The New Writer is a subscription only, quarterly writing magazine. Each edition includes a mix of features, fiction and
poetry along with regulars such as a Writers’ Circle Clinic by Simon Whaley.
The New Writer doesn’t have the glossy finish of Writing Magazine or Writers’ Forum nor does it have pages of adverts. I think the magazine has a cosy, friendly feel. The Spring 2011 edition included features on ‘First of a Million Kisses’ by romance writer Sally Quilford, ‘Travel Writing Perks’ by Roy Stevenson and ‘Make it Short & Snappy’ by me (!).
The magazine is open to unsolicited articles and features (for which it pays a small amount). Poetry is also accepted but fiction is restricted to guest writers, subscribers’ stories on a given theme and competition entrants.
The New Writer runs an annual Prose and Poetry Competition with 5 categories:
- Micro fiction – up to 500 words (2 entries for £5 or 3 entries for subscribers)
- Short stories – 500 to 5,000 words (1 entry for £5 or 2 entries for subscribers)
- Single poems (2 entries for £5 or 3 entries for subscribers)
- A collection of 6 – 10 poems (£12 entry)
- Essays, articles and interviews on any writing related subject – up to 2,000 words (1 entry for £5 or 2 entries for subscribers)
The annual closing date is 30th November and the prizes are:
Micro Fiction: 1st prize £150, 2nd £100, 3rd £50.
Short Stories: 1st prize £300, 2nd £200, 3rd £100.
Single Poem: 1st prize £100, 2nd £75, 3rd £50
Poetry Collection: 1st prize £300, 2nd £200, 3rd £100.
Essay/article/interview: 1st prize £150, 2nd £100, 3rd £50.
If all this has whetted your appetite then you can obtain a free back issue by sending an A4 SAE to the address shown on the website here (scroll to the bottom of the page for the offer).
Sally Jenkins 
#1 by Julia on July 25, 2011 - 11:14 am
I agree, Sally, The New Writer is a brill magazine.
I’d also like to recommend their current edition, The Collection (dated Summer 11). It contains all the wiining entries from their last annual contest: short stories, poems, articles, novella. An excellant read. The poems especially blew me away.
#2 by Sally Jenkins on July 25, 2011 - 12:19 pm
Julia – I haven’t seen The Collection but it sounds like a ‘must have’ for anyone planning on entering this year’s competitions.
#3 by susanjanejones on July 25, 2011 - 4:26 pm
Hi Sally,
I also agree it’s a brill magazine. I was reading a back copy only yesterday, and I saw an article of yours on letter writing. I think it was called ‘be a letter writing star’. Great article, think it’s a magazine worth subscribing to.
#4 by Sally Jenkins on July 25, 2011 - 7:17 pm
I remember that article – it was the first one I ever had accepted by The New Writer – it’s great to think that it’s still being read!
#5 by ckandrew on July 29, 2011 - 6:53 pm
Is this a re-launch? I used to get it and stopped because I didn’t think it was very good! Maybe things have changed and I should try again…
#6 by Sally Jenkins on July 29, 2011 - 7:11 pm
Ceka – I don’t think it’s a relaunch. As a magazine it’s very different from Writing Magazine & Writers’ Forum so may not be to everyone’s taste. But you could always request the sample copy via the website if you wanted to ty it again.