I visit the Melbourne Writer's Network once a week or so - it has regular information about writers festivals, readings and competitions. The latest entry is the 2004 call for submissions by Cardigan Press. On their website they explain that they require pieces that are either 500, 1000, 2000 or 3000 words long and that pieces in between these lengths will be "frowned upon as indecisive."
Submissions must be in by April 16th. (for more on Cardigan Press read the excellent Sleepy Brain interview.)
I got a call from HQ magazine yesterday and it seems like I have won some books for the short story of mine that was short-listed last year. 100 bucks worth of fine literature. The woman on the phone also told me that HQ has ceased publication, which is a bit of a shame as I'd already started thinking about this year's entry. It wasn't a bad magazine, either - I used to like reading it. I never bought it, however, I'd just borrow Petite's copy, so I guess I partly responsible for the magazine's decline.
The lollypop man near our flat loves his job. He was there this morning at 6:45 - at least an hour before any child is likely to arrive. It was still dark. He smiled at me and said "Had a good week?" and for a moment I considered telling him that no, it's been a shit week, that my partner's father died and that we've been caught up in a surreal world of organising a funeral for someone who wasn't supposed to go quite so soon. But I decided not to and just kind of shrug helplessly. "Never mind" he said, "It's almost Friday."
