If you want a break from the keyboard and computer screen, dig out your fountain pen (or a biro would probably do) and have a go at this competition:
The Letters Page is asking for handwritten letters for their Protest Issue. The website requests:
Letters of complaint, letters of objection, letters of furious indignation; eyewitness reports from street protests around the world; recollections of recent and not-so-recent protests and sit-ins and camps and campaigns; reflections on the meaning or purpose of protests, and on the use of the letter as a political tool; letters to and from and between protesters and protest sites. These are the letters we’re looking forward to reading in our next issue. We’re looking for letters with a sense of urgency. We’re looking for some news from now.
Somehow, I think me complaining about all the waiting around on last week’s coach trip might not fit the bill. But if you’ve got something meatier to protest about, pick up your pen! Each letter used will earn the writer £100. But be quick, it’s postal submission only and entries must be received by October 29th 2014.
The Letters Page is a literary journal published by Nottingham University’s School of English.
Full details of the competition are here.
Sally Jenkins 
#1 by Julie Noble on October 21, 2014 - 9:41 am
Thanks for this Sally, very interesting.
#2 by Sally Jenkins on October 21, 2014 - 11:15 am
Good Luck if you have a go, Julie.
#3 by juliathorley on October 21, 2014 - 9:46 am
I’ve entered this one before. I didn’t win, but I did get a handwritten letter letting me know – which was nice.
#4 by Sally Jenkins on October 21, 2014 - 11:16 am
Replying to everyone like that must be very time-consuming for the organisers, Julia.
#5 by juliathorley on October 21, 2014 - 11:17 am
Indeed. Nice touch, though.
#6 by susanjanejones on October 21, 2014 - 10:49 am
Thanks, Sally, I love writing letters so might have a go at this.
#7 by Sally Jenkins on October 21, 2014 - 11:17 am
It’s a shame that letter-writing is a dying art isn’t it, Susan?
#8 by Patsy on October 21, 2014 - 1:07 pm
A chance to rant and earn money – what more could we want?
#9 by Sally Jenkins on October 21, 2014 - 2:11 pm
A perfect way to spend an afternoon, Patsy!
#10 by blogaboutwriting on October 21, 2014 - 1:11 pm
Thanks for this Sally, I think I’ll tell my class about it this week and see if any of them want to have a go!
#11 by Sally Jenkins on October 21, 2014 - 2:12 pm
Make sure you point out the closing date is approaching, Helen.
#12 by jac dowling on October 21, 2014 - 1:24 pm
A great idea Sally, the handwritten letters. Pity SA’s postal service has been out on strike for 11 weeks!
#13 by Sally Jenkins on October 21, 2014 - 2:12 pm
No post for 11 weeks – good job we’re not still in pre-email days!
#14 by rosgemmell on October 21, 2014 - 4:16 pm
That looks very interesting – thanks, Sally!
#15 by Sally Jenkins on October 21, 2014 - 5:53 pm
A pleasure, Ros.
#16 by liz young on October 22, 2014 - 5:43 pm
I like the idea of using ‘proper’ writing, but their brief is a bit heavy-weight for me!
#17 by Sally Jenkins on October 23, 2014 - 9:14 am
It does seem a bit ‘literary’, Liz. I had some spare time yesterday and have drafted a letter. But I don’t think it’s a winner – the issue I’m protesting about is too small.