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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.

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Literary magazines

Poetry review

Poetry Review is Britain's leading poetry magazine that publishes a range of voices from both writers old and new to the Review. The current Winter 2012 issue guest-edited by Bernardine Evaristo issue offers a collection of exciting new poems that combine originality with variety, engaging with topics such as society, culture, politics and identity. The writers' experimentation with tone, layers of meaning and the how individual experience is told prove that the things we as artists choose to write about can never be predicted. The issue features writers including Jay Bernard, Dorethea Smartt, Richard Scott, Edward Doegar and Tolu Ogunlesi.  

Published by Britain's most established poetry organisation, The Poetry Society was founded in 1909 to promote an appreciation and enjoyment of British poetry around the world. Now boasting nearly 4000 members worldwide, its flagship magazine continues to encourage the use and enjoyment of poetry, and has been named 'the contemporary poetry magazine of record' by The Guardian. The Poetry Society offers information and support to writers and the general public and holds readings and competitions, including the National Poetry Competition and The Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry. 

The Poetry Review accepts up to 6 poems per submitter.

Check the website for submission guidelines and deadlines

www.poetrysociety.org.uk

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Publishers

hot key books

Hot Key Books concentrates on fiction for nine- to 19-year-olds. A recent start up, Hot Key have been publishing books, e-books and iBooks since August 2012 and its repertoire is as impressive as it is diverse. Alongside its award-winning authors, Hot Key spends time nurturing new writers and is releasing a ‘wonderful debut’ Death & Co from Debbie McCune, which will hit bookshops in May, alongside journalist Dawn O’Porter’s first novel, Paper Aeroplanes.

Most staff have backgrounds in traditional publishing but have a commitment to trying alternative approaches. For four months this year, seven- to 11-year-olds have been invited to visit thestoryadventure.com to help Fleur Hitchcock write her next novel, due out in January 2014. This innovative and interactive method is a way of listening to children’s ideas and encouraging a love of writing and reading from an early age.

THEY SAY:
‘Children’s literature guides our future reading. It’s why the risks that children’s authors take are so important, and why children’s literature is so interesting – you never know where one person’s imagination might take you.’

LATEST BOOK:
Winner of the 2012 Costa Children’s Book Award, Sally Gardner’s Maggot Moon follows Standish Treadwell after his best friend Hector is taken away. Standish realises that it is up to him, his grandfather and a small band of rebels to confront and defeat the ever-present oppressive forces of the Motherland.

DO SEND: Completed manuscripts, any genre, suitable for nine- to 19-year-olds, along with a page-long synopsis. The work can be un-agented. Hot Key will accept multiple manuscripts, but please wait for a verdict on the first before sending a second. Editorial Assistant Naomi Colthurst says ‘we are not looking for anything in particular – just excellence.’

DON’T SEND: Picture books, nonfiction, first drafts.

CONTACT: enquiries@hotkeybooks.com or via www.hotkeybooks.com

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On the web

written kitten

Sometimes the words come easily and sometimes we need a little extra incentive. For every 100, 200, 500 or 1,000 words that you type on this site, you get a picture of a kitten. Simple and surprisingly effective – no one wants to disappoint a kitten.

www.writtenkitten.net