Aspiring writers and artists looking for a launchpad for their talents should start the countdown – a new online venture which aims to do exactly that is set for blast-off today.

Murder & Glut is billed as an innovative showcase which aims to inspire and entertain with regular pieces from a roster of talented writers, featuring stories and articles covering everything weird and wonderful.

The idea is the brainwave of three aspiring writers, two of whom are from Hitchin, who say their mission is to unearth under-the-radar authors.

Rosie Allen, who is setting up Murder & Glut with husband Mark Smith and pal Emily Weeks, who lives in Yeovil, said: “It will be a creative sanctuary for those who wish to share their talent.

“We want to encourage writers to submit short stories, excerpts, articles and poetry so we can share a really diverse and interesting range of materials.

“The site will focus on literature and culture with a skew on the obscure and unusual. Artists and film-makers are also encouraged. Basically, anything goes!’

The website at www.murderandglut.com will launch on Sunday and you can also follow the project on Facebook and Twitter.

Rosie, a copywriter and editor who works in Baldock, met archivist Emily at university.

“We bonded over our mutual love of literature,” she said. “Emily came up with the name Murder & Glut for a fictitious publishing company and we agreed that it would make a great name for a website that would encourage creative writers and artists to connect and inspire each other.

“The idea was fully fleshed out some years later when we all took a trip to Glastonbury and found ourselves inspired to take the idea to the next level.

“None of us would claim that we have any credentials for ‘judging’ work – but that is kind of the point.

“Frustrated with the publishing industry as it stands, we all wanted a platform to showcase our creative writing and articles and to invite other writers and readers to do the same.

“Traditional publishing routes and finding employment in the industry are all about who you know and being in the right place at the right time.

“We team are taking matters into their own hands. To submit work to Murder & Glut you don’t have to have completed a novel – in the era of social media, tablets and smartphones, short fiction has as much impact.

“Murder and Glut is supposed to be inclusive, encouraging writers to submit work should they wish.

Mark and Rosie have been involved in the North Herts music scene for many years, featuring in live band Sons of Guns as well as alternative club night Deadbeats.

The couple, who both originally hail from Stevenage, are also part of an art and music project called It’s Carnivore, which released a debut single linked to stop animation video last year.

They plan to run a monthly competition called The Gauntlet, featuring creative writing challenges, and publish an anthology of short stories every winter.

Budding writers are encouraged to email their work to editor@murderandglut.com.

And the advice from the Murder & Glut team to anyone who wants to be involved? “Be brave. Take the first step. Don’t be afraid!”