Unfortunately, like many working people with young families, I don't have much opportunity to attend a Writers' Group as such, but I do have an equivalent of this over at Writers News Talkback - a friendly online chat forum for writers of all ilks.
Each month they hold a competition called the 'One Word Challenge,' whereby the word is chosen by the winner of the previous month, who is also the judge.
February's word was 'Chaos,' but instead of entering a prose piece - which I'd done to no avail twice before - I had an idea for poetry instead, although it's not really my forte.....
....and to my amazement I won! And there's talk of an anthology, too.
I have had a few articles published before, in magazines, plus I once helped on the editorial team for a book by Yorkshire Arts Circus, but this is the first writing contest I've actually won so I'm pretty chuffed with myself.
However, there's always a downside...I'm now the judge for the March challenge (oh no!).
Anyway, the winning entry is below and remember the theme is 'Chaos.' I hope you like it... do let me know.
‘Good Morning, Daddy!’
That’s just great,
We’re gonna be late,
Must get moving, no time to wait,
‘Libby! Joe! It’s ten past eight,’
Onto the landing, I slipped on a skate!
Burnt toast, ironing board up,
Oh shoot! Cornflakes in a cup!
Just a gulp of coffee for me to sup,
The yelp, yelp, yelp of that bloody pup,
And the kids constant arguing… ‘Oh, shurrup!’
‘Hey! Don’t poke little Joe’s eye,’
‘Libby! Look, you’ve made him cry,’
‘Be good for Daddy – please give it a try,’
Now where the heck’s my flippin’ tie?
God, this place is like a piggin’sty.
‘NO! Gimme that knife cos you may get hurt,’
‘I’ll scrape that toast while I iron your skirt,’
‘Joe wipe your face, it’s full of dirt,’
We’re gonna be late; it’s a dead cert,
‘Oh blast’…burnt toast all over my shirt!
‘Now get yourselves dressed; I aint got time,'
‘He’s pinched my toast. OY, that’s mine.’
‘Here have mine. God, it’s twenty to nine,’
Yelp, yelp. ‘Move that pup, the little swine,’
Sod the brew, I could do with some wine!
‘Where are your book-bags? Libby! Joe!’
‘Come on! Help me, it’s time to go,’
‘Don’t turn the telly on…I said, "NO!"
‘But it’s my favourite American show,’
Then I looked outside and saw the snow!
‘Now get your coats on as fast as you can,’
‘Car’s frozen - I need warm water in a pan,’
Honestly, I’m normally a very calm man,
And the door, I really didn’t mean to slam,
But over I slipped and up flew the pan!
‘Daddy! Daddy! Are you okay?’
It felt like a punch off Cassius Clay,
‘Daddy, since you're okay, can we now play?’
‘You what? No chance, no flippin’ way!’
‘Aww, but it’s snowing…and it’s SATURDAY!!!
(DOH!)
40 lines (excluding the ‘DOH!’).
Chris Simms is the author of the DI Jon Spicer crime novels and, in my opinion, soon to be right up there with Simon Kernick and Mark Billingham. I'm in good company with this prediction as when professionals within the book industry announced their 'Top 25 Authors of the Future,' Chris made the list! 
