This year has been the most up and down and of my writing life so far. And when things aren’t going so well, it’s hard to remember what was good. I tend towards looking back, regretting decisions and questioning choices. Which is why I’m sharing these images with you so I can look forward instead. 2023 was the best year for my writing so far. So, I’m going to celebrate that here, making a mark so I don’t forget that things can be good and share a little about how each good thing happened. Then I’ll share some writing opportunities for anyone with time to write over the festive period and dates for our next Zoom writing sessions. Make a brew, grab a mince pie and dive in.
The biggest achievement of the year was my Northern Writers Award win. I’ve applied for the NWA six times with various projects and was shortlisted twice. This year, I was awarded the Finchale Prize for Short Fiction for my short story Shepherd. When I won the award, I was feeling quite lost with my writing. I’d had a run of rejections, setbacks and my confidence in my writing voice was at rock bottom. And when I submitted the story that won, I was concerned it didn’t even work as a story. I can’t stress how much of a boost this win was and still is to my confidence. Although I’m still trying to find a home for the story, it’s given me the drive to work on the collection it’s part of and to feel like there is a place for my work and the stories I want to tell. And when I’m doubting myself, I go back to this from Adelle Stripe, one of the judges who selected my work. The biggest of compliments.
In the summer, I found out that my short play, Where We Belong had been selected by Live Theatre as part of their Your Voice project. Again, I’ve sent multiple submissions to Live over the years and having a play on there was on my list of ambitions. So this felt really big and really relevant. I was first involved with Live in 2013 when I took part in their Live Writers Group but took time away from writing to recover from mental health problems. Getting back to writing scripts and having them put on has been one of my main goals so to get this opportunity meant so much. The experience itself was incredible and you can read more about it here.
Coming in fast I had a second play accepted, this time the opening of a full-length piece I’m working on called Ark. This was performed as a script in hand performance with four other pieces in October at the Customs House in South Shields. A very different experience as I wasn’t involved at all in rehearsals but seeing how my work was interpreted and performed was so valuable. And when people laughed in the right places, it gave me the green light to carry on and I’m hoping to finish the play next year.
I’ve also been working in the writing world, chairing events, like Mothtown for Caroline Hardaker, and taking a lot of joy in supporting my writing community, something that means as much to me as writing.
So where am I now? My winning short story is still out on submission alongside a handful of other pieces. I have two shorts due out in anthologies, both pushed back to the summer next year, so something to look forward to. I’ve had multiple rejections too this year, for both publication, funding and projects. The process of applying for work is exhausting and I’ve realised that I need to make sure I prioritise my writing above everything else so I don’t lose the momentum I’ve built up this year. So I’m looking for some regular work to support myself as freelancing isn’t working out and I want my energy to go into words, not applications. My intentions are to do this so I can focus on finishing my short story collection and get work going on my two full length plays. You can let me know what your plans are in the comments below.
Writing Opportunities
I know it’s almost Christmas but this time of year looks different for everyone. For some, it might be the only time you get to spend on your writing. So I’ve gathered a few opps for anyone who wants to get their writing into world, as well as some job opportunities if you need a fresh start next year. Let me know how you get on!
Granta Magazine - currently open for fiction and non-fiction. £3.50 to submit and free entries for low-income writers are available. Familiarise yourself with previously published work and send yours by December 31st.
Writing Magazine - this years grand flash prize is open for work up to 500 words. There is quite a big fee for this one at £16, though there is a cash prize. Open for submissions until 31st December.
Moth Poetry Prize - one of the biggest poetry prizes in open until 31st December. There’s no line limit and poems can be on any subject. 15 euro fee, this years judge is Hannah Sullivan.
New Writing North - there are some exciting vacancies at New Writing North across programming and events. All roles close for applications on 3rd January, so plenty of time to polish your CV. And the next round of awards are open for submission, find out more here.
Mslexia Magazine - this brilliant print magazine which has just published it’s 100th edition is open again for submissions across a range of categories. Free to submit, check the guidelines and send your work by 8th January.
Discoveries - the annual search for new writing from the Women’s Prize is free to enter and closes for applications on January 8th. You’ll need to be based in the UK and writing fiction for adults.
Grass Routes Prize - a new initiative to find underrepresented and working class screenwriters from the brilliant Stephen Grahams production company. Free to submit, send your work by 8th January.
Seaside Gothic - the next submission window for this online journal opens from 8th - 14th January. You can send fiction, poetry, non-fiction and visual submissions all with a suitably seaside gothic theme.
And finally…well done if you’re still here! I hope you’ve found some useful opportunities and that hearing about my writing journey helps you reflect on yours. If you’d like yo write with me and our lovely community, I’ll be running two sessions a month from January. The registration links will go out to paid subscribers in the New Year.
Zoom Write-In - January 8th at 7pm
Creative Check-In - January 28th at 4pm
Hope to see you there. Happy writing and all my love as we move into another year.
Sarah
Well done you for taking time to think about the successes, you have had a GOOD year. I am going to take a leaf out of your book and do a “review of the year” later today. Love to you from the south coast xxx
Thank you Sarah. I think reflecting on the year is so useful because you're right, you tend to forget the progress and see the setbacks in big letters! My roundup will be coming up on my website blog by the end of the year. Like you, my subs record this year is mostly red for rejection and it was really disappointing because it looks less good than last year. However, reflecting, I've learned A LOT this year, including how to recognise and cling to my real values, which are so much more than 'being successful'. That piece of thinking has really helped my resilience. And at the very end of the year - this week - I received an email which I can't share the details of but which means I will be achieving a huge milestone soon, and, I'm glad this has happened after, and not before I reset my values because I understand success very differently now. Well done you for these really impressive achievements. Allow them to give you strength! xxx