This (paraphrased) info comes from Liz. It's been announced this week that Woman's World (USA) sister publication, First for Women, is being closed down, and its subscribers moved across to Woman's World (if they want to). There have been redundancies from Woman's World as well as First for Woman, among them Sienna Sullivan, one of the two editors who worked on the WW fiction (as well as some of the features). It's unclear as yet what this means for the two fiction slots in Woman's World.
Since I made the post, Liz has learned more -
A follow-up to my info regarding Woman's World - two new fiction editors have been announced. One (Shay) will look after the mysteries and the other (Melissa) the romances. The email addresses remain the same: Fiction@womansworldmag.com for writers who haven't published with Woman's World before, and FictionPro@womansworldmag.com for those who have. I'm hopeful that having two editors again, one for each slot, will make the role less overwhelming (they look after other parts of the magazine as well as the fiction).
And from Sharon Boothroyd "If anyone is interested in writing nostalgia/ memory pieces, Best of British monthly mag want around 800 words, with photos. One photo must be a headshot of yourself. If it's accepted, they pay £20." Sharon also informs us that That's Life in Australia has resumed the Fast Fiction slot. Neither of us know if they're accepting unsolicited submissions.
And from Sharon Boothroyd "If anyone is interested in writing nostalgia/ memory pieces, Best of British monthly mag want around 800 words, with photos. One photo must be a headshot of yourself. If it's accepted, they pay £20." Sharon also informs us that That's Life in Australia has resumed the Fast Fiction slot. Neither of us know if they're accepting unsolicited submissions.
Here's a link Fiona found, about how magazines are perhaps being appreciated differently.
Free entry competition news
Calls for submissions
Free entry competition news
The BCSA are running a competition for up to 2,000 words of prose. There's an optional theme of 'liberation' and other compulsory criteria. First prize is £400.
Calls for submissions
From Liz - The June issue of The Simple Things is asking for readers to submit microfiction (300 words). There's no money or prize (that I can see), but the best submissions will be published in next June's issue of The Simple Things. See the mag for more details. The Simple Things is a great mag that includes a commissioned short story in every issue. They're more literary than in the womags, but I've really enjoyed several of them.
A follow-up to my info regarding Woman's World - two new fiction editors have been announced. One (Shay) will look after the mysteries and the other (Melissa) the romances. The email addresses remain the same: Fiction@womansworldmag.com for writers who haven't published with Woman's World before, and FictionPro@womansworldmag.com for those who have. I'm hopeful that having two editors again, one for each slot, will make the role less overwhelming (they look after other parts of the magazine as well as the fiction).
ReplyDeleteIn my comment about The Simple Things last week, I mentioned an article I'd read about how Gen Z are embracing niche print magazines with spines that look good on a bookshelf. An ABC Tasmania radio show (sorry - I don't have a link) also touched on this a couple of days ago, saying that niche and luxury magazines were currently doing well in Australia, especially among Gen Z, who are embracing 'off-screen' time and pursuits. While none of this is traditional womag territory, it does include lifestyle magazines like Breathe Magazine Australia and the UK's The Simple Things, and for those of us who write features as well as fiction, this growth is a really good thing. Is the UK seeing a similar growth in niche, more expensive magazines? Traditional commercial magazines here, like in the UK, are not doing so well currently.
Hope all is well with you, Patsy, and everyone here.
Thanks for all the info and competition news Liz and Sharon and thanks for such a great mix of photos Patsy. I’ve just enlarged the Grand Central one on my iPad - the detail is brilliant.
ReplyDeleteLiz, your news of the niche print mags made me search for an article I read in the Guardian so hope that the link will appear below. Although it’s more about fashion mags, it does suggest a similar trend in the UK.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/mar/25/i-d-magazine-gen-z-demand-fashion
Many thanks for the updated info.
ReplyDeleteAs I say, The simple things magazine is around £6. It's quite expensive for people (like me) who don't have a lot of spare income.
If a 300 word story is published, I'm not forking out £6 just to see it, especially if there's no no fee involved. I'll wait until it appears on readly.
There's no fee for my poems published in a local paper and my stories featured in a e- mag, but at least I'm not paying to see them published!
Patsy, I will email That's life and ask them what the situation is. The stories are probably re-prints.
@ Liz - thanks for the update. I'll copy it into the post (and try to find time to update my submissions database, which has been rather neglected).
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm very well, thanks. Just don't have quite enough hours in the day to do everything I'd like to. I know I'm not alone in that.
@ Fiona - I'll put your link in the post too, to make it easier for people to take a look if they'd like to.
@ Sharon - £6 seems a lot for a magazine. I've seen it and the quality of the physical object is high, but personally that's not what I'd buy a magazine for. OK, I'm biased, but I'd rather the finish was cheaper and there to be more original content from paid writers.
Women's magazines have always been a luxury, but they used to be a fairly cheap one. As they provided a few hours entertainment and sometimes useful advice too, they were a value for money indulgence which many people could easily, and did, afford. That seems to be changing, as does the way the magazines are valued by those who do buy them.
Thanks for all the womag news, Patsy, Sharon and Liz. Good to know that some areas of the magazine market are seeing an improvement but I fear it might be too late for the magazines I write for...
ReplyDeleteGlobe Soup are running another competition - it is pay to enter but only £4 for an early bird ticket. The standard is extremely high but one can always dream.
Alyson
As I understand it, The Simple Things pays for content (including for the monthly story, which is commissioned) - it's just this micro fiction 'contest' that doesn't have a fee. I won't enter (I don't give away my work), but I thought some readers of this blog might be interested. And I guess there's always the chance that if the magazine editors particularly liked a story, the writer could end up being commissioned for other micro stories.
ReplyDeleteMagazines, like books, have always been a lot more expensive in Australia than in the UK, but I agree that magazine consumers are changing, as is what they want from a magazine.
@Fiona - thanks for the link to the Guardian article. It does sound as if there's a similar trend in the UK.
Do you know that they will commission (and pay) writers in the future Liz, for the 300 words slot?
ReplyDeleteI hope you don't mind me saying but your words sound very vague. If this hasn't been confirmed, then it's all up in the (hopeful) air.
I don't earn my living from fiction writing, it's just a hobby, so I'm pleased to see my pieces published for no fee.
I know there's no fee when I submit them.
This week, I've even been complimented on the Corrie street blog for my reply posts, and that means something to me.
But I have my limits and I refuse to pay in order to see my material published. if the mag becomes available on Readly, then I'll re-consider.
@Sharon - I am a reader of The Simple Things, not its editor or publisher. I don't even live in the same country! How am I supposed to know what they'll do in the future?
ReplyDeleteAll I know is they have a monthly slot for a commissioned 500-word story. The 300-word micro fiction contest has nothing to do with that slot. Maybe if they liked a particular writer's entry, they'd consider commissioning them for the 500-word slot. Who knows?
I don't care whether you submit a piece or not, or whether you read The Simple Things or not. I posted it because I saw the call-out in this month's issue (available through my local library) and thought maybe people here might be interested. I really didn't expect it to be so controversial. If you have any questions about what The Simple Things intend to do in the future, it might be best to contact them.
I'm very happy for people to share details of any outlets for written work they hear about, whether paid or not, and whether or not it might lead to other opportunities or not. It's up to each of us to decide whether or not to submit work.
ReplyDeleteWe're all different. Some are fairly new to writing, some experienced, some have had lots of success, some are awaiting their first acceptance.Some will write for free, some will give up their copyright, we write in different genres, and for different reasons, and in different ways.
I see these differences as a positive thing - please don't let them become a reason to fall out.
Unsure what happened but my comment... went? try again... Anyways, a thank you to Patsy, Fiona, Liz and Sharon for all the info. I will try to get back to more womag stuff after the move - the ongoing horror story that is my life. Crowvus is doing a not paid for submission: https://crowvus.com/submissions/ currently Cosy Romance by 31.7.25. My sci fi was included in the last one. This might be helpful for those who can claim ALCS as it has an ISBN number. I cannot emphasize enough how helpful that was with Secret Attic and Fictionette. (ISSN in that case) They hope to be able to pay in the future... Yes, Patsy! I spotted The Needles 😉.
ReplyDeleteScribble magazine also has an ISN number, so any subscribers should be able to claim ALCS, I think.
ReplyDeleteThanks Patsy & everyone for updates on writing opportunities, always good to know what's out there regardless of whether I will enter or not. Congratulations Patsy, see a story of yours in this week's People's Friend & also in the Ireland's Own.
ReplyDelete@Marguerite Thank you for the information about Crowvus and congratulations on your sci fi story. There aren't many independent magazines that are interested in cosy romance so I shall give that one a go.
ReplyDelete@Marguerite. Thank you for the Crowvus information. I might have a go at the Cosy Romance. Do you know what their word limit is? I've had a look but couldn't find any info.
ReplyDeleteNo problem Sue and Suzan. The book I have shows variable lengths. Sorry I can't give you a count but Just over a side (small printed book) through to 16 sides. My sub was just under 1700. There's poetry too.
ReplyDeleteThank you Marguerite. That's helpful.
DeleteThank you so much, everyone, for all the information. I love the idea of the cosy romance.
ReplyDeleteI've just been looking at the most recent issues of Best as the cover states it has a new look and I wanted to see what was different. Both issues contain a short story in a Fiction slot. Does anyone know whether these are commissioned or whether there might be a submission opportunity, either in addition to or instead of future competitions?
ReplyDelete