Dear Reader
A single word that sends some writers scurrying for cover. No, not ‘slushpile’: ‘formula’. And with some justification. Over the years, some creative types have come to look down on others they deem to be following a template to churn out their work. And of course, we’re not going to suggest that you should be following patterns or shoehorning in elements for the wrong reasons. But there are still steps and approaches you can take to make your writing, and your broader writing life, that bit easier. For example, there is no way to guarantee a competition win but ignoring a few vital ingredients will leave your entry half-baked; a successful short story requires one (at least) credible character and some kind of conflict. The fun part, and this is all down to you and your creativity, is what you do with them.
In this issue we’ll help you to understand what judges want, what readers want, and what editors want – but the most important thing of all is what you want. Win or lose, published or unpublished, the writing game really is all about the taking part. So what are you waiting for? Get writing!