Freelance Writers: Tips for Contacting Editors

Tips for Contacting Editors     All freelance writers appreciate tips for contacting editors, since editors pay money for your manuscripts! Freelance writers who have been in the business for a while will naturally know more about contacting editors, but most have not yet realised the full potential of their writing careers, and still have [...]

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Freelance Writers: How to Write a Query/Pitch

How to Write a Query/Pitch   Many talented freelance writers today are brimming with unusual, exciting and excellent ideas for articles, but struggle to get these out in print for the world to read. One valuable way to remedy the situation is to learn to craft effective query letters. These are essentially sales letters or [...]

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Choosing an Article Topic: Tips for Writers

Choosing an Article Topic Tips for Writers   Any one article is potentially an island of information, and for this reason it is important to employ a great deal of care when selecting your article topic.  A meticulously chosen topic will lead to a greater number of editors accepting your pitch and a greater number [...]

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Beyond Survivor: Interview with Jan Frayne

A dear friend and  inspirational author of ‘Beyond Survivor,‘ Jan Frayne, has kindly answered some questions about his recently published book and memoir. Jan, can you explain to people who don’t know, what ‘Beyond Survivor’ is about? Beyond Survivor is a collection of writings I have made over some thirty years. As a child I was [...]

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The Rose: A Song for my Mum on Mother’s Day

A song for my mum, Pamela Davies, on Mother’s Day 2012.  This was one of the songs at her funeral.  Beautiful words I know she would have loved. The Rose by Bette Midler Some say love, it is a river That drowns the tender reed. Some say love, it is a razor That leaves your soul [...]

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Fancy Writing Fiction? Inspiration from Susan Jones

Please welcome  writer and friend, Susan Jones, who has kindly agreed to offer some insight and tips into fiction writing.  I met Susan via blogging and she has been a great source of inspiration and support ever since.  Susan’s slogan is “Just write, right” and I am hoping that the tips she shares here will [...]

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Inspiring Bloggers

Mental health related blogs are spreading across the Internet.  From teenagers struggling with depression, to young women contending with Bipolar Disorder or Eating Disorders, to men sharing their trauma and emotional turmoil. There are so many different people from all walks of life who have one thing in common – they blog about their mental health experiences [...]

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Who’s Who on the Editorial Team?

Now we know the lingo (see previous posts), who’s who on the magazine editorial team? EDITOR AT LARGE:  Some are full-time staff members whilst others are freelancers who contribute regularly. EDITOR/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:  Has the final say on what goes in the publication.  Before any copy is assigned, it usually needs to be approved by the editor/editor-in-chief [...]

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Which Day to Pitch?

You have just come up with a great article idea, you have written it up, and you are ready to pitch.  Just as you are about to press ‘send’ to your chosen publication, you realise it is Friday.  Does this make a difference?  It does within the world of business marketing and is likely to [...]

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Writers Guide to the Lingo: Part 2

As you become a Freelance Writer, you will start to find yourself surrounded by an array of jargon and ‘lingo’ that is the first language of magazine staff and editors. Here are 10 more terms, in alphabetical order, that you might benefit from being aware of: BEAT:  Your ‘beat’ is the topic area for which [...]

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