Articles

Does criticism by other writers really help? The short answer is yes, it can. How can criticism by other writers, especially those that don’t write the same kind of articles I do, help me? Read on…

First of all, you won’t just be criticized; you’ll get some praise too. While feedback from other writers as focused as you can be frustrating and exhilarating, there’s a flip side. You will have to return the favor. How? Read on…

Children’s magazines? You may not have considered writing for the children’s magazine market, but perhaps you should. Children’s magazines are growing in number, especially with the addition of the e-zine, which seems to be particularly attractive to our “tech-savvy” young ones. A comprehensive list of over 600 children’s magazines is available from The Writer’s Institute Publications, Magazine Markets for Children’s Writers 2010.

I have recently started to read newspapers... properly.

When I say, 'properly,' what I mean is this; I read them as in more than as a reader - More as an editor, or proof reader.

Where I live, we are lucky in the fact that we get two 'free' newspapers shoved through our letter-boxes every week. (I once wrote an article, and submitted it to one of these newspapers - Only to get it rejected.)

Some of the stories I read in both newspapers, seem to be; 'page-fillers,' stories about nothing - No substance, or interest. But then, these newspapers are 'free.'

A friendly suggestion to authors:

Imagine you get a call from a charity, let’s say it is a charity you would consider supporting. At the same time you are answering the phone, your wife’s, your mother’s, your daughter’s and your son’s phone also rings and- surprise! – it is the same charity. Suddenly, your impression of the charity you were going to work with goes from pleasant to obnoxious.