Writing | What could I be doing?

By Zehra Cranmer

It’s that time again, where you, the writer takes the plunge. Movement from the internal world to the external one is a rather daunting task which should never be taken lightly. Only show your work when you are 110 % sure. Have you read it over and checked it with great scrutiny? Showing it to a friend or family will not give you an accurate response so think about critique groups and work from there. Here are a few available options; you can always access what’s out there by heading to your local library and delving in as well as online.

Mslexia Women’s Short Story Competition stories up to 2,200 wds in any style & on any subject. Judge: Tessa Hadley. Prizes £2,0000, £500, £250, 3@ 100. A professional critiquing service is also available:£45 per story. Entry fee: £10 per story. 0191 233 3860. [email protected] www.mslexia.co.uk/shortstory closing date 19 March

Final Chapters: Dying Matters Creative Writing Competition for original works of prose up to 2,500 wds or poetry of up to 40 lines on the theme ‘the end of life’. Prizes: £200, £100, £50 plus highly commended certificates. Free entry fee. Final Chapters Writing Competition, Dying Matters Coalition, The Fitzpatrick Building, 188-194 York Way, London N7 9AS. 0800 021 4466 www.dyingmatters.org/finalchapters closing date 31 March

Sunpenny Publishing Writing Competition 2012 include: New Novels Competition, Young writers’ Short Story Competition, Open Short Story Competition. Prizes: cash & publication opportunities. See website for full submission info. www.sunpenny.com closing date 31 March

Coffee House Poetry at the Troubadour presents events including: Tipping the Night Porter, a hotel- themed end-of- season poetry-party (19 Mar); New & Established Poets (7 May); Launch of Magma 53, with guest poets (4 Jun) The Troubadour, 263-267 Old Brompton Road, London. www.coffeehousepoetry.org

Events at the Southbank Centre; Simon Armitage, Carol Ann Duffy, Helen Dunmorre, Seamus Heaney and Michael Longley (21 Mar) Chibundu Onuzo & Noo Saro-Wiwa (22 Mar); Nikesh Shukla- The Ethnic Writer, How to Avoid Labels (16 Apr); StorySLAM: live (18 Apr); Mushaira: Poetry Recital (21 Apr). The Southbank Centre, London. Box Office 020 7960 4200 www.southbankcentre.co.uk

Fiction Writing Finchley a 10-week course for writers of all levels of experience. With professional writer Stephen Keyworth. Finchley , London. From 16 April. £75 per term. 07956280745. [email protected]

Events with The Royal Society of Literature include: Masterclass :The art of writing fiction with Hanif Kureshi (14 Apr); Literary Event about Angela Carter with Bidisha & Caryl Phillips (23 Apr). Somerset House, London. 020 7845 4676 www.rslit.org