But what saddens me is that Sue just didn’t get it. If she did, she would have realized that all she had to do was ask. We would have gladly given her a free copy of our book if it meant that much to her son. In fact, if Sue told us she and her son were hungry we would have feed them. If she told us she didn't have enough gas in her car to get home, we would have filled her tank. But instead, she lied.

Sue might have stolen our book, but she didn't steal our faith or commitment. You see, Sue might not get it, but there is a chance her son does. Maybe, that little boy doesn't have many books. Maybe, when that little boy reads our book, he will be entertained. Perhaps he will remember our message, or share story with another child. Maybe, just maybe, our book will inspire him to read more, or more importantly, help him to hold his head high if he comes face to face with a bully.

I can only hope for that little boy's sake, that his mother's intention was pure, that this was an isolated incident. If Sue conducts her life with a chip on her shoulder, lying, cheating and feeling entitled, what chance does her child have?

If she could not afford to purchase a book for her child, Sue had other options. Of course, she could have told truth, borrowed book from library, or reached out to a local chapter of First Book. First Book is a national non-profit organization. It's sole purpose is to promote literacy and to give children from low-income families opportunity to read and own their first new books. According to statistics on their website, in last three years alone, First Book has provided more than 20 million new books to children in need throughout hundreds of communities nationwide.

5. Understanding core audience of magazine If you’re writing for a magazine for home PC users, your editor’s not going to appreciate ideas on network security, however wonderful they may be. Similarly, when writing for a small business owner, you’d want to treat that person as a little smarter, even if he might have same knowledge base as that of a home user. His computing decisions are more important. That’s why you should always be familiar with reader’s knowledge level. That’ll help you make distinction between good ideas, and great ones.

6. Making boring subjects come alive Editors love writers with a dash of style, attitude and chutzpah. If you can give even a serious subject a touch of humor, you’ll soon be a hot favorite. This is especially true with technical, business and trade magazines. Their subject matter tends to be boring. It’s your job to not only inform reader, but also to entertain him.

7. Having whole package If you can write great prose, but not meet deadlines, you’re replaceable. If you can get great interviews and dig up little-known statistics, but make fact-checker’s life hell, you might not be seen as a great catch. If you come up with best ideas, but can’t provide equally interesting sidebars, there’s probably someone who can. But if you give editor all those things and more, she has no reason to look beyond you.

8. Knowing magazine I wouldn’t go as far as to say that will never sell something to a magazine you haven’t read (I have), but I will say that you’re not going to get rich doing it. If you don’t want to go broke buying all prospective magazines, get yourself a reliable Internet connection and visit magazine’s Website. No editor will stand a query that looks like it’s been sent to a million others.

Editors often like to work with a select group of freelance writers, who’ve earned editor’s trust over time. By following tips above, you’ll soon ensure an impressed editor and many lucrative assignments as well.