Our theme for Telltales in October 2023 is Nonsense.

For this event we’re looking for readings that relate in any way to Nonsense, in the form of stories, poetry or prose that are written with Nonsense as a theme or with Nonsense as content.

We’re also interested in your stories of Nonsense in everyday life: Something that wouldn’t work as it should, someone who said something that made no sense, a nonsense notice, a happening that was memorable because of its silliness.

You might be inspired by Dadaism or by Surrealism, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2024, a movement fascinated by irrational images and words from the depths of the subconscious, through dream or through chance occurrences.

You might like to read this brief guide, written by Luke Edley of Thanet writers, on How to Write a Nonsense Poem.

We look forward to your creative input, whether in poetry, prose, short story or an excerpt from a longer work. Please think in terms of a maximum of 10 minutes of reading or around 1500 words.

Telltales will take place at Falmouth Princess Pavilion on Tuesday 24 October, starting at 6pm.

If you would like to read, please submit your work by Saturday 21 October to info@telltales.org.uk

And sorry we are late by a month. We had some Nonsense in locating a suitable venue…

Thank you!