WRITERS’ NEWS
http://www.writers-online.co.uk NOVEMBER 2019^87Clare Songbirds publishes work by poets and writers as limited
edition fine art volumes. They publish chapbook manuscripts and
art quality poetry broadsides in ‘an accessible way to promote the
art of words in order to resonate with, and impact on, readers not
yet familiar with the siren song of poets and writers’.
Manuscripts are considered on a rolling basis throughout the
year from 1 January to 1 November. Some previously published
poems, stories, essays, excerpts may be included in the manuscript,
but provide those details in the body of your email. Submissions are
open for non-fiction and short fiction chapbooks of no more than 40
pages; full-length poetry collections may be submitted after 1 July.
Submit by email, as an attached doc, docx or pdf file. A cover
letter is not required but chat about a writer’s literary process
and goals, and how they heard of the press, are welcomed.
Response time is 8-12 weeks. Payment and rights are
discussed with the contract.
Details: Clare Songbirds Publishing House, email:
[email protected]; website: http://www.
claresongbirdspub.comMake your words sing
GLOBAL LITERARY MARKET
PDR Lindsay-SalmonMARCH 2019 87I’ve a little book in which I write down
quotes that appeal to me. Most of them
are about writing. All of them are positive.
They are there to remind me to never give
up, to stay cheerful and to believe you’re
never too old to have a new dream. I read
through them often and close the book
feeling good.
When I see something that inspires me,
be it a few words, a poem or a long quote,
I add it to my book.
Recently I added a new one to the
collection. It was from the late Denholm
Elliot, an actor who was rarely off
television and also appeared in many
films. He said, ‘Surprise yourself every
day with your own courage.’
I could have done with that quote when
I started out and worried far too much
about sending out any work. Then, one
day, someone said, ‘The editor wouldn’t
know you from Adam.’ Yes, we’ve all
heard that one but on that day it meant a
lot to me. I imagined the editor opening
my work and reading it. They’d look at
the name and it would mean nothing to
them. They didn’t have a picture of me.
They didn’t know me. They couldn’t point
at me in the street and say, ‘She’ll never
write as long as there’s a hole in her head.’
It was a light bulb moment. My stories
could be sent out to markets and, in spite
of having my name on them, they’d be
anonymous to the editor. My work went
out. Acceptances came in. I surprised
myself with my own courage and became
a writer.
You can do the same. Why not start
your own book of positive quotes. You
could begin with, ‘Surprise yourself every
day with your own courage.’ Then you act
on it.Novel
Ideas
A bit of bravery goes a long
way, says Lynne HacklesSurprise
yourself
Dearly anticipated
Margaret Atwood’s first poetry collection in 13 years, Dearly,
will be published in November. Her first collection, Double
Persephone, came out in 1961. The new volume will explore
‘absences and endings, ageing and retrospection’.
Speaking for publisher Chatto & Windus, editor Becky
Hardie said, ‘Every poem in Dearly rings with all Margaret
Atwood’s characteristic curiosity and energy ... It is a pure
delight which stretches heart and mind.’
The book will address environmental themes, and also
feature, ‘werewolves, sirens, aliens and dreams.’
Margaret, who recently shared the Booker prize with
Bernardine Evaristo for her sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale,
will narrate the audio book version herself.letter is not required but chat about a writer’s literary processFOR RAZOR SHARP
NOIR CRIME
Switchblade has an
editor who loves
‘punk noir.’ he
calls his magazine
‘a cutting edge
magazine of noir,
featuring no-limit
outlaw fiction.’
He doesn’t want
‘police procedurals,
or cosy murder
mysteries.’ He wants ‘a twisting crime culture
story that’s 100 proof, and far too prurient and
politically-incorrect for the herbal tea crowd at
Ellery Queen.’ Please do check out the website and
read what’s there. Study the guidelines, the editor
is open to new submissions in April.
Submit dark and twisty tales through the
website:
http://www.switchblademag.com;
The next BBC Script Room
submission window will be for
comedy scripts, and will open on
23 March.
Writers identified through the
open submission window will
be invited to take part in the
Comedy Room, which is a six-
month development programme
that includes monthly meetings,
targeted training and workshops, as
well as networking opportunities.
The BBC is looking for
distinctive new voices in comedy
writing. To submit, send a comedy
script of at least thirty pages for
TV, film, radio, stage or online.
The submission window will
open on 23 March, and close on
20 April.
Website: https://writ.rs/
comedyscriptroomComic line up