Here are two things I’ve come across recently that might be of interest.
Firstly, Groupon are offering a massive discount on a course entitled ‘Learn to Write Children’s Stories’. It is advertised as being reduced from £349 to £14!
The course consists of 14 modules (those of you who are good at Maths will have worked out that this is the equivalent £1 per module) and guides “beginners through the process of writing great children’s stories, from plot to story structure to voice and style, this course aims to free imaginations and let the inner child create tales of adventure”.
However, this offer is only valid for five more days (which, by my calculations, is until 19th June 2014).
Full details are here.
Secondly, Joe Mynhardt of Crystal Lake Publishing is running a FREE to enter Horror Short Story Competition.
The organisation of this competition is different to most competitions. Initially Joe only wants to see 150 words. These words must be split (in any ratio) over the synopsis and opening of the story. For example the synopsis might be 30 words and the opening 120 words or vice versa.
Those that get through this first round of the competition will then be invited to submit their full story, which must be between 3000 and 7000 words and it must be horror, weird or suspenseful.
The prizes are as follows:
1st: Your story in Tales From the Lake Vol.2; $40; one contributor’s copy; bragging rights; a 30,000 word edit by Joe Mynhardt; all Crystal publish eBooks published at the time of announcing the winners.
2nd: Your story in Tales From the Lake Vol.2; one contributor’s copy; $30; a 20,000 word edit by Joe Mynhardt; any two Crystal publish eBooks published at the time of announcing the winners.
3rd: Your story in Tales From the Lake Vol.2; one contributor’s copy; $20; a 10,000 word edit by Joe Mynhardt; any one Crystal publish eBook published at the time of announcing the winners.
Full details of the competition are here and the first round closes on June 30th 2014 – so there’s still time to write those initial 150 words.
Regular readers of this blog may remember that Joe did an informative guest post for us on fiction writing. It’s still available here and might be worth a read if you’re thinking of entering the competition.
Sally Jenkins 
#1 by Wendy Clarke on June 14, 2014 - 5:24 pm
Ooh, thank you for this, Sally.
#2 by Sally Jenkins on June 15, 2014 - 3:16 pm
It’s a pleasure, Wendy.
#3 by susanjanejones on June 14, 2014 - 6:03 pm
Thanks for the details Sally. I’m quite short of time these days. I’m still working on the ou. course, the free one. Also, I got a lovely cover for my ebook from fiverr, that you told us about.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Angel-Poet-Cavell-Rupert-ebook/dp/B00KXCQT50
I wanted the faces ghosted on a poppy field, and it’s turned out exactly how I imagined.
Lots of other competitions as well looming……. Great post.
#4 by Sally Jenkins on June 15, 2014 - 3:18 pm
I know that short of time feeling!
I love the book cover, Susan. It looks really professional.
#5 by susanjanejones on June 15, 2014 - 5:13 pm
Thanks to you for pointing the site out. I’ve actually joined, and had a couple of gigs (they call them, makes me feel like a rock chick:))) Writing short stories for children.
#6 by Sally Jenkins on June 16, 2014 - 12:30 pm
Do you mean you’re selling stories on Fiverr, Susan?
#7 by susanjanejones on June 16, 2014 - 12:44 pm
Yes Sally, I’ve got 4 gigs on the go. Unusual for me, usually got 4 giggles??? I’m up for 500 words short story for children. Then I say I can adapt if they want names etc. I have write a 50 line poem, write a 500 wd short fiction story, and 500 words funny story. So far, I’ve used pictures of dogs and cats, as I haven’t got a video for uploading. So, I’ve written about dogs for a site called write pet, and someone asked for a story with talking cats and dogs. They told me ‘you can be as silly as you like’ so that was right up my street. Someone cheekily wanted a 600 word short story, so I didn’t go for that. My book cover cost 5$ so that worked out at £3.80 not bad eh?
#8 by Sally Jenkins on June 16, 2014 - 4:07 pm
Sounds like you’ve got a nice little business going there!
#9 by blogaboutwriting on June 15, 2014 - 5:32 pm
I agree, Sally – Susan, your book cover is GREAT! good luck with it.
#10 by susanjanejones on June 16, 2014 - 12:44 pm
Thanks Helen, yes, it’s turned out exactly how I wanted it. A chap called Jimmy in Sweden did it. On the fiverr site, but cost £3.80 in our money.
#11 by blogaboutwriting on June 15, 2014 - 5:32 pm
Also, thanks for the info on that great Groupon offer! There are a few in my class who are interested in writing for children, so I’ve passed the details on to them.
#12 by Sally Jenkins on June 16, 2014 - 12:31 pm
Hope they act quickly and find it useful, Helen.