PARK PUBLICATIONS U.K. Fiction, poetry, anthologies, writing competitions 14 THE PARK. STOW ON THE WOLD. CHELTENHAM GLOS. GL54 1DX TEL: 01451 831053 E-mail : sales@parkpublications.co.uk Publishers of SCRIBBLE – the short story magazine, COUNTRYSIDE TALES....fiction, articles, and poetry, and DEBUT - Brand new fiction

Welcome page Debut Fiction Competitions Countryside Tales Scribble

SCRIBBLE the short story magazine Awarded ‘Best Short Fiction Magazine 2007’ in small press category, by Writers’ Grand Circle, for consistent quality of content and production. ‘The judges were delighted to award Scribble the top award for short fiction because it provided the most constant opportunity for new and emerging writers to be published. This fine publication provides constant quarterly opportunities for creative people. The judges commented on the strong design, providing a recognisable image; the critiques were honest and reflected views of a constructive manner both praising and pointing out perceived short-comings. The judges were delighted to learn the publication is about to enter its tenth year of publication.’ Writers’ Grand Circle December 2007 ……………………………………………. 2008 awards: 1st in Class ‘Small Press Magazines for experienced and emerging writers of short fiction in UK’ ‘Scribble has strong design values and it has an excellent rapport with writers. The short fiction content was of a very high standard. The editorial control was constant and the low cost and free entry for subscribers offered real value.’ Writers’ Grand Circle December 2008. ________________ An annual subscription to Scribble in the U.K. costs £12.00. Overseas £15.00. All payments must be in UK currency. Copy of current issue costs £3.50. Overseas £3.75. Back issue - £2.00. Overseas - £2.50. All prices inclusive of p&p. Cheques payable to Park Publications To subscribe or buy a single copy, please send your cheque/postal order to our postal address. FREE OFFER! You may obtain a free back copy of Scribble by sending 2 second class stamps (to cover postage costs) to our postal address. ________________________________ THE WINTER 2009 ISSUE IS NOW AVAILABLE. ORDER NOW FOR £3.50 (Overseas £3.75). SCRIBBLE The Short Story Magazine OPEN QUARTERLY COMPETITIONS Short stories on any subject. Max. 3000 words. Entry fee…£3.00. Cheques payable to Park Publications. FREE ENTRY FOR ANNUAL SUBSCRIBERS. Prizes of £75.00, £25.00, and £15.00 for the best three stories in each issue of Scribble, as chosen by the readers. These competitions are ongoing: no closing date. Please see Scribble guidelines below for further information or send s.a.e. for our leaflet 'Writing For Scribble'. SCRIBBLE, the short story magazine, was launched at the beginning of 1999 and has developed into one of the UK's most popular general fiction magazines. Scribble contains a wide range of high quality fiction from new and established writers. The magazine is now being circulated world-wide. Scribble is a quarterly magazine in A5 format. Each issue contains at least 60 pages of entertaining short stories including a letters’ section where readers can pass comment on the stories and the magazine in general. The three prize-winning stories are chosen each quarter by a readers’ voting system. LENGTH...Ideally 1000 to 3000 words SUBJECT...Any subject. PAYMENT...Prizes of £75.00, £25.00, and £15.00, will be awarded for the best three stories in each issue, as chosen by the readers. For other published stories, a complimentary copy will be given. Annual subscribers will also receive a credit voucher to the value of £4.00. Stories from non-subscribers are welcome but must be accompanied by the entry fee. Entry fee is £3.00 per story (cheques payable to Park Publications). Free unlimited entry for subscribers. SCRIBBLE is published in March, July, October, and December. WRITING for SCRIBBLE the short story magazine. A guide for writers WHAT KIND OF STORIES DO WE REQUIRE? We publish stories on a wide range of subjects - romance, humour, crime, science fiction, supernatural, etc. We need stories that are fresh and original; stories with gripping plots; stories about interesting characters that the reader can sympathise with. Most of all, we want stories that entertain the reader. While all stories received are read thoroughly and given every consideration, the following points may be helpful in your choice of material... SCRIBBLE is read chiefly by adults, therefore, realistic dialogue is acceptable. However, language may be toned down if the editor feels it may cause offence. Your story will stand a better chance of success if it has a beginning, middle and satisfactory ending (not as obvious as it sounds), and contains believable and interesting characters. Stories should appeal to as wide a range of readers as possible. The editor will not normally make comments or give reasons why a particular story has been rejected. However, if a story shows promise, suggestions for improvement may be made. Reasons why a particular story is unsuitable may be many and varied. For instance, it may be because we have just published a very similar story to yours. For this reason, it would probably be helpful to study at least one or two recent issues of the magazine; this would also assist you in assessing the type of material we are currently using. PRESENTATION: Stories should be no longer than 3000 words. Your work should be typed or word-processed on single sides of A4 paper and preferably double-spaced. A s.a.e. with sufficient postage MUST be provided for reply or return of unsuccessful mss. If you do not require unsuitable work to be returned, we can contact you by email if preferred. Please provide a cover sheet with name, address and title of story and remember to number your pages and clip them together. We are unable to consider material sent via email. SOME EXAMPLES OF STORIES PUBLISHED IN SCRIBBLE… MOONRISE AT BELTANE by Fiona Curnow ‘A dark historical story of sacrifice and honour set in the Celtic period.’ (Scribble no. 5 spring 2000) GREEK OLIVES by P. D. R. Lindsay ‘A subtle and amusing tale of ghostly revenge.’ (Scribble no. 8 winter 2000) THE END OF THE SEASON by Elaine Cowley ‘A poignant account of the sudden change from child into adult.’ (Scribble no. 8 winter 2000) THE WITCH ON THE HILL by Nevill Strange ‘A contemporary thriller about a young would-be criminal and his elderly ‘victim’. (Scribble no 12 winter 2001) THE SWEETSHOP by Mario Petrucci ‘A charming and nostalgic account of a shop-keeper anxious to keep the old traditions alive’ (Scribble no. 13 spring 2002) THE NEW LEAF by Marcus Sims. ‘A sci-fi story about time travel, with an ingenious twist.’ (Scribble no. 14 summer 2002) WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE: REWARD by Andrew Giles. ‘Western yarn about death in the desert’ (Scribble 14 summer 2002) THE WALBERSWICK HORROR by Charles Pearson. ‘Tongue-in-cheek horror set in a future world.’ (Scribble no 15 autumn 2002) COLOUR ME BLUE by David Bonnett. ‘A poignant account of a young man’s relationship with his cynical father.’ (Scribble no 24 winter 2004) THE SOUND OF ONE HAND CLAPPING by Christine Round. ‘A fascinating story of life on a distant planet where the inhabitants are all blind’ (Scribble 27 autumn 2005) FINDING TIME by Sarah J. Bryson ‘Contemporary fiction about a day in the life of a schoolteacher driven to distraction by her pupils’ problems and her own distressing personal worries’ (Scribble 32 winter 2006) BRIGADIER GIBSON’S DAY by Patrick Monen ‘A poignant story about an ex-military man’s loneliness and grief’ (Scribble 33 spring 2007) FOREIGNERS by Antony Tomlinson ‘A gritty, contemporary tale about one man’s prejudices.’ (Scribble 43 autumn 2009) For a free information pack containing further information about contributing to Scribble plus news about our other magazines and opportunities for writers, please send a s.a.e. to our postal address. _______________________________________________________