WELCOME

The world of writing

An enduring anti-hero, why bad guys rule, how the mighty fall and creating a lasting legacy – traversing the highs and lows of the wide world of writing

LETTERS

STA R LETTER CREATING CONNECTIONS I began reading

Editorial calendar

Strong for ward planning will greatly improve your chances with freelance submissions. Here are some themes to consider for the coming months.

Novel Ideas Daydream believer

There’s so much to be gained from staring into space, says Lynne Hackles

You don’t have to like it

Bad experiences can make for good copy, says Patrick Forsyth

A right royal success

Trends come and go in publishing, but some things are hardy perennials, says Piers Blofeld

Feedback frenzy

ASK A LITERARY CONSULTANT

Transport

Have fun on your research journey into ways of getting around with advice from Tarja Moles

Behind the tape

Expert advice to get the details right in

HOW TO WRITE A BESTSELLER IN A YEAR

Five things I learned from Lisa Jewell about writing a bestselling novel.

Is this good for you?

Author James McCreet considers one of the trickiest questions for all writers – assessing the quality of your work

Your writing critiqued

James McCreet applies his forensic criticism to a passage from the great Jazz Age author’s unfinished novel, The Last Tycoon

A brand new chapter

Amy Sparkes is delighted with the winners of Writing Magazine’s Chapter Book Prize 2021

REIMAGINING REALITY

Margaret James looks at how you can transform real places into locations in your fiction

Cat’s whispers

Helen M Walters explores a short story by Saki to look at using animal characteristics in fiction

Getting into the inbetween

Alex Davis explores writing liminal spaces in horror

BLESS YOU FATHER

Poking fun at British sensibilities with gentle, kindly good humour, Rev Richard Coles is possibly the world’s loveliest crime writer, as Tina Jackson discovers

GRAHAM BARTLETT

The former detective and crime fiction advisor describes how he landed a deal as an author in his own right

Shelf life

The bestselling Y author runs through the five books that most matter to her

MEG ROSOFF

©Gloria Hamlyn TAP HERE To read an extract

CIRCLES’ ROUNDUP

If your writing group would like to feature here, whether you need new members, have an event to publicise or to suggest tips for other groups, email Tina Jackson, tjackson@warnersgroup.co.uk

LAMB-TASTIC

‘Before I moved to Northern Ireland, I couldn’t

Prayers and prophecies

‘An ambition achieved… I’ve signed a three-book contract

Setting sail in a new YA direction

‘Genealogy has always fascinated me, and when I

Self-publishing satisfaction

‘I took up creative writing during the lockdown

Hopes & dreams fulfilled

‘“If you are going to write a book,

Ian McMillan

The well-loved writer and broadcaster tells Lynne Hackles about the benefits of an early start

GETTING OVER THE GAP

Author Elizabeth Noble describes how she overcame a writing gap after a traumatic novel-writing experience

How to date a writer

Writers have their odd little ways. Rosalind Moody has provided a cut-out-and-keep guide to pass on to yout partners to guide them through the minefield

WAVE GOODBYE

No doesn’t have to be the end of the story when you’re sending work out, says Adrian Magson

MEDIUM MONEY

Can writing for online platforms generate a useful income? Simon Whaley reviews his first year on Medium

It’s a heartache

Having a book turned down hurts your heart – until you find the perfect partner, says Gillian Harvey

YOUTH CULTURE

Celebrate younger people and pass on your own wisdom in these youth-related creative writing exercises from Jenny Alexander

750-WORD COMPETITION WINNERS

21,915

OK

SECOND PLACE £50 Maria Dean lives in Yorkshire

Who’s this?

Focus on character creation in these writing group exercises from Julie Phillips

Feeling the love

Alison Chisholm’s heart is set all a-flutter by the winners of WM’s love poetry prize

FINDING THE WORDS

Alison Chisholm explores the joys of a meta-poem

Run free

Alison Chisholm launches WM’s competition for free-verse poems

ALISON STOCKHAM

The new domestic thriller writer tells Adrian Magson how all her efforts paid off with a sister-themed debut

WRITERS’ NEWS

Your essential monthly round-up of competitions, paying markets, opportunities to get into print and publishing industry news.

ONLINE SPECFIC MARKET

A new dawn

FLASHES

Short stories up to 2,500 words and poems

GLOBAL LITERARY MARKET

Wide open submissions

UK NON-FICTION MARKET

Get the picture?

FLASHES

Anthology Poetry Award 2022 is inviting entries of

GLOBAL LITERARY MARKET

Free thinking wanted

ONLINE SPECFIC MARKET

Orion’s Belt opens for flash

Reboot, resell

Find ways to revive neglected pitches with Patrick Forsyth’s advice

FLASHES

Win £1,000 first prize, and an Arvon course,

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL MARKET

Channel opens

GLOBAL BOOK MARKET

Dundurn writing

UK FICTION MARKET

A rebel voice for minority languages

FLASHES

The next round of the quarterly free-entry Anansi

GLOBAL HORROR MARKET

Folk horror for all

UK FICTION MARKET

Go for something special

INTRODUCTIONS

Writing Magazine presents a selection of current web submission calls. We strongly recommend that you read back issues, familiarise yourself with their guidelines before submitting and check websites for submission details.

GLOBAL LITERARY MARKET

Beyond pulp

FLASHES

Prizes are £1,000, £200 and £100 in the

GLOBAL POETRY MARKET

Vegetarian Alcoholic wants poems to change lives

GLOBAL BOOK MARKET

All genres wanted

FLASHES

The Anthology Short Story Award is inviting entries

GLOBAL SPECFIC MARKET

Get Inkd

INTERNATIONAL ZINE SCENE

The Plentitudes is a quarterly international literary journal

FLASHES

The Scribble Annual Short Story Competition 2022 is

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL MARKET

Address the burning issues

ONLINE HORROR MARKET

See in the dark

UK BOOK MARKET

Spreading branches