Recently, a long-time “Friend” contributor and I were discussing writers’ clubs.
She mentioned that in her time as a member of one, she’d seen many talented writers hesitate to send work in to be considered for publication.
That got me thinking.
So if you’ve ever found yourself in the same boat, here are some of the reasons you might swither to submit your stories – and why you should go ahead anyway.
You haven’t previously submitted
Haven’t previously submitted to a magazine? No worries. Our doors remain open to all authors, published and unpublished.
You’re not sure how to go about submitting
Our submission guidelines have all the practical information you need.
We can also send out a copy of our guidelines by post (please enclose an SAE).
You’re not sure if your work is suitable
Reading the magazine regularly is the best way to get to know our readers. As a general rule, we have a family-friendly vibe – we’re looking for feel-good stories with an upbeat conclusion.
Our readers like a mix of contemporary and historical stories. Relatable stories of mixed genres, with believable, strong characters.
Poetry-wise, we’re looking for verses of around 12 or 16 lines. Generally speaking we prefer poems to rhyme and scan, although we do occasionally feature “free verse“.
You’re worried it might be rejected
If we decide not to publish your work, we’ll let you know why. Every contribution is read, and receives a response.
We make sure any criticism we give is constructive, and will help you take your writing forward.
(Please note that this applies to submissions to “The People’s Friend” only. Submissions to “The Weekly News” are all read, of course, but we don’t offer feedback. But if you don’t hear within three months of submission, it means you have been unsuccessful.)
You’ve previously submitted unsuccessfully
Many of our established poets and authors sent in lots of submissions before they had an acceptance.
In fact, even established authors receive a rejection now and again. It’s all a learning curve!
Has Lucy persuaded you to submit your stories? Why not take a look at our Writing Tools section to make sure your prose is as sharp as possible?
Lucy Crichton Better known as “Fiction Editor Lucy”, I am always on the look-out for the very best short stories, poems and pocket novels. As well as sourcing enjoyable content, I enjoy working with our established contributors, encouraging new talent, and celebrating 155 years of “Friend” fiction!
