By Katie Isham. The second instalment of the Words in Common creative writing challenge returns – will your pen rise to in? The heatwave seems to be over and across the land teachers and students have been busy sharpening their pencils ready for the return to school. School has...
Creative writing
Books: Reading on my travels – Neither Here Nor There by Bill Bryson
By Laura McCarthy. Like the undead, I amble half-awake to Saint Pancras, after a sleepless night in the hottest hostel room in the history of the world. This is how I begin my trip to Belgium and, due to the relentless heatwave, it is a state I will get...
Words In Common writing challenge – your work is in!
By Katie Isham. A few weeks ago we launched Words In Common – a regular themed writing prompt to encourage you to get creative. The prompts have been pondered. The characters have been cultivated. The word count has been whittled down. The stories have been assembled, disassembled and reassembled....
In Common launches a new writing challenge: Words in Common
Calling all wordsmiths of Southampton… It’s time to set you a challenge. We’ll give you a week and you give the world some words. As the Summer Sessions near their conclusion, it seems only fitting to shine a light on this glorious central hub of life in Southampton. As...
Poetry & fiction – inspired by Southampton National Park City’s Urban Wild festival
Pictures by Mike Daish. In recognition of this week’s Urban Wild festival, which runs from May 23rd to 31st, we invited four local writers to share work on the theme. For more information about the festival, which is organised by Southampton National Park City, click here. This is...
Experience: Emerald Glow – reflecting on transitioning on a cycling tour of Ireland
By Tammi Dodger. “I’ll share something too, but you’re going to lose respect for me.” This is my reassurance to a friend, who grins back at me from beneath her glossy, black cycling helmet. She is in the process of telling me something that while embarrassing, is also too...
Experience: From outsider to insider in a football-shaped universe
By Tammi Dodger. If you live in the way that you take it personally when the universe ruins your day, the upside is that it sometimes feels like the cosmos is giving you its blessing. That’s how it felt the first time the Lionnesses won the Euros in 2021....
Winchester Poetry Festival opens its globally recognised Winchester Poetry Prize for the tenth year
Since 2016 poets from far and wide have submitted their best, unpublished poems into Winchester Poetry Prize competition to be in with a chance of winning the prestigious top prizes and publication in a printed anthology. The first prize is £1000, second prize is £500 and third prize is...
Experience: black velvet dress at the school disco
By Spring Wise. When I was ten, there was a school disco. My auntie took me shopping and bought me the most beautiful dress I could imagine. It was black velvet and made me feel like an Old Hollywood movie star. I chose it, no one chose it for...
Creative writing – poetry: “That’s Silly”
In Common has a platform for people to share creative writing – short stories, observations, poem etc. Today, we’re sharing a poem from a local writer. Please get in touch if you would like your work to be featured: editor@in-common.co.uk. By Gavandeep Chahal. ‘That’s Silly’ what’s that on your...