Posts For Unprecedented Times
(Bluesky/Instagram: @madeleinefwhite)
As we move into 2025 my most important piece of writing is coming up: a sentence or two about my intentions for the year. I’ve been doing this since 2003 and it’s so interesting to see how things have changed. I think the key thing is my acceptance of the fact that challenges are inevitable, and are often the very things to move us forward. So, for example rather than asking for a year free of difficulties, I might ask for willingness and courage to help me face them.
I still find it easy to get lost in my own fears. But, using my 21 years of stated intentions to reflect upon, I’ve realised I’m best when I’m doing and giving – rather than just expecting. A good lesson for all us writers I think! Service of one kind or another is a good way to spring into action and take the focus off ourselves and volunteering is a great example of this. I support a helpline once a week and, of course, linked to Pen to Print and Write On! there is also significant time given. With that in mind, I’d like to invite you to think of giving of yourselves in 2025. And where better to start than with Write On! and Pen to Print (more here).
We’re always looking for contributions and new team members are most welcome. There are no constraints of geography as we meet online. Our editorial meetings happen every three weeks or so, and are linked to the online Write On! Extra or preparation of the print magazine. Should you decide to join us, you’ll get a direct chance to respond to editorial call-outs and get a sense of our work as a whole.
Talking of editorial matters, January sees us moving into our new issue theme of ‘Misunderstandings’. Sponsored by Hay, this culminates in our April issue – featuring an interview with bestselling author John Marrs. Over the next three months we’ll be exploring misunderstandings around language and identity, between writers and the publishing industry, comic moments caused by misunderstandings and so much more.
To get a sense of what you might be contributing to, I do hope you enjoy Issue 23 – out now. Distributed through library networks and though other venues up and down the country, we feature poet Jenny Mitchell who speaks to Eithne Cullen about who we are, how we heal and why poetry is at the heart of both. The issue is sponsored by the Wilbur & Niso Smith Foundation,
So all that remains for me to say is – please do keep your work coming; you can see our submissions guidelines here . I’d like to wish you a happy and healthy 2025 – filled with new ideas and intentions and hopefully some wonderful creative work!
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Write On! Audio, the podcast ‘For Writers Everywhere’ is out every Tuesday.
We kick off the month with Writers Tips on 7 January December, brought to you by Watson Little agent, Laetitia Rutherford. Our Listener Contribution on Tuesday 14 is a reading from poet Mab Jones from her Bog Witch Collection. On Tuesday 21 we feature a poem of the month and January is rounded off with a recording of Eithne Cullen’s interview with the award-winning British-Library-In-The-Community poet, Jenny Mitchell, on Tuesday 28 January.
You can find us on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Podchaser and many more. Just type pen to print into your browser and look for our logo. Alternatively, find us via our Spotify For Podcasters hosting site, which links you to our content on a variety of podcast platforms. Do subscribe! Write On! Audio can be accessed here.
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Published And Coming Up
Amber Hall’s January Monday Moments features misunderstandings around language with an introduction Polari, a coded language predominantly used by members of the LGBTQ+ community. Out 6 January.
Eithne Cullen’s January Thoughtful Tuesdays picks up on the idea of how misunderstandings of each other can be communicated through dodgy gift-giving. Out 14 January.
Farzana Hakim’s January Thursday Connectors shares stories of misunderstandings around clothing – the hijab for example. With January including world religion day, this idea seems to be particularly apt. Out 23 January.
The January Showcases, out every Wednesday, are edited by former Monday Moments editor Holly King. Featuring wonderful poetry, prose and fiction from our own bulging inbox, she’ll also be looking at how language can purposely mislead.
Our Friday Features, out every two weeks, are packed with writing ideas and advice. January’s include Antony Dilleen’s exploration of Social Media for writers and Vic Howard’s wry look at who it is we are actually writing for.
Our Sunday Interviews, out every two weeks, showcase a range of creative talent. In January we share interviews with Sanjana Arunkumar and Lucineh Danielian.
Saturday Spotlight, at the end of the month, features new launches from traditional publishers and small presses, as well as indie authors. Do send us information on your new release. If you have one coming up, we’d love to hear from you!
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More About Us
Write On! is a quarterly magazine published by Pen to Print and its sister, the online Write On! Extra, and has been created to encourage established and emerging writers to come together around the following ideals: Publishing lies at an intersection of entertainment, information and education and is the method by which we record our shifting culture. You can find out more about how to get involved as a writer, creative, partner or advertiser through Write On! Together.
Take advantage of some great digital advertising opportunities with Write On! and Write On! Extra. Get in touch with Pen to Print for further details.
Write On! Audio, the podcast ‘For Writers Everywhere’ connects emerging and established writers to each other, the publishing industry and a wider audience in an audio celebration of diversity, originality and excellence.
Issue 23 is out. You can see it here and find all our previous issues on our magazines page. Physical copies of Write On! are distributed in libraries and other centres across the country.
Be part of the Write On! family; one that includes The London Library, Dialogue, Hay and The Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook. So far, over 270, 000 of you have engaged with us online, as readers and contributors; from the UK, but also from 198 other countries (Google Analytics lists 230 countries).
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Your Writing
Write On! accepts written pieces (prose, poetry, essays, opinion), video or spoken extracts/ snapshots, illustrations and artwork. Do remember, if you have a features idea, you may be interested in recording it for Write On! Audio. Get in touch to discuss if this appeals! Depending on content and theme, your work will be featured in one of the following ways:
Monday Moments – Stories and experiences drawn from myriad perspectives. Fresh and engaging; a real ‘magazine’ feel. (First Monday of the month.)
Thoughtful Tuesdays – Mindfulness, inspiration, poetry, quotes and ideas shared to create leadership and hope, to see us through the week. (Second Tuesday of the month.)
Write On! Showcase – This creative writing showcase includes poetry, short stories, flash fiction and book extracts. Although most will reflect the seasonal theme, some work, such as memoirs or book extracts, offer a non-themed perspectives also. (Weekly.)
Thursday Connectors – Everyone and everywhere has different experiences and different ways of dealing with these strange times. This internationally-flavoured page is all about people and their experiences, connecting us with ideas and ideals, reaching out from east London to encompass the UK and the world at large. (Third Thursday of the month.)
Write On! Features – Essays, opinions and features. In Write On! Extra, we focus on topics relevant to publishing and writing arenas, but also include wider content to encompass thinking and ideas relevant to our times. (Two per month.)
Saturday Spotlight – Spotlight offers a round-up of indie, traditional and small press releases, bringing readers an overview of what can be found on digital and physical shelves. (Monthly.)
Write On! Interviews – This Sunday profile opportunity features writers, publishers, editors, agents and other creatives, along with individuals from diverse communities in a number of different occupations. (Two per month).
Write On! Audio – Out every Tuesday, our podcast ‘For Writers Everywhere’ connects emerging and established writers to each other and the industry. There is an opportunity to submit to our Listener Contribution Slot, as well as record your creative work and any tips and feature ideas you might have. See our pilot episode for tips on ‘how to’. (Weekly).
Please do continue to submit your work. Our aim remains the same: bringing people together to share their experience, strength and hope, as well as having a bit of a laugh!
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How To Submit:
We are looking for pieces (poetry, prose, fiction etc.) around our new theme of ‘Misunderstandings.’ What does the word mean to you in terms of your personal or creative life? We’d love to hear your perspectives so please do start submitting!
- Creative prose submissions should be between 800 and 1000 words and, if possible, fit the seasonal theme.
- Poetry can be as short as necessary, but no longer than 500 words.
- Features are generally between 1000-1500. It’s best to send your feature/essay ideas through initially, so we can finalise the topic together.
- Write On! Audio Listener Contribution Slot. See our pilot episode for tips on ‘how to’. Listener Contributions should not be longer than ten minutes and should include a brief introduction to you.
Any contributions should include an image of the writer and any copyright-free images you would like us to use (adhering to our submission guidelines) to illustrate your work. For any images/ video content that include you, or someone identifiable, we will need a permissions form. This will be sent to you. Write On! Extra is also happy to accept video or audio content. Please include contact details and any relevant social media IDs, such as Instagram, X, Threads, Substack or Facebook.
Submit via our Submit To Write On! page. Further guidance can be found on the themed pages. All submissions are subject to Pen to Print terms and conditions and can also be held in reserve until such time as publication opportunities arise, which may well be several months after the initial submission. Please note all submissions are subject to editing, at the Editor’s discretion.
SUBMISSION DEADLINES are based on the overarching theme. For example, it is worth sending in work aimed at the new theme a month before it starts.
We invite local people get in touch, as well as those who have something to say from further afield. We also welcome partnership discussions with organisations wishing to contribute, so the voices of their beneficiaries and teams can be heard. Details will be published on pentoprint.org.
Our culture is shifting. Therefore, the worlds we create don’t just serve us, but serve to inspire others as well. Make a difference to your community from your own four walls and get creating and writing!
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in individual articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Write On! or Pen to Print. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied, Write On! Extra cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the consequences of error, or for any loss or damage suffered by users of any of the information published on any of these pages. All facts and dates are correct at the time of publication.
