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Showing posts from 2018

Happy New Year!

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Here at Exeter Writers, we hope you've all had a marvellous Christmas, and wish you all the best for 2019. If your new years resolutions include writing plans, don't forget that our Short Story Competition closes for entries at midnight on 28th February . This year we have increased the first prize to £700!  So get writing! See our competition page for further details.

Thank you for coming!

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***Have you lost your glasses? You may have lost them at The Write Hub!! If so, email exeterwriters@gmail.com and we'll do our best to get them back to you!*** Thank you to everyone who came to events last weekend and made the Exeter Lit Fest such a success.

Exeter Literary Festival 15th - 18th November

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This weekend it's Exeter Literary Festival , beginning with the launch by Teresa Driscoll at Waterstones on Thursday 15th, up to the Wrap party at the Barnfield Theatre on Sunday 18th.

Banned Books and Prohibition Cocktails!

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Join Exeter Writers for the final event of the ExeLitFest , on Sunday 18th November at 9pm .

The Crown and the Coffin: Betsy and Lilibet

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London, 1926. Two baby girls are born just hours and miles apart. One you know as the Queen of England, but what of the other girl – the daughter of an undertaker named in her honour? Betsy Sunshine grows up surrounded by death in war-torn London, watching her community grieve for their loved ones whilst dealing with her own teenage troubles… namely her promiscuous sister Margie. As Betsy grows older we see how the country changes through her eyes, and along the way we discover the birth of a secret that threatens to tear her family apart. Sophie Duffy's fourth novel with Legend Press was published last month. ‘Betsy and Lilibet’ (Sophie tells us), has been a long time coming. 

Welcome to The Write Hub!

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Did you know that Exeter has its own Literary Festival this year? We'll be posting more on that soon, but first we would like to invite you to our free networking event on the afternoon of Friday 16th November.

Exeter Writers Short Story Competition 2019

The Exeter Writers Short Story Competition 2019 is  OPEN FOR ENTRIES!!! And we've increased the first prize to £700!!! Second prize £250  Third prize £100 Plus a prize for best Devon writer of £100 Closing date is 28th February 2019 (midnight) Go to our Competition Page for further details. Tweet

Elizabeth's new books

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It’s a busy few weeks for Exeter Writer, Elizabeth Ducie, who writes both fiction and non-fiction. In August she published one book and began trials of a second one. In September, she will be launching her latest novel. And to cap it all, she’s running a sale  for two of her earlier novels.

When life gives you lemons, make gin and tonic!

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Sophie Duffy launched her first novel as Lizzie Lovell in July. 'The Juniper Gin Joint' is on sale in Sainsbury's, WH Smith's and The Works.   The perfect pick-me-up for summer!' Phillipa Ashley 'Like a complex gin, brimming with botanicals, this delicious book offers a giant swig of a story full of characters, wit and warmth' Jules Wake When life gives you lemons, make gin and tonic!

Circle of Nine

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Exeter Writers member Cherry Gilchrist is launching a new book, The Circle of Nine, in Sep 2018. Meanwhile, her publishers Red Wheel Weiser are offering a free e-reader sample on Calameo, at https://www.calameo.com/read/0055709746d8b1d726d86 Take a look while it’s available!

Well done, Cathie, on being a finalist in the Dorchester Literary Prize!

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Exeter Writer, Cathie Hartigan , tells us about being a finalist in the Dorchester Literary Prize (and being interviewed by Kate Adie!)    Chip Tolson, Philip Browne, Kate Adie, Anthony Woodhouse, me!

Our Jo shows Hidden Depths!

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Congratulations to Exeter Writer, Jo Cole , who has her first (with many more to come!) story published in August's Woman's Weekly Fiction magazine!   Follow Jo's heroine, Nancy, as the discovery of a little box of letters buried on Dartmoor proves the beginning of a lifesaving friendship.

Duets in Words and Pictures

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Photo by David Knowles Exeter Writers, Elizabeth Ducie and Angela Wooldridge are also members of Chudleigh Writers Circle, who for the past year have been taking part in a Joint Arts Project with Newton Abbot Writers Group, Newton Abbot Photographic Group and Newton Art Group. The project will culminate in an exhibition in Teignmouth in November. However, this week, they have reached an interim stage. 

Chudleigh Literary Festival

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Chudleigh Literary Festival , on Wednesday 11th July , promises to be a fun-packed date for your diaries this year. As has become traditional, the daytime is aimed at writers, while the evening is for all lovers of words, both readers and writers. 9.30am to 12 noon - Short story workshop, led by Jenny Kane. Free to members of Chudleigh Writers Circle, but visiting writers welcome (£5) However, there are only a few places left! Please check before booking this session. ( kate@heathside.com )   12 noon to 2pm - Lunch in the Marquee plus Open Mic, an opportunity to share your writing with others!   2pm to 5pm - South West Writers Networking, An opportunity for writers from across the South West to get together over tea and cake; swapping notes, offering advice and sharing experiences. Free event with the opportunity for exhibiting your books and/or services. This year, there are two exciting new features: Face The Chudleigh Dragons:  Five writers will

Privacy Policy

In accordance with the requirements of GDPR, here is our privacy policy which is effective from 25th May 2018. Exeter Writers Privacy Policy, May 2018

The Results

I am pleased to announce the winners of Exeter Writers' 2018 Short Story Competition. Well done to all the writers listed below. You can read the winning entries by clicking on the links below. 1 st -    Land's End  by Tomas Furby, Exeter 2 nd   - Thirty-Seven Photos of a Sleeping Lion  by Jason Jackson, Bristol 3 rd   -   The Invitation  by Sarah Evans, Herts Devon prize - Dylan Thomas, Gregory Jones, and the Oort Cloud   by Janet McCann, Sidmouth The remaining short-listed entries were: A Sharp Beam from the Light House by Judith Wilson, London What do Streets Remember by Selma Carvalho, West Drayton The Rapture by Anna Abbott, Wirral Sponge by Jim Syrah, Bampton For Love by Rob Woodhouse, Holsworthy Sent by Kaavya Ramachandhran, OH, USA The List by Grace Cullen, Herts The remaining long-listed entries were: Keeping Chris Alive by Ken McBeath, British Colombia, Canada Seeking Shadows by Jessica Hooten Wilson, Siloam Spring

First Prize (2017/18) - Land's End by Tomas Furby

Land’s End    By Tomas Furby                                           The leprechaun tells me he's sorry and pats me on the shoulder. It makes me feel better. I ask him for some gold but he says sorry fella I’ve only got a twenty. I don't want a twenty anyway I want some gold so I smile and say don’t worry about it eh. As I turn round a colony of bats the size of sharp black kites attack me. I duck and roll away from their chittering. When I look up though they're gone. Just the fear, then. I glance about looking for somewhere to hide but I don't know where I am so I start to walk against the wailing wind.

2nd Prize (2017/18) - Thirty-Seven Photographs of a Sleeping Lion by Jason Jackson

Thirty-Seven Photographs of a Sleeping Lion by Jason Jackson 1.       The Zoo Rachel’s leaning against the penguin enclosure wall, and you say, “What do you mean I pay you too much attention? You’re my girlfriend.”  “Listen,” she says. “How can I put this? All good photographers know that the subject doesn’t always have to be in the centre of the frame.”

3rd Prize (2017/18) - The Invitation by Sarah Evans

The Invitation by Sarah Evans Some weeks ago, my mother asked me, ‘What’s your earliest memory?’ She’d asked the question before, but not for some time and never with such urgency. Dutifully, I reeled out my expected lines. I remembered getting a kitten. Kiki. I would have been three and a half according to Mum. I remember being scratched and saying, ‘No! I don’t like it.’ This is the accepted family story. I was terrified of this alien ball of fluff and claws, though very soon I grew to love her intensely. The earliest photos show me with one cheek pressed into black and white fur. Like my memories, there is no prior record.

Devon Prize (2017/2018) - Dylan Thomas, Gregory Jones and the Oort Cloud by Janet McCann

DYLAN THOMAS, GREGORY JONES, AND THE OORT CLOUD by Janet McCann At lunchtime, Father takes a bite of his ham sandwich and says, all in a rush, ‘There’s a pig with two heads down at the farm. Born yesterday. They’ve even given it a name ‒ Dylan Thomas, for goodness sake! It’s spectacular! Two wet noses, two lolling tongues, and four pale pink eyes squinting through long white eyelashes. And it squeals like anything! Imagine that! But it won’t live long. No more than a few days at most.’ And then Father laughs a little too loudly as he cuts another slice of ham, and stares directly

Short List!

We are delighted to announce the short list! Over the last few weeks, members of Exeter Writers have had to make some very tough decisions. We have been honoured to read a wonderful range of amusing, sad, horrifying and touching stories.  Unfortunately, we can't short list everyone, but those writers who made it to the long list should feel proud of their achievement as should all the writers who had the guts, determination and motivation to enter our competition and put their work out there! Next time it might be you, so keep on writing! Many of the writers I have contacted about the short-list have told me that this is their first time on a short list, or even a long list for some!  We had hundreds and hundreds of entries and competition was fierce. Well done to all those involved, and we hope you will enter our competition next year.  Now we have the extremely difficult task of picking a winner out of these wonderful yet totally unique short stories. The final result will

Long List!

Congratulations to all those people who entered our short story competition. We had some fantastic entries and deciding on the long list was very hard indeed, especially as we had hundreds and hundreds of entries!  We had stories from all over the world - Brazil, Israel, Canada, The States, Jordan - and the subjects covered in the stories varied greatly.  Our members enjoyed reading your entries, and many hours were spent deliberating which stories to include.

Exeter Novel Prize 2017

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Exeter Writers are proud to sponsor the first prize for the Exeter Novel Prize , run by Creative Writing Matters. Judged by Broo Doherty of the DHH Literary Agency , previous winners of the award include Clare Harve y and our very own Su Bristow .

Aaand... Stop!

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Pencils down! The Exeter Writers Short Story Competition 2018 is now closed . Thank you to everybody who has entered, we look forward to reading all your stories.

Not long left!

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Don't forget the Exeter Writer's Short Story Competition closes on 28th February at midnight! There's still a bit of time to polish up those stories and sent them in. Don't forget to read the guidelines, and good luck! We look forward to reading your entries...

Book Quiz Winners!

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Last night (Thursday 15th Feb), the staff of Roman Gate Waterstones in Exeter hosted the fiendishly tricky Big Book-Lover's Quiz , with proceeds going to the charity, Book Trust. Exeter Writers, Su Bristow , Margaret James and Angela Wooldridge came a very respectable second place, pipped at the post by one point!

Deceit is a dangerous game...

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In the world of books, one of the most sought after blogs to have your book reviewed is with Anne Williams on her blog, Being Anne . This week, Exeter Writer, Elizabeth Ducie's latest novel, Deception! is in the limelight. Click here to see what Anne has to say about it! Tweet

Happy New Year!

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It's still January, so it's still acceptable to say that isn't it?   Exeter Writers started the new year with an article by Jo Cole in Febuary's Writing Magazine . If you'd like to read a bit more about what we do, then pick up a copy (we're on page 46!).