Novel Ideas

Welcome…

Dear Reader

Moth offers €10,000 for a single poem

With a first prize of €10,000 for a single poem, The

Investigate stories for Stroke Support

The Ruth Rendell Short Story Competition 2020 is inviting

Novel openings

The Caledonia Novel Prize is inviting entries for this

Encourage expats

If you are living, working or studying abroad and can

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England calling

Dream of leaving

Win cash and publication for short stories, poetry

Write for the moon

SaveAs Writers are celebrating the fiftieth anniversary

Black Spring crime time

The Black Spring Crime Writing Prize 2019 is open for

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Yours magazine editor Sharon Reid invites readers’

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Build your profile

Next chapter, not over the hill

Scottish Book trust is inviting applications for the

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Look forward with Erewhon

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Big pay at Medium mag

A home for heroes

Rogue Blades Entertainment is a US indie harking back

It’s a Funny Old World

In one of Anton Chekhov’s earlier literary adventures

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The Telegraph’s Saturday Travel Supplement runs the

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Exploring Bronzeville

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Meaty writing wanted

Big bucks for biz books

An international award for a business book proposal

Tender comrade

Over time words take on new or additional meanings.

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A state of independence

Two heads

Patrick Forsyth argues that a writing collaboration doubles promotional opportunities

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Weekend, the Daily Mail’s Saturday magazine, welcomes

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Deposit your non-fi ction

The stars are calling

Celestial Echo Press is a new press, needing submissions

STORIES IN MOTION

The Zoetrope All-Story Short Fiction Competition is

Get Brooked in

Win £1,000 in both the Open and EAL categories of the

Like Clockwork

A previously unpublished manuscript by Anthony Burgess

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Solid lead

Halloween horror

Horror and fantasy site Dream of Shadows is inviting

Intelligent entries, smart prize

The Dinesh Allirajah Prize 2019 invites stories on

And another thing…

‘It is worth mentioning, for future reference, that

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E&T magazine, edited by Dickon Ross, is published

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Sleepless writes

Eyes down for this novel prize

Win prizes in two categories – published and unpublished

Think of the children

The SWWJ invites entries on the theme ‘children are

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The female frontier

INTRODUCTIONS

Writing Magazine presents a selection of educational magazines currently accepting contributions. We strongly recommend that you read back issues, familiarise yourself with their guidelines before submitting and check websites for submission details.

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Get to know Juno

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The Sterts Theatre Write A One Act Play competition

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The stories of the street

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Tickling funnybones

A capital competition

The London Short Story Prize 2019 from Spread the Word

NO SOUR GRAPES HERE

Three winners will each get $250 in the international

THE WORLD OF WRITING

Wilde goes West, Nell goes south and McGough goes bust. Explore the whole wide world of writing with Derek Hudson

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

We want to hear your news and views on the writing world, your advice for fellow writers – and don’t forget to tell us what you would like to see featured in a future issue…

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A Stirling example

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There’s a bundle of picture books for younger readers

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No question

Score with Salopian

The Salopian Poetry Society’s Open Poetry Competition

Poetry for cancer support centre

Open to original work by poets living in the UK the

Locus placings

The Locus Foundation announced the Locus Award in late

INTERNATIONAL: ZINE SCENE

Nashville Review is a zine which has high standards

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The closing date for the Retreat West Novel Prize for

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Approach the Dragon

Hooray for Ray

A statue of the famed science fiction and fantasy author

Big prize for best poem

The National Poetry Competition is one of the world’s

Tickle Danny’s funny bone

The Danny Pyle Memorial Competition is inviting entries

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Can you dig it?

Unmasking Momaya

The Momaya Poetry Competition 2019 is inviting entries.

Krazy kars

Your mode of transport may become part of your travel story, says Patrick Forsyth

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Reflex Fiction is trialling a chose your own entry

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For experts and entrepreneurs

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A light in the dark

Poetry full of beans

The Troubadour International Poetry Prize 2019 is open

Hopeful and joyous

A Story for Daniel flash fiction competition is inviting

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An imaginative model

Speak up

Read this sound advice from The Society of Authors’ Nicola Solomon and Martin Reed before accepting freelance speaking engagements

From the OTHE SIDE R OF THE DESK

Piers Blofeld argues that books and libraries are a massively important antidote to a toxic digital world of fake news and filter bubbles

On Writing

Tony Rossiter explores great words from great writers

ASK A LITERARY CONSULTANT

Thinking of travelling for research? Helen Corner Bryant suggests tips and tactics to a writer planning on researching her novel abroad

Religions

Tarja Moles looks at how to explore faith and religion from various perspectives

Editorial calendar

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

An Affinity with writers

Greta Powell looks at the recently released Affinity Publisher creative software as an alternative to Adobe CC

BEHIND THE TAPE

Expert advice to get the details right in your crime fiction, from serving police officer

Plan for success

Got a book coming out? Plan early to optimise your book promotion,advises author and writing coach Jenny Alexander

Get it booked!

You’ve written a book, but there’s no one-size fits all way of getting it published. Understand the options facing today’s writers so you can make the right choice for your book.

Through the lens

Author James McCreet considers an essential but misunderstood aspect of writing: narrative focus

Under the Microscope

James McCreet puts a reader’s first 300 words under his forensic scrutiny

Getting away with murder

Is there ever an acceptable motive for murder? Margaret James interrogates a recent trend in crime fiction.

Lacks originality?

Worried that what you’re writing has all been done before? Not by you it hasn’t. Helen Yendall argues that while there’s no such thing as an original plot, each writer has a unique take on it

POETRY WORKSHOP: Alchemy of a poem

Plain, speckled, dull, shiny, all his life they’d possessed

Helpline

Diana Cambridge solves your writing problems

All change

Helen M Walters explores a story by Jan Carson to demonstrate how lifestyle changes can fuel new ideas for fiction

The story behind THE STORY

Every writer’s story starts somewhere, with plot twists along the way in our pursuit of publication. Marie Basting is a debut author of middle-grade fiction whose first book, Princess BMX¸ is published this month by Chicken House. So what’s the story behind the story? Amy Sparkes finds out

OH THE HORROR!

Why are we so afraid of the ‘H’ word? asks Alex Davis

The write career path

Is there a such a thing as a writing career path? Simon Whaley chats to two novelists about their journeys so far.

STIRRING THE POT

The Tudor fiction queen has abandoned Hampton Court to explore the hidden stories of Sussex peasant women Tina Jackson finds out more

How I got published

The psychological thriller writer tells Dolores Gordon Smith how working in a prison kickstarted her novel-writing career

The style & technique of MICK HERRON

His spy thrillers feature a memorably grotesque protagonist, says Tony Rossiter

MILLY JOHNSON

The novelist shares her top five reads with Judith Spelman

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

SUBSCRIBER SPOTLIGHT

Share your writing success stories. If you subscribe to Writing Magazine and would like to feature here, email Tina Jackson, tjackson@warnersgroup.co.uk

A Trip Through Time

1st place TRAVEL NARRATIVE COMPETITION £100

LOUISE BEECH

The multi-faceted author’s latest novel is a psychological thriller, but as she tells Margaret James, she writes the story and sees which genre it fits

SUSAN LEWIS

The prolific novelist and memoir writer tells Lynne Hackles about her demanding schedule to deliver two books a year

Like riding a bike

Set out on your writing journey with sporting advice from Adrian Magson

A poetic LIFE

Early in his writing life, Kenneth Steven was told he’d never make a living as a poet. He describes how he’s managed to survive, and thrive, through poetry

On the move

A writer used to working at home is advised to adapt her routine and embrace a new life adventure Jane Wenham-Jones

Away from your desk

Get out of your garret for some upcoming activities and places to visit

The great PRETENDER

A bit of success gave Lorraine Mace a galloping case of imposter syndrome

Blood Red

1st place 750-WORD COMPETITION £200

WIN! £500 IN CASH PRIZES & PUBLICATION

Modern Speculative Fiction Competition

Cover star

Visualise the cover for the book you want to write in this group exercise from Julie Phillips

Pchecaocmebing keeping force

Create harmony out of conflict in these peace-themed creative writing exercises