Wednesday 26 February 2020

UK postage costs to rise – Guest post by Bea Charles


Guest post by Bea Charles

I see Royal Mail prices are increasing on 23rd March. Time to stock up on stamps for all those The People's Friend submissions I keep promising myself I’m going to make this year. (Good time to buy stamps for Christmas too!)

1st class - currently 70p, increasing to 76p
2nd class - 61p, up to 65p
Large 1st - £1.06 up to £1.15
Large 2nd - 83p up to 88p

The People’s Friend insist on postal submissions from all writers, both new and those regularly published. They prefer a separate envelope for each story submitted. They will reply by email if you ask them to do so. (They will apparently make an exception for non UK writers but you should probably contact them first by email to explain and ask for permission and the appropriate email address.)

Woman’s Weekly still require all new writers to submit by post. Only previously published writers can submit by email.

Yours accept submissions by both post and email.


The Weekly News only accepts email submissions.


8 comments:

ados123 said...

Thanks for the reminder. Off to the post office now!

Worth saying you need to buy 'large' stamps, at least I do for The People's Friend submissions.
Alyson

Patsy said...



@ Alyson – good point. They're definitely needed for A4 envelopes and possibly for smaller ones if there's a long story and return envelope folded up in it.

Anonymous said...

I think I'm right in saying that single stories of up to 4,000 words, double-spaced and printed on one side only, plus fly-sheet and cover letter, can travel with a large letter stamp. Anything longer requires weighing and is priced accordingly.

Can I add that I'm a big fan of Royal Mail? I love receiving personal letters, with a handwritten address and an actual stamp (although this has nothing to do with womag writing). When people complain about the price of a stamp, I wonder how far their pennies would transport that letter by other means. Shouldn't we cherish this service while we still have it, and particularly while it still delivers to all parts, no matter how remote?

Thanks for the article, Bea and Patsy. Best wishes from Eirin Thompson

Carolb said...

Thank you Bea and Patsy.

You make a good point about stocking up for Christmas too. I would add a warning, avoid leaving it to the last couple of days; as in previous years I've gone to buy my supply only to find the post office has instructed counter staff to increase the price a couple early. :(

Carrie said...

Thank you Bea and Patsy. Stamps are now on my shopping list.

Jenny Worstall said...

Great reminder. I'm off to the post office!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That's some expensive postage.

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Thanks for the reminder!