Orbis Literary Journal

 

Orbis is a long-standing quarterly international literary journal, based in the UK, and edited by Carole Baldock.  Associate editor (Book Reviews): Nessa O'Mahony.

 
In every issue: poems, prose, articles, reviews, letters, featured writer section.
Plus the Orbis Poetry Index: magazine reviews, news items, competition listings.

Poems from the magazine are submitted annually to the Pushcart Prize in America and the UK’s Forward Prize. Although few UK Small Press publications are able to offer feedback, Orbis provides proofs with editorial suggestions.
 
It's also one of the few magazines to offer payment, via the Readers’ Award (results and readers’ feedback in each issue): £50 for the piece receiving the most votes, plus £50 between four runners-up.

Submission is easy....
 
By post:
Four poems; two prose pieces (500-1000 words). Please enclose SAE with ALL correspondence. Overseas: 2 IRCs.
Via email, Overseas only:
two poems/one piece of prose in body – no attachments

Copies of Orbis may be perused online at the Poetry Library website: 
And here's the Facebook Page   

There's also... the jam- packed- with- writing -opportunities  Kudos Magazine who are running a special offer to celebrate the 100th issue.

It’s an excellent resource for those interested in UK publication - it features competitions, small presses, festivals, literary events etc... and you can check it out Here

Writing Space

Woodie Allen's writing desk

Constraints can often be good for creative work. I was becoming obsessed with finding a better writing space this year, one where I can switch into the world of my new novel. (One where I can't see my bloody sink!) And since a new corner or cranny didn't miraculously appear ( surprise, surprise!) I decided to hop in the car once a week and go write where the story is set. Those hours writing in the setting have jump started a vital connection and injected vibrancy into the writing. Place is very important to me when I write -  it provides the tone, atmosphere, the voice of a book (as opposed to the characters, the voices in the book). So it all worked out well, in the end, so far, you know what I mean.... I'm not ready to give up drooling over other people's writing spaces  yet though! Isn't Woodie Allen's just gorgeous, and quite ... grandmotherly, prim, queen bee-ish? There are more rooms HERE, not all as lovely as Woodie's.... 

And, Mslexia's short story competition is now open for entries.... 

 

A competition for unpublished short stories of up to 2,200 words. We accept work on all subjects, so write about anything and everything you fancy - we love to read it.

Deadline is 17th March, and the judge is Jane Rogers.

You can find out more HERE...

Good luck if you enter :)

'My own experience is that once a story has been written, one has to cross out the beginning and the end. It is there that we authors do most of our lying.'
- Anton Chekhov