foregroundmusic: Thom Brennan – Mist
This has been fuelling my writing sessions lately. Haunting and transporting. Just one of many from Thom Brennan; much of his discog is worth a look if ambient for reading/writing is your thing.Read more
Your mother
Last month was Women’s History month and I was thrilled to see that a poem from last year’s First Story anthology by the excellent Judgemeadow Community College was shared across social media. ‘Your mother’ is a great example of the creativity and soul of the students who produced ‘I right Inglish more goodlyer then u.’…Read more
Trouble Come Down
The sad news of the passing of Shawn Smith found me today. This track from his Satchel days has lived with me since my Uni days (the first time). ‘Who’s gonna show the fortitude?’ And this, from a little later, has always stirred me. ‘You never know until you stop…just carry on.’ Much will be…Read more
The more things change
Currently reading all round the topic of the short story to fill in the gaps of knowledge lingering in my noggin. Aspects including but not limited to: defining the short story, aspects of craft, historic development of the form, and structural theory. Bliss Perry devotes a chapter to the short story in A Study of…Read more
The End of the Beginning
The end of my first year as a full-time PhD student in Creative Writing passed in a blur. It was a landmark in my studies that seemed double-weighted given the focus of my research-led creative project: the endings of short stories. Depending on when you are reading this, I am fast approaching or have battered…Read more
2018 in Books
A little later than usual, here’s my reading of 2018. Might appear a little thin on the ground but in part that is due to the chunk of reading undertaken for my PhD and the fact that, due to my slackness in adding to this post through the year, I have been working from memory…Read more
15th International Conference on the Short Story in English
The International Conference on the Short Story in English is a biannual conference where, to quote Robert Olen Butler, ‘the birds and the ornithologists flock together.’ For almost a week, short story authors and academics engage in a series of academic panels, readings, plenary sessions and workshops devoted to the art of the short story.…Read more
Writing goodlyer Inglish
For much of the last year, I have been working as a First Story writer-in-residence at Judgemeadow Community College in Leicester. This has involved delivering 16 workshops over the last eight months or so, along with a visit to the First Story Young writers’ Festival in Oxford. The staff and students have been an absolute…Read more
My Granddad knows
I am thrilled to be able to share that a poem by one of the brilliant young writers from my First Story residency group at Judgemeadow Community College is featured on this week’s Friday Story here. Raasmiya’s poem was written during one of my workshops earlier this year, in response to Malika Booker’s poem…Read more
Hive Young Writers Festival
This coming Saturday, April 14, I will be delivering a short story writing workshop and takin part in a discussion panel as part of Hive Young Writers Festival in Rotherham. From the website: ‘The festival is a chance to network, hear from professional writers, meet like-minded young writers, perform & of course, write! Everyone is…Read more
2017 in Books
This year I have been mostly reading: Happy New Year! Roll on another year of reading.Read more
‘The Ideal Husband Exhibition’ in The London Magazine
My prize-winning story ‘The Ideal Husband Exhibition’ is free to read on The London Magazine website right now. Click here to take a look. You can purchase a print copy of the August/September 2017 edition (also containing the story) here too. This was a bit of a departure for my style-wise as I tend to…Read more
The London Magazine Prize-giving Ceremony
Last Tuesday saw me heading down to London for The London Magazine Short Story Prize-giving Ceremony. I had this to say as my train left Grantham station: Suited, booted and on train to big smoke for the @TheLondonMag short story prize giving. First time in ages that I’ve worn a suit. — Dan Powell (@danpowfiction)…Read more
Writing East Midlands Aurora Poetry & Short Fiction Competition
Those brilliant folks over at Writing East Midlands have extended the closing date for their 2nd Annual Aurora Poetry & Short Fiction Competition. Here’s the details: Aurora Poetry & Short Fiction Open Competition 2017 Closing date for entries has been extended to 9th April 2017 We’re giving you more time to polish off your poems and short…Read more
Shortlisted for 2017 Pageturner Prize
My as-yet-unpublished novel, The Everlasting Knock, has been shortlisted for this year’s Pageturner Prize. Coming so soon after my London Magazine news, this is a double thrill. I am really liking 2017 so far. The winner was announced earlier this week, along with details of the shortlist: ‘Tibor Jones are thrilled to announce the winner of…Read more
The Ideal Husband Exhibition wins 3rd Prize in London Magazine Short Story Competition
Had a lovely surprise email on Friday evening telling me that my story, The Ideal Husband Exhibition, had won third prize in the London Magazine Short Story Competition. This feels very special, not least because of the following from their website: ‘The London Magazine has published short stories by some of the most well-respected…Read more
Two Pair of Nightjars
Spent some of my Christmas break catching up on my reading. I made time to read the wonderfully chilling and complex His Bloody Project (should have won the Booker IMHO), I spent New Year’s Day and the day or two after finally giving Chris Ware’s beautiful Building Stories the time and attention it deserves, and…Read more
‘A Father’s Arms’ nominated for a Pushcart Prize
Been meaning to post about this for a while but life and writing keep getting in the way. I am thrilled to be able to report that, alongside fellow contributors Iain Robinson and Courtia Newland, my story from Being Dad: Stories about Fatherhood, ‘A Father’s Arms’ was nominated for a Pushcart Prize back in November…Read more
2016 in Books
Happy New Year everyone. And apologies. It’s been a while since I last posted here. The last few months have been swamped with the day job and cramming in editing of the latest novel in preparation for submission to agents. Hence the blogging had to give. I can report though, that I hit send on the latest novel recently. What does this mean? Well I am loving being able to switch gears and get back into writing some short fiction. I almost immediately stepped back into a short story. I have two characters, thrown together and currently no real idea of where they are about to take me. Getting back…Read more
First Story: how you can help young writers across the UK
Today begins my third year of working with the brilliant First Story. This year I will be writer-in-residence at Skegness Academy and our first workshop is set to take place this afternoon. I can honestly say my work with First Story is the best and most important part of my working week. Seriously life-changing stuff for everyone who takes…Read more
