Themed Writing
Twice annually we ask for themed poetry and prose submissions for the Showcase (previously New Writing) section of the magazine. Winners are selected by our Guest Editors (in the past they have included Julia Blackburn, Nicci Gerrard, Pascale Petit, Rachel Cusk and Sarah Dunant) and are published in the magazine. We also make a small payment for most submissions we publish.
We look for stories of up to 2,200 words, poems of up to 40 lines, and short scripts of up to 1,000 words (including character names and stage instructions).
Please note: we only accept up to four poems, two short stories and two short scripts per entrant.
Current themes
The showcase section of our Winter 2018 and Spring 2019 issues will be filled by shortlistees and winners from the Poetry and Short Story competitions respectively. But keep writing! The themes for Summer and Autumn 2019 are…
ISSUE 82: CLOTHES
Deadline: 11 March
Send us stories, poems and scripts on the theme of clothes. Uniforms; costumes; the clothes maketh the woman; the clothes of the future versus the clothes of the past; why wearing clothes is the best; why not wearing clothes is even better; the material, the sewing; throwing away that favourite jacket… stitch together your best work and sent it to us by 11 March 2019 to be considered for publication in Issue 82.
ISSUE 83: JOURNEY
Deadline: 10 June
Send us stories, poems and script on the theme of journey. Hard roads, long walks, leaps of faith, holidays, moving home, migration, running away, climbing mountains, diving deep, returns… take us along with you in your best writing, and send it to us by 10 June to be considered for publication in Issue 83.
Submitting your work
Entries are judged anonymously, so please put your name on a separate cover sheet and omit your name from your poem or story. To send us your submissions online, fill in the form below and upload your submission document .
To send your entries by post, write to
Mslexia Publications
PO Box 656
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE99 1PZ.
If you would like an acknowledgement of your submission’s arrival, please include a SAE.
If you have any questions regarding your submissions, please read the Themed Writing FAQs. In the unlikely event your query is not answered there, please email us or call 0191 204 8860. Good luck with your writing!
