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

The world of writing • Protecting legacies, abusing authors, inking errors and punishing reviews – traversing the highs and lows of the wide world of writing

LETTERS

WHEN LESS IS MORE

Spell bound • International bestseller Cressida Cowell describes how to write magical books for children

Fount of (some if not all) knowledge

THE THRILL OF THE CHASE

BOBBY PALMER • The author of the wildly acclaimed Isaac and the Egg describes how he created the beginning of a genre-blurring book that challenges traditional masculinity

The witching hour • Rosalind Moody marks Halloween with thirteen spine-tingling reads for Samhain season

MICHAEL TE ARAWA BENNETT

The write balance • Cornerstones’ assistant editor, Sarah Conkerton, discusses writing and editing – and finding the right balance between the two

I Met Myself Coming Back

Thinking ahead

SHELF LIFE • Bestselling author Emma Cooper chooses the five books that mean the most to her

EMMA COOPER

Your writing critiqued • Author James McCreet applies his forensic criticism to the beginning of a reader’s manuscript

Get the write idea

The sky’s the limit • Watch how the skies can affect your writing in these group exercises from Julie Phillips

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

SUBSCRIBERS’ NEWS • To feature in subscribers’ news contact: tjackson@warnersgroup.co.uk

EVIL MCSQUEEVIL • You book’s success depends on your villain just as much as your hero. Get your baddie right with advice from Amy Sparkes.

Look. Listen . • Test your road safety awareness in these creative writing exercises from Jenny Alexander

Last Christmas

Haunting Words • Helen M Walters looks at the effects of language in a ghostly story by Virginia Woolf

POWER STRUGGLES • How do you create the politics and their associated conflicts within a fantasy world? Alex Davis looks at how the way a society is ruled can impact on your worldbuilding.

ALL LIT UP • Margaret James wonders what constitutes literary fiction, and how it crosses genre boundaries

Five quick questions 5

Terror from the skies • Alison Chisholm is impressed by a poem about an inadvertent war-time tragedy

GRAHAM SMITH • Margaret James talks to the crime and mystery author about his two writing identities

The cost of creativity crisis • As the cost-of-living crisis continues, cut the cost of creativity with solutions suggested by Simon Whaley

Weather & climate • Get acclimatised to researching meteorology with advice from research expert Tarja Moles

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

Competition rules and...