Write a Nanotale!

The world's #1 short story competition has just launched and we're looking for the world's best stories on life, death, pleasure, pain, - anything goes as long as it is under 1000 words, in English and written by you.

If you think you've got what it takes and you manage to convince the public and a panel of judges, then Ziji will turn you into a published author.

The Guardian has teamed up with Bebo and Ziji publishing and is inviting stories of less than 1,000 words before March 16 2007.

There's nothing in the rules to say writers must be British. Anyway, you're all loyal Guardian readers, aren't you!

And even if you don't want to enter, there is some excellent advice from Ziv Navoth on writing the short story. The author's website is here.

Bibliobibuli - in The Guardian!!!!

Wow! My blog post on the Zadie Smith article the other day, got quoted in the Guardian, my favourite newspaper for its literary pages. This is actually the second time that this has happened (the first time was back in October 2005 when I was reflecting on the results of the Booker Prize).

Many thanks to Rob Spence for taking the trouble to rummage through his recycling pile and scan the column so I could see it. I'm excited, not just for the few seconds of fame, but because although I live so far away, my thoughts and comments can be part of the conversation. What did we do before the internet?

Incidentally, the second part of Zadie's article can be read here.