Writers' Newsletter
Issue #154
January 2016
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Winners of the Fourteenth International Poetry Competition announced
firstwriter.com – Thursday January 21, 2016
firstwriter.com is pleased to announce the winner and special commendations in its Fourteenth International Poetry Competition, which closed on November 1, 2015.
Congratulations go to A.J. Graham, from Western Cape, South Africa, who wins £200 (around $350) for first place, with the poem "Sunday Mornings". The winning poem can be read online at https://www.firstwriter.com/competitions/poetry_competition/winners/14thpoetry.shtml
Seven special commendations go out to the following entrants (in no particular order):
- Jo Marsh, United Kingdom, "We Danced the Dance";
- Annest Gwilym, United Kingdom, "Crows";
- Mary Williams, United Kingdom, "This Is Not A Door";
- Tracy Davidson, United Kingdom, "Silence on a June Morning, 1944";
- John Ward, United Kingdom, "The Dry Valley at Malham";
- Kate Rigby, United Kingdom, "Lesson from a Washing Line";
- Shmavon Azatyan, Armenia, "My Island".
All the winners will be published in issue #29 of firstwriter.magazine (scheduled for release in summer, 2016), and will receive vouchers worth £24 / $36.
Meanwhile, firstwriter.com's Fifteenth International Poetry Competition is open for entries. Writers can submit up to ten poems of up to 30 lines each online at https://www.firstwriter.com/competitions/poetry_competition/. There are no restrictions on style or subject matter, and entries are welcomed from all over the world, provided they are in English.
To enter now, click here
For the details of over 100 other competitions, click here
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Fiction and poetry submissions invited for new issue of magazine
firstwriter.com – Thursday January 14, 2016
firstwriter.com has just announced the launch of the latest issue of its long-running literary journal, firstwriter.magazine.
firstwriter.magazine has been published twice a year since 2002, making it probably one of the longest-running online journals on the internet. This 28th issue features the usual mix of quality fiction and poetry from around the world, plus the first chance to see not just the winning story from the Eleventh International Short Story Contest, but also all ten Special Commendations. You can view the magazine by clicking here. If you'd like to enter your work in the Twelfth International Short Story Contest, click here.
If you submitted work for issue 28 you can check to see if your work has been included by viewing the magazine online (click here). If your work has not been included then, unfortunately, on this occasion your submission has not been successful. We'd love to see more of your work, though, and with the release of issue 28 we have now opened submissions for issue 30 of the magazine. We accept poems up to 30 lines and short stories up to 3,000 words. Submissions are accepted from anywhere in the world (as long as they are in English), and can be submitted online for free at https://www.firstwriter.com/Magazine/submit.shtml
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Writers' Handbook 2025 - Out Now!
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Ascent Aspirations call for submissions
firstwriter.com – Friday January 22, 2016
Ascent Aspirations Magazine is coming back into circulation after a year's vacation. It will now publish poetry only, on a weekly basis, on a page called Friday's Poems.
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Submit for the next issue of Phenomenal Literature
firstwriter.com – Sunday January 17, 2016
The new issue of Verbal Art has been released and you can find its details on its website: www.verbalart.in. Now the editors are looking for material for the next issue of Phenomenal Literature. The submission guidelines can be found at http://phenomenalliterature.com/submission.php. The last date for submission is 31 January 2016 and the next issue will come out by 31 March 2016.
For the details of over 2,000 other magazines, click here
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News |
Some of this month's news for writers from around the web.
Philip Pullman: professional writers set to become 'an endangered species'
theguardian.com – Thursday January 7, 2016
His Dark Materials author Philip Pullman is heading a new charge from writers demanding to be rewarded fairly for their work, as the Society of Authors warns that unless “serious” changes are made by publishers, the professional author “will become an endangered species”.
Penguin Random exits self-publishing
ft.com – Wednesday January 6, 2016
The world’s largest publisher has withdrawn from the self-publishing business, in effect admitting defeat in its controversial attempt to compete with Amazon’s own platform.
New writing award announced to honour Sir Terence Rattigan
whatsonstage.com – Monday January 4, 2016
The Terence Rattigan Society have announced a new writing award with monetary prizes and a professional production of the winning play on offer.
| Click here for the rest of this month's news > |
Listings |
A selection of the new listings added to firstwriter.com this month.
New Publisher Listing
firstwriter.com – Wednesday January 20, 2016
Publishes: Fiction;
Areas include: Adventure; Crime; Erotic; Fantasy; Gothic; Historical; Horror; Humour; Literature; Men's Interests; Mystery; Romance; Sci-Fi; Short Stories; Suspense; Thrillers; Westerns; Women's Interests;
Markets: Adult; Children's; Family; Youth
Digital imprint from a major publisher, considering all genres of writing, whether novels, novellas, serials, or a series. Particularly interested in authors from the UK, Ireland, South Africa and India. Send submissions by email with any type of attachment.
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New Magazine Listing
firstwriter.com – Friday January 22, 2016
Publishes: Articles; Fiction; Nonfiction;
Areas include: Adventure; Hobbies; Humour; Religious; Short Stories;
Markets: Children's
Publishes fiction and nonfiction for boys aged 9-14, presenting Christian life and helping boys relate to Christian values in their own lives. Issues are themed. View website for details or send request with SASE. Submit complete ms. Do not query first.
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New Publisher Listing
firstwriter.com – Thursday January 21, 2016
Publishes: Fiction; Nonfiction;
Areas include: Crafts; Hobbies; How-to; Humour; Mystery; Romance;
Markets: Adult
Publishes nonfiction and fiction related to quilts. Send proposal by post. See website for complete guidelines.
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| Click here for more of this month's new listings > |
Articles |
Some of this month's articles for writers from around the web.
Getting Beyond Writer's Block
huffingtonpost.com – Tuesday January 26, 2016
Is there a "Right" way to write? In a word, "No."
What works for you does not necessarily work for another. Getting started is generally the first barrier to overcome. Most individuals get stuck and procrastinate when it comes to writing something longer than an e-mail. They don't want to look foolish or write anything that may be sub-par.
Who dunnit? Top tips for writing detective fiction
theguardian.com – Tuesday January 26, 2016
From red herrings to maguffins to double identities, Knightley and Son author Rohan Gavin shares the secrets of writing great detective stories.
A lonely story: the perils of writing in solitude
theguardian.com – Monday January 25, 2016
It worked for George Orwell and Henry Thoreau – but for Adrian McKinty, a retreat deep in rural Australia was a very sad tale indeed.
| Click here for the rest of this month's articles > |
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