Fancy a closer look?

And get to know us better: a whole year’s worth as pdfs: £12;
+ 1 back copy of the actual magazine; UK only (inc p+p)

Because reading magazines helps judge the best match with your work
in order to maximize publication opportunities.

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Few magazines are able to offer payment or feedback, but Orbis helps alleviate suffering for Arts’ sake: Readers’ Award: £50; plus £50 between 4 runners-up
Editor Carole Baldock has also provided proofs with editorial suggestions for every contributor for the past 20 years…

Available for readings and workshops: The A to Y of Getting into Print

Anything at Any level to help Your success:

magazines; collections/books; competitions etc

Everyone said they’d come again which is, of course, the best feedback

(Cheshire County Council workshop)

Mentoring and Critique Service

Your editorial expertise was invaluable for improving my work (New York)

Wow – I thought it was finished. You made it so much better (New Zealand)

****

Information is posted at regular intervals, regardless
of what the date counter says,
because I keep forgetting to update it, unless –
Still busy wondering how come
your twilight years have turned
into the Twilight Zone…

Subs: £20/4 pa. Single issue: £6.50, all including p+p

Overseas:  £42/€50/$60. Single issue: £11.50/€14/$16

NB, cheques payable to me

Paypal: please use Contact Form or post request for email address 

Also, via LinkedIn or Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/53636000056/?ref=br_tf&epa=SEARCH_BOX

Orbis 203, Spring 2023

Orbis 200: ‘All the best to you, and to Orbis!’
(Glyn Maxwell; shortlisted for Best Collection in the Forward Prize)

‘Best wishes for the journal – and congratulations on such a successful magazine over the years’ (Joy Harjo, United States Poet Laureate)

 

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Single issue: £6.50 (Overseas: £11.50/€14/$16); Subs: £20/4 pa (Overseas: £42/€50/$60)

Associate Editor (Book Reviews): Maria Isakova-Bennett

Reviews by Philip Dunkerley; David Harmer; Jenny Hockey;
D.A.Prince; Pauline Rowe; Theresa Sowerby


Please note with new collections, press release in first instance – not review copies.

****

Front cover artwork: ‘I got caught in the rain’ by Ira Whittaker

back cover, detail from image:   https://www.instagram.com/art_irawhittaker_artist/

Pouring down indeed to create an issue overflowing with incredible,
inspiring writing, in Spectacular Fashion, you might say, as
Chris Scriven does, so you can see what Sparks fly
from the pen of Philip Burton. And how lucky is Andria J. Cooke,
enjoying the Aurora – and how curious are you, to find out about
Marie Papier’s Portrait of my grandmother as a wardrobe?
And there’s more, much more, for example, Pat Marum’s tale
of a Concubine, Beijing 1421, or Arun Gaur’s description of a
Cenotaph plus Terrapins from John Gilham. Indeed, as Ruth Arnison
says, Knowing he’s the one, or rather, its: what a splendid title
from Michael Martin: One time me and the dog swam
with the dolphins, they let you get so close you can touch a fin
.
And ok, you may feel it’s a step too far – or an issue too late,
but how about Frank X. Christmas’s Tribute from a three-year-old.

Because there’s certainly plenty here to encourage a response from all readers.

 

Featured Poet

Ros Woolner: Shouting at the sky; The unwrapping; Trucks; Permission

Poems from Courtney Brach: Lead Line; Richard Hawtree:
I’ll Just Leave This Here; Anthony Head: Malá Strana;
Peggy McCarthy: Pantoum For My Childhood Home;
Vic Pickup: What she saw in the washing up bowl;
John Smelcer: Churros With Death

Prose from Annie Newcomer: Gilbert Williams;
Michael Swan: Anti-Boredom Procedure Type B;
Nicky Winder: Crop Stories

Translation: Terese Coe: Homecoming, LXI, Book of Songs
Epitaphe De Jaques Mernable, Joueur de Farces


Past Master
Richard Lister on Bibi Hayati

Orbis 203 Contributors also include
John Arnold; Steve Barton; Martin Bennett; Courtney Brach;
Patricia Brody;  Vuyelwa Carlin; Andrew Curtis; Lori Drummond-Mundal;
L.B. Jørgensen;  Dave Medd; John McOwat; Pat Murgatroyd; Louis Nthenda;
Doug Sandle; Carla Scarano; Dr. Roger G. Singer; Andrea Spurling

Single issue: £6.50 (Overseas: £11.50/€14/$16); Subs: £20/4 pa (Overseas: £42/€50/$60)

Associate Editor (Book Reviews): Maria Isakova-Bennett

Reviews by Philip Dunkerley; David Harmer; Jenny Hockey;
Maria Isakova-Bennett; Jennifer McGowan; D.A. Prince;
Pauline Rowe; Theresa Sowerby; Pam Thompson


Please note with new collections, press release in first instance – not review copies.

****

Front cover artwork: ‘Miyajima 09‘ by Niels Nielsen
back cover, detail from image: www.petrifiedclouds.com

Oh come, all ye faithful: readers, subscribers, contributors –

something to warm your heart in this bitter Winter.
Let us whisk you away to somewhere exotic, and join 
Jackie Wills
when Cruella de Ville visits Brighton, or Charles Wilkinson, looking at
The House in the Forest. No? Well, how about Alexandra Corrin-Tachibana…
At the Fishmonger’s with my sonThen you could be transported by Tim Houghton – |
and T-Rex, unless you’ve reached a Watershed; that’s you
and Nathanael O’Reilly both. But if you’re wondering what Martin Worster
means by 
The Let-Down, or Carolyn Oulton, asking What am I supposed to call this?
Catherine O’Brien may have the answer in A Lexicon Of You,
unless Rob McCarthy will translate From The Greek,
or George Moore,  using the Rosetta Stone. All the same, it’s no mystery
because reading Orbis. can help bring joy to the world.

Featured Poet, David Callin:
Fowmart; In Upper Sulby Glen; Preservation; Abney Park; The island; Elan

Poems from Claire Booker, The Horse In My Bedroom;
Roy Duffield A dream where procrastination works both ways;
Martin Elster De-Extinction; Cathy Grindrod, Aunt Margaret;
John Lanyon, Honorine Jobert; Jo Slade, O little root

Prose from Charlotte Gringras, Midnight Memoir ; Phil Knight, Crosshairs;
Marie L’Ecrivain, Ugly: A Post Dystopian Tale

Translation: Stephen Capus, Desanka Maksimović: Za Zveri Oklevetane

Past Master: Mary Earnshaw on Anonymous

Orbis 202 Contributors also include

Jane Blanchard; Mark Carson; Alastair Clarke; Tina Cole;
Mark Czanik; Robin Ford; Peter French; Richard George;
Jill Jones; Judith Pollinger; David Punter; Michael Spinks;
Julia Stothard; Katherine Swett; Anne Symons;  Carolyn Waudby;
Isobel Williams; Susan Wismer; Marjory Woodfield

 


Wirral Poetry Festival. Open Poetry Competition 2023
Closing date 26 May
Open prizes adjudicated by David J Costello; Wirral Prizes by Pauline Rowe
Open prizes:1st prize £250, 4 £25 runner-up prizes.
Wirral prizes (for entrants living/working in Wirral):
1st Prize £100, 2 £25 runner-up prizes
Entry: £4 per poem / £10 for 3 poems
Enter online at www.wirralpoetryfestival.org.uk
Winners to be notified by  7 July 2023
and invited to a competition celebration during the Wirral Poetry Festival in October

Wirral Poetry Festival. Open Poetry Competition 2023
Closing date 26 May
Open prizes adjudicated by David J Costello; Wirral Prizes by Pauline Rowe
Open prizes:1st prize £250, 4 £25 runner-up prizes.
Wirral prizes (for entrants living/working in Wirral):
1st Prize £100, 2 £25 runner-up prizes
Entry: £4 per poem / £10 for 3 poems
Enter online at www.wirralpoetryfestival.org.uk
Winners to be notified by  7 July 2023
and invited to a competition celebration during the Wirral Poetry Festival in October

SWC Annual International Poetry Competition 2023
Deadline: 30th April 2023
Chief Judge: Cynthia KitchenNo theme, original unpublished work only.
First Prize: £150, Second Prize: £75, Third Prize: £25
Catherine Fenerty Humour Prize: £25
40 lines maximum.
Entry fee is £3 per poem or four poems for £10
Online and Postal entry available
Full details and Rules at www.swconline.co.uk

  1. MAY 31st

THE FROGMORE POETRY PRIZE 2023

Prizes: 250, 75, 50 guineas

plus 1 year’s subs

(winner, 2 years’ subs)

Publication in The Frogmore Papers 

Shortlist: copies of selected Frogmore Press publications

Results announced early July

Fee: £4.  Length: 40 lines  

Adjudicator: Helena Nelson

SEND SAE: 21 Mildmay Road, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1PJ

www.frogmorepress.co.uk/frogmore-poetry-prize/

The Plough Prize for Poetry 2023

INTERNATIONAL POETRY COMPETITION

Judge: Imtiaz Dharker

Now in its 20th year,
the Plough Prize for Poetry is an international open competition
for a poem up to 40 lines on any subject

Deadline 31st March 2023

Online Entry fee: £5.00 per poem; Postal Entry fee: £6.00 per poem:
The Plough Prize, The Plough Arts Centre, 9-11 Fore Street, Torrington EX38 8HQ

https://www.theploughartscentre.org.uk/competitions

 

Sportcropped-cropped-newlogo5trans-1-1-e1611837805418

October 31st
Southport Writers’ Circle Annual Short Story Competition 2022
www.swconline.co.uk

 

Read the rest of this entry »

 

bedford_logo

October 31
The Bedford Competition

www.bedfordwritingcompetition.co.uk

Read the rest of this entry »

Cannonthumbnail__DSC0163

October 21

Sonnet or Not 2022

www.cannonpoets.org.uk


Cannon Poets invite poems of 14 lines.
First Prize £500
Judge: Paul Francis
Details on website
www.cannonpoets.org.uk
or send SAE: Hon. Sec. Cannon Poets, 22, Margaret Grove, Birmingham, B17 9JH
Closing date 31st October Read the rest of this entry »

cafe-writers

November 14th
2022 Café Writers Open Poetry Competition

www.cafewriters.org.uk

CafeJW-portrait-Tai-Ngai-Long-1

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