We’re always planning ahead here at the “Friend” — that’s why we’re already thinking about next year’s Christmas fiction!
Every year, the stories for our Christmas issues are bought, illustrated, and ready for our Production team by late summer.
Our Christmas issues are getting ready to go to press now.
Over the festive period, regular readers will know that “bumper” issues take the place of our usual weekly issue. Each bumper issue contains seventeen Christmas short stories.
We also feature Christmas fiction in our Annual, and our Specials.
If you’d like to submit a story, poem or pocket novel for consideration for Christmas 2020, now’s a great time to start thinking about it.
Lots of writers tell us that trying to write Christmas stories on a summer’s day can be tricky! It’s much easier to get in the Christmas spirit now.
When should you submit Christmas stories?
If you’re an author who is known to us, please submit your Christmas stories in March, or early April. This allows us to read, approve, purchase and send your story out for illustration in plenty of time.
If you’re a new author, anytime from February onwards is fine, as this gives your story enough time to move through the reading queue.
Is there a cut-off date for Christmas submissions?
It’s helpful to us if Christmas submissions arrive by the end of May at the latest.
We always recommend submitting six months in advance of a proposed publication date.
Festive stories sent at other times will be considered, but may wait longer for a response, as time-sensitive stories will take priority.
Always mark the envelope
Please clearly mark your envelope “Christmas Story” when submitting.
This goes for any other seasonal stories and poems, too, or stories set around any particular date.
We don’t want to miss them!
To see our Submission Guidelines, click here.
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!
