Posts For Unprecedented Times
(Bluesky/Instagram: @madeleinefwhite)
March is Women’s Empowerment Month and includes International Women’s Day on the 8th.
Lately, I’ve been feeling disempowered, both by a lack of personal agency and by the overwhelming state of global geopolitics. I know I’m not alone in this. But with daffodils beginning to bloom along the verges, I’m challenging us all to take charge of what we can control. 
Recognising the power of the choices we do have allows us to contribute to a much bigger picture, perhaps even one in which we can help shape different outcomes. We often mistake a broader sense of helplessness for inaction on our part. But as creatives, there is always something we can do.
As part of this call for creativity, connectivity and courage I’d like to challenge you to engage. More on how to contribute to Write On! is below. However, I’d particularly like to flag the Pen to Print competitions: poetry, short story and audio drama competitions are open until the 21 March. And, with that in mind, I’d like to draw your attention to a brilliant feature by BSFA award-winning writer and audio dramatist Emily Inkpen: a MUST READ how-to guide for all you would be audio dramatists.
As a former Pen to Print competition entrant and someone who has gone on to build a career as a poet and novelist, I’m speaking from practical experience. With that in mind, this is what I’ll be doing in March: 1. Building on the powerhouse that is Write On! – publications for and by you, 2. Querying my new novel 3. Publicising the second edition of The Horse And The Girl 4. Preparing for the launch of Maiden Mother Crone. Do write in to let us know your plans!
In terms of editorial direction, March plays host to World Wildlife Day, the Spring Equinox, Neurodiversity Week and Mothers’ Day in the UK. We will be reflecting this in the wonderful work you have submitted, introduced by our fabulous page editors. Other highlights include: superb Writers Tips on our podcast, Write On! Audio, from bestselling author Laura Kay and a feature on book merchandise, from one of your favourites and another bestseller – Lizzie Chantree.
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. It is sponsored by the Wilbur & Niso Smith Foundation,
So, be empowered, be inspired and write about what matters to you! We look forward to hearing from you. Our submissions guidelines here. Here’s to a fabulous March!
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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 4 February, brought to you by bestselling author Laura Kay. Our Listener Contribution on Tuesday 11 comes from the US author, podcaster and poet Anna Jinja Magnusson. On Tuesday 18, we have a poem of the month and February is rounded off with a Write On and Friends: Chris Penhall’s – Books + Tunes 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.
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Published And Coming Up
Amber Hall’s March Monday Moments features Mothers’ Day across generations and other divides. Out 3 March.
Eithne Cullen’s March Thoughtful Tuesdays explores Writers’ Retreats and the importance of getting away from it all. Out 11 March.
Farzana Hakim’s March Thursday Connectors is a celebration of Women’s Empowerment month featuring stories of perseverance and creativity. Out 20 March.
The March Showcases, out every Wednesday, are edited by Jilly Henderson-Long. Featuring wonderful poetry, prose and fiction from our own bulging inbox, Jilly directly draws on pieces reflecting those special days and weeks in March including: World Wildlife Day, Neurodiversity Week and the start of spring.
Our Friday Features, out every two weeks, are packed with writing ideas and advice. March’s include Lizzie Chantree’s piece on Book Merchandise on the seventh and
Helen Aitchison’s Discovering Poetry on the twenty-first.
Our Sunday Interviews, out every two weeks, showcase a range of creative talent. In March we share interviews with authors Tracy Ryden, Gemma Seltzer and Viv Foster.
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 281, 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 theme of Misunderstandings. We want to know what the word means to you in terms of your personal or creative life! Running until the end of April you are invited submit on this theme until mid-March.
Our theme for May and June is Mindset: How we creatives put barriers up for ourselves – imposter syndrome and lack of time, for example – and how to overcome them. How can we push ourselves beyond these into a successful resilient mindset. When do you decide you are a writer? We are looking for creative pieces, features and prose insight as to the different approaches and insights people have.
- 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.
