to have her on board. You can click on her name just above for more details about her.

Our Editor and co-creator has also started a rather insane challenge. This year, for the entire year, allllllll year, he will be writing a poem a day, with no regard to his sanity whatsoever. In fact, so far, there have been days where he has written more than one. We think he’s a closet masochist to be honest. You can catch up on the entire thing at the #PoemADayForForAYear blog and come and get involved on our Twitter account, @MagazineBunbury with the #PoemADayForAYear hashtag.

While we are talking Twitter, we have started a new prompting challenge on Twitter. Every Monday, Thursday and Saturday we will be posting a prompt for all you lovely people to write some micro-poetry. Send your responses to the hashtag #bunburyezine.

What else, what else. Oh, the content for the magazine for the next issue! We really want to announce some very exciting plans for the next issue but unfortunately our hands are tied so all we can say is this:

Last night, we sat writing an interview and then making it all fanciful for one of our favourite *redacted*. *redacted*, who played *redacted*. *redacted* will be talking to us about *redacted* and just about anything really! I almost wet myself when we made contact and *redacted* agreed. And if that wasn’t exciting enough, we also have *redacted*, who played *redacted*, talking to us about *redacted*. Oh my, it was almost too much for us!

Speaking of the next issue, as always we are looking for submissions from you lovely folk. The theme for the next issue is ‘Power’, so whether you write short stories, flash fiction, poetry or do art, photography…you know what, you know the drill by now, come and send us what you got! The new email address is submissions@bunburymagazine.com

One very, very last thing! On 17th February we are holding the latest of the Do The Write Thing events at Bar Ten on Silver Street in Bury, just outside of Manchester. It’s a fun-filled extravaganza of spoken word, games and drinks! If you can, get over as it’s always a great night and it’s also the night of Editor Keri’s birthday! Double the reason to get along! You can find more information about it on the link just above or on our Facebook event here: Do The Write Thing Birthday Edition.

That’s it for now, dear Short Stoppers and Bunburyists. Come say hello some time. We miss you!

Writing Maps January Contest

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BlueWrite about Blue Things.

The prompt for January’s Writing Contest is: Make a creative list of blue things. Write this list as a list poem, or in the form of a short story, a graphic story or a snippet of memoir. Fiction or autobiography, SF or mis mem, erotic or academic. Think blue skies and the deep blue sea, think music and the blues, think blue movies, blue collar, and blue plasters in restaurant kitchens. Think literally and metaphorically, what has been and is blue in your life or the life of a character. Maximum 150 words.

For list and colour inspiration, visit us on Twitter throughout the week. In the meantime, check out Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue, watch Derek Jarman’s Blue, read Julie Maroh’s Blue is the Warmest Colour.

Please make sure to view our full guidelines here. In brief, the main rules are:

Entry is free. One entry per person. All genres welcome. All writers welcome. 150 words max.

Deadline is 31 January 2015.

The two winning entries will be published in The A3 Review, Issue #2, and will receive a set of our new #iamwriting Notecards.

Good luck and good writing!

New Writing Maps Writing Contest and Prizes

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Granta Issue 27“Life is hell, but at least there are prizes.” Janet Frame’s story, “Prizes”, is one of the best you’ll ever read about prizes! You can listen to Miranda July read it as a New Yorker fiction podcast here.

And talking of prizes…

We’re giving away two subscriptions to Granta magazine for one year (4 issues) to the winners of this month’s Writing Maps Writing Contest.

The prompt for December’s Writing Contest is: Write a piece about a prize you won or wanted to win, or almost won, or dreamt of winning. Or maybe you regret having won a prize. Or you were a runner up, or you didn’t turn up for the big prize-giving ceremony. As always, you can write this as fiction or creative non-fiction, a short story, a graphic story, a snippet of memoir or a piece of flash fiction, a poem or a prose poem. In 150 words.

The two winners will receive a subscription to Granta magazine. In addition to that, the first 3 submissions to arrive will each receive a pack of 3 Writing Maps; and because we’re great believers in the last-minute submission, the last 3 entries will also receive a pack of 3 Writing Maps.

Please make sure to view our full guidelines here. In brief, the main rules are:

Entry is free. One entry per person. All genres welcome. All writers welcome. 150 words max.

Deadline is 27 December 2014.

The two winning entries will be published in The A3 Review, Issue #2.

Good luck, good writing and have a creative and peaceful festive season!

PS. There’s 50% off all single Writing Maps till the 1st of January. Just enter the discount code SANTA at checkout.

The Survival Kit for Writers & a New Contest

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The Survival Kit for WritersThis month’s Writing Maps Writing Contest coincides with the official launch of The Survival Kit for Writers.

The prompt for November’s Writing Contest is: Write a piece called “How to Procrastinate”. We all find ways to avoid writing! Teach us how to do it in style, or slothfully, or in never-before-imagined ways. Take inspiration from your own modes of procrastination, or from the techniques of others. Check out Lorrie Moore’s book Self-Help for great examples of “How To…” stories. Write your “How to Procrastinate” as a short story, a graphic story, a snippet of memoir, a poem, or a prose poem. In 150 words.

The Survival Kit for Writers includes 3 Writing Maps, a Notebook, a pen, some postcards and stickers, and a bar of organic chocolate by award-winning chocolate-makers, Seed & Bean.

Please make sure to view our full guidelines here. In brief, the main rules are:

Entry is free. One entry per person. All genres welcome. All writers welcome. 150 words max.

Deadline is 22 November 2014.
The two winning entries will be published in The A3 Review, Issue #2. Winners will also receive The Survival Kit for Writers.
Good luck and good writing!

Writing Maps Launches New Map and October Contest

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Writing the Family AlbumThis month’s Writing Maps Writing Contest coincides with the official launch of the new Writing Map, Writing the Family Album, inspired by Sergei Dovlatov’s book Ours.

The prompt for October’s Writing Contest is: Write about a cousin, then and now. In no more than 150 words tell the story of a cousin, yours or a fictional character’s, as they were then and as they are now. As always, you can write this as a short story, a graphic story, a snippet of memoir, a poem, or a prose poem. Fiction or autobiography, SF or mis mem, erotic or academic. In 150 words.

The contest prompt coincides with the launch of our latest Writing Map, Writing the Family Album, in which you’ll be inspired to turn the family album – your own, or the characters you create – into a rich collection of stories.

Please make sure to view our full guidelines here or on the Writing Maps website by clicking here. In brief, the main rules are:

Entry is free. One entry per person. All genres welcome. All writers welcome. 150 words max.

Deadline is 25 October 2014.
The two winning entries will be published in The A3 Review, Issue #2. Winners will also receive two copies of the Writing Map, Writing the Family Album.
Good luck and good writing!

Writing Maps Launches New Lit Mag and September Contest

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This month’s Writing Maps Writing Contest coincides with the official launch of the new Writing Maps lit mag, The A3 Review. Read more about the lit mag and order a copy by clicking here.

The prompt for September’s Writing Contest is: Write about something happening for the first time. Tasting something for the first time, doing something for the first time, going somewhere for the first time. Start with the words “The first time…” You can write this as a short story, a graphic story, a snippet of memoir, a poem, or a prose poem. Fiction or autobiography, SF or mis mem, erotic or academic. In 150 words.

NOTE: You must start with the words “The first time…” Be creative, outrageous, think small and intimate (“The first time we…”), think intergalactic (“The first time they landed on…”), think biography (“The first time Virginia Woolf…”), think beyond the expected (“The first time before the first time…”).

Please make sure to view our full guidelines here or on the Writing Maps website by clicking here. In brief, the main rules are:

Entry is free. One entry per person. All genres welcome. All writers welcome. 150 words max.

Deadline is 27 September 2014.
The two winning entries will be published in The A3 Review, Issue #2. Winners will also receive a copy of The A3 Review, Issue #1 and the new Write Around JW3 Writing Map.
Good luck and good writing!

Krampus Crackers call for flash fiction submissions.

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Are you a UK-based flash fiction writer who’d be happy to take a look at the dark side of Christmas? Are you bored of St Nick, carol singers, paper hats and sherry? Then maybe you’ll be inspired by the myth of Krampus; the horned and cloven-hooved Christmas beast who punishes naughty children.

Terry Whidborne Black(image copyright Terry Whidborne 2014)

Tiny Owl Workshop and Leeds-based writer, Vicky Pointing, are looking for 12 flash fictions to publish and make into sets of ‘Krampus Crackers’. In December these will be distributed throughout Leeds, where there will also be an authors’ event.

The flash fictions should have a Christmas theme, but the Krampus influence can be more interpretative. It could be as literal as telling a story with Krampus as a character, or playing with the polarities Christmas presents—reward vs. punishment, morality vs. debauchery, reality vs. fantasy, and so on. Stories accepted for inclusion will be paid $60 (AUD).

Deadline
Stories must be submitted by email to tinyowlworkshop@gmail.com no later than midnight 5th September 2014.

Writing Maps’ August Writing Contest & The How to Write a Story Map

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How to Write a Story: Writing MapThis month’s Writing Maps Writing Contest coincides with the official launch of How to Write a Story: A Writing Map to Help You Hunt for and Create Stories.

The prompt for August’s Writing Contest is: Make a creative list of red things. Write this list as a list poem, or in the form of a short story, a graphic story or a snippet of memoir. Fiction or autobiography, SF or mis mem, erotic or academic. In 150 words.

For inspiration, you can check out Joe Brainard‘s I Remember or Sei Shonagon’s The Pillow Book, as well as many of Cole Porter’s lyrics. This is cheating! And this is a simple definition of a list poem.

Please make sure to view our full guidelines here or on the Writing Maps website by clicking here. In brief, the main rules are:

Entry is free. One entry per person. All genres welcome. All writers welcome. 150 words max.

Deadline is 23 August 2014.
The two winning entries will be published in The A3 Review, the Writing Maps Journal. This is the last month to qualify for the journal’s inaugural issue. Winners will also receive 2 copies of the new Writing Map.
Good luck and good writing!

Writing Maps’ July Writing Contest & The Big Gay Writing Map

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The Big Gay Writing MapThis month’s Writing Maps Writing Contest coincides with the official launch of The Big Gay Writing Map: Story Ideas for Anyone Who’s a Little Bit Different.

The prompt for July’s Writing Contest is our toughest challenge yet! Write a sex scene without using gender-specific pronouns and without using any punctuation (except a full stop/period at the end, if you want to). This could be a story, poem, graphic story or snippet of memoir. Fiction or autobiography, SF or mis mem, erotic or academic. In 150 words, gender-neutral and punctuation-free. Enjoy!

Please make sure to view our full guidelines here or on the Writing Maps website by clicking here. In brief, the main rules are:

Entry is free. One entry per person. All genres welcome. All writers welcome. 150 words max.

Deadline is 26 July 2014.
The two winning entries will be published in A3, the Writing Maps Journal, and winners will receive 2 copies of the new Writing Map.
Good luck and good writing!

Writing Maps June Contest and Pack of Notebooks

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Writing Maps NotebooksWriting Maps, the illustrated posters with creative writing prompts and story ideas, launches its 4th monthly Writing Contest. The June contest coincides with the official launch of the Writing Maps Pack of 5 Notebooks, and this month’s two winners will receive a complete pack of notebooks, along with publication in A3, a new fold-out literary magazine. The first issue will appear in September 2014.

The challenge is to write a 150-word piece in response to the Prompt of the Month.  June’s Writing Maps Writing Contest opens on 21st June 2014. Deadline is: 28 June 2014. Did you know we’re the quickest contest in town – one week between announcement and deadline!

The prompt for June’s Writing Contest is a title. Write a story, poem, graphic story or snippet of memoir called “Ode to My Notebook”. For some extra inspiration, check out Pablo Neruda’s “Ode to My Suit” or Gertrude Stein’s Tender Buttons. As always, we’re looking for pieces that are quirky and intense, that give us a glimpse into private worlds, and that make us feel nicely awkward. In 150 words, show your notebook (or a character’s notebook) some love!

Please make sure to view our full guidelines here or on the Writing Maps website by clicking here. In brief, the main rules are:

Entry is free. One entry per person.
All genres welcome. All writers welcome.
150 words max.
Deadline is 28 June 2014, which is just a few days from now.
The two winning entries will be published in A3, the Writing Maps Journal.

Writing Maps: May Contest and Box of Maps

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Writing Maps Box SetWriting Maps, the illustrated posters with writing inspiration and story ideas, launches its 3rd monthly Writing Contest. The May contest coincides with the launch of the Writing Maps Box Set, and this month’s two winners will receive the box set, along with publication in A3, a new fold-out literary magazine to be published every six months. The first issue will appear in September 2014.

The challenge is to write a 150-word piece in response to the Prompt of the Month.  May’s Writing Maps Writing Contest opens 17 May 2014. Deadline is: 24 May 2014. Yes, we’re the quickest contest in town! Click here to visit the site for submission guidelines and the May prompt.

April’s prompt was inspired by the new Write Up Your Street: A Neighbourhood Writing Map. The prompt was: Write about something someone told you about your neighbourhood: a rumour, an urban myth, an event, a local hero/villain, a landmark or a building that’s no longer there. Tell the story in their voice or your own, or the voice of a fictional narrator. The winning entries were: Mark Bicton’s “Grave Robbers” and Francesca Brooks’ “I Came to Find You”.

A Big Thank You!

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Thank you to everyone who entered Brittle Star‘s first open writing competition.

We had a little shy of 700 entries – a good mix of poetry and short fiction – which we thought was a fantastic response! Thank you to everyone who helped us to spread the word – it was massively appreciated.thank-you-flower

The launch of our next issue and the prize giving for the competition will take place at The Barbican Library, Silk St, London, 16 July at 7pm (doors open 6.30). Pencil this date in your diaries – in fact write it in in thick, black biro! There will be readings from contributors to the magazine, as well as the winners of our competition.

Reading the notice above, I’m reminded of our new nudge because it’s full of adjectives – ‘open’, ‘good’, ‘fantastic’, ‘massive’, ‘thick, black’ – if it was a poem or story I was writing then I wouldn’t know where to put my face! It’s a good job it’s a notice! Our new writing nudge is ‘Move away from the adjective…’ go and have a look to find out why!

Adam Foulds, SAND Journal and unknown writers making it

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This month is proving a very exciting one for Visual Verse contributors. As well as having Booker Prize nominated author Adam Foulds headlining on the site, we are thrilled to announce a collaboration with the Berlin based literary journal, SAND.

Screen Shot 2014-04-07 at 16.10.09

More of that shortly, though. First, Kristen Harrison (Visual Verse curator) and I want to thank all the contributors who made the March Visual Verse our best month since we launched last November. Our image was by artist and illustrator Denise Nestor: a precariously balanced tower of birds who seemed to be sleeping, or dead. The writers loved it – so much so, we had 80 submissions in one month, which was unprecedented. Each piece was astonishing: carefully observed and written to make every word carry weight. The chapter as a whole is a thing of beauty in itself, it is fascinating to see how one image can bring so many responses.

Some of my favourite lines: ‘What does the sheep think of the sky?’ in Tristan Forster’s elegiac prose poem; Sarah James’ wonderfully  forensic piece, with the line,  ‘the delicacy of coiled intestines and death plucks song’ and of course our lead writer Adam Marek’s short story, with its simple control of voice: ‘The cheese was all prickly. Like battery tops. We fought the cheese was bad, but when we noticed the same taste was in everyfin, we realised it was our mouths.’

This month is lead by another Adam – Adam Foulds, whose Booker nominated ‘The Quickening Maze’ and ‘The Broken Word’ are poetry laced with violence and despair. The perfect choice for this month’s image, by photographer Marcus Bastel. I absolutely love reading all the submissions we get each day, and even more taking part in the conversation about them that is growing on twitter. I read and consider everything  – there are only a couple of rules – it must be 50-500 words, written in the space of one hour in response to the image. It should not have been published anywhere before.

Those who submit find new opportunities opening up for them too. I’m delighted to say that Berlin-based SAND journal will be featuring Visual Verse in their next issue. In consultation with us, they have selected four pieces to publish in SAND Issue 09, both in print and online. SAND exposes fresh literary talent from Berlin and beyond and we are proud to be featured in it.

I can’t wait to read what the month will bring. If you are thinking of submitting, the only thing I would say is  – you won’t regret it. Visual Verse is all about collaboration between what you see and how you write, you, us, our readers: art and words. The image is the starting point, the text is up to you. Enjoy!

Preti Taneja
Editor, Visual Verse