TAP HERE TO WATCH A WELCOME FROM THE EDITOR

We waited as long as we could to

Risk it for a biscuit

Jenny Alexander offers a tasty treat for writers in these biscuit-themed exercises

I wish I’d known

‘Well, for a start, I wish I’d known

GOING ONLINE: How to run your own digital writing workshops PART 2

Careful planning and being familiar with the platform are key to success, says Alex Davis 

Observation

Try these tips from research expert Tarja Moles to ensure you turn looking into really seeing 

The world of writing

The future is in scifi, judging books by their covers and behind every great man... clichés rewritten in the wonderful world of writing

LETTERS

STAR LETTER

Editorial calendar

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

Nicola Cornick

Adrian Magson talks to the historical novelist about unravelling the mysteries of the past 

Behind the tape

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

UK FICTION MARKET

A positive outlook

Fantastic prizes

The 2020 British Fantasy Award winners, given by

Expand your work

A biannual English language journal for ‘creative writing

Granting permission

Author Isabel Thomas demystifies the language of grant applications 

FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH

An unlikely bestseller gives Piers Blofield food for thought about the impact authors have on the publishing world 

Submit with care

Helen Corner-Bryant of Cornerstones Literary Consultancy offers a  submission package checklist so you can present a polished-looking manuscript 

A life worth writing

Jane Wenham Jones suggests ways forward for a writer who wants to use a real life as the basis for fiction

Under the covers Strap yourselves in…

Gillian Harvey prepares for the whiteknuckle ride of publishing her second novel

How to be CREATIVE

Author Ja mes McCreet consider some ways to  expand our creativity 

THE FIRST FIVE PAGES: KJ Maitland

The bestselling author of historical crime thrillers analyses the beginning of her new book, The Drowned City

Fine tuning

Adrian Magson urges you to pay attention to even the most seemingly irrelevant details

Your writing critiqued

James McCreet applies his forensic criticism to the first 300 words of a reader’s manuscript

Coffee and cake

Helen M Walters uses a layered story by ZZ Packer to explore combining successful ingredients in your fiction

FESTIVAL GUIDE 2021

APRIL Ink Festival 8-11 April The New Cut

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE?

Can editing and proofing be automated? Simon Whaley explores online grammar services. 

MAKING HISTORY

Bestselling author and Women’s Prize founder Kate Mosse explains the pull, and resonance, of historical fiction to Tina Jackson

REWARDING WOMEN WRITERS

Kate Mosse is the founder director of the

MY PATH TO PUBLICATION

The debut author of The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman thought she was writing a different novel until this guy called Norman turned up

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 NEWS

Annie’s fantastic odyssey

Stone’s throw

Alison Chisholm explores a water poem that runs deep

Poetry in practice

Switch things up with syllable poems, suggests Doris Corti

Why does grit get us in the groove?

Marking a year since the Covid pandemic really hit home, Rosalind Moody examines why crisis inspires us to create 

Getting it out there

In part three of her series, indie author DJ Bowman-Smith tots up the cost of self-publishing

Why tell a story?

Margaret James asks what the uses of fiction are, and comes up with some of the main reasons people need and  want to read stories

Spring cleaning

Amy Sparkes offers ways to polish your story and make it shine in the first of a mini-series

INTRODUCTIONS

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

GLOBAL AGENT MARKET

Otter wants fic and non-fic

GLOBAL BOOK MARKET

Second chance for writers at Devil’s Party

Dead children’s author ends up in hot water

Dr Seuss Enterprises, which manages the legacy of

Podcasts to change the world

Podcasts are a great way of hearing interviews

GLOBAL MAGAZINE MARKET

In search of meaning

Publishers to watch out for

Novelist and site co-founder Victoria Strauss wrote recently

Canterbury Festival Poet of the Year

Competition 2021 Win a £200 first prize and

Novel Ideas

Room for manoeuvre

FLASHES

Space and Scotland quarterly print and electronic magazine,

UK FICTION MARKET

A visit to the Dark Edge

Just write for Norfolk youngsters

Writers aged 11-18 are invited to submit stories,

INTERNATIONAL

ZINE SCENE 

FLASHES

The Polari Prize book awards for LGBTQI+ writers

GLOBAL BOOK MARKET

Into the Blue Moon

Gain constructive feedback on your script

With a belief that ‘an essential part of

Make a writers’ weekend of it

The Writers’ Weekend, to be held virtually, 24-27

GLOBAL ARTS MARKET

Words and pictures

Re- writing required

Pole to Pole Publishing is an American small-press

The right time?

TRAVEL  WRITING  KNOW-HOW

FLASHES

The longlists have been announced for the fifth

UK MAGAZINE MARKET

Write first time

Aruni Kashyap

The Assamese author tells Lynne Hackles about the joy of writing as the sun rises

NOT keeping mum

When it comes to a direction  in her writing, Lorraine Mace knows she can trust her daughter to set her straight

Pile Up

WINNER £100 Dominic Bell has recently retired from the

PHOEBE MORGAN

The psychological thriller author and HarperCollins editorial director shares the five books that mean most to her

The slip up

Julie Phillips urges writing group members to embrace the moments that make them cringe with embarrassment in these exercises

Dadsdeadtemporary-WhatsAppGroup

FIRST PLACE £200 Haydn lives in Yorkshire and is

HAVE A FLUTTER

The Moth Short Story Prize 2021 is inviting

Get it white

The White Review Short Story prize is an

Wells, wells, wells, wells

The annual Wells Festival of Literature creative writing

WIN YOUR WAY INTO Wasafiri

2021 Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize is

GLOBAL NON-FICTION MARKET

Tech talk

A bright future

The Creative Future Writers’ Award 2021 is inviting

Martina and the Diamond

The CWA has awarded its highest honour, the

Love books, win prizes

Write about why you love your favourite book,

FLASHES

Prizes are £500, £250 and £100 in the

GLOBAL LITERARY MARKET

Go East

Winners in love

The Romantic Novel of the Year Category Winners

BIG PRIZE FOR A COMEDY PLAY

Full length original comedy plays for theatre are

UK MAGAZINE MARKET

A world of difference

FRENCH PRIZE FOR EDNA

Edna O’Brien, now ninety years old and one

A grand comes (nearly) for free

The Mairtin Crawford Award 2021 is inviting entries

FLASHES

Stories of 1,000- 2,200 words could win £400,

UK AGENT MARKET

New writers talent spotted

It’s good to read, talk share

The Reading Agency has launched the Read, Talk,

Celebrate spring

The Federation of Writers Scotland Vernal Equinox Competition

ONLINE NON-FICTION MARKET

Epic journalism wanted

Publication and promotion of your work

The Ofi Press is a bimonthly magazine promoting

Win with your fiction

Aiming to encourage original new writing from writers

Big yourself up

Patrick Forsyth makes suggestions about making your writing CV shine

FLASHES

Win £1,000 in The First Novel Prize competition

GLOBAL LITERARY MARKET

Coming to a Fiddlehead 

UK NON-FICTION MARKET

That’s That’s Life 

Reviewing the vanity publishing situation

Following increases in the numbers of authors complaining

FLASHES

Prizes are £1,000, £500 and £250 in the

ONLINE SCIENCE MARKET

Look to the Future

Explore the theme of Industrial Revolution

Fiction, creative non fiction and poetry on the

Looking for FAB children’s writers

The FAB Prize is inviting entries. Celebrating its