MARKETS ARE THE RICH SOIL IN WHICH WE WRITERS
PLANT OUR BABY SAPLINGS.
Pick up a watering can and a bag of John Innes and take a look at these:

Always enquire or request submission guidelines before sending in manuscripts

Open Magazine
Online arts and culture magazine, openmagazine.co.uk, is on the lookout for new writers to submit short stories and poetry. A clever, stylish site for everyone with an 'open mind' in all areas of the modern arts arena. Editor-in-chief Loma-Ann Bonner says "If you've got a decent turn of phrase and would like to write a feature, review or short story, do get in touch". contributors@openmagazine.co.uk

Writersmarket
Writersmarket.co.uk aims to help writers to find markets for their work by offering a constantly updated comprehensive online database of publishers, magazines, broadcast media and agents. Plus it has a growing collection of in-depth articles by industry professionals on all aspects of the writing and publishing process. No Catch, No Fee. Writersmarket

Open Spectrum
Open Spectrum is a unique and free-to-join website that provides the platform for Writers and Film-makers to converge, collaborate and produce. Its main aim is to provide opportunities and help to film, television and theatre writers in the UK and therefore boost the UK film, television and theatre industries. theopenspectrum.co.uk/

A Market for the Over 60's
Yes, there's hope for us wrinklies yet! Send in your genuine personal stories of between 300 and 700 words. They should be 'touching, cautionary, or even hilarious tales' for possible publication in an anthology "I Didn't Get Old By Being Stupid" retelling challenges faced and how they were overcome. Deadline is 31st March 2007, payment US$100 plus a copy of the book. Details: http://www.elders-wisdom.com (0207)

Can you write Radio Scripts?
BBC Radio Scotland are looking for scripts from twenty seconds to two minutes for their topical weekly 'Watson's Wind-Up' show. Deadline is noon on Thursdays. Submissions can be emailed to: philipdiffer@comedyunit.co.uk. (0107)

Monkey is an online magazine for men published by Dennis Publishing. Someone of the fairer sex was heard to observe that this mag. is aptly named, which is a dastardly slur on us males if you ask me. It's contents will include sport (gosh, there's a surprise!), humour, entertainment, fashion, live videos and music. The editor Eoin McSorley (formerly editor of Maxim) can be accessed via his PA: young Leon Poultney at leon_poultney@dennis.co.uk  There's no mention of Monkey on the www.dennis.co.uk web site which means now is the time to get those articles in before everyone else. You heard it here first folks. (1106)

Are you a railway enthusiast? You are? Then follow this train of thought:
Railways Illustrated has a new editor called Pip Dunn. He already has a track record in the railway magazine world and is now eagerly trying to spot freelances who can write intelligent, knowledgeable and first class material on todays British railway scene. Pip has already introduced some new features which need contributors, so if this is a subject you get steamed up about rush out and buy the latest edition then email pip.dunn@eastfieldmedia.com with your ideas. (0606)

Antiques & Collectables
Editor Sarah Seamarks is looking for new writers. She says she wants the magazine to return to its original mix of features on classic antiques and collectables, but with with some articles covering eBay and online buying as well as on art and careers in the antique trade. She wants freelances to bring freshness to the subject and who can supply quality print or digital pics. Check out the magazine then email your bio and some ideas for articles. sarah.seamarks@merricksmedia.co.uk web site: www.antiques-collectables.co.uk (0606)

"Write An Article A Day, The Easy Way" by Georganne Fiumara If you want to write the most interesting articles in the fastest way possible, the Article-A-Day Easy System will show you how to do that and more. This brand new easy system features the exact same method that Georganne Fiumara has developed and used for more than 20 years as a professional writer. Click Here

Real People - True stories required by editor Lisa Soave for their Your World section. Pays £50 for the star letter, £25 for a letter plus photo, and £20 for just a plain old letter. E-mail: letters@realpeoplemag.co.uk

Linden Bay Romance are looking for novels of at least 60,000 words and novellas of between 15,000 and 30,000 words for electronic publishing. Submit first cahpter and a synopsis. Full details at www.lindenbayromance.com or enquire by email to: submissions@lindenbayromance.com.

Real People - This new tabloid magazine went on sale in January 2006 and is looking for readers own real stories as well as freelance contributers. Email Deborah Doherty at deborah.doherty@acp-natmag.co.uk

Aesthetica - The culture magazine for the emerging arts - is calling for submissions on a rolling basis. Aesthetica is undergoing somewhat of a change. They are still a firmly contemporary magazine concerned with the Arts in general, but specifically with writing, the visual arts, music, and film. "Like the oft-referenced caterpillar", they say, "we hope that our next issue will emerge as something rather more beautiful. As such, the focus of our magazine will change from poetry and prose to creative writing of any form. We'd particularly like to increase the representation of essays, articles, reviews and features presented between our new and very glossy covers". They accept submissions for features, articles, reviews, short stories, poems, artwork, and photography. Get more information from their web site: www.aestheticamagazine.com/ then click through to Information/ Submission

Crime Confidential is a fortnightly magazine and will pay up to £500 for the right kind of crime story. Basically it must be true and exclusive. Contact Charlotte Richards at Crime Confidential, Hachette Filipacchi, 64 North Row, London W1K 7LL. Tel: 020 7150 7519.
Zymurgy Publishing focuses on general trade non-fiction for the mass market. Editor Martin Ellis prefers an initial ‘phone call to discuss your ideas, and be prepared to send in sample chapters and a synopsis. Call him on 0191 276 2425.
Conversely are accepting articles, essays and short fiction about romantic relationships. Payment $50 - $200 for articles and fiction between 750 and 3,000 words. www.conversely.com

That’s Life. Single page love interest with a twist. 1200 words. Pays £300. Send to: Jo Checkley, That’s Life, H Bauer Publishing, 24/28 Oval Road, London NW1 7DT. www.bauer.co.uk/

Woman’s Weekly Fiction Special. Woman's Weekly want stories that are light humoured, 1000 - 2000 words. Send to: Fiction Department, Woman’s Weekly, Kings Reach Tower, Stamford Street, London SE1 9LS. www.ipcmedia.com/

Mills & Boon are looking for new writers. They want regional stories featuring dramatic story lines set in ‘fascinating’ historical settings  from WWII London to Edwardian England and Colonial India. “What we’re looking” they say, “is triumph over adversity, and there should definately be some romance. We want Cinderella stories.” Contact Sarah Ritherdon, Editorial Manager, Mills and Boon Ltd, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond TW9 1SR, UK. www.millsandboon.co.uk/

Saga wants wrinklies, sorry, over 50’s, to write for children. At last those of us of a more mature outlook, with experience of life and families, with wisdom and sagacity, not to mention increasingly good looks (i.e. character) are being recognised as a serious source of writing talent. Gosh, that was a long sentence for someone with a diminishing attention span. But I digress. Here’s what they say: Saga Magazine in association with HarperCollins (yes they do leave the space out between the two names; it saves on paper) is looking for a new children’s author (well, hopefully more than one, eh?) with a difference. The winner must be aged more than 50 years.  They want “dynamic new talent who can write for older children”. And the winning book will be published by HarperCollins without-a-space in 2007. If this describes you, then point your Zimmer in the direction of: askaboutwriting.net

For a list of regional magazines indexed by county in the UK, visit Writing-World. The rest of the site is worth checking out as well.

Please mention writersreign.co.uk when responding to links. It’s good for the soul and earns you heaps of Brownie points.

Reckon you can write an SF&F story in 600 words? Give it shot and send it to SFCrowsNest.com. If it passes muster they’ll publish it on their web site. Speaking of which Geoff Wilmetts describes his site as “Europe’s Most Odd Science Fiction Site” which gives you some idea of what to expect. If you happen to have a hyperspace ion transporter module handy then shoot over to the story submission page now. (I should point out that although this item is on the Markets page, Geoff is not actually offering any pecuniary inducements, but who knows what it might lead to if your short short is given an airing. Anyway, the discipline of cramming a story into 600 words will do you good.)

Avalon Books are eagerly scouring the countryside for chick-lit manuscripts. I am told they require a query letter, a two to three page synopsis and the first three chapters. www.avalonbooks.com

Zing Review is a new, quarterly, small press publication featuring short inspirational prose, informative and enlightening articles and illuminating reflections. It aims to celebrate the creative process and give space to emerging works of imaginative writing. The A5 booklet is aimed at the discerning reader - people who love the richness of words and want to read thought-provoking or soul-satisfying pieces on all aspects of life, nature, love and personal growth. Each issue aims to feature original works, from new and established writers, to cherish and collect.
Zing Review is looking for creative prose and articles. At this current time, Zing Review can only recompense writers by providing a bio after their published article and offering to place a small advert of 30 words on the Noticeboard section (worth £30). There are also prizes for work that features in every issue. It is hoped that payments will be made for work once there is enough revenue from subscriptions and small ads.
Contributor Guidelines are available by sending a stamped s.a.e. to the above address or email to: info@zingcreatives.co.uk

Your good deed for today: mention writersreign.co.uk when responding to links. Thanks, you’re a pet.

Canadian based Neo-opsis Magazine (science fiction) say they “will consider material submitted by any writer, professional or amateur. It is our intention to not set down a lot of ground rules for these stories. We don’t want to miss a good story, because it doesn’t fit our rules, but we are more likely to publish stories that are less than 6000 words and fit a science fiction or fantasy theme”  Which is fair enough. They also accept fact articles and opinion articles. Give them a look at: www.neo-opsis.ca

Walk This World is a new quarterly small press magazine who are looking for stories, poetry and articles. Each issue is themed so you might like to contact Walkthisworld@aol.com

Flame Books. Their web site says: “Flame Books is a new and innovative book publisher based on ethical foundations that aims to publish (in physical not e-format) the most exciting contemporary English-language fiction.” There’s not a lot there at the time of writing (July 03) but it’s worth a visit. If you have something suitable you could be one of the first to get accepted. Flame Books

Want to be treated like royalty? Then mention writersreign.co.uk when responding to links. They will fawn upon your every whim. Well, actually, there’s no guarantee of that.

Want to write for the BBC? Then visit the Writersroom at the BBC web site. Loads of information on TV and Radio writing. Write for Eastenders and other soaps; get your radio script broadcast, and lots more. Also, you can download a tool which will format your scripts in the approved manner.

Want to write for greetings cards?
Try Blue Mountain Arts, email: editorial@spsstudios.com, His Power Publishing who provide Christian cards for the African  American market, or Amberley Greeting Card Company, email: dcronstein@amberleygreeting.com. Then there is UK based www.greetingcardassociation.org.uk which offers lots of advice and tips for freelance writers.

(C) WritersReign.co.uk - Markets for Writers

The Essential Guide To Ghostwriting

Ghostwriters are the secret army behind scores of paperback books found in libraries and book stores - and especially behind the reports, articles, e-books, manuals, how-to books and mini-courses you see all over the Internet. Buy a book on any subject, and there's a fifty per cent chance that it has been produced by a ghostwriter. It's a simple matter of taking any information that your client gives you, doing some highly targeted research and you're out of the starting blocks.
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Have you got a play you're keen to write? Have you got an unfinished play? Would you like your play performed?  Cenarth Fox has been writing plays for 35 years. His first play was staged way back in 1974. Since then he’s  written more than 100 plays, had thousands of performances in nearly 50 countries and is still writing and selling plays today. Now he’s put heaps of ideas, tips, plans and methods into a new eBook called How To Write & Sell Plays.

If you’re a beginner, this eBook shows you ways to start writing a play, how to plan and polish it and most importantly, simple ways to have it performed! If you’re experienced, you can refresh your skills and maybe discover new ways to plot, to create characters, to write dialogue and, most importantly, ways to get your play performed. This book is essential reading for every playwright. Find out more…