All rights may be all right (And what to do when they're not)

When I was recently invited to guest-blog for a software technology company, I was in seventh heaven. "We would love to have you contribute to our blog," said the manager. "You are a very experienced writer and we are always looking for truly creative and informative content. I’ve read some of your material and I think your type of work would be great for us. I need someone with a technical background who understands how to reach out to our audience of techies." The gig promised regular lucrative work and I couldn't wait to start.

Until I read the contract.
 
"We would need sole publishing rights...

Read the full article in the September 2015 issue of Writing World

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2070 words
Nonfiction
US publication

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Words from the Wise

"I like the piece... Wow, this is great! I love the negotiating strategies."

Moira Allen

Publisher

Writing World

 

Help! I've been promoted!

Recently, something significant happened to me at work. I was promoted. I had been performing exceedingly well in my job over the last couple of years, so it came as no surprise when the decision was announced. I knew that my life would change in many ways: An advancement up the corporate ladder meant bigger challenges, bigger responsibilities and a bigger paycheck. What I hadn’t expected was the subtle, yet significant change in the office environment around me.

Advice abounds on how to deal with rejection – rejection at a job interview, rejection from a love interest, rejection at a competition...

Read the full article in the September 2015 issue of Signs Of The Times

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

1200 words
Nonfiction/Corporate
Australia publication

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Words from the Wise

"Good article. We like it. I enjoy your writing style."

Paul Sterman

Associate Editor

Toastmaster Magazine

Debora's Pen

Enjoy the full cartoon in the August 2015 issue of Funds For Writers

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

6 panels, 1 cartoon
Humour/Writing
US publication

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Words from the Wise

"I fell in love with Debora... Thought you'd (all) appreciate relating to her writing issues...
I've started trying to put some logos/photos in the feature piece, and your little girl seemed perfect... I think Debora is very cute. Clean and to the point. You ought to start a newsletter about Debora - brief with a lesson of sort. I think writers would love it. Excited about reading them!"

C. Hope Clark

Editor

Funds For Writers

"I enjoyed your cartoon series"

Brian Scott

Editor

Freelance Writing

"These are cute, I like them."

Lee H. Wilson

Art Editor

Feathertale Review

"Charming! I obviously like the cartoon, tailored-made to fit the theme, even including the date of the emails to coincide with the publication of the journal."

Virginia Howard

Editor

Thema

"This is cool"

Linda Formichelli

Editor

The Renegade Writer

"That was a good comic you sent me. I liked the line drawings, and I thought it was clever."

Bill Kenower

Editor-in-Chief

Author Magazine

"These are definitely cute... I love it! I absolutely love it!"

Moira Allen

Publisher

Writing World

"These are very well constructed and interesting"

Leon Ogroske

Editor

Writers' Journal

"These are adorable!"

Nicole Cliffe

Editor

The Toast

How to advertise yourself effectively

Your dream magazine, with its worldwide readership, vast inexhaustible coffers, quick acceptance-to-publication turnarounds and generous word counts, is probably just that—a dream. So you decide to compromise: you can live with lower pay rates, slow issue releases, and tight space constraints. But if it ain’t being seen by the right people, what’s the point?

Every freelance writer needs to get noticed. You need to go out and let the world know about your existence so that you can get more assignments and commissions.

What if I told you there is a way that does not require you to stand in long...

Read the full article in the August 2015 post of Walrus Publishing

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880 words
Nonfiction
US publication

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Words from the Wise

"The 'how-to' part itself is excellent"

Moira Allen

Publisher

Writing World

"It's a great article"

Brian Scott

Editor

Freelance Writing

Debora's Pen

Enjoy the full cartoon in the July 2015 issue of Funds For Writers

or

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

6 panels, 1 cartoon
Humour/Writing
US publication

***********************

Words from the Wise

"I fell in love with Debora... Thought you'd (all) appreciate relating to her writing issues...
I've started trying to put some logos/photos in the feature piece, and your little girl seemed perfect... I think Debora is very cute. Clean and to the point. You ought to start a newsletter about Debora - brief with a lesson of sort. I think writers would love it. Excited about reading them!"

C. Hope Clark

Editor

Funds For Writers

"I enjoyed your cartoon series"

Brian Scott

Editor

Freelance Writing

"These are cute, I like them."

Lee H. Wilson

Art Editor

Feathertale Review

"Charming! I obviously like the cartoon, tailored-made to fit the theme, even including the date of the emails to coincide with the publication of the journal."

Virginia Howard

Editor

Thema

"This is cool"

Linda Formichelli

Editor

The Renegade Writer

"That was a good comic you sent me. I liked the line drawings, and I thought it was clever."

Bill Kenower

Editor-in-Chief

Author Magazine

"These are definitely cute"

Moira Allen

Publisher

Writing World

"These are very well constructed and interesting"

Leon Ogroske

Editor

Writers' Journal

"These are adorable!"

Nicole Cliffe

Editor

The Toast

The perfect chapati

We're gathered around the dinner table—three generations of women standing over steaming bowls of chicken curry and fluffy rice, vegetables and dals, and tiny pots filled to the brim with piquant chutneys, crispy pickles and savory sauces. But we don’t see this. Our eyes are focussed on a large conspicuous space in the centre of the table, where a plate resides forlorn and cold.

“So you’ll serve them hot off the pan,” says my mother contemplatively to the empty plate.

“Yes,” I nod.

“You’re sure you can make them fast enough for everyone,” says one sister.

“Of course.”

“You’ll need help,” warns...

Read the full article in the July 2015 issues of Edible Austin

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900 words
Nonfiction
US publication

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Words from the Wise

"Your essay created a real sense of place with interesting details."

Kristen Hartke

Managing Editor

Edible DC

"I like your story."

Kerri Stenson

Editor

Edible Silicon Valley

"I do like this piece."

Mary Blair

Editor

Edible Green Mountains

"(It's a) charming story"

Riley T. Davenport

Editor

Edible San Diego

"I did enjoy reading it and I like your writing."

Barb Tholin

Editor

Edible Grande Traverse

"...your fun article, I enjoyed reading it."

Cheryl Koehler

Editor

Edible East Bay

"...we can certainly use the piece in an issue."

Joe Morales

Editor

Gaycation

"You certainly know how to make your pitches grab an editor's attention!"

Richard Nye

Editor

Richmond Magazine

"I liked your piece"

Emily S. Kennedy

Editor

Edible Vineyard

"This is just the sort of story we are looking for."

Rachel Hodson

Publisher

Edible Wasatch

"Your submission is very interesting, and you have a wonderful writing style"

Krista Harris

Editor

Edible Santa Barbara

"It's a nice article"

Scott McMillion

Editor

Montana Quarterly

Demonstrating leadership in interviews

The word “interview” conjures up visions of unfamiliar people sitting across the table from you, waiting for the answer in uncomfortably expectant silence to a question that you haven’t prepared for properly, or worse, can’t even understand. The butterflies in the stomach, the dry throat, the beads of perspiration trickling down the forehead – the symptoms are all too common. 

Interviews come in many forms and are a means to achieve many things--from gaining new employment opportunities to testing the waters for new business ventures to assessing potential associates for corporate...

Read the full article in the July and August 2015 issues of Insight

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

1400 words
Nonfiction/Corporate
UK publication

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Words from the Wise

"Looks an interesting piece indeed"

Adrian Clifton

Editor

Insight