Parenting Journalists Conference March 12-13, 2021 (online)

 Do you want to:

• Connect with editors of top parenting publications,

• Discover a community of writers who make a good living doing what they love, and 

• Learn insider secrets to landing an agent and more? 

Register today for the live, online Parenting Journalists Conference on March 12-13 and unlock a package that includes interactive workshops and networking opportunities, roundtable conversations, master classes, and access to a private Facebook group. 

Apply to Write for Redbook's The Mix, Their Brand-New Contributor Network

 For general Redbook submission guidelines, see this post.

The following is from Redbook's brand-new contributor network, The Mix:

Have you ever wanted to write for a major women's magazine? Now you can! Join The Mix, our contributor network, and you'll have the opportunity to write for RedbookMag.com, as well as Cosmopolitan.com, WomansDay.com, GoodHousekeeping.com, and ELLE.com. Whether you're a professional writer, avid blogger, or someone with a great story to tell, we're interested in sharing your voice with our readers.

If you'd like to be considered for The Mix, you can find more information right here. Every day, you'll receive an assignments email that includes story topics created by our editors. You can submit stories on as many assignments as you'd like, and if we publish your work, you'll get paid!

This is a great opportunity to have your work published on some of the world's best websites. If you're interested, check out the link above and be sure to send writing samples to themix@hearst.com.

MORE FROM REDBOOK

Studies Show That Father-Daughter Relationships Are Very Important Throughout A Girl’s Life

We've already published some amazing stories from contributors. Here are a few examples of stories that were written by members of The Mix:

Things You Should Never Say to a Woman Who Doesn't Want Kids

I Never Expected to Be a Stay-at-Home Mom

I'm 99% Mother and 1% Wife - And It Has to Be That Way

Why I Finally Broke Up With My Best Friend

9 Thinks You Should Never Say To A Divorced Woman

If you want to share your experiences, insights, and personal stories, this is your chance. Apply to join The Mix today!

Coming soon! The Write Anywhere Series

Coming Spring 2021 and only available as an instant-download PDF for $7.00! Start a new career for about the cost of a fancy coffee and a muffin!

Curious about the other books in the series?

Book 1: How to Write for Parenting Magazines will be available for $7.00.

Book 3: 101 National & Online Parenting Writing Markets will be available for $7.00.

Book 4: The Workbook will be available for $7.00.

You can get the BUNDLE for just $20.00.

Do You Need an Editor or a Proofreader? There is a Difference!

Did you know that there is a difference between an editor and a proofreader? 

My job as proofreader/copyeditor does not entail developmental editing, or hard editing to include rearranging of text. I will always, however, create a comment in the document if I catch an inconsistency or have a question about the text as a reader. 

To see the different types of editors/proofreaders and what they normally charge (hint: my service is a steal!), head here to Dave Chesson's article "The Mastery Guide to Selecting an Editor" on his Kindlepreneur page.

You don't need to ask me what my rate is because I freely share that information right here on this very blog post.

How to Get Started as a #Proofreader on #Fiverr

To get started as a proofreader on Fiverr, you start by signing up. It's free to do this, and I'd love it if you'd use my referral code to do so.

Check out the Writing/Translation section, then Proofreading, on Fiverr to see what others are doing as far as gig offerings … how many words will they proofread for $5 (remember you only get $4 of that)? How fast is their turnaround? How fast can you turn something out? I started out proofing 3,000 words for $5 and got busy but wasn’t making good money at all. Now that I have many more years of experience, I was able to raise my price to $5 for 500 words.

Then fill in a wonderful profile with your photo and information about yourself. Check out other profiles to see what others have written. If you'd like to see my profile and gigs, I am here.

After your profile is polished, create a gig. You can create as many gigs as you like. I believe you have to wait 30 days to be able to offer Gig Extras like charging more for extra fast delivery, proofreading more words, accepting a tip, etc.

Offer, for instance, to proof 1,000 words for $5. Can you do that in about 15 minutes? Good! Then you’ll be making double minimum wage in America while working from home (just don't forget taxes)! You can offer to proofread large projects or stick with small ones. You can adjust your delivery time if you get swamped.

Yes, there are tons of other proofers on Fiverr, so you have to stand out. Make a video to go with your gig and make sure you say your price is “exclusively on Fiverr” or it will be rejected.

Use social media, friends, anything you can think of, to promote your gig.

It's rare that I just do a job for $5. Mostly I'm doing much larger jobs and creating custom offers for those jobs. I have acquired many clients who return to me to proofread their book projects, some of which are quite large.

Please use the comments section to ask me any questions I may have forgotten to answer and I will update this post accordingly.

Check out this post on 9 places you can find a job as a proofreader! And please check out this post All About Making Money on Fiverr.

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.

Proofreading Jobs from Home: 20 Places to Get You Started + Income Potential

I have met many writers and published parents who are also passionate about editing and proofreading, so this post is for you! I work primarily on Fiverr, and I have received almost 3,000 positive reviews since I started in 2013. 

Benefits for me include:

* Being able to work from home and homeschool! 

* Being able to pick up and travel with my family and make money while we're away from the house. 

* Not having a boss.

* Not working in a cubicle anymore.

If you want to join Fiverr just to check it out and possibly sign up to do your own proofreading jobs from home, please use my referral code!

Here's what I have come up with so you can also enjoy this kind of lifestyle. The first two services I am not familiar with because I just haven't had the time to dive into them. They are reputable sites that ask for a proofreading test or sample, but I hear competition can be fierce, and I'm not about underbidding my services!

Happy Mama Publishing/The Published Parent 2020 Income Report

Welcome to my 2020 income report. I love knowing how others are doing in my industry, and I enjoy sharing my own successes and challenges. I hope this inspires you in some way!

Confused about Happy Mama Publishing and The Published Parent? Happy Mama Publishing is my entire at-home or on-the-go business name to include proofreading, articles, my own books, and blogs (and sometimes Door Dashing). The Published Parent is this site with all its writing helps and hacks.

Keep scrolling to see the details of my 2020 income report in a much larger format!

November 2020 Work-at-Home Income Report for The Published Parent: $3,458

The McLoughlin household rocked and rolled in November — and I wish the same for you!

I am still blessed to be able to work from home proofreading, blogging, writing articles, and writing books and to be able to do it in my sweatpants or swimsuit, out on the deck or at the dining room table, at my house or traveling with my kids and husband for his work to places like Wyoming, Arizona, Texas, Chicago, Florida, and more. 

I like to share my income from home with you to show you that I am a real person with real challenges and successes. No, it is not a full-time income, but I am not aiming for that. I am thankful and grateful that my husband has a good job, and my main job is homeschooling. Words are my part-time job for now. When the kids are grown, I foresee working more hours with my word career and helping to pay for travel and retirement. But that's at least 10 years away :-)

And if you are interested in making money working from home by being on the Fiverr platform, please use my referral link! As far as work from home jobs go, this has been one that I have loved since 2013! Check out my November 2020 income below!

The Art and Business of Writing by Chris Jones

Loved this book (The Art & Business of Writing) by the man who is also the editor at Fredericksburg Parent & Family Magazine. Here's the piece I wrote for them on how to raise a resilient child.

There is so much helpful advice in this book, and it's the 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 12 years) advice.

October 2020 Work-at-Home Income Report for The Published Parent: $2,770

The McLoughlin household rocked and rolled in October — and I wish the same for you!

I am still blessed to be able to work from home proofreading, blogging, writing articles, and writing books and to be able to do it in my sweatpants or swimsuit, out on the deck or at the dining room table, at my house or traveling with my kids and husband for his work to places like Wyoming, Arizona, Texas, Chicago, Florida, and more. 

I like to share my income from home with you to show you that I am a real person with real challenges and successes. No, it is not a full-time income, but I am not aiming for that. I am thankful and grateful that my husband has a good job, and my main job is homeschooling. Words are my part-time job for now. When the kids are grown, I foresee working more hours with my word career and helping to pay for travel and retirement. But that's at least 10 years away :-)

October earnings: $2,770

Proofreading: $1,718

Blogging: $745

Magazine articles: $170

DoorDash: $97

Book sales: $40

If you're interested, this post shows my Third Quarter 2020 Income.

And if you are interested in making money working from home by being on the Fiverr platform, please use my referral link! As far as work from home jobs go, this has been one that I have loved since 2013!

What am I currently working on? Well, I'm working on the Write Anywhere series Book 2 right now and hoping to get it out very soon. Then I'll work on the other books in the series, to include national markets, a how-to stand-alone book, and a workbook (and later, writing markets for teens to break into, as well as women's writing markets). What are you working on?

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.

Writing for Regional Parenting Magazines and Selling Reprints: My 182 Publishing Credits

Do you want to write parenting and family articles and get paid to do so? I know there are a lot of parents out there doing the job every day, thinking, "I should write about this. I wonder if others struggle with this. I could help someone with my story or with a researched article about this topic. I could learn some cool things in the process of helping others and making money!"

I had those same thoughts back in 2005-ish when I had my third baby and was in the trenches of the parenting battlefield. I cracked open my local parenting magazine after snagging it at the local children's consignment shop, sent something to them about stocking up on meals instead of going grocery shopping daily, and I made a fast 25 bucks.

Then I wondered if I could maybe send the same piece to other magazines in other cities. Did they only want local content or would they take my little evergreen piece?

2020 Third Quarter Kick-Ass Income Report

Writer friends, the McLoughlin household is healthy and happy and ready to head into a prosperous Q4 2020 (October, November, and December) — and I wish the same for you! (October's monthly income is posted now, so check it out!)

Third quarter ended well, even though I was also homeschooling, running a household, joined committee at the homeschool co-op, and my husband was working from home. 

I am still blessed to be able to work from home proofreading, blogging, writing articles, and writing books and to be able to do it in my sweatpants or swimsuit, out on the deck or at the dining room table, at my house or traveling with my kids and husband for his work to places like Wyoming, Arizona, Texas, Chicago, Florida, and more. 

In fact, we just got back from a lovely 11 days in Nashville, TN, Charleston, SC, and Savannah, GA!

I like to share my income with you to show you that I am a real person with real challenges and successes. No, it is not a full-time income, but I am not aiming for that. I am thankful and grateful that my husband has a good job, and my main job is homeschooling. Words are my part-time job for now. When the kids are grown, I foresee working more hours with my word career and helping to pay for travel and retirement. But that's at least 10 years away :-)

See you back here on January 1st, 2021! And if you want to work on Fiverr, please use my referral link!

QUARTERLY ONLINE INCOME
3Q 2020 INCOME
TOTAL: $5,495

Proofreading: $2,433

Blogging: $1,986

Magazine Articles: $634

Self-published Books: $37

Door Dash: $405

What am I currently working on? Well, I'm working on the Write Anywhere series Book 2 right now and hoping to get it out very soon. Then I'll work on the other books in the series, to include national markets, a how-to stand-alone book, and a workbook. What are you working on?

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.

My Love-Hate Relationship with Scrivener

I got Scrivener back in the spring when the lockdown was first in effect and I was surprised and happy about the reasonable price. Many of my favorite writers rave about this program, so I had to give it a shot.

While I do love how I can organize and move around chapters easily without much scrolling, I hate a few things even more, which are huge time-wasters in my writing career:

1. I can't make the screen bigger without making the font bigger like you can in, say, an Internet browser when you increase the screen print size.
2. I can't do a search. At least I could never get it to work, so trying to find one market name in a sea of 230 market names was not possible.
3. When I compile into a Word document so I can do final proofreading, Scrivener has randomly smooshed words together and randomly messed up formatting, which wastes a lot of time. So my text might look like this:

Writer's guidelines canbe found on thewebsite.

I am also a proofreader on Fiverr and have been since 2013. I used to get so frustrated when book projects would come to me for proofreading as shown above quite often: it's because a writer has put their trust in Scrivener and exported, then sent it straight to me. And when I receive it, it's a formatting nightmare with words smashed together and extra spaces inserted.

If you can overlook these things, give it a go. If you can't, just keep using Microsoft Word like I do. Shrug. I'd love to hear from Scrivener to find out what I'm doing wrong and if this happens to anyone else. 

Update December 2020: I went through the manual and tried many different ways to compile my book into a document that was how it should be (including hyperlinks). Doing "Custom" then choosing the "Times 12 pt" option from above and the "RTF" format from below worked the best, but there were still the smooshed words and missing periods and extra spaces in every single file I compiled, no matter how I compiled it. I went back to the original Scrivener document to see if the mistake originated with me, but nope. GLITCH.

Update: I got this in my email inbox recently so I'll definitely let them know what I like and don't like. I'm truly hoping these are easy fixes for a programmer and that I can go back to Scrivener with open arms and lots of writing ideas!