Hullo there,
I'm new to this website, on a one week trial, but am very impressed so far and am looking forward to joining you all! One small question - can anyone recommend a good writing magazine to subscribe to? I've never been impressed with Writer's News or the other one you can buy in WHSmith (can't remember it's name off the top of my head). I'm now living abroad, so don't have access to a mag shop, but could subscribe online. I'd like something that wasn't so 'middle aged' (if you know what I mean) - a bit more contemporary, with ideas and inspiration and the odd comp. Ideas?
Darren

Darren, the only really good one and serious I know is Mslexia, if you can stomach the way that it's pro-women-writers stance tends to shade into anti-men on occasions. I'm not sure there is another with that mix of practicality, creativity and subversion, unless and until WW decides to grow its own print version!

There are the online ones, of course, which other WWers can no doubt guide you through.

Emma

<Added>

Oh the shame! 'It's' when I meant 'its'.

Hi Darren
You could try The New Writer. I subscribed a while ago and thought it well worth a read. Even though there did seem to be another slight bias towards the female of the species going on. They send you a free sample issue if you send them a S.A.E.

http://www.thenewwriter.com/

Another magazine that might be with a look is Seventh Quark. I keep meaning to get hold of a copy, but haven't done so yet:

http://www.alexkeegan.com/7Q/

Sam

Seventh Quark's website doesn't list anything after the June-July, so I don't know if it's still functioning.

Emma

Yeah, that's a good point Emma. Perhaps I won't be getting that copy any time soon..

I only saw the first one, and thought it was an interesting project, but I'm allergic to anyone (especially writers, who ought to know better) using 'quality' as an adjective, as in 'quality writing', which rather put me off! Churlish, though, because it had my second ever published piece in it!

Emma

I suppose 'quality' could be thought of as a bit of a subjective and slippery term when it comes to fiction writing. It could simply mean good which is fine. Then again it could be taken to mean better, and in that case I think I see what you mean.

Another writing magazine which looks very good - but which I have not actually held in my hands - is Writers Ask, a quarterly writing magazine from the publishers of Glimmer Train. But it's printed in the US, and postage charges can be quite high overseas. (But I'm ordering it for my mother because she's in the US.) You can Google it - esp if you put "Glimmer Train" in the same search box.

Ani

PS - I am also going to subscribe to Writers Ask myself.

Sam, it's not subjectivity, it's grammar, but then I'm a real word-nerd. To me 'quality' is a noun, and needs an adjective if it's going to be used to describe something - 'good quality' 'bad quality' etc. - you can't just use it on its own.

Emma

Ah, I see, my misunderstanding. In a similar vein, recently at a meeting I heard someone say, "We need to bridge the gap and solution our customer service shortfalls," or something along those lines. Even I squirmed a bit.

Hi Ani, Writers Ask looks good. In the absence of the Quark I might give it a go myself.

Sam

Glimmer Train's a terrific mag - anything that comes from that stable should be good. I do wonder if there's a market for a unisex version of Mslexia over here, as you say, Darren, something as practical but funkier than Writer's News. I suspect most people who start writers' mags find that the market isn't looking for the wonderful short fiction that they're dying to publish, but for the practicalities.

Emma

Thanks, all - I'd looked at the new writer, and it seems a little more interesting than some of the others. Will check out mslexia as well.

<Added>

hmm, not sure about Mslexia, as I'd need to undergo a sex change...

<Added>

Perhaps I could start a new mag, MrLexia?

I cancelled my subscription to Mslexia as I found it too anti-men, and I’ve renewed my lapsed subscription to The New Writer as I was missing it.

Dee

Emma, 'quality' as in adjective is spewed from the mouths of overpaid footballers on a regular basis, as in:

"What's Rooney like to play with?"

"Oh, he's quality!"

So, lets stand well back from it, making the sign of the cross with our fingers!!

I subscribe to The New Writer and think it's the best mag on the market.

Darren.

New Writer it is then! I'll get subscribing...