Shutterstock / Monkey Business Images©Here at ‘The People’s Friend’, we’ve been publishing fiction for 155 years.
In that time, we’ve learned a lot about the people who read our magazine.
If you’d like to write for the ‘Friend’, knowing our reader is essential.
Get To Know Our Reader
The best way to get to know our reader is to read the magazine regularly.
Reading the letters on our ‘Between Friends’ page is a good start. As is looking at our features, and even our ads.
When you’re writing, keep our reader in mind – your story needs to appeal to them, for us to consider it for publication.
When I’m asked for my top tips for aspiring ‘Friend’ authors, I say read the magazine, and write for your reader.
Our Reader Loves Quality Fiction
Around 80% of our readership is female, so I’ll refer to our readers as female here, just to keep things simple.
Our readers value tradition. They love quality fiction – solid stories and serials they can enjoy throughout their week, or all in one sitting!
Some readers keep the serials until the final instalment and enjoy reading them all in one go.
What Our Reader Looks For
Our reader is looking for enjoyable stories containing nothing offensive, contentious or ugly.
She likes the ‘mix’ of stories in each issue – some drama, some reflection, some humour, with contemporary and historical settings.
So those are the stories we look for.
Our readers aren’t going to fall in a faint about bad language, violence or too much intimacy.
But the place for that isn’t their ‘Friend’.
The ‘Friend’ Means A Great Deal To Her
For many readers, ‘The People’s Friend’ is a link to loved ones gone before.
The magazine is a true ‘friend’ – something they can trust and rely on.
It’s more than a magazine.
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!
