WRITERS’ NEWS
http://www.writers-online.co.uk OCTOBER 2019^91How are you
feeling?
S
TRAVEL^
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OWukhothai is a World Heritage site, the ruins
of an ancient city, which now takes the
form of the remnants of stone buildings
spread across an area of parkland. The
wooden buildings that predominated
are long gone. All this is outside a modern town set
an hour’s flight north of Bangkok. I think it attracts a
good many tourists, but they must spread out, certainly
when I visited I found few people around to spoil the
tranquillity. The place is very atmospheric.
While visiting I climbed to Wat Saphan Hin (meaning
‘temple of the stone bridge’). It is approached up a long
steep stretch of uneven steps. The first part is actually
a ramp, a path built up with rocks and stones with an
increasing drop on either side. Half way up irregular steps
take over, but a sure foot is still needed to mount it safely.
The path progresses, pretty much in a straight line until the
ruined Wat is reached 300 metres above the starting point;
it is a hot climb.
In this kind of place there is a lot for a writer to describe.
A carved stone Buddha figure more than twelve metres
high, named Phra Attharat, stands looking across the ruins
of the small temple. There is little there but the outline of
a building surrounded by trees. Whatever there is can be
described factually: the rocky path up, the Buddha figure
(draped with yellow silk), the view over the park and so on.
But in such a place I am reminded that there is another way
to approach this – or indeed any other place you visit. That
is how it makes you feel.
One paragraph I wrote about this was:
It had seemed quiet in the area below. Up high the quiet
took on a whole new dimension. I sat alone for a while on a
stone wall looking out over the area spread out far below: its
various largely terracotta buildings, statues and ruins widely-
spaced amidst the tree scattered parkland displayed minimal
signs of other visitors. Everything seemed a long way off. The
extreme serenity and quiet beauty of the place around me took
over. I could have stayed there, content in the silence, for a
very long time.
The reflective mood brought on by such an atmospheric
place was just one aspect of how I felt, which included
more mundane thoughts: for example I was getting very
hot sitting in the sun after a tiring climb. In reviewing
descriptions that you write it is useful to think separately
about the factual description, what you can actually see
around you, and the feelings that you experience prompted
by your surroundings. You can decide which aspects you
should give priority to and check that together they provide
an impression that fits your intentions.Patrick Forsyth suggests going beyond
facts to bring your travel writing to lifeNomads want emotional and sensory travel stories
GLOBAL TRAVEL MARKET
Jenny RocheAiming to ‘uncover the best, the funniest, the freshest,
the most gut wrenching or just the most beautiful
stories’ World Nomads is looking for travel writers,
photographers and film makers around the world to
contribute their ‘personal, authentic stories about
life changing journeys and experiences’. Love, fear,
discovery, connection and transformation are the emotional experiences to
aim for in addition to the sensory experiences of journeys.
To help with submitting articles suitable for this magazine the website
guidelines have a list of questions to ask of your story together with
examples of published stories. There are also lists for photographers
and filmmakers to ask of their stories. To help further, the website has
‘storytelling tips from the pros’.
In the first instance pitch your idea for an article making sure the
theme, content and tone fit with the magazine. Include a title of a
maximum forty characters and a synopsis of no more than 250 words
explaining the story subject, format, category, what makes it emotionally
compelling and why you are the right person to tell it. Also say a little
about yourself and your professional experience. There is an example of a
good pitch on the website.
Payment rates on publication of written stories of 600-800 words is 50¢
per word. See website for photo essay and video story payments.
Website: http://www.worldnomads.co.uk
Fine words in four categories
The 2020 Segora creative writing competitions are open for entry in four
categories.- Poetry competition for original, unpublished poems up to 50 lines. The
prizes are £300, £100 and £50. The entry fee is £5 for one, £7.50 for two,
£10 for three, £12.50 for four, £15 for five and £17.50 for six. - Short story competition for original, unpublished short stories between
1,500 and 3,000 words. The prizes are £300, £100 and £50. The entry fees
are £8 for one, £14 for two and £20 for three. - Vignette competition for vignettes of 300 words. There is a prize of
£100. The entry fees are £5 for one, £7.50 for two, £10 for three, £12.50 for
four, £15 for five and £17.50 for six. - One act play competition for original, unpublished and unproduced/
performed playscripts up to 35 minutes. The prizes are £150 and £50.
The closing date is 15 June.
Website: http://www.poetryproseandplays.com
Long smoke, quick flash
The SmokeLong Quarterly Award for Flash Fiction is open
for entries and has a first prize of $2,000. The winner will
also be nominated for The Best Small Fictions, the Pushcart
Prize and be published in The Smokelong Quarterly in June.
The second prize is $200 and the third, $100. The
runners up and finalists will be published in The Smokelong
Quarterly and finalists will get $50.
Enter original, unpublished short fiction up to 1,000 words. Stories
written in a non-English language accompanied by an English translation
may be entered.
The entry fee is $13.50 up to April 26 and $15.50 after that, and is for up
to two stories in the same submission.
The closing date is 24 May.
Website: http://www.smokelong.com