25 August 2010

The bugs shall inherit the earth

devyani borade - verbolatry - the bugs shall inherit the earth - a world of their own
“Oh, hello. Have you only just arrived?”

Her voice was musical, the enunciation perfect with the vowels flowing like honey oozing from a squeeze-easy bottle. The pretty young thing fluttered her eyelashes coyly and stood taking in the newcomer’s appearance with the frank curiosity of a scientist on the verge of discovering a new disease.

Before the newcomer could reply, he heard an agonised yell nearby. A heavy body crashed through the dense silicon-copper-resin foliage and landed with a loud plop! at his feet. This recent arrival, with his big head, a rotund middle and long white beard...


Read the full story in the August 2010 anthology A World Of Their Own


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3935 words Humour/Fantasy/Science Fiction
US publication

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Words from the Wise


"I like the plot"
Julie Ann Dawson
Editor
Bards and Sages


"It's an amusing idea"
Christopher East
Fiction Editor
Futurismic


"The subject matter is of interest to our readers and the story is well written"
Anonymous
Editors
Alternative Coordinates


"There's a good idea here"
Michael Colangelo
Editor
Ideomancer


"Thanks for an interesting story such as this. As a software engineer by day, I enjoyed the comparisons with Newton's laws."
Samuel Montgomery-Blinn
Editor/Publisher
Bull Spec


"We enjoyed reading it"
Sue Babcock
Editor
Silver Blade


"It's a good story overall, I certainly liked the personification of bugs, especially with a background in systems"
J. E. Taylor
Assistant Editor
Allegory


"The story caught our attention"
Adrian Simmons
Editor
Heroic Fantasy Quarterly


"You have a well written and original story"
Michael C. Pennington
Editor
Aurora Wolf Journal


"It is a cute story"
Stephanie Ann Johanson
Assistant Editor
Neo-opsis Science Fiction Magazine


"It is a nice idea and there is a nice level of humour to the piece"
John Kenny
Editor
Albedo One


"This was a fun and light-hearted fantasy piece about personified computer bugs"
Djibril Alayad
Editor
Future Fire

15 August 2010

Turning the tables

devyani borade - verbolatry - turning the tables - writing worldSubmission Guidelines, Contributor Guidelines, Writer Guidelines or just Guidelines - every magazine has a set of regulations according to which they like to receive material for publication. Deviate from these holy decrees and there is sure to be a "Sorry, but your article does not suit our present needs" response waiting for you in the post. Some rules are easy to understand, others are complicated to follow, but all are non-negotiable. The only thing that is certain if they are not adhered to, is rejection.

Wouldn't it be nice if writers could get back at the editors of these magazines...


Read the full article in the August 2010 issue of Writing World

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Request to read the original article via email for just 99p! (T&C apply)







535 words
Humour
US publication

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Words from the Wise


"I like the work (it’s an intriguing concept and table-turner)"
Zachary Petit
Assistant Editor
Writer's Digest


"This definitely made me chuckle!"
Moira Allen
Publisher
Writing World

1 August 2010

Deep impressions

devyani borade - verbolatry - deep impressions - underground voices‘Did it hurt?’

‘No. Well, a bit.’

‘What will your Ammi say?’

‘She’ll be cool. No big deal. Raised eyebrows, a shake of her head, maybe some extra work for me to do around the house. But she’ll take it well, you’ll see. After all, we don’t live in the dark ages anymore.’

But masking my anxiety with false bravado is not helping. I leave my friend and make my way home feeling a little sick in the stomach. Where is that euphoria – that feeling of supreme confidence and utter control – of power – that I had felt when the cold black ink had first spurted its way into my clear blemishless skin?

Ammi-jaan is in the....


Read the full article in the August 2010 issue of Underground Voices

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Request to read the original article via email for just 99p! (T&C apply)








352 words
Dark/Flash Fiction
US publication

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Words from the Wise


"This is nice"
Jim Tucker
Assistant Editor
Underground Voices


"Some really compelling writing in this"
Camille Alexa
Flash Fiction Editor
Abyss & Apex


"This story sticks"
Anonymous
Editors 1, 2 and 3 (of 6)
Flashquake


"I like this"
Antonios
Editor
Vestal Review


"I like it"
Dash
Editor
Expanded Horizons