Posts For Unprecedented Times
(Bluesky/Instagram: @madeleinefwhite)
I’m going to start my August introduction with a gardener’s apology – I’m so pleased we’ve had more rain. My lawn is green, my plants are bigger than they’ve ever been and, when I go riding, I’m able to allow myself a short canter, because for the first time in years, coming into August the ground is soft enough.
I know that for those looking to enjoy the summer holidays, the heavens opening more than usual this summer, has meant finding things to do under cover… and having had three kids, I do understand, but still! I love the feeling that things are lush and growing, and the air holds not just a tang of salt, but a hint of dampness, perfect for those relaxing holiday walks. On that note, we are enjoying our usual bit of down time at Write On! as well, with our page editor’s returning refreshed in September.
This nicely segues into reflecting on other writing-related things as well. So often, when we get ‘rained on’: a rejection that knocks us for six, or are battling with a particularly nasty bout of imposter syndrome, something comes in from left field to change the landscape entirely. I’ve found that time and again since 2017 and starting Mother Of Floods. The other thing I’ve been thinking about is how important people are in our writing journey. Much like rain, the connection with them, be it applause when performing, or just chatting about our work with a tribe that knows, falls like rain onto ground we often don’t realise is parched.
Thanks to wonderful poetry publishers and event organisers Jawbone, I’ve been touring the West Country. Though tired from my day job, connecting with so many amazing people and listening to work that inspires, fed my soul. The Pen to Print awards night was equally fabulous and, I’m sure, will lead to many new submissions to Write On! as well.
Many of us came together to celebrate Pen to Print and Write On!’s Silver Jubilee Issue was on proud display.
Sponsored by The Romantic Novelists’ Association, its features the bestselling author Sheila O’Flanagan it has some fab reader offers and competitions – do check it out!
In terms of our digital and audio offerings, as ever, we try to be topical as well as reflect our overall theme. In the meantime, do stay inspired, stay creative and keep cool, while remembering to and share your work with us around this season’s theme (July-September) of ‘Reflections.’ Our submissions guidelines here.
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Voted to be in the top 10% of Global Podcasts, Write On! Audio, the podcast ‘For Writers Everywhere’ is out every Tuesday.
We kick off the month with Writers Tips on Tuesday 5 August, brought to you courtesy of the RNA President, bestselling author Sue Moorcroft who is in conversation with Alex Murdock. Our Listener Contribution on Tuesday 12 comes from London-based performance poet Danny Baxter. On Tuesday 19 we have a Prize special, featuring audio from the winners of our new Adventurous Voices competition. The, Tuesday 26 sees the Pen to Print Award Winners work featured. Beautifully produced in audio format by Chris Gregory from Alternative Stories. 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
It is our August break, so Amber Hall’s Monday Moments will be back in September.
It is our August break, so Eithne Cullen’s Thoughtful Tuesdays will be back in September.
It is our August break, so Farzana Hakim’s Thursday Connectors will be back in September.
It is our August break, so for our Showcases, out every Wednesday, I have picked four of my favourites from the last few years to republish.
Our Friday Features, out every two weeks, are packed with writing ideas and advice. August’s include Mirabel Lavelle sharing a reflective piece on textiles and Kate Potter shares a piece on writing around grief.
Our Sunday Interviews, out every two weeks, showcase a range of creative talent. In August we feature the Global Girls Online Book Club and Demi Edun.
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 25 is out now. 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. Issue 26, featuring Patrick Vernon OBE, will be out on 10 September.
Be part of the Write On! family; one that includes The London Library, Dialogue, Hay and The Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook. So far, over 306, 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 Reflections. We want to know what the word means to you in terms of your personal or creative life and are looking for creative pieces, features and prose insight as to what this means to you, looking backward to move forwards for example, or maybe, looking in the mirror and wanting to see a new direction reflected?
- 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.
