Writing Magazine

The saying goes that “everyone has a story in them” and it’s the mission of Writing Magazine to help you get yours out. Brought to you by real experts who know what it takes to improve your writing or get published, this monthly magazine is a must-have for all writers. Whether you write fiction, poetry, drama, children’s books, non-fiction or anything else, each issue features tips, practical exercises and real-life advice, that will not only help you get all that creativity onto the paper but also, get your name and profile out into the industry. With writing masterclasses from professionals, industry news, events listings, competitions where you can submit your work for fantastic prizes and real paid writing opportunities, Writing Magazine has everything you need to hone and improve your talents.

WELCOME

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PEOPLE IN PLACE • In the third and final part of her series, author and short story expert Alice Jolly looks at the transformative elements that will make your short stories stand out

UNRELIABLE NARRATORS and uncooper ative protagonists • Who better to offer advice on writing unreliable and uncooperative characters than author and Taboo co-creator Chips Hardy? A little dysfunction goes a long, long way, he says.

WRITING lost voices • How do you write about people whose voices were unheard in their lifetime? Acclaimed journalist and author Katharine Quarmby describes the process of raising lost voices from paper, and offers advice for writers who want to tell their own stories of the unheard.

THE MAGIC WORDS • Bestselling crime writer Elly Griffiths talks to Tina Jackson about the dark magic of variety theatre, seedy seaside towns, forensic anthropology and why character is fate when it comes to writing a crime series

Get building • Build it and they will come, says author and tutor Ian Ayris, as he invites you to consider: What sort of writer will you be?

Your writing critiqued • Following his piece on writing sex scenes in the October issue,James McCreet applies his forensic micro-criticism to the steamy passage at the beginning of a reader’s manuscript

SARAH FREETHY • A background in factual TV gave the debut author the research skills to embark on a novel, but it wasn’t until a big birthday loomed that she decided it was time to fulfil her dream of writing one

SHELF LIFE • The novelist reflects on relocating a monster from Greek myth to Victorian London, and picks the five books that made the greatest impression on his imaginative life

Retreading the city • Crime thriller writer Ajay Chowdhury describes discovering the past history of the East E nd and weaving it into the opening of his new novel, The Detective

Folklore AND FICTION • With a resurgence of interest in folklore, novelist Ceri Houlbrook looks at what folklore actually is, and how it can be woven into our writing

JACKY HYAMS • Lynne Hackles talks to the author about the discipline her previous career as a journalist brought to her career as a writer of non-fiction

The world of writing • What goes through a writer’s brain? Readers’ letters and dispatches from the wide world of writing

IN THE SPOT LIGHT: YOUR WRITING • The ‘focus on feelings’ theme of the October issue’s call for submissions definitely touched a nerve with the WM writers, who responded with a wide variety of eloquent writing that demonstrated the ability to convey empathy and insight into a range of emotions. A very great deal of the writing that was submitted for this call was excellent, and as the size of the ‘highly commended’ list demonstratesm there were a lot of contenders for the top slots. What gives a particular edge to the pieces we’ve commended, and in particular the two that we’ve chosen to publish, is that going beyond conveying a particular feeling, they make the...