Mslexia
Mslexia is a British magazine for women writers, founded by Debbie Taylor and edited by Daneet Steffens. Mslexia contains articles on writing and writers and encourages independent publishers and bookshops and innovations in writing. Many well-respected writers have contributed articles, including Patricia Duncker, Sara Maitland, Trezza Azzopardi, Amanda Craig and Linda Leatherbarrow. It was first published in March 1999 and is produced four times a year. Mslexia has about 11,000 subscribers.[1]
Mslexia: meaning
Its name is an amalgam of Ms, meaning woman, and lexia, meaning words.
According to the official Mslexia website:[1]
Mslexia means women’s writing (ms = woman lexia = words). Its association with dyslexia is intentional. Dyslexia is a difficulty, more prevalent in men, with reading and spelling. Mslexia is a difficulty, more prevalent in women, with getting into print. Mslexia is the complex set of conditions and expectations that prevents women, who as girls so outshine boys in verbal skills, from becoming successful authors. The magazine Mslexia aims to define, explore and help overcome the condition of mslexia and provide a platform and playground for women writers. Its intention is to provide information, guidance and inspiration for published and unpublished authors, and improve the quality and standing of women’s literature.
Availability
It is available by subscription or from Borders bookshops around the UK, larger branches of Waterstones and some independent bookshops such as Foyles in London (UK), Arnolfini Books in Bristol (UK), Mercurysubs in Auckland (NZ), as well as a few shops in Europe. A full list of stockists is available on their website. You can also buy single issues directly from Mslexia and on their website.
Content
Each quarter, a guest editor picks the best prose and poetry new writing on a theme specified in a previous issue. Past guest editors have included Val McDermid, Kirsty Gunn, Deborah Moggach, and Helen Simpson. There are also opportunities for readers to contribute to the rest of the magazine, such as the autobiographical and Flash fiction sections which also have set themes. Mslexia also run an annual Women's Poetry Competition with a 1st prize of £1000, the winners of which are published in the magazine. Past judges have included UA Fanthorpe & RV Bailey (2007), Wendy Cope (2006) and Jo Shapcott (2005).
The back section of the magazine contains book reviews and thorough listings including national and regional events, competitions, writing courses and publications seeking submissions.
Address
Mslexia, PO Box 656, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE99 1PZ United Kingdom