:: Welcome to Mslexia ::

Mslexia, the magazine for women who write | www.mslexia.co.uk

Greetings!

Welcome to the website for Mslexia, the magazine for women who write. Mslexia is an independent publishing company that provides information and (we hope) inspiration for published and unpublished women in the UK and beyond. In addition to our quarterly magazine and Writer’s Diary, Mslexia runs workshops and events, and a series of high-profile competitions for poets, novelists and short-story writers.

We welcome submissions for every part of the magazine (apart from the Editor’s letter). Explore the website to submit to the magazine, enter our competitions, sample past and current issues – and generally join in with the Mslexia conversation. We look forward to hearing from you.

In the magazine

Explore Issue 52 (Dec/Jan/Feb 2011/12)

Guest editor: Linda Kelsey ◊ New Writing: Motherhood – chosen by Kate Figes ◊ The case for 4x4 fiction ◊ Erotic writing – 10 top tips ◊ Step into my salon ◊ Alexandra Shulman's Bedside Table ◊ Lavinia Greenlaw on Making a Poem ◊ Gillian Slovo talks to Danuta Kean. Explore this issue » Editorial »

WOMEN'S SHORT STORY COMPETITION

Now open for entries

Judge: Tessa Hadley. First prize: £2,000 plus a week's writing retreat at Chawton House Library and a day with a Virago editor; Second prize: £500; Third prize: £250; Three other finalists win £100. All winning stories will be published in Mslexia. Closing date: 19 March 2012. Read more »

MSLEXIA BLOG

A lively and informative community for writers

Currently writing for the blog are: Lisa Matthews, exploring lyricists, music and writing with a new online version of her original Mslexia column 'Song Birds'; Meg Clothier, who counts us down to her two simultaneous deadlines – her second baby, and her second book; and Orna Ross, who takes us through her experience of leaving the safety of her publisher and going it alone. Plus insights from the Mslexia office and guest editors. Read more »

POETRY COMPETITION

Winners announced!

Many congratulations to Jane Satterfield, who has won the 2011 Mslexia Women's Poetry Competition with her poem 'The War Years'. Congratulations, too, to Sarah Roby (2nd Prize) and Jane McKie (3rd Prize). Read the top three poems and the winners' reactions online now. Read more »

Your chance to win!

We have five copies of the wonderful book Short Circuit: a guide to the art of the short story, ed. by Vanessa Gebbie (Salt, 2009) to give away. With short story workshops – including those by Sarah Salway edited for our short story competition workshops – and essays by a whole host of prestigious short story writers, it's an invaluable tool for any prose writer – or reader. To be in with a chance of winning, just answer the simple question by following the link below. Good luck!

CLOSING DATE: 29 February

Enter competition »

What's on for writers

NEW Myths of the Near Future

is a bi-monthly online magazine seeking submissions of poetry, short stories, reviews and writing about writing from writers of between 16-25 yrs.

Spotlight First Page Competition

is the first page of previously unpublished novels plus a one-page novel synopsis; the winner should be prepared to submit their full manuscript in hard copy by 29 February. Prizes: A stage one mentoring package worth up to £850; A spotlight (webpage) on you and your novel; The first page posted online.

Entry fee: £16.
Closing date: 14 February
www.adventuresinfiction.co.uk

For the very latest literary events, writing competitions, places to submit, courses, retreats and festivals visit the What's on for writers page. For comprehensive listings covering the current quarter, subscribe to Mslexia.

"I don't think books are cathartic. I am a writer, and there is a lot of control in my writing."

Gillian Slovo ◊
Read the Interview

"There’s no recipe for a good short story – in fact, they need to be unexpected, surprising. The most familiar material can be surprising if it’s seen freshly."

Tessa Hadley ◊ Mslexia 2012 Women's Short Story Competition