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

DISCOVERING OUR STORIES • Do you write memoir, or personal essays? Yasmin Azad, author of the memoir Stay, Daughter, offers ways for you to get to the heart of what your personal story is all about.

Breathe • In this third and final part of his three-part series, Leon Conrad, author of Story and Structure: A complete guide shares some thoughts on how to move from story structure to plot pattern from his practice as a writer and story structure enthusiast.

IDEAS TO HELP POLISH YOUR WRITING

Past in to present • How much do you need to immerse yourself in the past to write about it in the present? Novelist Jane Johnson looks at the process of writing and researching historical fiction.

AVA GLASS • The author of espionage thrillers tells Lynne Hackles about plotting, concealed identities and machine-gun spurts of writing

How to write about friendship • Author Helen Paris looks at the friendship dynamics between the two lead characters in her new novel, with advice for writers who want to create their own fictional friend pairings

Novel Ideas Write space • What sort of writing space suits you? Lynne Hackles helps you decide.

SONG SUNG TRUE • Mike Gayle has been writing unputdownable novels for 25 years. He talks to Tina Jackson about the his music-themed new novel, pop music and popular fiction and refusing to be put in a pigeonhole.

Face your fear • Rachel Knightley looks at ways to turn fear of the blank page into inspiration and make a start on writing something new

WRITERS’ WRONGS: Your writing workshopped • James McCreet plays agony uncle to a WM reader who needs guidance on plotting their novel

Quality of writing life • Completing the foundation of what it means to be a writer, author and tutor Ian Ayris considers the qualities that writers should look at developing

JOSEPH ZIGMOND • The new author says that working in publishing as an editor didn’t mean it was easy when it came to writing his first novel

SHELF LIFE • As the children’s author publishes her first novel for adults, she picks her five favourite books

Gareth Rubin • Turning the gothic genre on its head in his tete-beche novel The Turnglass meant the author needed to create parallel introductions

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

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: YOUR WRITING MAKING A START

BACKSEAT WRITER • Don’t have a breakdown in these exercises related to the benefits of being car-free from Jenny Alexander

GET THE write idea • Think about persona and voice in these creative writing exercises to try right now

Subscribers’ news

PUZZLING IT OUT

DECADES OF CREATIVITY

ADDICTED TO WRITING

THE PATH OF WORDS

Creative connections • Explore the potential of discovering connections in these writing group exercises from Julie Phillips

End in sight • Nothing spoils a good...