In past years the publicity for our 60 word micro story contest had a certain formula which dated back to pre-internet days. Tried and tested, it performed well and attracted enough entrants to set up our competition on an annual basis.

In those days, the main publicity was a poster or hand-out. This would be headlined with an eye-catching story title - AUNT MILDRED ATE MY HAMPSTER was one such story.

Somehow, this year such useful publicity ideas were forgotten. This year the 'sample' story used on the hand-out was the winner of our internal 60 word micro story competition which was titled COLD CUTS. This less-than eye-catching title ended up written in minuscule font on our hand-outs which now relies on “Poole Writers' Circle 5^th Annual 60 word short story competition” to attract the eye. I am not impressed.

In more recent years our publicity didn't just rely on posters and hand-outs. When the glorious interweb arrived and Poole Writers' Circle gained a website, the resources of the website were made available with links from the contest information & rules page – like a pointer to SHORT BUT SWEET – THE ART OF THE 60 WORD STORY. This year no such a links are used. Even the sample story from the hand-out is missing from the website – until now.

COLD CUTS

“Ham off the bone is always best with a nice fresh salad,”said Mrs Smith sweetly.

She watched her cheating husband as he enjoyed the last tender succulent morsel.

That afternoon, she had paid a visit to his mistress and had to admit that she looked good enough to eat. 'Revenge was a dish best served cold,' she thought smiling.

Perhaps our lack of eye-catching title stems from our internal micro story competition this year. A 60 word story with the theme of 'revenge'. (This resulted in a lot of domestic poisoner stories and even Ted's winner has a 'food' element in a domestic setting.) Sadly eye-catching titles were entirely absent.

After the event I did have a go – a revenge theme and an eye-catching title. I only managed one out of two – its more 'vengeance' than 'revenge'. And it also struggles to say 'story' in a loud voice - although it's the title that's the important bit and that proved restricting.

GORDON BROWN ARRESTED FOR TREASON

Most citizens consider all is lost for Gordon Brown but his mother still holds out hope.

Poor gentle Gordon. His father preached fire and brimstone from the pulpit then fulminated rebellion.

Gordon was compelled to assist him. Arrested, imprisoned, both now await sentence while I compose his father's epitaph. We won't forget!

“John Brown's body lies mouldering in the grave!”

I hope this website entry will have repaired the cracks I perceived in our publicity for this our 5^th External Micro Story Competition. The competition information & rule (I've been so rudely criticising) can be found here.

Finally, from a committed 60 word micro story writer, best wishes to all entrants in this year's competition..