WRITERS’ NEWS
90 MARCH 2020 http://www.writers-online.co.ukPDR Lindsay-SalmonUK FICTION MARKET
Stories up to
1,000 words could
earn a share of a
Can$200 minimum
prize pool in the
Axe to Grind flash
fiction contest.
Entries cost $5,
with all entry fees
contributing to the
prize. The closing
date is 31 March.
Website: https://
darlingaxe.com/
pages/axe-to-grindThe Flash
500 quarterly
competition for
short stories up
to 500 words has
prizes of £300,
£200 and £100. The
entry fee is £5 for
one story and the
next closing date is
31 March.
Website: http://www.
flash500.comThe Legend
Times group has
launched a new
imprint, Hero
Press, specialising
in ‘inspirational
and thought-
provoking’ non-
fiction. With a focus
on general non-
fiction, wellbeing,
popular science,
culture and gift
books, Hero
partly replaces
the now defunct
Legend Business,
The Bookseller
reported. The
Legend Business
backlist will be split
between Hero and
the University of
Buckingham Press,
which Legend
acquired last year.Dub poet Roger
Robinson has won
the £25,000 TS Eliot
Prize for poetry
with his collection
A Portable
Paradise, which
is published by
Leeds-based indie
Peepal Tree Press.‘All storytelling
is building on
tradition and what
has been before.’
Crime author
Jo NesbøFLASHES
Choosy Beggars
UK indie
Galley
Beggar
Press is
‘committed to
publishing daring,
innovative fiction and
narrative non-fiction’.
They favour ‘writers of
great literary talent writing outside the norm, who push the
boundaries of form and language’.
They seem to know how to pick them as their list of
prizewinning authors over their seven years of existence is
impressive, most recently Lucy Ellman’s Ducks, Newburyport.
The team publish ‘adult literary fiction (novels and short
story collections) and narrative non-fiction’ only. Nothing
else, so writers are asked to please not disgrace themselves
by submitting poetry or genre fiction, or submitting other
unsuitable titles.
Check the website guidelines carefully for submission
windows. They alter depending on how many submissions
there are to deal with. With 200+ email queries a day, things
can get busy. Usually there are a couple of special submission
periods during the year ‘to encourage writers who are
currently under-represented in UK publishing’.
Submit a full manuscript by email, with a covering letter/
email. Don’t forget to mention which of their books were
read. Synopses are welcome but not essential. The team
welcome submissions from agented and non-agented writers
and ‘actively encourage submissions from women, BAME,
disabled, working class and LGBT writers’.
Response time is ‘within six months’. Payment, rights and
royalties are discussed on acceptance.
Details: Galley Beggar Press, email subs to:
[email protected];
website: http://www.galleybeggar.co.ukA twice-yearly
curated scratch
night of new
ideas from
theatre makers
and live artists,
Outside Eyes
takes place in
Glasgow’s Tron
Theatre and
is the place to
work out your ideas in front of an audience
which includes peers and industry people in
addition to those wanting to see new work.
Those who are successful in having their
work selected will receive £165 for their
performance on the night. The performance
will be professionally photographed and
there will be written audience feedback. The
lead applicant will also receive a six-month
membership of MAKER which gives a range
of access opportunities, discounts and benefits
useful to any playwright.
In the first instance, submit a script of
no more than fifteen minutes which has a
basic set-up. You can work with the available
lighting, sound and AV stock available on
the day but if you need anything specific this
should be mentioned when applying.
To submit, complete the application and
Equalities Monitoring forms on the website
and upload your work before the deadline of
5pm on 2 March. If successful you will hear
within two weeks of the deadline. The Scratch
Night will take place on 21 April 2020.
Submit through the website: http://www.tron.
co.uk/creative/WEIGHTY
OPPORTUNITY
Swallow Publishing, in
association with Mythic
Picnic, need work for
an unusual anthology,
Humans in the Wild:
Reactions to a Gun Loving
Country. Author, Kathy
Fish, is providing the lead
story in the anthology and
the editorial team seek
thirty additional pieces.
Submit ‘original, poetry,
essays, fiction, and art’,
with prose limited to
2,500 words maximum.
The team want all the work to explore the
reactions of those affected by gun violence. The
anthology will be sold as a print and ebook and
a percentage of the net proceeds from sales go to
charities, especially to anti-gun violence charitableorganisations. The team
are encouraging writers to
donate their payment to
a charity of their choice
as well.
Paste your ssubmission
into the body of an email,
or attach as a pdf/docx/jpg.
Include full contact
details in the body of
the email, plus a bio,
and include details of
your preferred charity if
donating the payment.
The deadline is 25 March, with chosen contributors
hopefully notified by 1 April. Payment is $50.
Details: Humans in the Wild: Reactions to a Gun
Loving Country, email subs to: [email protected];
website: http://www.swallowpublishing.com/2019/11/19/
call-for-submissions-gun-violenceWords against guns