Writing Magazine March 2020

CONTENTS

MARCH 2020 5

66 Backyard travel writing
Never underestimate the travel-writing opportunities to be had on
your doorstep as we explain how to find the extraordinary within
the ordinary

78 Fantastic realms: Ready player one!
Alex Davis offers an introduction to writing video games

WRITING LIFE

20 Away from your desk
Get out of your garret and be inspired with these activities for writers

22 Publicity: Precision press releases
In the first of a two-parter on managing your media coverage, Simon
Hall looks at crafting an attention-grabbing press release

28 Talk it over: What’s in a name?
Be careful when you use real people’s names

80 The business of writing: Minutes count
Every writing business gets an extra day in 2020. Two writers explain
how they make every minute matter.

83 Under the covers
Book cover reveal day gives new author Gillian Harvey a warm glow

110 Notes from the margin: Coming clean
Just because writing’s her job doesn’t mean she has to like it, admits
Lorraine Mace

ASK THE EXPERTS

10 Writers’ voice: Forming a limited company
SoA chief executive Nicola Solomon considers the pros and cons for writers

11 From the other side of the desk: Feeling left out
Beware the commercial perils of ignoring lucrative reader demographics

88 Your essential monthly roundup

of competitions, paying markets,

opportunities to get into print and

publishing industry news

WRITERS’ NEWS

http://www.writers-online.co.uk

15 Ask a literary consultant

Helen Corner-Bryant looks at what to expect after your manuscript

has gone out to agents

82 Research tips: Libraries

Learn to explore shelves and archives

87 Behind the tape

Expert advice to get the details right in your crime fiction

POETRY

74 Poetry workshop: Long exposure

Alison Chisholm explores an ekphrastic poem inspired by an artist

famous for dramatic contrasts

75 Poetry in practice

Stuck for words? Prompt a poem with this exercise

COMPETITIONS AND EXERCISES

31 & 54 WIN! Cash prizes and publication

Enter WM’s latest creative writing competitions

32 & 52 Short story winners

Read the winning entries in WM competitions

44 Writers’ circles: Love is in the air

With Valentine’s Day this month, get hearts fluttering with these love-

themed writing group exercises

76 Free range writing: Find your writing happiness

Try these feelgood creative writing exercises from Jenny Alexander

REGULARS

6 Miscellany

8 Letters

84 Editorial calendar

93 Going to market

Essential advice for freelances

99 Novel ideas

Bright ideas for fiction writers

103 Travel writing know-how

Tips from our freelance pro

CONTENTS

66

78

12

Clichés

44