UPDATES! Writing Market Additions and Updates to the 7th Edition of Get Published (and Paid!) Writing About Your Kids

Updated as of June 17,2019

Buy the book in print! Get published! Make money!

UPDATES:

Charlotte Parent email mhuggins@charlotteparent.com (9/10/18)

Cincinnati Family, North Cincy Family, Northern Kentucky Family (Daycom Media) editor is Amanda Hayward (Sherry is gone), and her email is amandahayward@daycommedia.com (9/10/18)

City Parent Canada: Jane Muller
Editor-in-Chief
jmuller@metroland.com
Pays $40-50 USD

Curious Parents: 7/16/17 seems to no longer be publishing.

Dayton Parent: Nicole Sipe, Editor: nicolesipe@indyschild.com

Family Fun is no longer publishing :-(

Giggle is now renee@irvingpublications.com (4/18/19)

Jersey Shore Family is not accepting articles at this time ... updated February 2017

Little Rock Family magazine update 2/19/19 new owner

Metro-Parent.com in Oregon is now PDX Parent: Julia.silverman@pdxparent.com

Minnesota Parent … editor@mnparent.com bounces back. Try info@mnparent.com

New Jersey Family try angel@njfamily.com (instead of editor@njfamily.com)

+New York Times Parenting Outlet (click here for information)

Palmetto Parent is now estevenson@indexx.com

Parenting OC is now jessica@parentingoc.com 8/7/18

ParentsCanada amyb@parentscanada.com bounced back. Try katie@parentscanada.com

Parents and Kids Mississippi: Our invoices are usually processed within 30 days after the month of publication. So for the month of May, please expect to be paid by the end of June.

PDX Parent: We do no use reprints because we try to make sure each story has a strong local angle. Also we keep our freelancers to parents in Portland Metro Area

Piedmont Parent editor email bounced back. Try the publisher at katie.reeves@morris.com (9/10/18)

Playground ... heather@playgroundmagazine.com.

Red River Family publisher@redriverfamily.com (9/10/18)

+SheKnows (click here for information)

The Village Family Magazine is currently on hiatus and thus, will not be accepting reprint materials at this time

Upstate Parent: email has changed to chris@worthyplace.com

Volusia/Flagler/St. John's can be found here now.

Wiregrass Parents is another publication affiliated with DeAnne Watson of Montgomery Parents (10/30/18)

Wisconsin Family email aschwabe@gannett.com (9/10/18)

Davler Media acquires Staten Island Parent so delete SI Parent email from your contacts since Davler will be taking over all of that and will handle your submissions :-)

NEW:

Growing Up Roseville (sister to Growing Up Chico) ... pays $35 reprints for each publication. Writers are reporting $35 per reprint per publication.

Self-Sufficient Kids pays $75 per article (1,250 words long) and their guidelines can be found here.

DELETED FROM BOOK FOR NONPAYMENT

Utah Family: They used my pieces without permission and then did not pay. I have heard from several writers about this as well. I’m not going to recommend a magazine that does business this way.

Valley Parent Oregon: They have used my pieces without permission and then did not pay.

Have files of article reprints that you own but have no clue where to start reselling them? Have ideas for some fantastic new pieces but no idea who might want them? Check out my thick 441-page print book of tips, tricks, and insider information, as well as 384 paying parenting and family markets! You can order "How to Get Published (and Paid!) Writing About Your Kids" on Amazon here.

Sign up for an email subscription to The Published Parent and get two amazing freebies: 10 Parenting Markets That Pay $100+ and 10 Markets That Pay Writers to Write About Writing! And join my Facebook group called Parenting Magazine Writers ... it's FREE and full of tips and tricks and markets and like-minded writer friends!

Hopscotch Magazine Submission Writers Guidelines

Hopscotch Submission Guidelines from the website http://funforkidzmagazines.com

Every HOPSCOTCH contributor must remember we publish only six issues a year, which means our editorial needs are extremely limited. An annual total, for instance, will include some 30 to 36 nonfiction pieces, 9 or 10 short stories, 18 or so poems, six cover illustrations, and a smattering of puzzles, crafts, and the like.

It is obvious that we must reject far more contributions than we accept, no matter how outstanding they may seem to you or to us.

With that said, we would point out that HOPSCOTCH is a magazine created for girls from 6 to 13 years, with girls 8, 9, and 10 the specific target age.

Our point of view is that every young girl deserves the right to be a young girl for a number of years before she becomes a young adult.

As a result, HOPSCOTCH looks for articles, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry that deal with timeless topics, such as pets, nature, hobbies, science, games, sports, careers, simple cooking, and anything else likely to interest a young girl. We leave dating, romance, human sexuality, cosmetics, fashion, and the like to other publications. Each issue revolves around a theme.

Writers

We are looking for lively writing, most of it from a young girl's point of view, with the girl or girls directly involved in an activity that is both wholesome and unusual. Examples have included girls in a sheep to shawl contest, girls raising puppies that are destined to guide the blind and girls who take summer ballet lessons from members of the New York City Ballet.
While on the subject of nonfiction, remembering that we use it 3 to 1 over fiction, those pieces that are accompanied by clear photos with high resolution are far more likely to be accepted than those that need illustrations.
The ideal length of a HOPSCOTCH nonfiction piece is 500 words or less, although we are not about to turn down a truly exceptional piece if it is slightly longer than the ideal. We prefer fiction to not run over 1000 words
We will entertain simultaneous submissions as long as that fact is noted on the manuscript. Submissions should be double-spaced.
We will pay a minimum of 5 cents a word for both fiction and nonfiction, with additional payment given if the piece is accompanied by appropriate photos or art. We will pay a minimum of $10 per poem or puzzle, with variable rates offered for games, crafts, cartoons, and the like.
HOPSCOTCH buys first American serial rights and pays upon publication. It welcomes the contributions of both published and unpublished writers. We reserve the right to publish all material from the magazine on our website as a sample of the magazine. This is for display only on a limited time basis. Contributors will be compensated whenever their work is published to generate revenue and not strictly for exposure.
Sample copies can be purchased for $6.00 within the US, $8.00 for Canada and $10.50 for all other countries. All payment must be in US funds. A complimentary copy will be sent each writer who has contributed to a given issue.

Photographers

We use a number of photos, printed in black and white, inside the magazine. These photos support the articles. Payment is $5 per photo.

Artists

Most art will be by assignment, in support of features used. The magazine is anxious to find artists capable of illustrating stories and features and welcomes copies of sample work, which will remain on file. Payment is $35 for full-page illustrations and $25 for partial-page illustrations.

Incidentally

Although we are working far into the future, we occasionally have room for one or two pages.

There's One More Thing

We are always in need of cute and clever recipes, well-written and illustrated crafts, riddles, and jokes.

Email manuscripts to "submissions AT funforkidz DOT com". It is important to include in the subject and body of the e-mail message which of the open issues your story is intended for.

Have files of article reprints that you own but have no clue where to start reselling them? Have ideas for some fantastic new pieces but no idea who might want them? Check out my thick 441-page print book of tips, tricks, and insider information, as well as 384 paying parenting and family markets! You can order "How to Get Published (and Paid!) Writing About Your Kids" on Amazon here.

Sign up for an email subscription to The Published Parent and get two amazing freebies: 10 Parenting Markets That Pay $100+ and 10 Markets That Pay Writers to Write About Writing! And join my Facebook group called Parenting Magazine Writers ... it's FREE and full of tips and tricks and markets and like-minded writer friends!

Woman's Day Magazine Submission Writers Guidelines

Thank you so very much for your interest in writing for Woman's Day. Unfortunately, you are not alone. In fact, you have so much company, and we have such a small cadre of editors, that we have had to develop what you will no doubt find a rather tough policy on unsolicited manuscripts.

This is what you need to know: Our editors work almost exclusively with experienced writers who have clips from major national magazines. As a result, we accept unsolicited manuscripts only from writers with such credentials. There are no exceptions.

If you do have significant national writing experience, and you have an idea or manuscript that you think might interest us, e-mail us at womansday@hearst.com, and please include some of your most recent clips. 

Please note that we cannot guarantee that your submission will be read or commented on; it is by far most likely that we will get in touch with you only if we are interested in pursuing the idea you propose. Please note as well that we said e-mail; hard-copy submissions will not be considered. If you do not yet have the national experience we outlined above, we look forward to hearing from you when you do. We also extend our regret that, should you nevertheless decide to send us a manuscript, we will not have the time to read, comment on or return it.

Essays run about 650 words and they pay $2,000 on acceptance.

Have files of article reprints that you own but have no clue where to start reselling them? Have ideas for some fantastic new pieces but no idea who might want them? Check out my thick 441-page print book of tips, tricks, and insider information, as well as 384 paying parenting and family markets! You can order "How to Get Published (and Paid!) Writing About Your Kids" on Amazon here.

Sign up for an email subscription to The Published Parent and get two amazing freebies: 10 Parenting Markets That Pay $100+ and 10 Markets That Pay Writers to Write About Writing! And join my Facebook group called Parenting Magazine Writers ... it's FREE and full of tips and tricks and markets and like-minded writer friends!

Alaska Parent Magazine Submission Writers Guidelines

Alaska Parent magazine is looking for freelance writers who demonstrate a fresh, engaging writing style and a keen sense of the topics that matter to local parents. Before you pitch a story to us, we recommend you learn more about our publication and get a feel for the type of articles we value and promote.

ABOUT ALASKA PARENT

Alaska Parent is a free, full-color family and parenting magazine, published 4 times per year. As Alaska’s exclusive, all-in-one parenting resource, our readers include parents with children ages newborn through teens, as well as expectant moms. We publish several stories in each issue, from hard-hitting articles on serious topics to pieces designed for fun and entertainment. Our writing tone is easy-to-read and conversational, yet packed with plenty of punch. Through our pages, we want our readers to feel understood, supported and empowered to make healthy parenting and life choices.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We’re looking for lively, well-written stories that cover all stages of parenting. We look for pieces covering local interests, health & wellness, pregnancy & babies, education, travel, hands-on activities, seasonal interests, parental involvement, family fun, as well as “how-to” articles that will make family life easier.

We are currently seeking: 
• Feature stories (800-1,200 words). Must include a local focus, and require, at a minimum, three interviews with local experts and/or parents.

• Short feature stories (500-800 words). Must include a local focus, and require, at a minimum, two interviews with local experts and/or parents.

• Tips (150-600 words). Written in first-person, help make a parent’s life easier by sharing creative ideas and solutions to everyday challenges, including (but not limited to): organization, scheduling, parenting, relationships, traveling, birthdays, holidays and more.

QUERIES

We welcome story pitches, especially from local freelancers. These queries should be emailed toeditor@alaskaparent.com. We do not accept queries through the mail or fax. You may send multiple queries.

Your query should be no more than 4 paragraphs and include:

• What is the focus of the story? A brief summary written in the style of your proposed piece.

• What are some of the key points you will cover and the sources you will interview?

• Answer the "so what?" Why is this story important to our readers? Why should you be the one to tell it?

• What is the anticipated word length?

• If you have not written for us before, include 2-3 writing samples along with your query. Links to online stories are preferable, but PDFs are ok too.

• Include your full mailing address, phone number and email address.

UNSOLICITED ARTICLES

Alaska Parent welcomes unsolicited articles that meet our story requirements. Send the complete article to editor@alaskaparent.com. If we are interested in your article, we will contact you prior to publication to negotiate an acceptable rate and obtain permission for use.

REPRINTS

We are interested in fresh material so reprints are less likely to be accepted. However, you may send us a reprint if you feel it fits perfectly with our magazine. Include the date, previous publisher and what rights they may have to the article. We may ask if we can insert local sources/content. We do require market (Alaska) exclusivity.

RESPONSE TIME

Due to the high volume of queries/submissions and frequencies of our publications, our response time can take several weeks. Often we consider story ideas for several issues and may delay the publication of some stories for seasonal reasons. However, if you do not hear from us after 3 months of your submission, it is safe to assume that we have decided to pass. Please feel free to pitch us a new idea. If your query/submission is accepted, we will email you an acceptance letter that specifies deadline, word count and writer’s fee.

PUBLICATION RIGHTS

With the exception of reprints, we purchase all rights to articles, including the option to republish articles in special editions or post them online at www.AlaskaParent.com. (If you do not want your article to appear on our web site, do not submit it to our magazine.)

PAYMENT

Payment is negotiated per article and depends on the complexity of subject, the length of the article and the writer’s level of professional experience and/or track record writing for us. For original articles, we generally pay $40-$200. For reprints, we generally pay $25-$40; however, authors willing to localize their reprints with interviews with local parents and experts can expect more. If your submission is accepted, you should submit an invoice (within an email is fine) that includes name, address, phone number, name of story and payment amount. Payment shall be due within 30 days after the print date of the publication.

PHOTOS

Photographs grab readers’ attention, so we want to include them whenever possible. If you have photos or leads for photos, please pass that information along as early in the writing process as possible.

EDITORIAL DISCRETION

All submissions are subject to editorial review and approval by Alaska Parent and may be edited for grammar, clarity, brevity and tone. If major revisions are needed, you will be contacted. For reprints, local content/comments may be added. We reserve the right to reject an article at any stage before publication.

Have files of article reprints that you own but have no clue where to start reselling them? Have ideas for some fantastic new pieces but no idea who might want them? Check out my thick 441-page print book of tips, tricks, and insider information, as well as 384 paying parenting and family markets! You can order "How to Get Published (and Paid!) Writing About Your Kids" on Amazon here.

Sign up for an email subscription to The Published Parent and get two amazing freebies: 10 Parenting Markets That Pay $100+ and 10 Markets That Pay Writers to Write About Writing! And join my Facebook group called Parenting Magazine Writers ... it's FREE and full of tips and tricks and markets and like-minded writer friends!

UPDATED Chicken Soup for the Soul Writing Opportunities and Submission Guidelines

Chicken Soup for the Soul has an astounding collection of inspiring books! I remember about 15 years ago when I got the one for mothers for Mother's Day and I still have it, all Post-It noted and highlighted! Click here to check out their possible upcoming books, which you can contribute to! They update it all the time as they publish more and come up with more ideas! Here are some that are coming up!

I Can't Stop Laughing!

We have all had this kind of thing happen. A situation that is not necessarily supposed to be humorous turns into something that makes us laugh. And laugh we do. Out loud! We can’t seem to help ourselves. And if we try not to laugh, that only makes it worse. And if someone says, don’t laugh… well, you know what happens.

We are looking for stories about something that happened to you in your life - in your relationship with a partner or spouse, a parent or child, a family member or friend, at work or at home – that made you and the people around you laugh out loud. Did you mean for it to be funny? Did the other person mean to make you laugh? Did a situation just get out of control? Did a misunderstanding turn into a comedy of errors? We can’t wait to hear your true stories. We want them to be silly, outrageous and hilarious, and they absolutely must make us laugh!

Here are some suggested topics but we know you can think of many more:

Stop laughing. That’s not funny!
I love you but… really?
I thought you said…
Compulsions
Obsessions
Annoying habits
Embarrassing moments
Wedding mishaps
Funeral foul-ups
Holiday meltdowns
Kitchen/dinner party disasters
Family foibles
Zany vacations
Moving-day mayhem
Good intentions gone wrong

**Please submit your story or poem using your real name but if your work is selected to be published in the book, we expect many of you to use a pen name and/or change the names of the people in your story to protect the innocent (or guilty!).

The deadline date for story and poem submissions is JULY 31, 2019 

Stories about Christmas

Everyone loves holiday stories and our contributors write great ones. They are so good that we create a new edition for the holiday season every year. We are now collecting stories for our HOLIDAY 2020 book and we are looking for stories about the entire December holiday season, including Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, and New Year’s festivities too.

We want to hear about your holiday memories and traditions. The rituals of the holiday season give a rhythm to the years and create a foundation for our lives, as we gather with family, with our communities at church, at school, and even at the mall, to share the special spirit of the season, brightening those long winter days. Please share your special stories about the holiday season with us. Be sure that they are “Santa safe” so that we don’t spoil the magic for precocious readers!

Here are some suggested topics, but we know you can think of many more:

• The True Meaning of the Holidays
• Holiday Traditions
• Memories of the Holiday Season
• The Love of Family
• Family Reunions
• Holiday Humor
• Gift Giving
• Gift Receiving
• Regifting
• Decorating
• Eat, Eat, Eat... and Be Merry
• Christmas Through the Eyes of a Child
• Christmas Through the Eyes of Your Pets!
• Here Comes Santa Claus
• Things that went wrong!
• Holiday food and traditions
• The weird things your family does
• Funny anecdotes
• ... and any other stories you would like to share

If we published your story in a previous Christmas book please do not submit it again. We will not publish it. If you submitted a story and we did not publish it and it will fit in this book, please do submit it again.

The deadline date for story and poem submissions is JANUARY 30, 2020. 

Stories about Miracles

Miracles do happen each and every day. Everyone has experienced events in their lives that cause wonder and astonishment and give them hope for a better future. Why did these things happen? Is there an explanation? Or did these things seem to happen for no reason at all?

We are looking for true stories of no more than 1,200 words for this multi-faith book that will awe you with examples of amazing events and unexplained happenings. Share your inspirational stories with us to remind us that each day holds hope and to never give up. A miracle can happen at any time.

Here are some suggested topics but we know you can think of many more:

• Everyday miracles
• Dreams and premonitions
• Miraculous healings or recoveries
• Visions and revelations
• When something, against all odds, worked out
• Unexplained happenings
• Amazing coincidences
• Near misses and astonishing luck
• Stories that make you say, “you’re not going to believe what just happened…”
• Stories that have people exclaiming “really?!!!” when they finish reading them

If you submitted a story for a previous book title and we DID NOT publish it, please submit it again if you think it will fit in this title. If we have already published your story in a previous Chicken Soup for the Soul book, please do not submit it to us again. We do not republish stories that we have already published.

The DEADLINE DATE for story and poem submissions has been extended to JUNE 30, 2019. 

The Forgiveness Fix

Have you ever noticed how forgiving someone frees you to move on with your life? You don’t have to forget or condone something that happened, but for your own wellbeing you have to move past your anger. It can be a major decision, something really big like forgiving someone who caused a major negative event in your life, especially if you feel you were seriously wronged. Or it can be something minor like forgiving a rude driver who cut you off.

We are looking for stories that will show our readers how forgiving someone or being forgiven by someone changed your life in a positive way. Were you able to reestablish a relationship after forgiving or being forgiven? Did letting go of your hurt feelings heal you and bring you a sense of peace? Help others find the same resolution by sharing your story.


• Making the decision to forgive
• Setting yourself free by forgiving
• Apologizing if you were the one who caused the hurt
• Letting go of anger and resentment
• Adjusting your attitude
• Healing and compassion
• That first step - reestablishing contact
• Working it out
• Helping someone else forgive – how you did it

The DEADLINE DATE for story and poems submissions has been EXTENDED TO JUNE 30, 2019. 

The Golden Years or Second Wind

So, you’re a certain age now, and you’re ready for what’s next. You might be enjoying an empty nest, or starting a second career, or winding down a first one. You might be downsizing, or traveling, or caring for elderly parents.

You might be going on the adventure of a lifetime or taking long walks in the woods. The one thing you know for sure is that you’re not ready to stop living! You feel energetic and young and there is still so much more to see and do and give and enjoy.

We are looking for stories about the humorous or serious sides of life after 60. Here are some suggested topics but we know you can think of many more:

• Time for a new career
• Trying new things
• Bucket lists and adventure
• Volunteering and mentoring
• Exercising and sports
• Sports cars!
• New love interests
• Internet dating
• The wisdom of age
• New passions
• Raising grandchildren… or still raising grown children!
• Moving to a new place
• Moving to an active retirement community
• Taking the time to do what you’ve always wanted to do
• Handling loss and illness
• Caring for elderly parents
• Using new technology
• Reinventing yourself, in big ways and small
• Handling a spouse’s retirement or new career
• Travel
• Downsizing and moving
• Divorce and recovery

The DEADLINE DATE for story and poem submissions has been extended to June 30, 2019. 

"If the story or poem you wrote is published by us, you will be paid $200 upon publication of the book plus you will receive ten free copies of the book your story or poem appears in."

We have many Chicken Soup for the Soul books in development and we frequently add new titles. If you have a great story or poem you want to submit but it doesn’t fit with any of the topics below, please save it and check this page again in the future to see if we have added a topic that’s a better match.

If you have a story or poem that you think fits two of the topics below, you may submit it to both. Then let us know in the Comments section that you’ve done so. Also, you may submit more than one piece for each book.

We are always looking for new talent. So whether you are a regular contributor or new to our family, please share your story or poem with us. If this is your first time, please visit our Story Guidelines page, which will answer many of your questions about subject matter, length, and style.

Have files of article reprints that you own but have no clue where to start reselling them? Have ideas for some fantastic new pieces but no idea who might want them? Check out my thick 441-page print book of tips, tricks, and insider information, as well as 384 paying parenting and family markets! You can order "How to Get Published (and Paid!) Writing About Your Kids" on Amazon here.

Sign up for an email subscription to The Published Parent and get two amazing freebies: 10 Parenting Markets That Pay $100+ and 10 Markets That Pay Writers to Write About Writing! And join my Facebook group called Parenting Magazine Writers ... it's FREE and full of tips and tricks and markets and like-minded writer friends!

The Art and Business of Writing by Chris Jones

Loved this book. So much helpful advice. Perfect size ... not too long and not too short. It even went beyond where I am in my career right now and took it to business cards and web hosting (I just use free Blogger and have for about 10 years) advice.

Here are some takeaways for me personally, and I have been writing for publication since about 2006 and ebooks since 2009. I know you'll get something great out of this book no matter how long you've been in the business!

• Check out the Pomodoro timer in your phone's app store. Interesting to see how much work I was actually getting done versus how much time I THOUGHT I was spending working. It was much less, actually. Here's my post about discovering this helpful app!

• This book made me realize that it would be doable for me to write 500 words per day if I made room in my life for that and did it first, BEFORE sitting down to my proofreading jobs. It's all about priorities.

• The book is about the Art + Business of writing. To me that's like being good at English + Math, you know? You can't be all about the art of it ... because you also have to worry about record keeping, collections, getting clients, marketing and so much more!

• Who is my reader? What do I hope they will learn and how will I help them? Like with my cookbooks, that's easy. And same for my book about making money to write for magazines. But my parenting Christmas and Halloweens? Kinda general and might need to be reworked into a more general holidays-with-kids book that's more focused on solutions.

• Am I writing for them or for me? You have to somewhat write for yourself. Like most of my parenting articles were for me and same for the tater tot cookbook and even the magazine book I published was so I could compile all my markets, but then I wrote all the tips in the beginning for the reader! I put all the tater tot recipes in one place so I would have them for myself, but then I spiced them up and created more and added desserts! This gets me so excited to work on my other 8 projects I want to do, like this one!

What are some helpful things that work for you in your life as a writer?

Have files of article reprints that you own but have no clue where to start reselling them? Have ideas for some fantastic new pieces but no idea who might want them? Check out my thick 441-page print book of tips, tricks, and insider information, as well as 384 paying parenting and family markets! You can order "How to Get Published (and Paid!) Writing About Your Kids" on Amazon here.

Sign up for an email subscription to The Published Parent and get two amazing freebies: 10 Parenting Markets That Pay $100+ and 10 Markets That Pay Writers to Write About Writing! And join my Facebook group called Parenting Magazine Writers ... it's FREE and full of tips and tricks and markets and like-minded writer friends!

UPDATED Highlights for Children Magazine Submission Writers Guidelines

*Update 4/5/19: Highlights magazine is closed for a reading period from June 1 through August 31, 2019. Any submissions received during this time period will be declined. 

We do not accept work through Submittable (or through e-mail) from writers younger than 16. Young writers and artists may send their work to: Highlights for Children, 803 Church Street, Honesdale, PA 18431. 

Highlights is a general-interest magazine for children ages 6-12. By publishing stories, puzzles, articles, and activities that are fun and engaging, we aim to inspire kids to be their best selves–creative, curious, caring, and confident. Highlights was founded in 1946 by Dr. Garry Cleveland Myers and Caroline Clark Myers, and is still owned and run by their family. The magazine accepts no outside advertising and has no religious or organizational affiliation. Highlights has a circulation of about a million and is published monthly.

Please upload only one manuscript or query per submission. We welcome multiple submissions, but we prefer that each be submitted separately.

• We encourage writers to read several recent copies of Highlights before submitting work.
• We pay on acceptance, and we buy all rights, including copyright. We do not consider previously published material.
• We accept material at any time of the year, including seasonal material.
• For submissions that require research, please include references, interview transcripts or notes, correspondence with experts, and any other pertinent backup.
• Please submit each manuscript only once, to the most appropriate magazine (Highlights, High Five, or Hello), keeping in mind the different age ranges.
• Please note that after declining a submission, we delete your manuscript file. In this way, you can be assured that we are not keeping or storing creative work that we have not purchased.  

Crafts and Activities

Crafts and activities (including recipes, science experiments, and engineering projects) should have concise, numbered directions, around 4 to 6 steps. Please submit step-by-step photos of a well-made sample of the project.

Materials should be inexpensive and easy to obtain.

Crafts and recipes that celebrate holidays and religious traditions are welcome.

Current Needs

• Crafts from various cultures that include a few contextual sentences that have been reviewed by an expert
• Games kids can make
• STEM activities
• Interesting, easy- to intermediate-level recipes

Payment: $40 and up

Puzzles   

Instructions should be concise. Playful themes and language are welcome.

Current Needs

• We need all kinds of puzzles at this time–word puzzles, visual puzzles, code puzzles, logic puzzles, and so on.
• We especially need math puzzles that are fun and don't feel like schoolwork. For example, they might include a payoff or some enticing tidbit that makes kids want to solve the puzzle.
• Because we don't encourage kids to write in the magazine, we do not buy crossword or sudoku puzzles, word searches, and so on.

Payment: $40 and up

My Sci submissions

Current Needs

Photo-based features

Queries should include the topic, the angle you plan to take, and the credentials of an expert you plan to ask for a review.

Subject should lend itself well to a great photo–science "eye-candy"–to intrigue young readers. Photos do not need to be provided by the author, but the author should consider how the text might drive the choice of photo. (For example, if text about a beehive focuses on what happens inside the hive, we may not be able to find the required strong, quality image of a hive’s interior.)

If the query receives a favorable response, please follow these guidelines:

• Word limit: 100-175, which includes a short introductory paragraph and four or five full-sentence image labels. Text should have a tight focus. Labels should not merely name parts of a subject but should tell about the science involved.
• Expert review required. (Tip: You might locate potential reviewers by contacting authors of pertinent peer-reviewed research papers.)
• We especially need non-animal subjects at this time.

Payment: $75 and up

Nonfiction Articles

We are accepting only detailed queries at this time. Queries should include the proposed topic and focus as well as a list of sources and potential interview subjects.

If the query receives a favorable response, please follow these guidelines:

• Articles for beginning readers should have fewer than 400 words. 
• Articles for independent readers should have fewer than 700 words.
• We prefer research based on firsthand experience, consultation with experts, and primary sources.
• Articles about cultural traditions and ways of life should reflect a deep understanding of the subject.
• We prefer biographies that are rich in quotes and anecdotes and that place the subject in a historical or cultural context.
• Digital images, if included, should be no less than 300 dpi.

Payment: $175 and up

Fiction

Stories should have an engaging plot, strong characterization, a specific setting, and lively language.

Stories for beginning readers should have fewer than 475 words and should not seem babyish to older readers.

Stories for independent readers should have fewer than 750 words and should be appealing to younger readers if read aloud.

Graphic (comic-book format) stories should have fewer than 400 words. In addition, they might include ideas for panel breaks and basic art notes.

Current Needs

• historical fiction set during periods other than World War II
• graphic (comic-book format) stories
• humorous stories
• fantasy stories
• mystery stories
• stories set in countries outside the United States. (We currently do not need stories that focus on food traditions.)
• We welcome holiday stories. We especially need Thanksgiving, Easter, Passover, and Hanukkah stories at this time. We do not need Christmas or Halloween stories.

Payment: $175 and up

Please note: Highlights magazine is not currently holding fiction contests. Any manuscripts we receive for that purpose will be reviewed as regular submissions to Highlights.

Verse  

Current Needs

• We are currently in need of short verse (up to 10 lines), especially non-rhyming and/or humorous poetry.
• We are not accepting poems with nature or seasonal themes or poems about dogs at this time.

Payment: $40 and up

Cartoons 

Cartoons can be single-panel or multiple-panel, black-and-white or full-color, with or without a caption, and with either human or animal characters.

Current Needs

• Cartoons that are fresh, original, and geared to kids.
• We do not need cartoons with adult characters at this time.

Payment: $40 and up for black-and-white; $50 and up for full-color

Submit here.

For more tips and information of interest to writers, visit www.HighlightsFoundation.org.

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