Merry Christmas, From The Fiction Team!

The People's Friend Fiction Team at Christmas

“The People’s Friend” Fiction Team would like to wish all our readers, writers and illustrators a very “Merry Christmas”. And a very Happy New Year, too!

We hope you find comfort and joy in your “Friend”, and we’re wishing everyone a peaceful and joyful festive season.

We look back over a successful year, and look forward to 2025…

Changes In 2024

We began January 2024 by welcoming “Friend” Illustrations Editor, Manon, back after maternity leave.

Karen, who had covered for Manon during her leave, left us in April – but as is so often the “Friend” way, we’re still in touch, and went out for a meal just before Christmas.

As we go into 2025, the Editorial side of the Team remains the same – with Tracey, Alan and Fiction Ed, Lucy, on the desk.

The People's Friend Fiction team at Christmas

Merry Christmas from Lucy, Manon, Tracey and Alan

Fiction In 2024

We’ve read, bought and illustrated more fiction than ever before, in 2024.

Over 1000 pieces of fiction – short stories, serials, and series instalments – have been published this year, appearing across our weekly, special, annual and bookazines.

When you consider that’s only the stories that were accepted for publication, that’s a lot of reading!

Fiction In 2025

We are already well into our planning for next year’s fiction.

For fiction submissions for 2025, we’re looking for stories for our weekly, from April 2025 onwards; and for our Specials, from June 2025/early summer onwards.

We’re putting “The People’s Friend” Annual for 2027 together now, and submissions remain welcome.

155 Years Of “Friendship”

This year has seen us celebrate our 155th anniversary in print.

So much has changed in that time, but the “Friend” remains essentially the same – a link to loved ones, and a home for great reading.

So, as we head into our 156th year, we wish a “Merry Christmas” to “Friends” all over the world.

And from Manon – “Joyeux Noël”!


If you need any inspiration for your writing in 2025, take a look at our writing tips, writing prompts and latest fiction guidelines.

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