THE WORLD OF WRITING

Welcome…

One of the most frequently-repeated snippets of advice

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.

GLOBAL FAITH MARKET

Dig deep

INTRODUCTIONS

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

Novel Ideas

Write with a clear focus and see your productivity improve, says Lynne Hackles

INTERNATIONAL ZINE SCENE

Postindustrial is a fascinating website with podcasts

A good sign

Signs can point a direction for your travel writing, suggests Patrick Forsyth

Book buying choices

Martin Reed, head of communications at the Society of Authors, shows how book buying routes can directly impact writers’ incomes

Hare-brained

Piers Blofeld wonders why modern publishers back fast-track one-offs rather than invest in authors who are in it for the long-run

Ask a Literary Consultant

Helen Corner-Bryant advises a writer whose debut has been accepted by an indie whether or not they should try for a mainstream publishing deal

Newspapers online

Tarja Moles sends you in the right directions to help you dig successfully in newspaper archives

BEHIND THE TAPE

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

Seeing is believing

Showing rather than telling will bring your creative writing to life. Make readers ‘see’ your story with advice from Michael Clough

The grand tour

Author James McCreet examines a helpful way to think about plotting

Under the Microscope

The two figures1 walk along the road holding hands.

Who’s GOING TO READ that?

Author Catherine Fearns on the challenges of genre-crossing, and finding the right audience for an unusual novel

Kid GLOVES

Learn how to handle the child characters in your fiction with advice from Margaret James

I wish I’d known…

‘I’m an author of romantic comedy and dark women’s

What if?

The story I have chosen this month has a simple, but

TWO PENS ARE BETTER THAN ONE

Unstoppable crimewriting team Nicci French – aka married writers Nicci Gerrard and Sean French – explain their unusual, and highly successful collaborative process, to Tina Jackson

The style & technique of WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY

Tony Rossiter examines a writer whose best-known work satirises upper-class society

HAZEL PRIOR

The debut author of the heart-warming Ellie and the Harp Maker tells Dolores Gordon Smith about her path to publication

MICHAEL DONKOR

The author of literary debut Hold share his 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

Subscribe today

As a subscriber you can take advantage of…

DAVID WRAGG

The debut novelist tells Adrian Magson that he may or may not have based his low-fantasy comedy about shambolic mercenaries on his own experience of the world of work

WRITERS’ NEWS

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

LARA PRESCOTT

The debut novelist tells Lynne Hackles how having a routine helps her focus

A class of your own

Writers are defined by writing, not class, argues Adrian Magson and the only discrimination should be against bad writing

Your own flavour

Jane Wenham-Jones advises a writer looking for original ideas for his plot that there’s nothing wrong with spicing up a tried-and-tested recipe

Under the covers

It took a while for first-time author Gillian Harvey to learn to love editing

Away from your desk

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

When I grow up…

Want to know what it’s like writing for children as a career? Amy Sparkes answers some of the most-asked questions about being a children’s author.

AN EPIC SCALE

Alex Davis offers his top ten tips on writing fantasy

Festive fiction

Can festive fiction lead to a Yuletide sales boost? Simon Whaley chats to two writers who’ve unwrapped several seasonal stories.

Meeting MEDUSA

Lorraine Mace discovers appearances can be deceptive when she encounters a a book club gorgon

Being present

Home-made gifts are the starting point to unwrap some new creative writing in these exercises from Jenny Alexander

One for Sorrel

1st place CRIME/THRILLER COMPETITION £200

Seeing stars

Julie Phillips looks to the skies at night for these writing group exercises

A mile well walked

Judge Alison Chisholm is pleased to walk in the shoes of the characters created by the winners of our competition for persona poems

The choice is yours

Alison Chisholm gives you all the advice you need to make your poem stand out in WM’s popular annual open competition

Making the myth

Alison Chisholm explores a new poem that creates its own mythology

Poetry in practice

Record sensory impressions to spark a new poem, with Doris Corti‘s advice