Writing for Parenting Magazines

by Sheila Ann Manuel

Becoming a parent is like having a really cute doll.

"Yeah, right. An overactive live doll you can't turn off!" one parent cries out.

That's why as a writer aiming for the parenting-magazine market, our role is clear: to help parents cope with playing house and a live-wire doll that won't let up. If you're a parent, you'd know what this means. But even if your only experience with dolls are Barbies, Skippers, and Kens, you can easily write for parenting magazines, if armed with good research and writing.

So what can you write about? Depending on each magazine's need, you can try your writing hand at the different columns available for freelance writers. Some of them may ask for tips, real-life stories and guidelines, how-to’s, and more. Poetry and fiction seldom has a place in
parenting magazines.

Editors of these magazines seem to have a few basic rules and tips for the aspiring writer-contributor. Most of them ask for:
a) Well-researched writing with appropriate resources and accurate quotes from experts;
b) Prose woven into tight, jargon-free writing;
c) Informative, as well as entertaining articles; and
d) If possible, stuff that engages the reader like sidebars, anecdotes, self-scoring quizzes, puzzles, and games (and at times, pay hikes up as well with these).

But even with these basic guidelines, it is always best to ask and refer to the guidelines of the specific magazine you are aiming for. Always ask yourself what is the main motto or mission of that particular magazine, and how you can slant your work towards your market's specific need.

Try out these markets for a start and ask for their guidelines. Once you've studied their guidelines, polish your article accordingly and send it off, and hope for the best.

HOME EDUCATION MAGAZINE
Attn: Helen Hegener, Managing Editor
P.O. Box 1083
Tonasket, WA 98855
USA

HEM-Editor@home-ed-magazine.com
http://www.home-ed-magazine.com/

If you are keen on home education, or have an inclination to write about the parents' role in educating their children, Home Education Magazine is a market for you. They have a website where you can check and study their articles. And you can also request for a free writer's guidelines via email, where you can check their current themes and deadlines. They pay $25 to $50 each feature article, depending on the content and length. They also buy photos and pay $10 for inside photos and $50 for cover photos. They buy First North American Serial Rights in print and electronic. They pay on acceptance and give at least one copy of the magazine where your work will appear. They prefer electronic submissions in ASCII format (text only), although they also accept submissions via snail mail.

THE INFORMED PARENT
Attention: The Editor
Editor-in-Chief: John H. Samson, M.D., F.A.A.P.
Publisher: Intermag Productions
23546 Coyote Springs Dr.
Diamond Bar, CA  91765
USA
http://www.informedparent.com

Dubbed as "the voice of The Pediatric Medical Center" (USA), the Informed Parent is mostly a medical e-zine. It claims that it is read in over 70 countries, and published monthly. Although they have in-house writers and editors, they accept contributors who could effectively deal with subject matters that would help parents obtain facts and tips on medical natures concerning their children. A general submission guideline can be found in the main page of their website. You can also read articles online to get the general feel of their style and content. You can send queries online with an email form.

UKPARENTS ONLINE (FORMERLY UKMUMS ONLINE)
PO Box 39, Gosforth,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE3 1FA
UK
Attn: Editor (Ms. Helen Humphrey)
editor@ukparents.co.uk
http://www.ukmums.co.uk

Going to its website in itself is a joy to behold. But the good news for writers is that this seems like a good place to start as they have a lot of features that you can try and avail of. For one, there is a free membership and a free newsletter -- to aid you in studying this market. Then there are various columns that you can participate in and actually win prizes from. Sample Columns are "Your World," a place to send in your sad or funny stories, "Your View," a place to send book and music reviews pertaining to kids materials, and others. They also have regular contests for "My Hero," where you can win £5 worth of Mothercare voucher and your chosen hero will receive flowers; "Caption Competition," where you can win £5 worth of Boots voucher or reward points; and "Starletter," with £10 worth of Mothercare voucher. Competition and
Submission guidelines are available in their website. Most contributions have every 20th of the month as a deadline.

THE FAMILY ROOM
FamilyRoom@thelaboroflove.com
http://www.thelaboroflove.com/forum/indexshtml

If you want to start "small," this site is a place where you can go. They usually accept contributions regarding general information on pregnancy and parenting. Contributions may run for 850 to 1300 words. Email queries are preferred, together with the author's full name and email address. Pay comes in the form of publication, exposure, and full byline credits.

TWINS (THE MAGAZINE FOR PARENTS OF MULTIPLES)
P.O. Box 12045
Overland Park, KS  66282-2045
USA
Attn: Editor-in-Chief
http://www.twinsmagazine.com

This market is a place to find resources on professional help given to parents and professional caregivers of twins and multiples. Byline is given, although usually they buy all rights. On queries, they report in 6 weeks time and 2 months for manuscripts submitted. Sample copy may be requested for $5 and Writer's guidelines are available if you send a #10 self-addressed and stamped envelope. They pay on publication.

 
Just remember that these are not the only markets available -- keep on searching and writing!

-- SAM
©First electronic rights August 1999, Sheila Ann Manuel

Sheila Ann Manuel has published some of her articles in an Asian-based parenting magazine called Today's Child. She is a Psychology major who currently works as a freelance writer-teacher. You can contact her through shaimanuel@yahoo.com, or browse through her homepage at http://come.to/lifetimes. You can also subscribe to her writer's list by sending thewritelife-subscribe@onelist.com.