Debora's Pen

Enjoy the full cartoon in the June 2014 issue of Thema

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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 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

Confessions of a stamp murderer

30th May 1931.

An unremarkable date. The British Raj is still lording over the Indian populace even as revolts are cropping up like angry acne in pockets all over the country.

It is an unremarkable day in a small village in the remotest interiors of Cawnpore, the industrial capital city of the United Provinces in north India. On the main road pull-rickshaws ply to and fro, shrilly trilling cycles overbalance into pedestrians and bullock-carts sway along slowly. The cow scrunching on the footpath is placidly chewing the end of the lungi of an irate passer-by who is red in the face from trying to...

Read the full article in the Summer 2014 issue of Ducts
or
Request to read the original article via email for just 99p! (T&C apply)

1625 words
Drama
US publication

Is your child a bully?

We’d all like our children to be leaders, to think they are leader-material. The race for leadership crops up in all walks of academic life, from class president to magazine editorial board. There are many qualities that make a leader and many more that make a great leader.

At the same time, none of us wants our child to be a bully. Yet academic life is the most common setting for bullying. Just as there is a thin line of distinction between confidence and arrogance, humility and subservience, genius and madness; there is just a thin line separating leadership from bullying. ‘Kids don’t suddenly...

Read the full article in the June 2014 issue of Signs Of The Times


or

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

1680 words
Non fiction
Australia publication

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Words from the Wise

"I loved your article and would love to have it featured in (an) upcoming issue."

Susan Koppel

ex-Editor

Today's Child Magazine

"It has some good things to say"

Sherri Langton

Associate Editor

Bible Advocate / Now What?

"It is good"

Kristyn Komarnicki

Editor

Prism Magazine

"Really like it and will definitely include it"

James Cole

Group Editor

Family And Parenting

"The article looks good"

Melody Tan

Associate Editor

Signs Of The Times

"I would love to use this story in our (future) issue."

Brittany Morgan

ex-Editor

Hudson Valley Parent

"The subject matter is great"

Christina Elston

Editor

Los Angeles Parent

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 May/June 2014 issue of Today's Child

or

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

1415 words
Nonfiction
UK 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

Debora's Pen

A comedy of horrors

How long is a short story

Ten minutes is a long time 

Enjoy the full cartoons in the May 2014 post of The Toast


or

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

3 Cartoons
Humour/Writing
US publication

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Words from the Wise

"Oh, these are adorable!"

Nicole Cliffe

Editor

The Toast

"I really enjoyed them. They made me laugh."

Richard Edwards

Editor

Every Writer's Resource

"These are cute. I like them."

Lee Wilson

Art Editor

Feathertale

"I enjoyed your cartoon series."

Brian Scott

Editor

Freelance Writing

"Charming! I'm smiling! I obviously like the cartoon."

Virginia Howard

Editor

Thema

"That was a good comic you sent me. I liked the line drawings and I thought it was clever. You have a vision and a love of the form"

Bill Kenower

Editor

Author Magazine

"This is cool"

Linda Formichelli

Editor

Renegade Writer

"These are definitely cute"

Moira Allen

Publisher

Writing World

"These are very well constructed and interesting"

Leon Ogroske

Editor

Writers' Journal

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