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).