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Helen Laycock... 

Short-story writer? Poet? Children's fiction writer?

 

What I'd like to be remembered for is being a good writer. I take time over my craft; I try to stir emotion, raise a laugh, create a clever twist or a cold shock.

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I write every day and I've always got projects on the go...

Some day, I hope to get a serious poetry collection out there. I have just finished my ninth children's book.

 

So, stay tuned...

 

Here is my Facebook Author Page.

And here I am on Twitter.

My Visual Verse Archive

Publications, etc...

Mysteries and Adventures

All  of these have received the Readers' Favourite 5* seal

For Adults

Serious Poetry

Light-Hearted Poetry

Inclusion in Anthologies & Magazines

  • One Word Anthology by Talkback Writers (Alfie Dog Press)

  • Songs of Angels (Thynks)

  • Aspiring Writers 2013 Winners Anthology (Blue Dragon Press)

  • An Earthless Melting Pot (Vol. 2) (Quinn Publications)

  • The Best of CafeLit 3 (Chapeltown)

  • The Best of CafeLit 4 (Chapeltown)

  • The Best of CafeLit 5 (Chapeltown)

  • The Best of CafeLit 6 (Bridge House)

  • A Quick Read (Aspen Run Press)

  • Silver Lining by Poets Against Violence (Baer Books Press)

  • Full Moon and Foxglove (Three Drops Press)

  • The Caterpillar (Winter Edition , 2016)

  • The Caterpillar (Spring Edition, 2017)

  • Popshot, 2017

  • Poems for Grenfell Tower (Onslaught Press)

  • Flash Flood (the National Flash Fiction Day journal) June 2019

"Helen, I’m an an abstract painter in St. Petersburg, Florida. In my research for my art show in March, I came across your poem, To the Unborn. I’m absolutely in love with it.  The title on my art show is Words, Worn Well and I would like to work your piece into a creating of mine.  I’m super excited to come across your Facebook page as well as your website where I read many other works of your including, For Better, for Worse. It brought tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat.ens of every shape and size, and perfect for long blocks of text."

Online Publications

100-worders

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Short stories/Flash

Poetry

Page Features

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‘Now, because this is a blog, I have to say what my most popular post of the year was. Well, it was "An Interview with Author Helen Laycock", by a pretty long shot (and if you haven't read that post yet, seriously, go check it out, because Helen is fantastic).’

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‘FYI- Part 1 has been Nothing Any Good's most read article to date. It has been viewed over 250 times in the last 3 days.’

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I was offered a lead spot on Visual Verse in June 2018:

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"Dear Helen,

I am writing as the editor of Visual Verse and I hope you won't mind me getting in touch. Every year we have one month where we select two or three regular contributors whose work we admire, to provide a lead piece for the site.

We would be delighted if you would take one of those spots for June. We enjoy your writing very much, and would love to celebrate it by publishing you in a lead spot."

Awards

Poetry

  • 1st prize in the David St John Thomas Writing Awards for Novice Poetry (Under 55), May 2006

  • Shortlisted for Moon Poetry, Writing Magazine, January 2008

  • Shortlisted for Humorous Poetry, Writing Magazine, August 2009

  • Shortlisted for Last Line Poetry, Writers' News, August 2009

  • Shortlisted for Street Poetry, Writing Magazine, September 2009

  • Shortlisted for Generation Gap Poetry, Writers' News, February 2011

  • Shortlisted for Humour Verse Competition, Flash500, July 2011

  • Shortlisted for Humorous Poetry, Writing Magazine, October 2011

  • Longlisted for Humour Verse Competition, Flash500, July 2012

  • Shortlisted for Horror Poetry Competition, Writing Magazine, October 2012

  • Runner up in Songs of Angels Competition, Thynks Publications, June 2013

  • Shortlisted for Shadows Poetry Competition, Writers' News, August 2013

  • Shortlisted, plus Honourable Mention for  Humour Verse Competition, Flash500, July 2013

  • 1st place in The Aspiring Writers Poetry Competition, August 2013

  • Shortlisted for Poetry for Children Competition, Writers' News, November 2013

  • Shortlisted for Poetry for Children Competition, Writing Magazine, March 2015

  • Honourable Mention/'Short shortlist' in the National Poetry Day competition run by Liz Brownlee/Forward Arts, judged by Trevor Millum and Phil Waddell, 2016

Short Stories

  • Shortlisted for Annual Love Story Competition, Writing Magazine, May 2005

  • Shortlisted for Adult Fairy Competition, Writing Magazine, November 2011

  • Shortlisted for Fiction Competition, Writers' Forum, Issue #134, 2012

  • Shortlisted in Erewash Creepy Christmas Competition, December 2012

  • 3rd Place in The Aspiring Writers Short Story Competition, May 2013

  • 3rd Place in The Aspiring Writers Short Story Competition, June 2013

  • 1st Place in The Aspiring Writers Short Story Competition, July 2013

  • 1st Place in The Aspiring Writers Short Story Competition, August 2013

  • Shortlisted for Tea and Tale, Ryedale Book Festival, October 2013

  • Runner-up in Words with Jam Bigger Short Story Competition, 2013

Flash

  • Longlisted in Mslexia Flash Fiction, January 2019

  • Winner of Lucent Dream's inaugural flash competition, April 2019

Plays

  • Shortlisted for Pint-Sized Plays, June 2016

  • Visual Verse - Tight For Time July 2017

Talks & Readings

  • Cheltenham Literary Festival -3 poems, October 2015

  • Chalfont St. Peter Library - Tea and Tales , December 2015

  • Austenmead - stories, February 2016

  • Austenmead - stories, August 2019

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