Stroud Short Stories is Open for Submissions until 8 March 2020

Posted January 25, 2020

Filed under live lit

Stroud Short Stories is currently open for submissions for its special 20th event which is dedicated to Stroud writer Rick Vick who sadly died at the end of November. There were obituaries for Rick in The Times and The Guardian. Here is the latter.

The event is for all Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire writers. The theme this time is DISRUPTION. Submissions are free and you may submit unpublished or published stories. Ten stories will be selected and their authors will read/perform them at our event.

The deadline is the end of Sunday 8 March and the event is on Sunday 19 April at the 150-seater Cotswold Playhouse. Tickets will go on sale on 20 March.

All information about submitting is on the Stroud Short Stories website.

Story Friday LEAP! Call for submissions

Posted December 10, 2019

Filed under call for submissions, live lit

Story Friday in February has the theme LEAP! in celebration of 2020 as a leap year. Story Friday is on 28th February, the day before the leaping day, and we want to revel in the glory of this springing theme! Whether your stories feature proposals or boxing hares, Christmas lords or death defying jumps, we are so looking forward to reading what you come up with!

Story Friday LEAP! will be on 28th February, deadline for submissions is 17th February. We’re looking for stories that are 2,000 words or fewer. (Full submission details are here). Writers must be available to come to Bath for the event. If you’d rather not read, we have wonderful actors who can read your story for you.

For more information about Story Friday, to listen to stories that we have recorded at our events over the years, and/or to submit your story please visit A Word In Your Ear.

Spooky stories for grown ups

Posted October 19, 2019

Filed under live lit

Are you brave enough to listen to Halloween tales in a haunted Folkestone bar?

The ghosts of Eleto Chocolate Cafe, Rendevous Street, are once again hosting Hand of Doom’s Spooky Stories for Grown Ups on Saturday, October 26.

Come and and hear some monstrous, terrifying and silly tales from 8pm.

Drinks are available from the bar. Competition during the interval to win some ghoulishly cheap treats.

Tickets cost £6 and are available on the door or from Ticket Source.

spooky stories 2019 jpeg

Story Friday Chemistry – we want your stories!

Posted October 3, 2019

Filed under live lit

After a lovely long summer and story walks in the sun, Story Fridays is back inside, at Burdall’s Yard in Bath. Our next event in November has the theme Chemistry. Are you thinking of bunsen burners, or eyes meeting across a crowded room? Whatever you choose, chemistry is all about reactions, explosive or otherwise. We can’t wait to see where our latest theme takes you!

Story Friday Chemistry will be on 8th November, deadline for submissions is 28th October. We’re looking for stories that are 2,000 words or fewer. (Full submission details are here). Writers must be available to come to Bath for the event. If you’d rather not read, we have wonderful actors who can read your story for you.

For more information about Story Friday, to listen to stories that we have recorded at our events over the years, and/or to submit your story please visit A Word In Your Ear.

Words That Go Bump in the Night – Warwick Live Lit!

Posted October 2, 2019

Filed under live lit

Let us creep a little closer to Hallowe’en courtesy of Words That Go Bump in the Night – a spooky live lit event at the Warwick Arms Hotel, Jury Street, Warwick, on Thursday 10^thof October. Be part of our invited audience and enjoy some exceptional 5 minute stories, poems and plays all with a ghostly, other-wordly theme. Run by author Jenny Heap, her Words Of events have been playing both Spring and Autumn seasons to ever growing audiences and participants. If you’ve never attended a Words Of live lit event before come along to Words That Go Bump In The Night on the 10^thof October to hear some great writing from local authors. 7.30pm and £3 on the door. See you there!

Stroud Short Stories is open for submissions until 29 September 2019

Posted September 1, 2019

Filed under live lit

Stroud Short Stories is open until the end of Sunday 29 September for submissions from Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire writers.

It’s free to submit and we will select ten stories to be read by their authors at our 19th event on Sunday 10 November at the 150-seater Cotswold Playhouse. Our last 13 events have all sold out.

The event is part of the 2019 Stroud Book Festival.

It’s an open theme this time so any subject matter, any style so long as it’s a short story of no more than 1,500 words.

Information about our rules and how to submit is on the SSS website.

Tickets, priced at £8, go on sale on the Playhouse website on 11 October.

Short Shorts Friday

Plug into FaxFiction

Posted July 10, 2019

Filed under live lit

Old technology – we all used it, and it’s still there: cassette tapes, floppy discs, videos, 35mm slides, overhead projectors, Ansaphones, games consoles, View-Masters, faxes, Dictaphones, reel to reel, Ceefax… How did we function with these ancient machines, these relics of the future?

Hopefully these six writers hold the answer: Writer-in-Residence at Manchester’s Victoria Baths Sarah-Clare Conlon, Sawn-off Tales author David Gaffney, John Rylands Library Writer-in-Residence Rosie Garland, Creative Writing lecturer Valerie O’Riordan, Bad Language host Fat Roland and Nicholas Royle, series editor of Best British Short Stories.

FAXFICTION 2019

In FaxFiction, six brand-new short stories will focus on old technologies, and will each be performed using artefacts gathered especially for the event. Made uniquely for the Refract:19 festival, which takes place annually at Greater Manchester arts centre Waterside, this unique show on Saturday 27 July will also feature the live premiere of an installation commissioned from sound artist Gary Fisher.

Tickets cost £8 (£6 concessions) – book here.

Liars’ League: INFINITY & BEYOND short stories, Tuesday 11th June

Posted June 10, 2019

Filed under live lit

WE HAVE LIFT-OFF! Liars’ League‘s sci-fi-flavoured special to commemorate 50 years since the moon landings features five forward-looking stories exploring the ultimate theme. Teleport into The Phoenix, Cavendish Square on Tuesday 11th June to experience deep space, time-travel tourism, cryogenics gone wrong, vanishing clones, astronautical ambitions and a terrifying game of Murder in the Dark …

INFINITY & BEYOND WINNING STORIES
London 2025 by Wan Shinfah NEW AUTHOR, read by Cliff Chapman
Proxima Centauri by Oliver Parkes NEW AUTHOR, read by Greg Page
How to be an Astronaut by Alice Franklin, read by Gloria Sanders
The Martlet by Abigail Lee, read by Lois Tucker
Frozen Futures by Rhys Timson, read by Tony Bell

Usual NASA rules apply: doors open at 7pm for a 7.30 start and tickets are £5 on the door (currently cash only, sorry, but there’s a cashpoint 2 minutes away). Entry includes a programme, participation in our infamous book quiz where fantastic science fiction can be won, and of course all the Flying Saucers you can eat. Drinks and food are available at the bar throughout. There’s no pre-booking, but tables for four or more can be reserved by calling 07808 939535.

The venue is the downstairs bar at: The Phoenix Pub, 37 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PP

Accessibility note: Access to the basement is via stairs: there’s no lift, sadly. The Phoenix is 5 minutes’ walk from Oxford Circus tube station, which is on the Victoria, Bakerloo and Central lines

Dive in to Weekend of Words

Posted May 12, 2019

Filed under festival

Manchester’s iconic Victoria Baths is open for writing business on Friday 7, Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 June 2019, when the heritage pool and washhouse complex will be echoing with original voices thanks to a brand-new festival, Weekend Of Words.

As well as writing workshops – including flash fiction with Some Of Us Glow More Than Others author Tania Hershman at the helm – immerse yourself on Saturday with six brand-new short stories, specially commissioned for the event and taking the Baths as their jump-off point.

Grab a drink and a deckchair, sit back and enjoy a backdrop of magical projections and the writers in your midst: Victoria Baths’ inaugural Writer-in-Residence Sarah-Clare Conlon, Kate Feld, co-host of literary podcast The End Of All Things, Sawn-off Tales flash fiction master David Gaffney, Phil Olsen of Sabotage Reviews, Somerset Maugham Award-winner Joe Stretch, and Lara Williams, author of short story collection Treats and novel Supper Club.

All the ticketing links for Saturday’s events are here; wade in.

Weekend Of Words also marks the official launch of the Victoria Baths Splash Fiction Competition, complete with cash prize. Anyone can take the plunge – find out more here.

Stroud Short Stories ‘Incendiary!’ Sunday 19 May – Tickets on Sale

Posted April 25, 2019

Filed under live lit

Tickets are now on sale for the 18th Stroud Short Stories event Incendiary! on Sunday 19 May –

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/date/638976

Tickets are priced as usual at £8. The event, at our new venue, the 150-seater Cotswold Playhouse, Parliament Street, Stroud, GL5 1LW, starts at 8pm (doors 7.30).

Ten Gloucestershire authors will be reading their stories about fire, heat, passion, anger and rebellion selected from the 113 stories submitted.

The authors are –

Robin Booth

Joanna Campbell

Louise Elliman

Michael Hurst

Jason Jackson

Emma Kernahan

Geoff Mead

Chloe Turner

Steve Wheeler (aka Steven John)

Alwin Wiederhold

All info on the Stroud Short Stories website

Masterclasses and author talks for short fiction lovers

Posted April 17, 2019

Filed under Masterclass

For five years Novel Nights has been at the forefront of live lit in Bristol & Bath, programming author talks with authors like Maggie Gee and Nathan Filer.

This year we’re launching masterclasses, taught by experienced academics and writers. Tom Vowler will teach our first class, From Spark to Flame: Forging The Short Story on 27th April. Tom is short fiction editor at Unthank Books, has published two short story collections and his third novel is out soon. He teaches at Arvon Foundation and Plymouth University.

“A masterclass to unlock some of the mysteries of this dazzling literary form. Aimed at both emerging and published writers, the class will explore how stories are crafted, how you can bring them to life, give them voltage and vitality.”

On September 8th, Vanessa Gebbie will lead a day-long flash-fiction masterclass in Bristol. Tickets in advance.

“An in-depth look at flash fiction, aimed at any writer who is interested to start or continue an exploration of this sparkling form. You will create many fresh pieces thanks to tried and tested games and exercises – your tutor never asks you to share your writing, so you are unencumbered as you play freely and focus on meeting your new characters, voices and forms within forms.” Vanessa Gebbie has won awards for both prose and poetry, including a Bridport Prize and the Troubadour. Author of ten books, including five collections of short fictions, two of poetry and a novel, she is also commissioning and contributing editor of Short Circuit: Guide to the Art of the Short Story (Salt).

Novella-in-flash author talk

On May 11th we’ve invited Michael Loveday, judge of the 2019 Bath Novella-in-Flash Award, to discuss writing a Novella-in-Flash and to share insights into the judging process.

Tickets only £8.50 from Novel Nights. Square Club, Bristol. BS8 1HB. Flash writers are welcome to submit to read

Liars’ League BEFORE & AFTER story readings – this Tuesday April 9th

Posted April 6, 2019

Filed under live lit

rollercoaster crop text

As Brexit looms (or does it? who knows …?!) long-running, award-winning live literature legends Liars’ League have selected six superb stories of choice & change to take your mind off it all at our BEFORE & AFTER show on Tuesday 9th April. There are escapes & tippingpoints, cats & cows, sex & death, poetry & fistfights, yoga & porn, the Berlin Wall & a fishtank full of ghosts. And it’s STILL only £5 entry, which includes a programme, our infamous book quiz, and free birthday cake because we’re 12 🙂

WINNING STORIES for BEFORE & AFTER
Last Rites by Jess Worsdale, read by David Mildon
Namaste Bitches by Ana Soria, read by Keleigh Wolf
Counterfiction by Tim Aldrich, read by Tim Larkfield
The Poetry of Jenny by Gerard McKeown, read by Zach Harrison
No East or West by Mark Sadler, read by Silas Hawkins
Olena’s Scalpel by Alan Graham, read by Patsy Prince

Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30 start and tickets are a fiver on the door (currently cash only, sorry, but there’s a cashpoint across the street). Drinks and food are available at the bar throughout. There’s no pre-booking, but tables for four or more can be reserved by calling 07808 939535.

The venue is the downstairs bar at: The Phoenix Pub, 37 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PP

Accessibility note: Access to the basement is via stairs: there’s no lift, sadly. The Phoenix is 5 minutes’ walk from Oxford Circus tube station, which is on the Victoria, Bakerloo and Central lines.

P.S. Want to submit a story for our next event, Infinity & Beyond? Deadline is Sunday 5th May and all the details are here.

Story Friday The Garden – Call for Submissions

Posted March 31, 2019

Filed under live lit

Story Friday in May has the theme The Garden. I don’t know about where you are, but here in Bath the blossom is blooming, the tulips are budding and spring is definitely springing. So take a stroll down the garden path and let your imagination fly.

Story Friday The Garden will be on 3rd May, deadline for submissions is 22nd April. That’s very soon, so get writing! We’re looking for stories that are 2,000 words or fewer. (Full submission details are here). Writers must be available to come to Bath for the event. If you’d rather not read, we have wonderful actors who can read your story for you.

For more information about Story Friday, to listen to stories that we have recorded at our events over the years, and/or to submit your story please visit A Word In Your Ear.

Stroud Short Stories is open for submissions until 31 March

Posted March 4, 2019

Filed under live lit, Uncategorized

Stroud Short Stories is open for submissions from Gloucs and South Gloucs writers until 31 March – for our 19 May 2019 event in a new venue, the Cotswold Playhouse in Stroud. It’s free to submit and we are happy to consider published and unpublished work.

There’s a theme this time – Incendiary! Think of the theme as widely and flexibly as possible – stories about fire, heat, passion, anger, rebellion, incineration, climate change, inflamed senses, etc, etc.

As well as reading before an audience of 150 short story lovers at the Cotswold Playhouse in Stroud, the authors of the ten stories chosen will be offered a place in our next published anthology – due 2021.

Tickets for the 19 May event will be available from 21 April on the Cotswold Playhouse website.

All the info you need is on our website – http://stroudshortstories.blogspot.com/

Story Friday Invitation – Call For Submissions

Posted January 30, 2019

Filed under call for submissions, live lit

Best invitation ever? Worst??

Story Friday in March has the theme Invitation… to the ball, to the party, to the pub, to the moon, to the wedding, to heaven, to hell? What is more intriguing than the perfect – or imperfect – invitation? We are inviting writers to write their favourite invitation story for a glorious story-party in March.

Story Friday Invitation will be on 22nd March, deadline for submissions is 11th March. We’re looking for stories that are 2,000 words or fewer. (Full submission details are here). Writers must be available to come to Bath for the event. If you’d rather not read, we have wonderful actors who can read your story for you.

For more information about Story Friday, to listen to stories that we have recorded at our events over the years, and/or to submit your story please visit A Word In Your Ear.

Story Fridays ‘2018’ – call for submissions

Posted December 21, 2018

Filed under call for submissions, live lit

How was 2018 for you?

We think it has been quite a year. We’d like to reflect on it and even celebrate it at Story Friday with stories that are inspired by events that happened in 2018. These events can be personal, local, national, international; they can be political, environmental, romantic, comic, tragic. We’d like a whole range of responses to what we’ve just experienced, as we usher in the new dawn of 2019.

Story Friday 2018 will be on 25th January 2019, deadline for submissions Monday 14th January. We’re looking for stories that are 2,000 words or fewer. (Full submission details here). Writers must be available to come to Bath for the event. If you’d rather not read, we have wonderful actors who can read your story for you.

!! STORY FRIDAY CHALLENGE !!

January’s Story Friday is all about events that have just happened, so for this Story Friday we have a special challenge.

As well as the submissions about 2018, for the first time we want to include ONE special story, inspired by a NEWS story the week before Story Friday! (ie between 18th and 24th January). Deadline is Thursday midday 24th January, the day before Story Friday. Max word count is 1,000 words. You are very welcome to submit both to Story Friday 2018 AND to the Challenge. The chosen story will be read by an actor at Story Friday.

Talk about HOT OFF THE PRESS!!!

For more information: A Word In Your Ear

Story Friday Feast – call for submissions!

Posted September 29, 2018

Filed under live lit

As we hurtle towards Christmas we’re planning our next Story Friday and the theme is Feast! We’re looking for stories long and short that touch on feasting. You might go traditional and give us tables laden with roast meats and suet puddings, or take us to far-flung corners of the globe for fresh mangoes and newly dropped coconuts. You might decide that lack-of-feast, or famine, is your interest, or look at a feast that has nothing to do with food. However you want to interpret the theme we know we will be intrigued by your offerings!

Story Friday Feast will be on November 30th, deadline for submissions is on 19th November. Please check that you are available to come along to Burdall’s Yard in Bath on the 30th November before you submit.

We are looking for short stories or monologues, fact or fiction (but mainly fiction), maximum 2,000 words. If you want to enter a flash piece that can work too, either for the stage, or in print – recently we’ve included a flash piece in our programme for the audience to read in the interval and take home with them. No poetry, thank you.

We have some wonderful professional actors who are very happy to read your story if performance gives you the jitters. Olly Langdon of Kilter Theatre (who is also our brilliant host) will read a male voice, and we have a number of female actors who can read stories which need a female voice. Let us know in your email when you submit if you’d like someone else to read your piece.

To submit, click here.

Sept Round-Up II

Posted September 17, 2018

Filed under round-up

Competitions

The BBC National Short Story Award announces an all-female shortlist. The READ Foundation is running a writing competition, deadline Oct 10th, and has 12 tips to get you started.

Live Lit

An evening of stand-up storytelling is being held tonight (Monday 17th September) in Warwick. Stroud Short Stories is launching its anthology of stories performed at its events on Sept 28th, Stroud. Story Sunday is calling for submissions on the theme of “The Fall” by Sept 23rd for its event in Bristol on Oct 7th.

Lit Mags & Anthology

Fictive Dream is calling for submissions, as is Breve New Stories, deadline Oct 15th.

Workshops & Short Story Month

The inaugural Short Story September is half way through, run by Dahlia Publishing, with profiles of short story writers and a daily writing prompt.

Gail Aldwin is running a flash fiction workshop at the Clevedon Community Bookshop on Oct 4th. Paul McVeigh is running a workshop, That Killer First Page, in Dublin on October 13th.

Launch of new Stroud Short Stories Anthology

Posted September 13, 2018

Filed under Anthology, live lit