Back at work - How to cope with a new world and bounce back into work after a hiatus

‘I’m taking a sabbatical to have a baby!’ I announced to my editors, publishers and writer friends. After the initial wave of congratulations, well-meaning advice ('Icecream is great for reducing heartburn!') and jokes ('A writer going out of circulation for a change, ha ha!') had subsided, conversation turned to the inevitable question. ‘When are you planning to return to work?’ they asked. ‘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...

Read the full article in the September 2014 issue of Author

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

1455 words
Nonfiction
US publication

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Words from the Wise

"I'm very excited to use this piece."

Kimberly Fischer

Editor

Arizona Parenting

"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

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

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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

Writing my own destiny

As writers, we know better than anyone the power of the right word. A carefully picked verb, an aptly placed adjective – these are the things that make us tick. We could probably live forever off the high of a perfect rhyme and a thundering opening paragraph. But I could never have imagined the far-reaching effects of what started off as a hobby.

I like writing. A new idea for a story makes my eyes shine with excitement. An unusual sentence construction makes my heart flutter. Expanding my vocabulary in the English language is a goal that seems inexhaustible and unattainable, no matter how long...

Read the full article in the July 2013 issue of Author

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

1135 words
Nonfiction/Writing
US publication

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Words from the Wise

"I would love to publish the piece in our July issue."

Bill Kenower

Editor-in-Chief

Author Magazine