Mslexia

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

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Contributors' Guidelines

Mslexia welcomes previously unpublished submissions from women for every part of the magazine. We commission work by prominent authors and artists as well as talented newcomers. For a clear idea of the full range of material we publish, why not take advantage of our 'Try before you buy' offer.

Download and print out the Contributors' Guidelines.
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Meanwhile, we’re inviting submissions for the following regular slots:

New Writing

This is a substantial section of new poetry and prose by published and unpublished authors, selected and introduced by our New Writing Guest Editor. Previous Mystery Guests include Fay Weldon, Michèle Roberts, Fleur Adcock and Val McDermid. The themes and deadlines for the upcoming issues are:

Issue 41: Mslexia Women's Short Story Competition

Submissions are now welcomed for Mslexia's inaugural short story competition.

Judge: Helen Simpson.

Stories can be up to 2,200 words, on any topic or theme. 1st prize: £2,000 plus a one week writing retreat at Chawton House Library and a day with a Virago editor. 2nd: £500; 3rd: £250; 3 other finalists will win £100 each. Agent Carole Blake of Blake Friedmann Agency will read all of the winning entries. Entry Fee £8 per story. See full submission guidelines .

Deadline: 23 January 2009

Issue 42: Mslexia Women's Poetry Competition

Judge and submission details TBC

Deadline: 24 April 2009

PLEASE NOTE: we will not be able to return any stories or poems sent into the competitions, so please retain your own copy. If you require acknowledgement of receipt please enclose an SAE labelled 'Acknowledgement'. Emailed submissions will only be accepted from writers living overseas. If you are submitting by email, please include your land address and telephone number. Send short stories to shortstory@mslexia.co.uk and poetry to poetry@mslexia.co.uk.

OTHER SUBMISSIONS

Flash Fiction

This is a new literary form that is growing in popularity, especially on the web. The ideal piece of flash fiction tells a complete story in as few words as possible. The theme for your flashes of genius? Riding. The word limit? 150.

For initial guidance, see our article on Flash Fiction.
Deadline: 13 February 2009

We regret we can only inform you of the fate of your submission if it is accompanied by an SAE. If sending several types of work (eg. two poems, a short story, a flash fiction entry), please enclose an appropriate number of return envelopes.

Autobiography

Curious Incidents is a nonfiction slot that challenges you to mine your memory for true-life events that will touch us or teach us. Issue 41’s topic is A Sweet Tooth – but we will consider Curious Incidents on any autobiographical topic. 750-900 words only, plus your CV and a brief biog. There is no need to send an SAE. Your piece will be filed, as a sample of your writing. We will contact you if we want to publish or discuss a commission.
Deadline: 13 February 2009.

Features articles

Ideas for one-off features are welcome, as a 200-word proposal plus a brief CV and a published or unpublished example of your writing. There is no need to enclose an SAE. We will keep your details on file and contact you if we want to discuss a commission.

One I love

Potential reviewers – published and unpublished – are also invited to submit to our One I love feature. Please send a 350-word account of how one book has influenced you as a writer, or as a woman. There is no need to send an SAE. We will keep your details and contact you if we want to publish your review. Deadline: 31 January 2009.

Book reviews

If you are a published reviewer, please send a sample review and a brief CV. There is no need to send an SAE. We will keep your details on file and contact you if we want to discuss a commission. Girls under 16 who would like to review children's/YA books for us, send any sample of your writing.

Illustrations

Women visual artists, please send non-returnable examples of your work + CV. We will contact you if we want to discuss a commission.

FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

We invite subscribers to submit to OutNow/How I Did It (240 words). Deadline: 13 February 2009.

DIRECTORY

Mslexia publishes a comprehensive literature listings section, including the UK, the Republic of Ireland and Further Afield. If you know of – or are involved in – anything that might be of interest to Mslexia readers, please contact us, and we will do our best to include you in the magazine or on the website.

Deadline for issue 41 (APRMAYJUN): 16 March 2009 for events from 18 April to the end of July 2009.

For a more prominent position in the magazine, why not advertise with Mslexia, or insert your flier?

Payment:

We pay for published submissions. The basic rates for New Writing are £25 per poem, and £15 per thousand words of prose. For Flash Fiction we pay £20; Curious Incidents £50; One I Love £50; feature articles and reviews are commissioned.

Send submissions to:

Mslexia
PO Box 656
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE99 1PZ

postbag@mslexia.co.uk

PLEASE NOTE: we do not accept email submissions, except from overseas writers.

For further information, contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.