Welcome to Mslexia! Our mission is to help women express themselves and get their writing noticed: in print, online and in performance.

We produce the bestselling quarterly magazine for women who write – where every reader is a potential contributor too. We publish over 70 names in every issue, so you might find your work alongside award-winning authors such as R F Kuang, Eliza Clark, Liz Berry, Diana Evans, Val McDermid or Alice Oseman.

But Mslexia is not just a magazine. We run life-changing competitions, which have propelled the careers of many women writers to the next level. We also host the Salon, where members can attend writing surgeries, Q&As, and our famous Agent Extravaganza. Then there’s the Indie Press Guide, the Mslexia Minis writing guides, and our writer's Diary & Planner – all designed to kickstart your creativity.

Mslexia Issue 107 has landed – and our autumn magazine is bursting with powerful prose, provocative features, and practical writing advice.

This issue explores writing in all its messy, magnificent glory – from Sara Morales’ moving reflections on writing through grief, to Lucy Nichol’s fiery feature on the rise of angry women in literature. Katie Ginger breaks down the romance tropes we love (and love to hate), while Elle Nash shares her strategy for editing in reverse to help you to take back the reins on your manuscript.

Elsewhere, Debbie Taylor talks to performance poet Len Pennie about her eloquent and angry poems, which started out as an attempt to understand and recover from an abusive relationship. And there’s a roundup of food-themed fiction, indie press highlights, and a striking selection of blue-hued poems and stories chosen by Amy Key.

If you’re looking to take your writing career to the next level, whether you’re learning to pitch, plotting your portfolio life, or diving into the world of awards and agent wishlists, we have tips, tricks and tools to help you get there.

And as always, there’s our directory of over 50 hand-picked calls for submissions to get your work out into the world – including insights into major prizes like the Bath Children’s Novel Award and the Caledonia Novel Award 2026. (Nudge, nudge: you can also submit your work to us! The deadline for Issue 108 is 6 October 2025.)

We're now accepting submissions for Issue 108! Check out all the opportunities on our 'Submissions' pages. Submit before 6 October 2025 for the chance to be published in the December issue.

Our 2025 competitions are now open! Submit flash fiction (up to 300 words) short stories (up to 3,000 words) and the first 5,000 words of your novel for adults or young adults. Closing date: 22 September

Subscribe to the magazine, join our online Salon, or nab a single copy of the mag to check out how our 20 submission categories look on the page – to make sure you’re aiming in the right direction!