Returning to work after giving birth - 10 Advice [tips] for mums

‘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 February 2015 post of New Age Parents

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750 words
Nonfiction
Singapore 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

"It works for maternity but applies to more than just women with a new baby. The intro caught my attention."

Anonymous

Editor/Reader/Administrator

Broward Family Life

"This is a lovely piece of writing."

Tara Corcoran

Publishing Editor

Early Childhood Australia

"I love the topic. The subject is a great fit for our publication."

Dana Kamp

Managing Editor

Giggle

"It is well-written and practical. Having personally returned to work after maternity leave just a year ago, I enjoyed reading your thoughts on this topic"

Emily Schatz

Editor

New Jersey Family Magazine

"Your articles are excellent"

Sheryl Rachmil

Editor

Rhode Island Family Guide

"I love the article and would love to have it featured in Today's Child"

Susan Koppel

ex-Editor

Today's Child Magazine

It's an ad mad world! Advertising - Does a freelance writer need it? How do you do it?

Let’s face it. In today’s competitive world, if you want to stay ahead in the game, you need every help you can get. On one hand, the Internet has opened up new vistas for writing. Nowadays, a lot of companies and websites advertise for writers to write copy. They may have a blog which they would like to keep updated, or they may need a person familiar with social media networking to keep them “in touch” with their customer base via Facebook or Twitter etc. For example, a magazine’s editor may not actually have the time to write a weekly blog post but may still want to maintain a blog called, say, ‘From...

Read the full article in the February 2015 post of Freelance Writing

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2825 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

Are you a happy writer?

I am a part-time writer. Unlike the author who says he is busy writing an eight hundred page opus of a five part “trilogy” in the midst of two blog posts and a feature length article every day, I'm lucky if I can get eight sentences written down in eight weeks. The only things I do manage to write about are reminders for doctors' appointments and kindergarten events.

I don't earn much money from writing. A hundred quid now, a couple of them in six months' time just about keeps me in chocolate cake and icecream at every birthday.

I've never won an award. I've come close—short listed, honorable mention...

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

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1250 words
Nonfiction
US publication

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Words from the Wise

"I like the idea behind this article, that of defining happiness for yourself in the writing process. This is an extremely important point of view for all writers, and all people, really... This piece is really trying to offer a perspective through which to view the writing life."

Bill Kenower

Editor

Author Magazine

"I really love this. I have to say, it speaks to me - because I am doing so many fulfilling things in my life, and writing often is not at the top of the list. So I feel guilty that I'm not WRITING even when I'm doing other things that make me happy. I'm sure there are a lot of us in a similar situation. I think what this conveys is that "being a writer" is part of what you are as a total person, not 100% of what you are. So much of what is written about "being a writer" makes it seem that if you're not devoting 23 out of 24 hours of your day to it, you're not "serious." As opposed to - you're a writer, maybe you're a mom, maybe you are a photographer, maybe you have a day job - it's part of the package, not the total package. I think it... will make a great editorial.
That's a great editorial, really. There's so much out there on being the non-stop, full-time, full-speed-ahead writer, as if that's the ONLY kind that makes you a "real" writer. The idea that writing, for some of us, is something we do "in addition" to all the OTHER things we do just isn't "fashionable." I thank you for saying it so well!"

Moira Allen

Publisher

Writing World

Dealing with team dynamics after a promotion

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 February 2015 issue of Insight

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1000 words
Nonfiction/Corporate
UK 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