Posts For Unprecedented Times
(Bluesky/Instagram: @madeleinefwhite)
As well as being ‘Valentine’s Day Month and’ LGBTQ+ History Month, February includes World Cancer Day and various writing appreciation days. As you may have realised though, Write On! tends to follow a path ‘less trodden’ hence our theme of ‘Misunderstandings.’ Though we always have the courage to tackle what is difficult head on (do see Farzana’s superb January Thursday Connectors on Hijab Misunderstandings as an example), we also aim to look beneath the surface. While planning February’s Editor’s Intro, I thought about how my love of writing has shaped my life; for better and for worse. The worse bit, partly due to my many wilful misunderstandings along the way, i.e. It is possible to turn love of creative writing into making a living!
Let me contexualise. On the surface I’m doing well, a novel published in 2020, one poetry collection in 2022 – with The Horse And the Girl being rereleased through Sea Crow Press as part of the Crossing Places series on Tuesday 4 February and my new collection, Maiden Mother Crone, following swiftly on its heels in April. But then comes the next layer down. The novel I completed at the end of last year is just going through querying stage and I have two hard rejections under my belt already. Again I find myself wondering: Is it worth it?
There are two things that make it so. I was reminded of the first one – a poem I’d written in my twenties that speaks of my passion for writing – when I was rummaging in old paper work. Despite spending so many of the subsequent years working in corporate comms and as a consultant, I Must Write seems to be a statement of intent: writing is and always has been what I need to do. Here’s the first verse: Looking at this paper, looking at this pen/ I know I must create again/From emptiness to thoughts that fill/ A page, a book a vision still.
The second thing is – when your work connects and you discover it has made a difference. We got a message on social media from someone who has been reading our magazines. He shared how Write On! has gone such a long way towards easing his intense imposter syndrome which he puts down to coming from a working-class background.
So in this ‘ month of love’ I feel strongly that Write On! reflects love in all its multifaceted glory. From misunderstandings as a route to understanding to how we writers can make love come alive through our words. Other highlights include superb Writers Tips on our podcast, Write On! Audio, from the legend that is Sheila O’Flanagan. With Showcase Editor Vrushali Khadikar bringing us pink and fluffy while also exploring how we humans connect through the extraordinary writing you submit to us, we invite you to enjoy and reflect.
There are so many truths, big and small contained in our pages and this February, as ever, I hope they inspire you to put pen to page and get in touch.
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 . Here’s to a fabulous February, filled with joy and hope!
***
Write On! Audio, the podcast ‘For Writers Everywhere’ is out every Tuesday.
We kick off the month with Writers Tips on 4 February, brought to you by bestselling author Sheila O’Flanagan. Our Listener Contribution on Tuesday 11 comes from veteran team member, Afsana Elanko. On Tuesday 18, the poem of the month is drawn from my collection, The Horse And the Girl and February is rounded off with a Write On and Friends, featuring Anna Britton’s rejected Writers’ Club podcast on the 25. 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.
***
Published And Coming Up
Amber Hall’s February Monday Moments features misunderstandings as a route to understanding each other, including contributions around mental health. Out 3 February.
Eithne Cullen’s FebruaryThoughtful Tuesdays explores misunderstandings around an area of London: Barking And Dagenham. Out 11 February.
Farzana Hakim’s February Thursday Connectors is a celebration of love, especially as it’s Farzana’s birthday month! She also looks at difficulties inherent to writing one scenes. Out 20 February.
The February Showcases, out every Wednesday, are edited by Vrushali Khadilkar. Featuring wonderful poetry, prose and fiction from our own bulging inbox, she’ll be exploring relationships and what makes us connect to people, places and things, including our love of reading and writing..
Our Friday Features, out every two weeks, are packed with writing ideas and advice. February’s include The Journey Of A Storyteller by Viv Foster while Charlotte Baker unpacks the world of crime fiction for us.
Our Sunday Interviews, out every two weeks, showcase a range of creative talent. February we share an interview with James Thomas.
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!
***
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 276, 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).
***
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!
***
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.
