Short Story Competitions Poetry Competitions

Magazines for Writers

The New Writer is a bi-monthly magazine established in 1996 which publishes the best in fact, fiction and poetry; packed full of market information, with a monthly email Newsletter included in the subscription package, administers annual Prose & Poetry Prizes. It's aimed at anyone with a serious intent to develop their writing to meet the expectations of today's editors.

The team at The New Writer are committed to working with their readers to increase the chances of publication. Masses of useful information and plenty of feedback is provided. More than that, they keep you up to date with the current state of the market and bring you the best contemporary short stories, cutting-edge poems, backed up by searching articles and in-depth features in every issue.

The New Writer is a forward-looking magazine with a range of contributors, expert in their subjects. Whether you've just started to write or you're a more experienced writer wanting to explore new ideas and techniques, the practical and entertaining contents of the magazine equals essential reading. Take a look...

Writing Magazine and Writers' News
Print magazine. Two magazines for the price of one! Or more accurately, two magazines in one magazine. If you see what I mean.

The Writing Magazine part has a Special Features section, plus Interviews and Profiles, sections dedicated to Fiction and Non-fiction. There's a spot for poetry lovers and a section for their own regular Competitions and Exercises.

The Writers' News part has news, markets (both in the UK and around the world), competitions, Help Line page answering your questions and an eclectic collection of snippets. There's a space for Members' News where subscribers contribute their own stories, experiences and advice. Writers' News also mounts its own competitions. writers-online.co.uk/.

Writers' Forum
Print magazine. A good mix of articles and interviews, plus their own competitions. You can order back copies from the website to get a flavour of what's on offer.

This is what they say: "Each month Writers' Forum helps thousands of new and aspiring writers to achieve their dreams. It's packed with up-to-date market information, advice from experts in the publishing industry and inspiring stories and tips from fellow authors and writers.

"We also feature interactive reader workshops in fiction, poetry, children's books and self-publishing, so you can see at first hand how to improve and successfully target your own writing.

"Our monthly writing contests for fiction and poems are world-famous, awarding cash and prizes each issue, plus publication in the magazine." writers-forum.com/.

Orbis is a long-standing quarterly international literary journal, based in the UK, and edited by Carole Baldock. Associate editor (Book Reviews): Nessa O'Mahony.

In every issue: poems, prose, articles, reviews, letters, featured writer section. Plus the Orbis Poetry Index: magazine reviews, news items, competition listings.

Poems from the magazine are submitted annually to the Pushcart Prize in America and the UK’s Forward Prize; over the past couple of years, the following have been selected for the Forward Book of Poetry: 'Jury', by Mary MacRae, joint winner of the Orbis 138 Readers Award; 'I Filled the Bath with Coty L’Aimant', by Ros Barber, joint winner of the Orbis 126 Readers Award.

Although few UK Small Press publications are able to offer feedback, Orbis provides proofs with editorial suggestions. It's also one of the few magazines to offer payment, via the Readers’ Award (results and readers’ feedback in each issue): £50 for the piece receiving the most votes, plus £50 between four runners-up.

Submissions By post: Four poems; two prose pieces (500-1000 words). Please enclose SAE with ALL correspondence. Overseas: 2 IRCs. Via email, Overseas only: two poems/one piece of prose in body – no attachments

Copies of Orbis may be perused online at the Poetry Library website: poetrymagazines.org.uk

Full guidelines and more information here kudoswriting

Flair News

Published every two months, Flair News is the A5 magazine of Flair For Words created and produced by Cass and Janie Jackson up there in the flatlands of Lincolnshire. Lots of great stuff every issue on a wide variety of writing topics. If you don't find this friendly, down-to-earth little publication an excellent source of practical help and inspiration, I'll eat my typewriter. No website, but you can e-mail them for details at Flair for Words or write to: Flair For Words, 48 The Meadows, Trusthorpe, Lincs LN12 2QP.

Writers' Digest
US based publication. Six issues per year and an excellent website to boot. Subscriptions outside the US cost around £20.00 at the time of writing. Free sample copy available.

Young Writer

They say it is "a high-quality magazine published in January, April and August of each year. It is an international platform for writing by children and young people up to the age of 18. It is also full of Tips, Ideas and Prizes! If you enjoy writing or would like to enjoy it, this magazine is for you!"

Published three times per year with a subscription price of £10.00 which includes postage if you live in the UK. It looks like a highly entertaining publication and includes competitions for young people. Young Writer Magazine

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