One giant step into sci-fi

Welcome...

As an international magazine, we usually try to avoid ‘local

Star interview: Sally Wainwright

The sun never shines in winter, they say, in this

SUBSCRIBER SPOTLIGHT

‘In 2011 I left my job as a part-time learning

Circles’ roundup

If your writing group would like to feature here, whether

Crime file: Susan Hill

Dealing with death is at the forefront of Susan Hill’s

AYISHA MALIK

To many people there might not appear to be an

My Writing day CJ SKUSE

‘I ’m a bad girl,’ says CJ Skuse. ‘I’m not

DEAL OR NO DEAL

I work with many authors, helping them fine-tune their novels

On writing: William Trevor

Some enjoy it, but for many aspiring writers, rewriting is

How I got published

Over the years I’ve filled many notebooks with snippets of

Editorial calendar

Strong forward planning will greatly improve your chances with freelance

Random inspiration: People

‘Pick a card. Any card.’ We’ve all heard this said

Charlotte Brontë

Published in 1847, Jane Eyre was a literary sensation. Despite

From bad to verse

It is customary for this column to analyse a reader’s

Poetry from A Z to

HAIBUN is a Japanese form of writing developed by the

Poetry practice

Writing about an animal is always a popular theme. The

A Midsummer night’s poem

To commemorate the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death on

Grumpy Old Bookman: Long shelf life

Last month I described how a number of enterprising publishers

Writer’s bookshelf: Get it right

Fowler’s Dictionary of Modern English Usage was first published in

Publishing: Expanding an indie: acquiring a publishing company

Jane Rowland, operations director at Troubador Publishing, gives an insight

Technology for writers: A picture will sell 1,000 words

I know, I know – you’re a writer, words are

Writing for children

What is a major difference between young readers and adult

Short story masterclass: Playing for time

The most straightforward way to write a short story is

Open short story winner

Liz Taylorson has always surrounded herself with books. First she

Celebrity under the microscope

Now seen as one of the fathers of the genre,

Fiction focus: Truth or dare

As a historical novelist, I’ve been asked that question several

I wish I’d known…

Novelists tell us what they wish they’d known right at

Story winner - The Girl

Jodie Carpenter is an English literature graduate, editorial assistant and

CRIME UNMASKED

Are you writing a crime novel? Are you absolutely sure

Excuse me officer

Not sure where to go next with your crime novel?

TURN TO THE DARK SIDE

The term ‘grimdark’ is one that is relatively new within

The News Pyramid

You may never need to write a news article. But

Article writing: Don’t get angry — write with care

Opinions – we’ve all got one but some of us

Going to market

One short sentence in the January issue of Writing Magazine

Research Tips: Get to grips with SurveyMonkey

A survey is a research technique that’s commonly used to

How NOT to be a Writer

As a writer and the author of two books about

Ten top tips: Have a laugh

The first of next month sees the celebration of April

Beginners: Critique your way to better writing

Read incisively, and you improve your own work as you

Talk it over: Family tires

I work four days a week and fit my writing

Novel ideas

Many new writers get confused by all the conflicting advice

The business of writing: Life after death

Four hundred years ago, on 25 March 1616, William Shakespeare

Pen pushers: Ways to tell

How many ways can you tell the same story? Lizzie

Train your brain: Red editing pen

Each month, we give you a few sentences which would

Circles’ roundup: Fascinating facts

Harness the knowledge of your writing group to inspire each

THAT CRITICAL DIFFERENCE

The Writing Magazine manuscript critique service is an important tool

Miscellany

Copied writing, copyrighting, selfies, stocks, dead trails and lively tales

Letters

We want to hear your news and views on the

Webbo

During the creative process of your pet writing project, what

Computer clinic

PC trainer Greta Powell shows you how to balance indexes

Helpline

Email your queries to Diana (please include home-town details) at:

Munificent Manchester

The Manchester Fiction Prize and the Manchester Poetry Prize are

Get your play right for Rattigan

The Terence Rattigan Society has announced a new award for

Career-defining prize for young writers

The Sunday Times/Peters Fraser & Dunlop Young Writer of the

GLOBAL LITERARY MARKET

Well-respected US literary magazine The Massachusetts Review is now expanding

Be a Ware poet

The Ware Poets Open Poetry Competition is open for entries

UK ROMANCE MARKET

Mezzanotte is a traditional romance publishing company that was set

FLASHES

Country Child is a free quarterly magazine for families in

A fantastic prize from Baen

Deadline is 1 April in the third annual Baen Fantasy

GLOBAL FICTION MARKET

A new small press, Transmundane Press aims to ‘produce quality

Travel writing know-how

The travel industry is one that has changed a very

Short books, sweet prize

The Novella Award 2016 is open for entries. The competition

Digital Fiction Publishing Corp

Digital Fiction Publishing Corp likes to publish reprints of SF,

Go west, get writing

The Bristol Short Story Prize is open for entries to

UK GENEALOGY MARKET

Your Family History magazine is aimed at anyone who is

Writing ambitions

The Momaya Press Short Story Competition is open for entries

Ten years for Welsh poetry prize

The International Welsh Poetry Competition – entirely independent and now

Get published alongside horror heroes

Get entries in quick for The Beauty of Death, a

GLOBAL MYSTERY MARKET

Both new and established writers are welcome to submit original

Inspire and sustain with this comp

Arkbound, a social enterprise publishing company which launched in Bristol

Flights of fantasy

Luna Press is inviting entries for its Writers and Illustrators

Diversity matters

The Commonword Diversity Prize exists to try to redress the

FLASHES

The Stage, a weekly newspaper for performing arts and entertainment

GLOBAL FICTION MARKET

Writer-editor Hy Bender (The Sandman Companion and various Dummies books)

Scarlet Leaf Review

Scarlet Leaf Review is a new Canadian online monthly, built

Forgotten, fantastical, feminine

Mother’s Milk Books, the indie press dedicated to books that

Doing it with diversity

The SI Leeds Literary Prize, which runs biennially, is open

Family (poe)tree

Poetry Together is a new competition from Manchester Metropolitan University,

UK GARDENING MARKET

The English Garden is a glossy, inspirational magazine for everyone

Be for BAME

Submissions are invited for the Guardian and 4th Estate BAME

It’s a Funny Old World

An impressive collection of blooks has been on show in

FLASHES

Carly Wills edits World Fishing Magazine, an international journal of

UK FICTION MARKET

Joffe Books set up as an independent publisher of contemporary

A matter of Aesthetica

The Aesthetica Creative Writing Award is open for entries for

Political poems please

Holland Park Press has launched a new writing competition, Poetry

GLOBAL LITERARY MARKET

Quarterly literary magazine The Threepenny Review appeals, ‘Partly in its

Award closures

In a very crowded field, several awards have closed down

Through a glass Darkely

The Award, now celebrating its tenth anniversary, was set up

What’s on for writers

The Huddersfield Literary Festival is celebrating its tenth anniversary as

FLASHES

Automotive Management is a fortnightly publication for the motor industry

GLOBAL FANTASY MARKET

The long running fantasy anthology series, Sword & Scorceress, will

Development for East Midland playwrights

Playwrights living in the East Midlands could benefit from Nottingham

Chance of a collection

The 2016 Melita Hume Poetry Prize is open for entries

UK CHILDREN’S MARKET

Bobaloo Books, a new independent publisher of children’s books, is

And another thing...

Because I speak in tongues. I write metaphors. Every one

FLASHES

Hugo Andreae edits Motor Boat & Yachting monthly magazine. He

Quick flash

Brentwood Writers’ Circle will be celebrating its 75th anniversary in

Coffee time tales

Small press Mocha Memoirs publishes speculative and romance stories that

Book Talk

Introductions

Edited by Karen Barnes, delicious monthly magazine celebrates food and

ONLINE SPECFIC MARKET

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores is a new online speculative

FLASHES

Clive Everton is editor of Snooker Scene. He welcomes tournament

GLOBAL FICTION MARKET

Publisher Marie Hodgkinson started Paper Road Press to publish ‘books

2015 bookshelf busters

The Bookseller reports that, with sales of £14 million in

A liberal opportunity

Gladstone’s Library is inviting applications for its 2017 Writers in

Dark Warrior on the hunt

Young small press Dark Warrior Publishing is currently closed for

GLOBAL FICTION MARKET

‘Submit work that fits the theme but don’t be afraid

Impress yourself with this prize

The Impress Prize for New Writers 2016 is open for

Dagger for James

The Crime Writers’ Association has awarded its highest honour, the

Shine a light on science

Undark, subtitled Truth, Beauty, Science, is a new magazine to

FLASHES

Traveller magazine appears three times a year with articles on

UK CHILDREN’S MARKET

Unique Inspiration is an independent publisher of children’s books and

Nightmare opportunity

Disquieted Dreams Press opened on 1 January and editor Rebecca

Take your pick

Retreat West run by writer Amanda Saint, is inviting submissions

INTERNATIONAL ZINE SCENE

Bracken is a quarterly US zine calling itself ‘an open-minded

FLASHES

Independent Retail News is a fortnightly magazine for independent retailers

GLOBAL SPECFIC MARKET

With a circulation of 15,000 views per month a lot

Looking for submissions

Lit Select is a small press with two active imprints,

Big prizes from Bridport

The Bridport Prize – one of the most prestigious and

Competition Special 2016

Yet again, we’ve managed to track down even more competitions

OPEN TO ALL Short story competitions 2016

July’s competition invites stories with a maximum word count of

SUBSCRIBER–ONLY Short story competitions 2016

Perhaps you’ll be dreaming of getting away from it all

COMPETITION 2016 GUIDE

Prizes: £200, ten special commendations will receive subscription voucher worth

GIVE YOURSELF A WINNING CHANCE

Pick up any issue of Writing Magazine, but especially this

101 WAYS TO WIN with writing competitions... and it's not all about the prize

1 Some competitions launch writing careers or provide enough money

A Light Farewell

Iceland Writers Retreat Jennifer Moore’s short fiction and poetry have