Mslexia

Writer's tip

> read it

Choosing Verbs

Spotlight on…

Keep abreast of all things literary with our regular spotlight on literary magazines, publishers and websites/ blogs. You can also explore our extensive listings from here.

> more lit mags

Literary magazines

LEAF WRITERS' MAGAZINE

‘It’s hard out there in the big world of big publishing, so here in our smaller world of smaller publishing we hope to give everyone an equal chance.’ Getting new writers into print has been the unwavering ethos of Wales-based Leaf Books since its inception in 2005, and Leaf Writers' Magazine – the publishing house’s latest enterprise – continues to champion the writer. Scheduled to be published three times a year – in April, August and December – the magazine has been carefully planned to offer a wealth of inspiration, listings and quality new writing, encased in a handbag-friendly, glossy journal.

Still hot off the press, the first edition was published in April but has already established a precedent for lively articles and absorbing literary anecdotes. Jasper Fforde’s honest, expressive interview is a particular delight, while the Write about Writing section promises to become a beaconing regular feature. The literary festival guide is a bountiful selection of the most notable destinations in the summer circuit, and the drawings interspersed throughout the magazine are lovely reminders of inspirations beyond the written word.

Leaf’s investment in shorter literary forms is on generous display throughout the publication and, ultimately, it is sharper and more varied for it. Rather than preaching to its audience, LWM is a consolidation of many different, animated voices, while being seasoned with enough humour to simultaneously envelop the lonely writer and offer them hope.

Check the website for submission guidelines and deadlines

www.leafbooks.co.uk/magazine/homemag.htm

> more publishers

Publishers

CHOC-LIT

Some of the best ideas are drawn up on the back of napkins, and so it was that Choc-Lit was born two years ago, over cappuccino and cake in an Ascot Starbucks, while discussing the interwoven merits of chick-lit, chocolate and romance.

The team behind Choc-Lit left jobs as marketing and PR professionals with a plan to catch the newly developing e-book trend. Indeed, they never planned to go into print at all, except that their first novel, The Importance of Being Emma by Juliet Archer, was short-listed for the 2009 Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance, suddenly attracting a wider readership and tempting Choc-Lit down a more traditional print route.

Choc-Lit's directors understand the all-too-common no-agent-no-deal plight of new authors, and state that, ‘As long as we have the man-power, we will always accept manuscripts without an agent.’ Debut novelist Christine Stovell approached the press in this way, and was invited for interview after her unedited manuscript was very well received by Choc-Lit’s reading panel. This group of voluntary readers forms an essential part of the business, allowing the press to accept direct submissions. 

To be in with the best chance of getting noticed, the publisher has two main criteria: there must be an utterly irresistible hero, and the story must be told at least in part from his point of view.

The success of Choc-Lit, and its authors, continues apace - making this definitely one to watch over the coming months.

DO SEND: An emailed synopsis of your romantic fiction novel. Paranormal heroes are especially welcome!
DON’T SEND: Erotic fiction, although sex scenes that develop the plot are fine.

CONTACT: Submit to submissions@choclitpublishing.co.uk and visit the website www.choc-lit.co.uk for examples of current work.

> more on the web

On the web

VERBOTOMY

A must for all language-lovers, this witty site encourages web surfers to create their own words to fit the amusing definitions provided each day. Once you’ve ‘verbotomized,’ you are then free to browse a range of ingenious concoctions and cast your vote as to which creation is your favourite. Recent top-rated include ‘motordoter’ (describing one who has unnaturally strong feelings of devotion to such items as cars, lawnmowers and power tools) and ‘lexactitude’ (indicating the tendency to unstoppably correct others’ grammar). This is a site which any ‘syntaxidermist’ will enjoy!

www.verbotomy.com