Category Archives: Writing

Don’t Fear Writer’s Block

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Karen Whitelaw

All writers experience those dreaded periods of not being able to write. We wander around the house, not knowing what to do, berating ourselves for not writing, depressed because we haven’t written for days, weeks, months. We fill the hours … Continue reading →

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Catchfire Press Submissions

Posted on September 5, 2013 by Karen Whitelaw

Catchfire Press is calling for submissions of prose and poetry for their latest competition. All entries will be considered for inclusion in their new publication WATERMARK. It is also inviting submissions for the cover design. This opportunity is open to … Continue reading →

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Dear Writer,

Posted on September 1, 2013 by Karen Whitelaw

Yes, that’s you. That’s the dilemma, isn’t it? When can you legitimately call yourself a writer? When is it okay to look someone in the eye and say with conviction, ‘I am a writer.’ You are a writer if: – … Continue reading →

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Can characters shape the plot?

Posted on August 24, 2013 by Karen Whitelaw

“I usually have one firm character, perhaps two, and an underlying theme – certainly a situation. And from then on, if it works at all, the characters shape the plot rather than the other way round.” Jessica Anderson in Yacker … Continue reading →

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Subtext: the art of saying what can’t be said

Posted on August 17, 2013 by Karen Whitelaw

I’ve noticed that during times of extreme emotion or fear I’m at my most inarticulate. Either my mind goes blank, or is so full of raw emotion words don’t form coherent patterns. In fiction it’s often the same for characters. … Continue reading →

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Winning over Short Story Competition Judges – Part 2

Posted on August 10, 2013 by Karen Whitelaw

In Part 1 we looked at what judges look for in a winning short story. This post deals with how to send your stories to competitions to give yourself the best chance of success. 1. Identify your market. If you’re … Continue reading →

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Winning over short story competition judges – Part 1

Posted on August 3, 2013 by Karen Whitelaw

My friend was once told by an experienced short story judge that she wouldn’t win any competitions with her stories. Not because they weren’t good enough, but because they didn’t follow the ‘competition formula.’ By formula the judge meant plot-driven … Continue reading →

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