The judging process
Mslexia is staffed mainly by writers and we treat your writing with the same respect we would wish for our own writing. Submissions are assessed anonymously, to minimise unconscious bias. Our judges are professionals at the very top of their professions, as authors, editors, critics and literary agents. We never delegate this task to inexperienced staff members or volunteers. All paper manuscripts are shredded when the judging process is complete and digital submissions deleted to uphold our commitment to your privacy.
Unpublished writers
We know that the difference between a published and an unpublished woman writer is often more about her courage to submit than it is about the quality of her work. This is why we have introduced a special ‘unpublished writer’ category in our annual poetry, short story and flash fiction competitions (and for the themed writing in the Showcase section of the magazine).
Simultaneous submissions
We understand how frustrating it can be to have your best writing tied up in a long submission process, so we are happy for you to enter your work simultaneously to other competitions. However, if that work wins or is a finalist in a Mslexia competition, we will expect you to withdraw it from consideration elsewhere. Similarly, if it wins or is a finalist in another competition, please withdraw it from consideration by Mslexia.
Republishing work after it appears in Mslexia
If your work wins or is a finalist in a Mslexia competition, we are happy for you to reprint it on your own website or social media, or submit it for possible publication elsewhere, provided this occurs after the original date of its publication in Mslexia and provided Mslexia is credited as follows: ‘This piece was originally published in Mslexia, the magazine for women who write, mslexia.co.uk’.
Monitoring diversity
Everyone published in Mslexia is sent a diversity monitoring form to help us assess whether we are reaching the broadest possible population of women writers, and responding appropriately to your interests and challenges. When considering those interests and challenges, we include issues of income, class, race, age, gender identification, sexuality, caring responsibilities, location, disability, mental and physical health and any other issue that that affects your skill, time and confidence to write and submit your work, and your reception when you do so.
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