Story, poetry, and staffroom monologues competitions

[Xerika]

I'm on the mailing list of the Arvon Foundation email newsletter and the current issue mentions the following competitions:

Harpers Bazaar short story competition for unpublished female writers - http://www.handbag.com/bazaar/Fashion/Short~story-competition-2008/v1.

Poetry London magazine's 2008 competition - http://www.poetrylondon.co.uk/.

Foyle Young Poets Competition for poets aged 11-17 - http://www.poetrysociety.org.uk/content/competitions/fyp/.

Teachers TV Staffroom Monologues competition for teacher-writers - http://www.teachers.tv/monologues.

Not much for me to do in any of these as I'm not an 11-17 female teacher who writes poetry  .

[streatham]

Thank you for these!  That Harpers magazine competition might just entice me back to have another go at short story writing!!  The deadline is just about right for me - not too far off for me to forget all about it, but a bit of time to think before I have to put pen to paper.

I love the idea of writing a staffroom monologue.  I used to teach in a secondary school and now do some private tutoring at home and also home educate my children.  Do you think that would count?  I think when they say "in education" they mean "in the state system" which I feel is a bit unfair.  Not sure whether I should just go ahead and enter, or write to them and see if I am allowed to enter first! 

Dawn

[Xerika]

Hi Dawn,

I can't see why 'in education' should mean 'in the state system' but perhaps it would be worth dropping them a line to check before putting too much effort in.

[SteveJ]

I feel as though I'm being discriminated against by the criteria for those competitions, Mr Xerika!
It's not good enough, and I demand satisfaction, sir!
No, put your clothes back on, I was talking about us having a duel, chief 

[streatham]

Hi

I have read the guidelines more closely and the monologues must be about someone working in a school.  But, they accept from "Anyone working in education, paid or voluntary, over the age of 18. Trainee teachers are also eligible".  

And the deadline is March 25th so I should hurry up.  Not that I have any idea how to write a monologue, but it's worth a try.

Thanks Xerika
Dawn

[streatham]

I think the Poetry London competition is for you Steve.  I don't think they mind if you live in Cwmbran.

Dawn

[Xerika]

Steve08, I'm surprised you haven't been gloating about the Grand Slam all over the place. After all, you Welsh chaps don't have much to gloat about  .

Dawn, if you want to know how to write monologues, have a look at Alan Bennet's "Talking Heads" series. Brilliant.

[streatham]

Yes, I had forgotten about Alan Bennett, but thanks to you and You Tube, I have now watched some monologues!

I have an idea for something to write, based around an incident that happened in a rough Inner City school where I worked. 

Dawn

[streatham]

Oh also, they do have the monologues from last year's competition, that you can watch on the competition website.

And I watched Peter Cook on You Tube too.

Dawn

[Xerika]

St Reatham (as I believe the area is now called), best of luck with it. Let us know how you get on.

Peter Cook? Ah yes, another of my heroes. Pure genius.

[streatham]

Yes, it's St Reatham now.  Not a bit like Streatham.  And Brixton is getting posher everyday.

I live in Hounslow though.

Dawn