Published on page 1 or 100? (Editors and publishers discuss the importance of article placement in a magazine)

Recently the editor of a popular magazine accepted one of my stories for publication. She was full of kind words about it and how much she liked it. ‘In fact, we like your story so much,’ she said, ‘that we want to put it in a more prominent position in our magazine.’

After the first flush of euphoria faded away, I got curious about this new aspect of publishing I had found out rather by accident. Was there such a thing as ‘a more prominent position’ in a magazine? Should I feel proud? Should I, perhaps, take this opportunity to ask for more money? Or should I settle for lesser payment in return for the...

Read the full article in the April 2014 post of Freelance Writing

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



2185 words
Writing
US publication

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Words from the Wise

"I absolutely admit, it is an angle I have never heard nor thought of -- and a great idea."
Susan M. Tierney
Editor in Chief
Writer's Institute Publications (Children's Writer)

"This is indeed a very good article. It's well researched and the quotes really give it depth. It really is beautifully done!"
Moira Allen
Publisher

Writing World

"It sounds really interesting, and it's something all publishers know but, perhaps, not many writers. From my perspective, there are definitely more prominent positions in pretty much any publication -- whether in print or online. For instance, our features get more exposure than our departments. Some advertising spots are better than others, etc. There are actually heat maps of websites that show where the most prominent places are so you can arrange your content and advertising effectively. The same thing with graphic design and layout of any book, magazine, poster, flyer, etc. It's one of the first things they teach you in graphic design. The thing is, unless you're the publisher of the content (or the editorial director) how can you control your article's placement other than writing a darn good article?
All of us really enjoyed reading your article. Personally, I really loved how you included interviews with editors of popular publications. Impressive! It's fun to read the banter and see how they weigh in. I like how you included a little bit about the web as well.
We all adore your article. Keep up the excellent writing!
P.S. I just checked out your website and love your bio. I, too, love comics and dark chocolate!"

Angela Mackintosh

Editor

Women On Writing

"I thought it was an exceptional article. Thank you for the wonderful article."

Brian Scott

Editor

Freelance Writing

Moms, lean back in (How to go back to work after [taking] a maternity leave or hiatus to be home with the kids)

‘I’m having a baby!’ I announced at work.

After the initial wave of congratulations had subsided, conversation turned to the inevitable question. ‘Are you planning to return to work?’ asked my colleagues, some with amusement, others in tones more anxious. ‘I don’t really know at this point,’ was my truthful answer. What I did know was that it was going to be an important, serious and potential uncomfortable choice to make, and one that could be life-changing.
 
A year later, as I neared the end of my maternity leave and the manic feeding-changing-sleeping frenzy settled into a regular and...

Read the full article in the March 2014 issue of MetroKids

or

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

1415 words
Nonfiction
US publication

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Words from the Wise

"I liked the piece very much"

John Feister

Editor-in-Chief

St. Anthony Messenger

"It's a great article"

Melody Tan

Associate Editor

Sign Of The Times

"That kind of article is perfect for our website"

Lydia Stone

Director Editorial Content

Together Moms

"It is well written, covers an important topic and provides helpful tips"

James D. Standish

Editor etc.

Record

"I'd love to publish this"

Sandy Pedrogao

Editor

Oh Baby!

"It looks quite interesting!"

Kristy Pillinger

Editor

Nurture Parenting

"We really like your article, and we'd love to publish it. It's an excellent article"

Jill Snider Lum

Associate Publisher

Canadian Newcomer/Settlement Roadmap

"We find your ideas and your article to be quite interesting"

Nina Kruschwitz

Managing Editor

MIT Sloan Management Review

"It contains some useful ideas"

Bill O'Sullivan

Senior Managing Editor

The Washingtonian

Sky's the limit

The aeroplane takes off like an arrow towards an unknown destination. The wind lifts the plane’s wings giving them the required thrust to gain altitude rapidly. Twin headlights cleave a path through the darkness as the dull roar of its engines carries clearly on the cold night air.

Five pairs of eyes are turned up towards it, watching the lights steadily climb higher. The dull eyes of a prostitute, lying motionless as a paying customer grimly goes to work on her to get his money’s worth in the dingy room of a brothel in a fashionable section of the city, see an unattainable escape to another life...

Read the full story in the February 2014 issue of Writing Tomorrow

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

4025 words
Drama
US publication

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Words from the Wise

"I enjoyed reading this piece"

Valerie Polichar

Editor

Grasslimb

"We would be delighted to use your story."

Miranda Kopp-Filek

Editor

Writing Tomorrow Magazine

"I do enjoy reading your stories"

Ron Gaskill

Editor

Jerseyworks

"I can tell that the author has a good narrative sense and writes a lively story. Might I suggest that you rewrite this piece as a screenplay?  It seems a natural, due to your iconic presentation."

Michael Latza

Editor

Willow Review

"I enjoyed your story, sad though it is."

Sandra Costich

Fiction Editor

American Scholar

"Thank you for your intriguing piece. I have read your work previously and I must tell you that I always read it from beginning to end because you write so very well, and your subject matter, your protagonists too, are consistently much more than the ordinary. I do like this piece."

Gabrielle DePlancher

Fiction Editor

Total Quality Reading

KISS - Keep it simple, stupid! (How to write about a complex subject in a simple way)

I’ve been working in the Information Technology industry in various capacities for the last decade. Anyone who does not live under a rock will know that the IT field, along with biotech, space and genetics, has been one of the fastest growing, changing and revolutionising areas of work in the world. From the invention of the wheel, to the first cloned sheep, to putting the “smart” into every single smart gadget available on the market today, we’ve come a long way in a relatively short period of time. Little wonder then, that this progress needs – and indeed deserves – to be documented, not only...

Read the full article in the 2014 edition of Writer's Guide from Children's Writer

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

2000 words
Nonfiction
US publication

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Words from the Wise

"This is a great article"

Moira Allen

Publisher

Writing World

"I like the angle; I think it is right on point; and it exemplifies the article's theme—a clear handling of a multi-faceted subjects."

Susan M. Tierney

Editor-in-Chief

Children's Writer

Returning to work - How to cope with a new world after a hiatus

‘I’m having a baby!’ I announced at work.

After the initial wave of congratulations had subsided, conversation turned to the inevitable question. ‘Are you planning to return to work?’ asked my colleagues, some with amusement, others in tones more anxious. ‘I don’t really know at this point,’ was my truthful answer. What I did know was that it was going to be an important, serious and potential uncomfortable choice to make, and one that could be life-changing.
 
A year later, as I neared the end of my maternity leave and the manic feeding-changing-sleeping frenzy settled into a regular and...

Read the full article in the January 2014 issue of Orlando Family

or

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

1415 words
Nonfiction
US publication

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

Words from the Wise

"I liked the piece very much"

John Feister

Editor-in-Chief

St. Anthony Messenger

"It's a great article"

Melody Tan

Associate Editor

Sign Of The Times

"That kind of article is perfect for our website"

Lydia Stone

Director Editorial Content

Together Moms

"It is well written, covers an important topic and provides helpful tips"

James D. Standish

Editor etc.

Record

"I'd love to publish this"

Sandy Pedrogao

Editor

Oh Baby!

"It looks quite interesting!"

Kristy Pillinger

Editor

Nurture Parenting

"We really like your article, and we'd love to publish it. It's an excellent article"

Jill Snider Lum

Associate Publisher

Canadian Newcomer/Settlement Roadmap

"We find your ideas and your article to be quite interesting"

Nina Kruschwitz

Managing Editor

MIT Sloan Management Review

"It contains some useful ideas"

Bill O'Sullivan

Senior Managing Editor

The Washingtonian

8 Tips to maximise your freelance writing earnings

If only we didn’t have to pay tax! Now that would maximise my meagre earnings as a writer by as much as 20% – a significant growth indeed. Luckily for us, though, there are some simple ways in which we can ensure that we are squeezing as much value out of the dollar as the law of the land will allow. 

1. Stay away from non-paying markets Bit obvious, really. It’s a lose-lose situation for you and a win-win situation for them, so why should you even bother with markets that cannot compensate you for your work? Forget the ‘for the love of literature’ and ‘amass glory and prestige’ rubbish. If you wanted...

Read the full article in the December 2013 post of Freelance Writing

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

1095 words
Nonfiction
US publication

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Words from the Wise

"I enjoyed your article... I enjoyed reading your articles at your website which focused specifically on the freelance writer."

Brian Scott

Editor

Freelance Writing

"This one looks right for us."

Dana Cassell

Editor

Freelance Writer's Report

5 Quick and easy ways to know your market

‘Know your target market!’ is an oft-repeated piece of sage advice offered to novice writers. Makes sense, really. You can’t work for or with someone without knowing what kind of work they do and what they are trying to achieve. But how do you go about it exactly?

Knowing your market means knowing who your customers are, who their customers are (age, gender, usage habits and the values they hold dear), and what needs they are trying to satisfy. It also means knowing if their business is expanding or declining, where they get their funding from, how large a subscriber base they have, what the current...

Read the full article in the December 2013 issue of Author

or

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

670 words
Nonfiction
US publication

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Words from the Wise

"Thanks, this looks great. I would love to publish the piece in our December issue."

Bill Kenower

Editor-in-Chief

Author Magazine