Writers Forum #99 January 2010

Writers
’
FORUM
The End of the Line continued
clump of the wooden spoon, the scrape of the knife forming the
Want to see YOUR story published?
music of her mornings. But today this rhythm was disturbed by
a memory; the scratch of a stool being dragged across the floor,
Three great prizes every issue
the chubby hands bunching sultanas into an open mouth, a butter
1st £300 2nd £150 3rd £100
paper greasing the shell shaped hollows.
‘You need to pull yourself together, my girl,’ she muttered
All types of short story are welcome, be it crime,
sternly to the empty air and shoving the buns into the oven she
went into the back room to search out a box.
comedy, romance, horror, science ﬁ ction, etc…
The box had contained tins of cat food from the woolgrowers
Every entry receives a tick-box rating
and scrawled across the side were the words ‘ELLIE’S THINGS.’
Mary plonked it on the table and pulled open the flaps. Then
● Stories MUST be between 1000 and 3000 words.
came the click of the latch, and the back door shuddered as Bill
● Documents must be printed on plain A4 paper with double came into the room bringing with him a freezing draught. He
line spacing and good margin widths. No handwritten entries. was cradling a lamb in the bend of his arm. It was a scraggy,
● On the title page give your name, address, phone number,
rough-towel little creature. Its neck was awry so that it turned
email address, story title and the number of words.
back awkwardly towards its tail and seemed scarcely alive in
●
Bill’s weathered hand. He set it down gently on the rug by the
Add a brief biography of yourself: age, occupation, family,
range and then went back to hang his coat and cap on the back of
writing career to date, ambitions.
the door. He didn’t bother taking off his field boots, but stumped
● Entry fee £10 (£7 subscribers). Cheques (sterling only)
back to sit in his chair where he raised the lamb to lie on his knee
payable to ‘Select Publisher Services’ or credit card (below).
in the firelight. He rubbed the thin body still speckled brown with
● If your story is chosen we will ask you to send your story as
blood. The tail made a faltering movement and for a moment a
a Word-compatible document, a brief biography and a photo.
long-lashed eye opened and then shut again. There was the
How to enter
faintest tremor under its skin where the frail heart flickered.
Enter online at www.writers-forum.com – or ﬁ ll in this coupon
‘You do this and your mother will take good care of you,’ Bill
(photocopies are acceptable and you can also download one at
told it. ‘Not like that other lazy ewe.’ He shunted the chair closer
our website) and post with your payment and manuscript to:
to the range, closer to the warmth.
‘We need another log on here, it needs to be warm. Come on.’
Writers’ Forum Story Contest
Mary went over and lifted the lid of the range, clattering it onto
PO Box 6337, Bournemouth BH1 9EH
the top. The lamb flinched at the sound.
By entering, authors will have been deemed to agree for the story to
‘Not so loud, you’re frightening it.’ Mary pushed a log down
appear in Writers’ Forum and future Writers’ Forum anthologies. The
into the red hole below and replaced the iron lid with care.
competition is open to all nationalities but entries must be in English.
Then, returning to her work, she lifted out a flat rectangular box
held together by a rubber band. ‘The Seasons – ooden W Jigsaw’
Name
was printed on the lid. It showed pictures of a happy family in
their garden at all times of the year; building a snowman, peering
Address into a bird’s nest, splashing in the paddling pool, and standing
in bobble hats around an autumn bonfire. The puzzle had come
Postcode
from the village fete and, although the little boy’s coat had been
missing in the winter bit, Ellie liked to tip the pieces out and sit
Story title
thoughtfully sorting the corners and edges; fitting the picture
together until the seasons in the garden emerged once more.
Length words
‘Someone else might like that,’ Mary thought aloud.
‘What’s that?’

I declare the story has not previously been published or
‘The jigsaw, ‘nother child might like it.’
broadcast and that it is my own work
Bill’s attention was on his charge, his white head bent as he
rubbed its side and neck.

I would like my story to be considered for a free ﬁ ction
workshop and to be critiqued in Writers’ Forum (optional)
‘That damned ewe won’t feed the pair and this un’s no good
either. It’s all wrong; neck like a screw.’
Mary looked over to where the lamb lay barely breathing on

If successful, I would be happy for Writers’ Forum to send
news of my win to local or national media (optional)
Bill’s broad lap. Ellie had liked to sit there listening to him tell
the story of the Three Little Pigs, her shoulders hunched, her eyes
Local newspaper/s fixed on his moustache as it blew in and out.
‘I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house down!’ Bill
Local radio station/s had growled. Then he would look towards the chimney as if
he expected at any moment that the Big Bad Wolf would come
Signature
tumbling down, and Ellie would clutch in terror at his shirt
sleeve. He’d scared her with fairy tales and he’d made her laugh
I enclose (please tick)

my story

payment of £7/£10 (delete)
so much with tickling that she gulped for breath and Mary had
had to rescue her.

a large stamped self-addressed envelope for feedback
Mary shook her head and turned back to the table. The next
item rustled as she drew it out of the cardboard. It was a stiff,

OPTIONAL Please enrol me for an annual subscription
at the price of £33 (UK) or £46 (Europe and rest of world)
white party dress. They had a picture of Ellie wearing it, tucked
into the edge of the mirror. She stood sturdily regarding the
Visa/Mastercard/Switch/Maestro (delete) Total £ camera, slightly apart from the rest of the children in the fancy
dress parade, her eyes shaded in the sunshine. Ellie had dressed
Card no
as Bo-Peep, a toy lamb tucked under her arm and Bill’s outsize
crook in her hand.
Expiry date Valid from (if shown)
The rest of the box was full of clothes, bits and pieces that she
had scooped up from the children’s stall at the fete because Ellie
Issue no (if shown) Security no (last 3 digits)
had liked them and Mrs Harris had said she could have the lot for
Signature
20p. Some of them the child had never worn but the pink jumper
with the sparkly bits woven through it, she had treasured. Even
32 Writers
’
FORUM #99
WF99JAN31.indd 2 24/11/2009 10:06:06
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