All about writing great stories. Courses, competitions, workshops and a friendly online community. WestWord literary journal. Spread love with your words 💙 https://www.retreatwest.co.uk https://westword.substack.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3lovwfnaac22lFancy writing something a little different this week? https://www.retreatwest.co.uk/blog/the-shape-of-your-story11 May 2025 16:57 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3lovwfnaac22lhttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3lovwbvm4c22lThis is such a good idea for a workshop! Join @dublinwriter.bsky.social as you navigate tough times through the prism of creativity https://www.tickettailor.com/events/retreatwest/1676281?&from_listings=true11 May 2025 16:55 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3lovwbvm4c22lhttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3loiz4n2oqs2dA huge congratulations to our shortlist! https://westword.substack.com/p/westword-prize-2025-shortlist06 May 2025 13:41 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3loiz4n2oqs2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3loiz4n2oqs2dA huge congratulations to our shortlist! https://westword.substack.com/p/westword-prize-2025-shortlist06 May 2025 13:41 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3loiz4n2oqs2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3lnwycg6nls2zHave I mentioned our brand new flash contest? For folklore inspired stories up to 400 words. Closing tomorrow 23:59 https://westword.substack.com/p/folktale-flash-contest29 Apr 2025 09:38 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnwycg6nls2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3lnufqz3v4k2kICYMI - start your week right with this stonking story! [contains quote post or other embedded content]28 Apr 2025 09:01 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnufqz3v4k2khttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3lnpqa4i35k2pI hope lots of you are using this final weekend to polish your modern takes on fairytales and fables for our brand new competition https://westword.substack.com/p/folktale-flash-contest26 Apr 2025 12:25 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnpqa4i35k2phttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3lnpqa4i35k2pI hope lots of you are using this final weekend to polish your modern takes on fairytales and fables for our brand new competition https://westword.substack.com/p/folktale-flash-contest26 Apr 2025 12:25 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnpqa4i35k2phttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3lnpq4ymq6c2pSee our Hermit Crab Prize judge in action! [contains quote post or other embedded content]26 Apr 2025 12:23 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnpq4ymq6c2phttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3lnpq3vzglc2pI've just made my submission? Who else is getting a last minute entry in today? [contains quote post or other embedded content]26 Apr 2025 12:23 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnpq3vzglc2phttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3lnf73ey52k2mEach edition of Westword is free to read but did you know as a paid member there is so much more to access? From free competition entries to craft articles and Zoom workshops, there's a plethora of inspiration to keep your writing the best it can be! https://westword.substack.com/p/subscriptions22 Apr 2025 07:52 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnf73ey52k2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3lmhxv3a2r22aAnd we're really excited to be hosting our first poetry workshop this month! Join Pauline Sewards whatever experience you have. Sunday 27th April 1pm - 3pm (BST) https://www.tickettailor.com/events/retreatwest/1581088?10 Apr 2025 16:56 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmhxv3a2r22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3lnf73ey52k2mEach edition of Westword is free to read but did you know as a paid member there is so much more to access? From free competition entries to craft articles and Zoom workshops, there's a plethora of inspiration to keep your writing the best it can be! https://westword.substack.com/p/subscriptions22 Apr 2025 07:52 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnf73ey52k2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3ln6nkc42dk2iWonderful news for our longlisted writers! Congratulations to everyone who recognises their title https://www.retreatwest.co.uk/blog/opening0425-long19 Apr 2025 17:22 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3ln6nkc42dk2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3ln6nkc42dk2iWonderful news for our longlisted writers! Congratulations to everyone who recognises their title https://www.retreatwest.co.uk/blog/opening0425-long19 Apr 2025 17:22 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3ln6nkc42dk2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3lmttogchic2wCongratulations to the talented writers on the shortlist! https://westword.substack.com/p/shortlist-hermit-crab-prize15 Apr 2025 10:12 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmttogchic2whttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3lmpg4nrvkk27Last day to enter your opening lines for a chance to win an editorial report from a professional editor. https://www.retreatwest.co.uk/opening-lines-competition13 Apr 2025 15:59 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmpg4nrvkk27https://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3lmhxykrgic2aWhat is your favourite twist ending? Have you ever tried writing one? https://www.retreatwest.co.uk/blog/gotcha-twist-endings10 Apr 2025 16:58 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmhxykrgic2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3lm7ynlmnhc2nWhat aspects of writing craft would you like to see covered over the next few months?07 Apr 2025 12:48 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3lm7ynlmnhc2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3lmhxv3a2r22aAnd we're really excited to be hosting our first poetry workshop this month! Join Pauline Sewards whatever experience you have. Sunday 27th April 1pm - 3pm (BST) https://www.tickettailor.com/events/retreatwest/1581088?10 Apr 2025 16:56 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmhxv3a2r22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3lmhxpnufek2aWe're excited to be running a new generative workshop this weekend. 90 minutes of weather related prompts to add tension and electric passages of descriptions to your writing. 🌦️⛈️❄️ https://www.tickettailor.com/events/retreatwest/1521613?10 Apr 2025 16:53 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmhxpnufek2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3lmhxkiumak2aDeadline extended! Due to technical difficulties over the weekend, we are giving you an extra week to submit your opening lines for a chance to win an editorial report from a professional editor. New deadline: 13th April https://www.retreatwest.co.uk/opening-lines-competition10 Apr 2025 16:50 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmhxkiumak2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3lmhxhq5iok2aEdition 8 of WestWord has arrived. Six beautiful stories by Lucy Stubbings Lorraine Collins Cole Beauchamp @nomad-sw18.bsky.social JoAnneh Nagler Susan Wigmore and Sharon Boyle @sharon54.bsky.social https://westword.substack.com/p/edition-8-april-202510 Apr 2025 16:48 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmhxhq5iok2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3lmc273gkys2gDeadline extended! Due to technical difficulties over the weekend, we are giving you an extra week to submit your opening lines for a chance to win an editorial report from a professional editor. New deadline: 13th April https://www.retreatwest.co.uk/opening-lines-competition08 Apr 2025 08:21 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmc273gkys2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/retreatwest.bsky.social/post/3lmc273gkys2gDeadline extended! Due to technical difficulties over the weekend, we are giving you an extra week to submit your opening lines for a chance to win an editorial report from a professional editor. New deadline: 13th April https://www.retreatwest.co.uk/opening-lines-competition08 Apr 2025 08:21 +0000at://did:plc:2c72xon6zgojpicyk5g2efgl/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmc273gkys2g