Sharing @WendyClarke99 Good News

It was October 2017 when I sent the email that would change my life. This email was my entry to the Flash 500 Novel Opening and Synopsis competition and attached to it were the opening chapters of my novel. It was an impulse decision, as I don’t usually enter competitions, but there was something about this particular one that sounded tempting: it was open to all genres, there wasn’t a long wait for results and the entry fee was reasonable. I’d be foolish not to enter the psychological thriller which was failing to tempt an agent.

I pressed ‘send’ and then forgot about it, only remembering when I received an email, in December, to say that the short list was up on the website. I was so sure my novel hadn’t made it, that it was the end of the day before I looked. Running my finger down the list, I was surprised and delighted to see that my novel was there. This was starting to get exciting! I loved what I’d written but hadn’t had the confidence to think that someone else might too. Maybe I had a chance after all.

This time, as I waited for the final results, I was nervous. Excited. What if I made the top three? But why would I? There were so many great novels out there, competition was bound to be stiff. Anyway, I’d made the shortlist and should be happy with that.

On the day of the results, it was my grandson’s school Christmas concert. I was late. I was stressed. I remember muttering under my breath as my phone pinged a message while I was trying to find a parking space. I didn’t have time for this! As I ran into the school, I checked the message. It was from a writing friend: Wendy! Have you seen? You’ve won! I hadn’t seen. I hadn’t had time to check the website. Could it really be true? But the concert was starting. I couldn’t take it in properly. My novel had actually won a competition!

The success of my novel in the Flash 500 competition made me reconsider my options. The process of finding an agent had been a slow and demoralising experience but the competition was proof that it wasn’t just my mother who liked my novel. What if I submitted it directly to one of the publishers who took un-agented submissions?

I sat down and made a list of who I could send to and the publisher, Bookouture (who I’d heard good things about) was at the top. With racing heart, I wrote my submission (my Flash 500 win having pride of place in the opening paragraph) and sent the novel off. 

When I received an email from one of the editors just a few days later, saying she loved it, I could hardly believe it. I was offered a two-book deal which I accepted and, in May, my novel What She Saw was published.

It’s a dream come true and I have Flash 500 to thank for it. My advice, if you’re not sure whether to enter or not, is do it! You never know… you might just win.

Critique Service for Writers

Writing Competitions

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Writing competitions #amwriting

Short Story Long List

The long list for the short story category is up on the Flash 500 site. You can read the titles here. Our primary readers reported the standard of entries was extremely high and that choosing the titles to make the long list was very difficult. Well done to those who have made the long list - and good luck in the next stage of judging!

 

Change to Novel and Short Story Opening Dates

I have received numerous requests to remove the Novel and Short Story opening dates and just have closing dates for both categories. As a result, both categories are already open for entries - the Novel category closes at the end of October this year and the Short Story closes at the end of February 2017.

 

Flash Fiction Closes in Under Two Weeks

You have less than two weeks to get your entries in for this quarter's flash fiction category. The judge is Barbara Scott-Emmett. 

Spam Email Warning

Once again I have been contacted by a few people regarding emails supposedly coming from the poetry side of Flash 500. I closed the account last year, so nothing should be going out from that address. Any emails you receive from poetry@flash500.com have NOT been sent by us and should be deleted unread. Whatever you do, please don't click on the links if you receive an email from poetry@flash500.com.

 

For more information on our competition categories, visit the Flash 500 Homepage.

 

Kind regards,

 

Lorraine

Critique Service for Writers
Flash 500 Home Page: Flash Fiction, Humour Verse
and Novel Opening Chapter and Synopsis Competitions

Novel Competition Shortlist #amwriting #results

Novel Shortlisted Titles on Site

The Novel Opening and Synopsis shortlist for 2015 has now been posted. You can find the titles here. These have now gone into the final judging stage.

 

Flash Fiction

This quarter closes at midnight on the last day of 2015, so you still have plenty of time to enter. Flash fiction details can be found here.

 

Short Story Category

Do you have a short story between 1,000 and 3,000 words? Maybe more than one? Our short story category has a first prize of £500, with second and third prizes of £200 and £100.

For more information on our competition categories, visit the Flash 500 Homepage.

 

Kind regards,

 

Lorraine

Critique Service for Writers
Flash 500 Home Page: Flash Fiction, Humour Verse
and Novel Opening Chapter and Synopsis Competitions

Latest Flash 500 News #amwriting

Winning Entries on Site

The flash fiction winning stories and the judge's report are now up for the third quarter 2015. You can read the stories here.

Fourth Quarter Judge

I'm delighted to report that prolific author and short story writer Nik Morton has agreed to judge the final quarter of 2015, which is already attracting entries. You can find out more about Nik on his judge's page: Nik Morton
 

Novel Opening and Synopsis

We had a record number of entries for the novel category this year. Entries are currently being read - long list coming soon: Novel Category

Short Story Category

Do you have a short story between 1,000 and 3,000 words? Maybe more than one? Details of our short story category are shown below.

Prizes: £500, £200 and £100.
Entry fees: £7 for one, £12 for two, £16 for three, £20 for four

For more information on our competition categories, visit the Flash 500 Homepage.

Critique Service for Writers
Flash 500 Home Page: Flash Fiction, Humour Verse
and Novel Opening Chapter and Synopsis Competitions

Exciting News

I have some exciting news to announce – from issue 163 (May) I will be taking over from Sue Moorcroft as head judge for the Writers’ Forum monthly short story competitions.

I have been providing short story critiques and acting as assistant judge to Sue since May 2010 and it has been a pleasure to work under her guidance. Now it’s time for me to step up and carry on her excellent competition round up column, providing writers with reasons why the top stories were picked and offering insights to other writers to help them reach the same level of success.

From issue 164 (June) I will also be taking over from Sue to write the Workshop Feature – an instructive column showing how to improve aspects of fiction writing.

As you can imagine, stepping into Sue Moorcroft’s shoes is no easy task, but I will do my very best to maintain her high level of professionalism.

Critique Service for Writers
Flash 500 Home Page: Flash Fiction, Humour Verse
and Novel Opening Chapter and Synopsis Competitions

Flash fiction and humour verse comps #amwriting

The Flash 500 quarterly competitions are set to close for entries at the end of this month. You have two days left to send off your masterpieces for the flash fiction and humour verse categories.

Flash Fiction Webpage
Humour Verse Webpage

I hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas and send my best wishes for a successful 2015.

Lorraine





Critique Service for Writers
Flash 500 Home Page: Flash Fiction, Humour Verse
and Novel Opening Chapter and Synopsis Competitions

Is it worth celebrating?

A reader from Huddersfield, who asked not to be named, was recently long listed in an international competition, but she wasn’t sure if it was something she should celebrate. She writes: when I saw my name on a long list for a flash fiction competition, I was really excited, but one of my writing friends said that was probably just the list of all those who’d entered. Is that the way competitions work?

Obviously, I cannot answer for every competition around the world, but it is generally accepted that a long list is made up of the best of the entries after the first (and sometimes second) round of judging.

As I know which competition you entered and were long listed for, I can categorically state that the long list was decided by a team of readers who waded through hundreds and hundreds of entries before picking a long list of stories to put forward for the next stage of judging.

I think, possibly, your writing friend might be suffering a little from the green-eyed monster. Celebrate your appearance on the long list – it is hard to get through the initial stages of judging in any competition. To do so in one where the entry count is so high is an achievement indeed.

Critique Service for Writers
Flash 500 Home Page: Flash Fiction, Humour Verse
and Novel Opening Chapter and Synopsis Competitions

And the winners are ...

Winning Entries - Flash Fiction and Humour Verse

 

The winning entries in both Flash 500  quarterly categories are now up on the website. To find out who won and who was placed in the flash fiction category, click here. For the results of the humour verse competition, click here.

 

Congratulations to the winners and runners-up. 

 

I would also like to extend the heartiest congratulations to everyone who made the long and short lists. We receive hundreds of entries in both categories and the standard is high.

The two quarterly categories of flash fiction and humour verse are already attracting entries. I think people are trying to make sure they don't forget to send in their submissions in the countdown to Christmas. However, you have until 31 December to polish your stories and poems.

Novel Opening Chapter and Synopsis - long list now up

 

I'm delighted to announce the long list of titles can be found here. Keep checking back as the shortlist and winnings entries will be announced over the next few weeks. If you didn't enter this year, the novel opening chapter and synopsis competition will be running again next year from the beginning of May.

 

For more information on everything to do with all three competitions, please visit the website: Flash 500 Home Page.

 

Critique Service for Writers
Flash 500 Home Page: Flash Fiction, Humour Verse
and Novel Opening Chapter and Synopsis Competitions

Flash 500 two day call #contest

Two categories close in just under two days

 

Don't miss out on the chance to win in either the Flash Fiction or Humour Verse categories. They both close at midnight (UK time) on 30th September.

Novel Opening and Synopsis Category

 

Relax! You have over a month left to polish entries for this category as it remains open until the end of October.

 

The judges this year will be (once again) the senior editors at Crooked Cat Publishing, who are the publishers for my own (writing as Frances di Plino) D.I. Paolo Storey series of crime novels, Bad Moon Rising, Someday Never Comes, Call It Pretending and Looking for a Reason (due out on 28th October).

 

Crooked Cat Publishing cover a wide range of genres, from chick lit to horror, which is why they are the ideal judges for the competition.  

Full details of all three competition categories can be found on the Flash 500 Home Page.

 

Good luck with all your writing endeavours.

 

Kind regards, 

 

Lorraine

Critique Service for Writers
Flash 500 Home Page: Flash Fiction, Humour Verse
and Novel Opening Chapter and Synopsis Competitions

Flash 500 deadlines fast approaching #contest

Entries close at midnight (UK time) 3oth September

 

With the entry deadlines fast approaching, you only have a week left to submit those stories and poems. Don't miss out as the Flash Fiction and Humour Verse categories both close at the end of this month.

Novel Opening and Synopsis Category

 

Here, you can relax a little, as this category remains open for entries until the end of October.

 

The judges this year will be (once again) the senior editors at Crooked Cat Publishing, who are the publishers for my own (writing as Frances di Plino) D.I. Paolo Storey series of crime novels, Bad Moon Rising, Someday Never Comes, Call It Pretending and Looking for a Reason (due out on 28th October).

 

Crooked Cat Publishing cover a wide range of genres, from chick lit to horror, which is why they are the ideal judges for the competition.  

Full details of all three competition categories can be found on the Flash 500 Home Page.

 

Good luck with all your writing endeavours.

 

Kind regards, 

 

Lorraine

Critique Service for Writers
Flash 500 Home Page: Flash Fiction, Humour Verse
and Novel Opening Chapter and Synopsis Competitions

Flash 500 Winners and a #writetip

Winning Entries

 

The winning entries in the competitions are now up on the website. To find out who won and who was placed in the flash fiction category, click here. For the results of the humour verse competition, click here.

 

Congratulations to the winners and runners-up. 

 

I would also like to extend the heartiest congratulations to everyone who made the long and short lists. As both judges pointed out, the standard is incredibly high, with entries coming in from all over the world.

The two quarterly categories of flash fiction and humour verse are already attracting entries, as is the novel opening chapter and synopsis competition. For more information on everything to do with all three competitions, please visit the website: Flash 500 Home Page.

 

Hints from the Judges 

 

No.5 – Checking Your Entry

Judges hate to disqualify entries in any competition, but it is a regrettable fact that we still receive entries which exceed the word or line limit, and/or contain the entrant’s name on the submitted work. In our experience, some disqualified entries would have been in with a good chance of featuring in the long or short lists, or even been prize winners.

All our competitions request that each individual entry is submitted as a separate attachment. Obviously, we do not disqualify entries that submit multiple entries in one attachment, but it does make our task more time consuming.

We would encourage entrants to put their work on one side for a few days before doing a final check. If possible, get a friend to read it through out loud or, if this is not possible, try recording it and listening to the playback. Many faults in word flow and/or lack of clarity can easily be picked up in this way. This might be enough to give you the winning edge.

 

Kind regards,

 

Lorraine

Critique Service for Writers
Flash 500 Home Page: Flash Fiction, Humour Verse
and Novel Opening Chapter and Synopsis Competitions

Flash 500 Latest News

Short Lists 

The short lists are now up for the second quarter of 2014. You can find the titles of the flash fiction short list here and the titles of the humour verse short list here.

 

 Novel Opening Chapter and Synopsis Category 2014   

Just a reminder that this category is running again this year. Once again, the judges for this competition will be the senior editors at Crooked Cat Publishing.

Prizes: £500 first prize, plus a runner’s up prize of £200

 

More details can be found here.

 

Some News on Last Year's Competition

I’m delighted to report that one of the entrants from last year has been published. Although Vanessa Couchman’s opening chapter of The House at Zaronza did not win a cash prize, her entry was one of four for which the senior editors of Crooked Cat Publishing requested the full manuscript. Obviously, the rest of the novel impressed them enough to offer a publishing contract.

 

The House at Zaronza is available in paperback and e-book.

For all of you who have made the second quarter 2014 short lists, congratulations and good luck with the final stage of judging.

 

For more information on all three of our competition categories, visit the Flash 500 Homepage.

 

Critique Service for Writers
Flash 500 Home Page: Flash Fiction, Humour Verse
and Novel Opening Chapter and Synopsis Competitions