Hello everyone,

Time to gear up for the frantic Christmas shopping season, but take time out for yourself, and curl up with a cup of hot chocolate, or a cup of herbal tea. A piece of fruitcake or some shortbread would go down very nicely with that too.

This week’s stories have a Christmas theme, but if you have a Hannukah or Diwali story, please send it for the week of the 17th. to brendashort@writingblog.ca Christmas stories welcome too.

I have featured two of my works this week. Sorry for being selfish, but I’m running low on Christmas stories. The first is a feel good story I wrote about paying forward, titled “Better To Give”. The poem is a bit of a rant on the commercialism of Christmas and how it’s becoming unpopular with certain people. I couldn’t resist and it’s titled “Christmas of Old”.

Lastly, a delightful sentiment and one we should all adopt, by Mary Penner and titled “The Gift”.

I’ve also posted a light-hearted competition that you might like to participate in. To write a personal ad for a dating site. You can be as zany as you like and write anything from the sublime to the ridiculous, but no smut please. Also, our annual ugly winter sweater competition and you can combine the two if you like, or not. Send all entries to brendashort@writingblog.ca.

Any Christmas wishes that you wish to send will be posted on the website as soon as they arrive.

Bren