# Mslexia > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mslexia > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mslexia.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mslexia > Source revision: 1295698584 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|British magazine for women writers}}{{Infobox magazine | title = Mslexia | founded = {{start date and age|March 1999}} | frequency = Quarterly | publisher = Mslexia Publications Limited | founder = Debbie Taylor | website = http://www.mslexia.co.uk/ }} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{italic title}} '''''Mslexia''''' is a British magazine for [women writers](/source/women's_writing_(literary_category)), founded and edited by Debbie Taylor. ''Mslexia'' contains articles and resources on writers, writing, and publishing. Writers who have contributed articles include [Diana Evans](/source/Diana_Evans), [Helen Mort](/source/Helen_Mort), [Hannah Lowe](/source/Hannah_Lowe), [Jackie Kay](/source/Jackie_Kay) and [Malika Booker](/source/Malika_Booker).[https://reader.exacteditions.com/magazines/704/issues Issues] of ''Mslexia''. It was first published in March 1999{{cite web|title=15 Women's Magazines That Don't Suck, Are Awesome|last=Riese|url=http://www.autostraddle.com/14-good-womens-magazines-stuff-thats-worth-your-time-money-136118/|access-date=27 October 2015|website=Autostraddle|date=11 April 2012}} and is produced four times a year. ''Mslexia'' has about 11,000 subscribers.[http://www.mslexia.co.uk/menu/about.html "About the magazine"], mslexia.co.uk. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325044337/http://www.mslexia.co.uk/menu/about.html |date=25 March 2008 }} ==Name== The name is a [portmanteau](/source/portmanteau) of ''Ms'', for woman, and ''lexia'', meaning words. According to the official ''Mslexia'' website:
Mslexia means women's writing (''ms'' = woman ''lexia'' = words). Its association with [dyslexia](/source/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.
==Content== Each quarter, a guest judge picks the best prose and poetry new writing on a theme specified in a previous issue. Past guest judges have included [Val McDermid](/source/Val_McDermid), [Kirsty Gunn](/source/Kirsty_Gunn), [Deborah Moggach](/source/Deborah_Moggach), and [Helen Simpson](/source/Helen_Simpson_(author)). There are also opportunities for readers to contribute to the rest of the magazine, such as the autobiographical and [Flash fiction](/source/Flash_fiction) sections which also have set themes.[https://mslexia.co.uk/submit-your-work/ "Submissions"], ''Mslexia''. ==Competitions== ''Mslexia'' runs several annual writing competitions, with categories across short story, flash fiction and poetry, and a novel competition with a first prize of £5,000.[https://mslexia.co.uk/competitions/open-for-entries/ "Competitions | Open for Entries"], ''Mslexia''. Past judges have included [U. A. Fanthorpe](/source/U._A._Fanthorpe) and R. V. Bailey (Poetry Competition; 2007), [Katherine Rundell](/source/Katherine_Rundell) (Children's Novel Competition; 2018) and [Hilary Mantel](/source/Hilary_Mantel) (Adult Novel Competition; 2021).[https://mslexia.co.uk/competitions/meet-the-winners/ "Competitions | Meet the Winners"], ''Mslexia''. The back section of the magazine contains book reviews and listings including national and regional events, competitions, writing courses and publications seeking submissions. ==Controversy== In September 2020, the magazine asked author [Amanda Craig](/source/Amanda_Craig) to step down as a competition judge after she signed an open letter to ''[The Sunday Times](/source/The_Sunday_Times)'' criticising online abuse of [J. K. Rowling](/source/J._K._Rowling). Rowling's comments{{Cite news|last=Brooks|first=Libby|date=June 11, 2020|title=Why is JK Rowling speaking out now on sex and gender debate?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jun/11/why-is-jk-rowling-speaking-out-now-on-sex-and-gender-debate|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|newspaper=The Guardian}} on gender and sex had become the focus of a divisive debate on social media. In a statement to ''[The Bookseller](/source/The_Bookseller)'', the magazine's board said:
if a ''Mslexia'' judge expresses views that threaten to undermine ''Mslexia''{{'}}s climate of welcome and inclusivity, we will always ask her to step down from that role.{{Cite magazine|last=Cowdrey|first=Katherine|date=September 30, 2020|title=Craig asked to step down as Myslexia judge after signing Rowling support letter|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/mslexia-asks-amanda-craig-step-down-judge-over-concern-rowling-letter-threatens-climate|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|magazine=The Bookseller}}
==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.mslexia.co.uk/ Official website] *[http://www.thefword.org.uk/reviews/2002/03/mslexia The F Word], Contemporary UK Feminism *[http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/books/ BBC Arts], Books *Natalie Boxall, [http://www.bbc.co.uk/tees/content/articles/2005/03/30/maureen_almond_feature.shtml "Turning fear into a career"], BBC Tees, 27 November 2014. Category:1999 establishments in the United Kingdom Category:Feminist magazines published in the United Kingdom Category:Literary magazines published in the United Kingdom Category:Magazines established in 1999 Category:Quarterly magazines published in the United Kingdom Category:Women's magazines published in the United Kingdom --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mslexia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mslexia) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mslexia?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.