Novel Ideas

Welcome…

Dear Reader

THE WORLD OF WRITING

We’ve spied all sorts from the windows of Miscellany Mansions this month, including horror-inspired literary theme parks, crusading web warriors, and book fairies hiding in the hedgerows

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…

Editorial calendar

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

INTERNATIONAL ZINE SCENE

Wards is a South African literary journal with a special

Boldly go

Be conscious of helping travellers to keep costs down, urges Patrick Forsyth

UK MAGAZINE MARKET

Absolutely fabulous

Forming a limited company

SoA chief executive Nicola Solomon considers the pros and cons for writers

Feeling left out

The publishing industry must be aware of the commercial perils of ignoring some of its most lucrative reader demographics, argues agent Piers Blofeld

Ask a Literary Consultant

In part two of her guide to what to expect when you start submitting, Helen Corner-Bryant looks at what to expect after your manuscript has gone out to agents.

Libraries

Learn to explore shelves and archives with Tarja Moles

BEHIND THE TAPE

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

Cliché: A COMMON CRIMINAL

Using clichés is a shortcut to bad writing. Avoid them by arming yourself with advice from Michael Clough

Crowding in

Crowd control is essential when it comes to populating your novel with characters, advises Adrian Magson

Choice spreads

The Picture Book Prize 2019 showed WM writing for children talent in full force. Amy Sparkes is excited to talk to the winners

Under the Microscope

James McCreet applies his forensic criticism to the beginning of a reader’s comic novel

Love is the an swer

Margaret James learns about love with the Romantic Novelists’ Association

I wish I’d known…

with Juliet Greenwood

Travel tale s

Helen M Walters explores a short story by Alice Munro to look at the possibilities of taking your character on a journey

Backyard travel writing

Never underestimate the travel writing opportunities to be had on your doorstep. Travel writer Mary-Jane Houlton explains how to find the extra-ordinary within the ordinary.

COURSES GUIDE 2020

Writing for Children Course

READY PLAYER ONE!

Alex Davis offers an introduction to writing video games

WRITERS’ NEWS

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

Also mentioned…

Patrick Forsyth considers the promotional possibilities

INTRODUCTIONS

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

FANTASY FULFILLED

Eoin Colfer’s first novel for adults has just the same enthusiasm and passion as his children’s books, he just doesn’t need to worry about the sweary bits, he tells Tina Jackson

How I got published

FIONA VEITCH SMITH

KAZUO ISHIGURO

The style & technique of

JEAN FULLERTON

The saga author shares her top fi ve 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

KITTY WILSON

The rom-com novelist tells Margaret James about the joy and hard work that goes into creating her Cornish village community

MARK ELLIS

The author of WWII thrillers tells Lynne Hackles he’s a stickler for his weekly routine

GRANITE NOIR

Sara Paretsky and Ben Aaronovitch headline Granite

Pprerceisssi ornel eases

In the first of two articles on managing your media coverage, author Simon Hall tells you how to craft an attention-grabbing press release

What’s in a name?

Tread carefully when you use real people’s names, suggests Jane Wenham Jones to a writer whose best friend doesn’t like having a fictional character named after her

Minutes count

Every writing business gets an extra day in 2020. Simon Whaley chats to two writers about how they make each minute matter.

Under the covers

Book cover reveal day gives new author Gillian Harvey a warm glow in the run-up to publication

Coming clean

Just because writing’s her job doesn’t mean she has to like it, admits Lorraine Mace

Siphons

1st place SPECULATIVE FICTION COMPETITION £200

Love is in the air

With Valentine’s Day this month, get hearts fluttering with these love-themed writing group exercises from Julie Phillips

Chop-chop

Antony Reid writes multi-genre fiction and poetry from

FIND YOUR WRITING happiness

Try these feelgood creative writing exercises from Jenny Alexander

FESTIVAL GUIDE 2020

Hearth micro-festival

Lon g exposure

Alison Chisholm explores an ekphrastic poem inspired by an artist famous for dramatic contrast

Poetry in practice

Stuck for words? Prompt a poem with this exercise from Doris Corti