The confession

When the series of bomb blasts rocked the railways that week, Suresh remembered the three men. Their expressions, their gestures, their words suddenly took on a different meaning. Hadn’t he curiously run into them again and again at different stations? Didn’t they always seem agitated, as though something they were planning had gone wrong? Or perhaps, because something was about to begin.

Conscientiously doing his duty, old Suresh was bent almost double as he stumbled along the platform, mechanically stroking his threadbare broom in front of him. He had a long peppery beard and wild...

Read the full story in the December 2012 issue of Writing Tomorrow

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3060 words
Fiction
US publication

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Words from the Wise

"Thanks so much for... such a wonderful, heart-wrenching story. I'd love to run The Confession for December. Fantastic ending! I think your new ending is absolutely brilliant...one of your strengths is describing the scene, and you did it fantastically. I hope you think so too. I love the "bereft of his beloved broom." Really sticks with us and brings us back to that moment we first met Suresh. ...This will be a great piece for you to add to your online/print collection. You've got a great, well-crafted story here! It's been a privilege to work on your piece."

Miranda Kopp-Filek

Editor

Writing Tomorrow

"Our editors enjoyed your piece; we feel it demonstrates considerable merit and skill."

Michelle Chitts

Editorial Intern

Griffith Review

"Some good images here"

Chris Heavener

Editor

Annalemma

"It's a distressing story told well"

Sandra Costich

Editor

American Scholar

"You have a knack for description."

Michael Latza

Editor

Willow Review

"You write with clarity, confidence, and a style that draws a reader into the unfolding tale wanting more of what you have to deliver. As soon as Suresh is introduced, the magic begins. (It) is a good story."

Gabrielle DePlancher

Editor

Total Quality Reading

7 Simple tips to maximize your 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 October 2012 issue of Freelance Writer's Report

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1055 words
Nonfiction
US publication

Deal or no deal? (The art of negotiation - 16 Tips on how to ask for more money)

“We absolutely love your story,” said the editor.

I got a warm fuzzy feeling.

“It is charming and has a lovely ‘voice’,” he continued.

I glowed. This smelled of big bucks.

“We especially liked the vivid imagery and flawless energy of the piece.”

I preened and strutted around the room. The scent of money got a little stronger. Maybe he would give me a hundred pounds!

“You are a very talented writer, with a knack for intriguing plots.”

I sprouted wings and began to float on cloud nine. Perhaps even two hundred pounds. I was definitely beginning to taste the dough now.

“We will be delighted and honoured...

Read the full article in the Autumn 2012 issue of New Writer

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2680 words
Nonfiction
UK publication

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Words from the Wise

"I love it! It's fabulous! Excellent."

Moira Allen

Publisher

Writing World

Location, location, location (Why magazine page placement matters)

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 June 2012 issue of Children's Writer

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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

How to ask for more money

A bit of skilful negotiation may bring you more money. A few magazines may even expect it and advertise their pay scales accordingly. As long as you are not too pushy and know when to back down, you should try to negotiate rates whenever you can.

1. Assess the market
Try to find out what the magazine’s budgets are and where they get their funding from. Check out how big their subscriber base is. Study their advertising rates. You can ask a higher price for an article for a privately owned corporate publication catering to a niche community, than for a article that will appear in a Literature department...

Read the full article in the June 2012 issue of Freelance Writer's Report

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

1145 words
Nonfiction
US publication

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Words from the Wise

"I love it! It's fabulous!"

Moira Allen

Publisher

Writing World

Google +1 (Does your business need it?)

30 March 2011 was the day the online world woke up to a new way of sharing content across the web – the Google +1 button. In a direct head-to-head with Facebook’s Like button, Google announced its +1 button would allow users to indicate their preferences on any website so their friends and contacts may see it. As a web user, you’d see your friends’ recommendations and know the product or service or content on offer was worth your while. First launched only on Google.com’s English-language search results, the +1 button was then rolled out to a select section of domains of Google’s search engines...


Read the full article in the Spring 2012 issue of Work Your Way


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800 words
Nonfiction/Corporate
UK publication

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Words from the Wise

"I do like these articles - they're so on the ball! I must say that your articles are always very well written. It is nice to be able to simply 'plonk' them in, without having to heavily edit them to make sense. It's perfect as is it."

Mary Cummings

Editor

Work Your Way

An idol is forever, not just for Christmas

10th May 1979. Margaret Thatcher has just become the new prime minister of England. Pluto moves inside Neptune’s orbit for the first time ever since either planet became known to Science. The Sahara desert experiences snow for a period of thirty minutes.

In a small dusty village in the remote interiors of a large state of west India, a tall young man is anxiously pacing the floor outside his house. From time to time, he stops to glance through the open door, then resumes pacing as vigorously as ever. He is oblivious to the heat of the afternoon sun on his bare head, unaware of the scorching earth...

Read the full story in the May 2012 issue of Perceptions

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1090 words
Fiction/Drama
US publication

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Words from the Wise

"Very well written, and I liked the cycle being played out here."

Anonymous

Editor 1 (of 6)

Flashquake

"We love it."

Anonymous

Editor-in-Chief

Flashquake

"Terribly well written"

Geoffrey C Porter

Editor

Untied Shoelaces Of The Mind

"It is well-written, and the opening is particularly gripping"

Elizabeth Rosen

Essay Editor

Ducts

"I like your work."

Anthony Brown

Editor

Stickman Review

"It's a delightfully written story"

Penni Mitchell

Managing Editor

Herizons

"This is fine writing"

Valerie Polichar

Editor

Grasslimb

To right a wrong

I am going to die before the night is out.

I know it. I can feel it. There is a strange stillness in the air that heralds the end of life for me. Leaves rustle without wind. Wings of birds flutter ominously as they nestle amongst each other in sleep. A dog howls at the moon, it seems to me like it is baying for the dead. And I have just broken the vow.

In the remotest interiors of India, there exists an unremarkable village. It is not very large, is near neither the highway nor the sea, has neither natural scenic beauty nor historical importance, no popular film star has made a home in it, nor is it the haunt...

Read the full story in the March 2012 issue of Big Pulp

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3500 words
Drama
US publication

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Words from the Wise

"I think your story is excellently written. I enjoyed the details of life in a remote Indian village setting, and think you have done a great job of introducing this village and its people."

David Peters

Editor

Fried Fiction

"The opening line is quite good, portending the narrator's imminent demise. And the trailing paragraph, what in the old journalism game we call 'the bridge' is fantastic, too. It is, judging from the work's opening, a good night to die."

Theodore Q. Rorschalk

Editor

Total Quality Reading

"It has an original plot line. I love the setting too, and all the great cultural details you include. You're a very talented writer with good instincts for intriguing stories."

Paula Jolin

Manuscript Reader

The Sun

"I liked a lot about this story. The setting was spot on and authentic. The plot was unique; I've never seen anything like it. The piece had entertainment value and depth, which it's often hard to find both in a story."

A. Leonard Lucas

Fiction Editor

Fender Stitch

"We think that you have a very unique voice. The beginning paragraph is pretty much perfect. We were immediately drawn in"

Anonymous

Editor

Black Fox Literary Review

"I loved the opening few paragraphs... Amusing story... and the setting/atmosphere at the Indian village is well done."

Anonymous

Manuscript Reader

Antigonish Review

"We like your writing."

Ann Rushton & Kelly Shriver

Editors

Bound Off

"We enjoyed reading it"

Paul Barrett

Managing Editor

Mary Magazine

"We enjoyed reading it"

Bill Olver

Editor

Big Pulp

A Hindu god worth waiting (and waiting) for

The queues are serpentine. Everywhere the eye can see, dark heads and pale, shining pates are milling about in the crowd as people jostle for legroom and, like some covert military operation, sneakily inch forward when their neighbour isn't looking. I have wrapped a scarf around my head to protect myself from the blazing rays of the sun, but the garment is fighting a losing battle. A low hum of conversation pervades the air and cries of the sopranic “Get your laddoos here!” and the wrathful “Watch where you're going!” break the monotony.

It was 6 in the morning when I had set out for the Tirupathi...

Read the full article in the second week of March 2012 issue of Globe And Mail

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600 words
Drama
Canada publication

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Words from the Wise

"I enjoyed reading it."

Catherine Dawson-March

Deputy Travel Editor

The Globe And Mail

"It is good."

Acharya Arumuganathaswami

Managing Editor

Hinduism Today