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THE WORLD OF WRITING

Bad endings, Booker bustups, matchbook collecting and a risk-taking career change, with a singing robot soundtrack, in the wide world of writing

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

Be realistic

Patrick Forsyth suggests recognising the circumstances currently facing editors

Look on the bright side

Helpful advice from Lynne Hackles if darker days are making you blue

Permanentchange

Patrick Forsyth considers changing times and the opportunities they present

What if…my publisher goes out of business?

Martin Reed of the Society of Authors looks at what happens to authors if their publishing company can’t survive the health crisis

Make ‘em laugh

Piers Blofeld reminds the industry that even though dullness is the order of the day in lockdown, its job is to entertain as well as inform

ASK A LITERARY CONSULTANT

Helen Corner-Bryant reassures a writer who is struggling to research their novel in lockdown

SURVEYS

Learn how to compile an effective survey to help with your research with advice from Tarja Moles

BEHIND THE TAPE

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

TREADING A FINE LINE

Nydia Hetherington on the power of imagination and blending the real and the fantastical in her circus-set debut

First lines for fiction

Pamela Price explores techniques to achieve that elusive hook in the opening lines of your novel

The ripple effect

Give your scenes added value with advice from Adrian Magson

Under the Microscope

Author and creative writing lecturer James McCreet applies his forensic criticism to the first 300 words of a reader’s manuscript

Planning for the future

An uncertain future doesn’t mean writers shouldn’t contemplate goals for the year ahead, suggests Margaret James

The magic touch

A short story by H G Wells inspires Helen M Walters to explore conjuring tricks you can use to enthral your readers

AS A MATTER OF FACT…

Are you interested in writing non-fiction for children? Amy Sparkes asks four children’s authors for their top tips

A load of old trope – HORROR

Alex Davis turns to horror in his series on tropes and how to use them – or avoid them

Mystery invention

How do you write a mystery that honours the traditions of the genre but brings it bang up to date? Stuart Turton explains all to Tina Jackson

ELLA ALLBRIGHT / NIKKI MOORE

The romantic novelist shares the fi ve books that have meant the most to her

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

MATTHEW ROSS

Adrian Magson talks to a debut author who turned from comedy to crime

QUENTIN BATES

The crime writer and translator tells Lynne Hackles how he manages three different writing identities – from his shed

SO YOU WANT TO... Make an audiobook

The audiobook market is increasing, and indie author Paul Beatty explains how to get your book into listeners' ears

Free your mind

Clear your schedule, desk and mental workspace to become more creative, with advice to make you an organised writer like novelist, comic and game writer Antony Johnston

FIND YOUR rhythm

Jane Wenham Jones advises a busy writer worried about lacking discipline that writing doesn’t need to be routine

Under the covers An elephant on the head

Debut author Gillian Harvey wonders if anyone has noticed her book’s been published

Unwrapping ISBNS

Simon Whaley explores whether a free ISBN really is a free gift to a writer, or if it comes with strings attached

WRITER (not) UNMASKED

Lorraine Mace discovers that though lockdown has changed events, there are still moments of delight

My path to PUBLICATION

The children’s author describes her unconventional path to publication

WIN!£500

IN CASH PRIZES & PUBLICATION  OPEN

A Lame Joke

Gavin, an adopted Yorkshireman, has a lovely wife,

OPPOSITES ATTRACT

Explore conflict and resolution in these writing group exercises from Julie Phillips

BRANCH OUT beautifully

Celebrate trees in winter in these tree-themed creative writing exercises from Jenny Alexander

Keep your options OPEN

Alison Chisholm launches WM’s open poetry competition with advice for poets looking for a winning edge in this popular contest

One down, several across

Judge Alison Chisholm gorged on good poems as she treated herself to judging Writing Magazine’s competition for acrostic poems

Poems take flight

Alison Chisholm explores a bird poem from a nature-themed collection

Poems in practice

The sound of a poem can add greatly to its meaning, says Doris Corti

WRITERS’ NEWS

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

INTRODUCTIONS

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

INTERNATIONAL ZINE SCENE

Zooscape is an e-zine of fantastic furry fiction.