A Resource Not To Be Missed

I’ve spoken earlier about the Inner Circle Writers’ Magazine being a resource for writers. It is primarily a means of entertainment, of course — but as a teacher, I found that the line between entertaining and instructing was a blurry one. In fact, the blurrier the better: people learn much more when they are smiling, laughing and being thrilled than when they are sitting still expecting to be ‘educated’ alone.

For example, starting back with Issue One (March), while readers were being entertained by fiction from the likes of Warren Alexander, Gary Bonn, Samantha Hamilton, Copper Rose, David Bowmore, Mark Kodama, Jill Kiesow and Steve Carr, as well as poetry from Shawn Klimek, they were also absorbing, to some degree, the very varied methods and styes of those authors and learning about actions and routines undertaken by writers such as Steve Carr, John Green, Carmen Baca, Melinda Newmin and Justin Wiggins. They also got snippets about beginning their own work and outlining their novel from authors such as Maria Zach and Susannah Bell, as well as other bits of expert advice, all wrapped up with artwork and games and free gifts.

The April issue, released in March, featured fiction from David Bowmore, Gabriella Balcom, Peter Astle, William Masters, P. A. O'Neil, Jan McCulloch and Part One of one of the greatest short stories ever written: The Machine Stops by E. M. Forster, along with interviews and snapshots including Rich Rurshell’s meeting with film-maker Kate McCoid, and the special first edition of a feature called Desert Island Books which gave readers a glimpse into the lives of familiar authors. And a contest for writers, The Great Clarendon House Writing Challenge, was launched. More expert advice, artwork, games and gifts were also included.

Issue 3 included stories from David Bowmore, Alexander Marshall, Marlon Hayes, Rich Rurshell, Julie C. Eger and poetry from Jay Mehta and E. M. Forster with a special interview with Gary Bonn, whose cutting edge fiction prompts both awe and envy from many accomplished writers. There were continuing articles about Tolkien’s Middle-earth, Doctor Who, and more, and analysis of master authors including an article on Graham Greene’s Brighton Rock.

By now, this is quite a library or resources accumulating — and I haven’t even mentioned things like Submissions Station, offering writers links to publishers all over the world seeking work for publication, or the ongoing new perspective on Shakespeare seen in the comic strip Macbeth.

But Issue 4 continued the educational and enlightening trend with a candid interview with Riham Adly (plus an article about the psychology behind flash fiction and a story), news of a new Clarendon House Anthology, the much-anticipated next stage in the Great Clarendon House Writing Challenge with a challenge readers could try at home, and the unmissable concluding parts to David Bowmore's The Affair of the Missing Tiara and E. M. Forster's The Machine Stops. There was also poetry from Shawn Klimek and Mark Kodama, dozens of submission opportunities and amazing artwork, enlightening articles and fabulous fiction.

Issue 5 saw the magazine telling the behind-the-scenes story of Bill Swiggs’s award-winning book Blood in the Dust, as well as a personalised tour of the fabled home of famous writer C. S. Lewis, five 1,000 word Westerns that formed the next stage in the Great Clarendon House Writing Challenge, and fantastic fiction from Brandy Bonifas, Jill Kiesow, Steve Carr — plus the first part of Thomas Hardy's classic tale The Withered Arm.

Poetry from all over the world plus the next episode in the dramatised serial The Tragedy of Macbeth, dozens of submission opportunities and the usual amazing artwork, enlightening articles from expert writers and editors and more was also included.

This adds up to a comprehensive library of data, not to be dismissed lightly by anyone trying to either learn the art of writing or master the trade of marketing their work -- or just wanting a good read. The magazine continues to be available the lowest possible price — £2.00 for the current copy, and only £20.00 to subscribe. And fear not — if you have missed out on any of the earlier issues, they are available as back issues for a still-low price of £4.00 each. Just scroll to the bottom of the subscriptions page and make your selection.

I hope that you both enjoy the magazine and make the most of the gems of wisdom contained therein.