DEAR READER

What does writing for success mean to you?

Editing your novel

WRITE FOR SUCCESS!

Mastering the art of the pitch

WRITE FOR SUCCESS!

How to submit your novel to agents

WRITE FOR SUCCESS!

Research skills for novelists

When you’re writing a novel, you need to make it ring true, but not let the research take over. Author Rebecca Wait outlines what to do, and the bits you can leave out

In the swim

There are parallels between writing and long-distance swimming as endurance sports, says author and tutor Lizzie Enfield , who has recently completely an epic swim

LOVE & (lots of) laughter

For 25 years, Jenny Colgan has been an author at the very top of the romcom game. She tells Tina Jackson how comedy fuels her heartwarming, bestselling novels

REAL LIFE, great stories

This month Jenny Alexander looks at telling a story within a story

Your writing critiqued

James McCreet applies a forensic micro-critique to the beginning of a reader’s manuscript

Description: PART THREE

There may be no absolutes when it somes to description, says writer and tutor Ian Ayris , but there are some very helpful guidelines to making it as effective as possible

Capturing attention

Bestselling Irish author Faith Hogan explains why you can’t overstate the importance of making an impression on the reader with the beginning of a book

Starting with the shoes

Alison Chisholm explores a poem that maps a route through grief with a footwear motif

GETTING UNSTUCK

Got to the midpoint of your story and finding yourself in a hole? Margaret James offers strategies for writing your way through the ‘soggy middle’

Five quick questions

When and where did your journey as an

WRITING CRAFT

We often talk about the craft of writing, but what about using crafting to expand your story possibilities, says Helen Waters , using an example story

Nurture in nature

This month, Amy Sparkes looks at ways for you to incorporate wildlife and the environment in your own stories for young readers

KEEP IT SHORT

Fantasy fiction is known for epics – but as Alex Davis explains, there are worlds of possibilities in writing ‘anti-epic’ short stories

An Author’s Greatest Advantage in Today’s Publishing Landscape

Ricardo Fayet , co-founder of Reedsy, explains how working with real-life creatives can be the greatest investment indie authors make if you want your book to succeed

HANNAH BRENNAN

The debut crime writer describes how she found her writing voice by drawing on her own experience of living with OCD

LUCY FOLEY

The murder mystery thriller author sets out five books that stick in her crime-writer’s mind

ELIZA MORTON

The saga author tells Lynne Hackles about walking, writing, and using modern tech to bring the past to life

A slight case of overthinking

Lynne Hackles is cross with herself for interrupting her flow

The world of writing

STAR LETTER

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: THE GARDEN

POETRY Gardens in the Seven Ages

Subscribers’ news

VALUABLE AND VARIED INSIGHTS Being diagnosed with

500 words

WINNER Laura Besley writes short and very

Moments to cherish

Alison Chisholm discusses the winners of WM ’s Open Poetry Competition and how their poems conjured a memorable sense of time and place

NEGOTIATION NIGHTMARES

Getting published means dealing with contracts. Simon Whaley explores how to succeed with the negotiation process

MI5 EXHIBITION AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

If your writing topics involve spies, the MI5: Official Secrets exhibition offers access to previously unseen material. Tarja Moles offers a researcher’s guide to making the most of it

Behind the tape

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

Gyamfia Osei

Simon Whaley chats to Gyamfia Osei of Andrew Nurnberg Associates about writing for the middle grade and young adult market

Harnessing dual narrative

Using more than one narrative voice in your fiction might present challenges but done well, it can really pay off, says Cornerstones’ Monica Chakraverty

YOU SHOULDN’T MAKE IT UP

You’ve read the advice – now get into print! Find the most up-to-date calls for submissions, writing competitions to enter and publishing opportunities to suit you and your writing in our easy-to-navigate news pages

REWARDING FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Patriot , by Alexei Navalny, translated by Arch

INDEPENDENT PUBLISHERS

McNidder & Grace McNidder & Grace Limited

COMPETITIONS WITH MORE THAN ONE CATEGORY

Aurora Prize for Writing 2025 The Aurora

LITMAGS INVITING SUBMISSIONS

Fusion Fragment Fusion Fragment is a

GENERAL NEWS

RNA matters The Romantic Novel of the

NATURE WRITING COMPETITIONS

Anthology Nature Writing Competition 2025 The international

WRITING FOR CHILDREN

Knights Of Winner of Children’s Publisher

NOVEL COMPETITION

Detritus Writing Competition 2025 The first international

NON-FICTION OUTLETS

The Quarto Group The Quarto Group

POETRY COMPETITIONS

Whispering Wisdom Poetry Prize 2025 Whispering Wisdom’s

Look ahead

GET PUBLISHED

INDIE MAGS AND WEBSITES ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS

L’Esprit L’Esprit likes Modernist, literary, experimental work

SHORT FICTION COMPETITIONS

The Michael Round Prize 2025 The competition

SHORT FICTION COMPETITIONS

The Olga Sinclair Prize 2025 This year’s

SMALL PRESSES ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS

Rebel Satori Press Rebel Satori is an

Showing the way

TRAVEL WRITING KNOW-HOW

FIVE SELF-PUBLISHING MYTHS THAT COULD BE HOLDING YOU BACK

Self-publishing has evolved into a respected and thriving route for authors, yet outdated myths still deter many from taking the plunge. Troubador’s Alex Thompson outlines five common misconceptions that might be holding you back.

How to enter

First draft, first pass

Piers Blofeld looks at what goes through an editor’s mind when they get the first draft of your book