I mentioned this in another thread but anyway.

Ahem....

I am one of ten winners in the Middlesex University Short Story Prize. The final three placings are to be announced at an event on December 13th with £1000 going to the top story. And then all will appear in a book published by MU Press.

Best thing tho' was that Ali Smith was one of the judges so I've been glowing a bit since I found out thinking that someone I admire so much should like one of my stories. (And it was on here first.)

And I wonder if she will be at the event?

I see this feature has now disappered.

I know I mentioned that I wasn't keen on it but I kind of miss it now. I was getting used to seeing Liana's name early each morning. It was like old times....

So is it coming back?

And when will we be able to rate work again?

i would like to get into writing,anything from getting poems published to journalism..i just have no idea where to start,or how.i don't know what questions to ask or where to ask them.i do illustrations too,but i have no formal qualifications in either.does anyone have any advice...anything?

Im in two minds as to whether I like this kind of self-improvement book which stems from the generation of books bred from 'How to make friends and influence people'. I guess these kind of people skills do help you get along in life. But are they just a form of manipulation? I'm doing my dissertation on self-monitoring, which is a form of impression management so would be interested in what others think.

http://books.guardian.co.uk/poetryworkshop/story/0,15167,1566681,00.html

"I want to ask you to write a poem about any aspect of the association of love with a shared place: how you link a certain room or house with someone you love or have loved, how a house seems to absorb or exude the presence of daily affections or maybe how a passion deepens in the ordinariness of a lived-in space."

...

has anyone noticed the proliferation of this new type of garment ... it is a very short crocheted atrocity that covers the tits and ties in a knot just underneath them ... it is as the poncho has almost died of shame and slithered down hapless women's bodies and is trying to cling on as it gasps its last ...

brrrr ...

http://www.abctales.com/pepsoid/larry_mick_discover_a_new_planet

A nice, short, easy to read laugh inducing piece!

It must be creative Friday - yet another corker:

http://www.abctales.com/darrenswift/waiting_for_the_last

So many great images in such a short story!