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Creative Writing
This competition was discontinued in 2025. Read recent winning entries in our e-anthology ‘The Writers’ Journey’, a free download
Helen Brain is the author of 30 books for children, an adult memoir and many short stories. In 1998
Back in the dark ages, like ten years ago, most stories submitted to magazines travelled on paper, with a
Award-winning author ALEX SMITH tells us about the making of the trailer for her upcoming novel Devilskein & Dearlove. While
A catch up with one of SA’s promising authors. Cayleigh Bright was destined to write. From a very young age,
Craig Higginson, a historical novelist, has a brave approach to research in fiction. He claims that many writers in the
GINNY SWART explains how to sell your short stories to magazine fiction supplements. “Only five more shopping days to
First off, congratulations – you wrote a short story! Now, use these eight tips to help get it published. BY
One of the most common problem writers have when learning to write fiction, is maintaining point of view (PoV). Here,
WEB WRITING
Your Stories
BY RETIEF POTGIETER An artist will sometimes mention that he or she hasn’t had an original thought in a while.
Driving around in the Jordanian desert, we cleaned the car’s air filter more often than we filled up with fuel.
BY MIKE CASTO Joe Lansdale, the award-winning author of 45 novels, sat on the stage and told us, “Write as
My writing journey leaped ahead when a truck smashed into my car at a traffic light, crumpling the back
Congratulations to Christie Williams from New Zealand for her story about procrastination. Christie wins our June contest. The closing date for the next My
Words have the power to alter perceptions and change lives, as KEZIAH FREIMOND discovered for herself. I have, through the
Writing is not something I do; it is something I can’t do without. My journey as a writer began
BY TRACY SOLEA A bright gold sticker in my purple exercise book marks the day I
I was five years old, hugging the floor of my mother’s little shack, gunshots ringing through the air. I
BY GABRIELLA BRAND I’m a little embarrassed to admit that meeting a potato farmer helped me become a
Q & A WITH AWARD-WINNING WRITERS
BY THABISO SEKGOBELA He made cars.co.za one of the most trusted brands in South Africa. He published a book in
Susan Williams has been the managing director of Prose & Comms – a communications company – for over a decade.
Fiona Ingram is a multi-award-winning author of adult and children’s fiction. She has won, or been a finalist in, over
TRUDY DELAMARE asks veteran copy-editor Di Smith if machines can correct errors better than humans in this frank Q &
New Zealand Poet Laureate, Dr Selina Tusitala-Marsh Selina Tusitala-Marsh has published three critically acclaimed collections of poetry. She was the
Alex Smith’s most recent novel ‘Devilskein & Dearlove’ is a YA Fantasy, described by the ‘Sunday Times’ as “a magical
When Lotta received her ‘Local Hero’ award in 2014, she celebrated it with lime and soda rather than bubbly. Lotta
Helen Brain is the author of 30 books for children, an adult memoir and many short stories. In 1998
Rosemary Hepözden has three decades of editing, writing and teaching experience. She is the author of three nonfiction books, and
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Apps for Writers
Boost your web writing career with these powerful apps. BY SARAH LLOYD We as 21st century writers are lucky to
Web writing is an increasingly popular specialism for writers, but it’s also highly competitive. I’m sharing my top free and
Six apps to help travel writers organise, plan and execute their day. BY CHRIS STRYDOM Travel writers rely on technology
While your Moleskine may never go out fashion, technology changes at a rapid pace. These five apps get you
If you are a person who fears or dislikes new apps, and you also happen to be a journalist,
Anyone can share their travel stories on the Web. However, it is the quality of your writing, editing and photos
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Well, it’s all about power, isn’t it? That’s where and why my life intersects the here and how
This competition was discontinued in 2025. Read recent winning entries in our e-anthology ‘The Writers’ Journey’, a free download
Logical flow is one of the trickier writing skills to master, but it is vital for good writing. Here’s a
Finally finished a piece of writing that you want to submit to an editor? Woohoo! But before you hit the
Need some writing inspiration and courage to keep going? Here are wise words from famous writers. “A professional
Here are 11 ways to draw in your reader and keep them hooked. Each one of these ways takes time
For most of the twentieth century, television was the preferred channel for advertisers to promote their goods to the masses.
The plot twist is the writer’s equivalent of magic: a sleight of hand, a puff of smoke and kazam! You
After over a decade of judging thousands of short stories in our national writing competitions, our Writers’ College
In most stories, people talk to each other. Many readers enjoy the “talking bits” the most, and will happily