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.

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!

The Published Parent/The Kerrie Show Summer Reading Lists 2020

I am a firm believer in the idea that you become a better writer through reading. When I'm deep into a great memoir, I might be doing dishes sometime and start thinking of great ways to write my own life in words, sentences, paragraphs, and chapters.

Check out the summer reading list 2020 from my blog I started in 2008, The Kerrie Show. It's quite a hodge-podge of genres and authors. Then look for fall and winter reading lists as well!

Let's be Goodreads friends!

Working from Home During a Pandemic: Perspective, Positive, Productive!

Writer friends, it has never been a better time to work from home! When all this COVID-19 stuff hit, my life didn't change all that much. We have been homeschoolers since 2006, and I've been working from home since my first child was born in 2001. Still, there are challenges for me as well. I hope this post helps you keep things in perspective, stay positive, and remain PRODUCTIVE, where you have kids and/or a spouse at home during the time or not!

My family went from 60 to 0 in a matter of days. My husband had been working in Kuwait (non-military) for 7 weeks, and we were ready for him to come back on March 19. However, on March 12 some big changes started happening, and he had to get on a flight fast. So by Friday night we had my husband home on self-quarantine for who knows how long, and you know the rest (everything is cancelled or closed!).

I found myself checking for updates and closings CONSTANTLY instead of using all the glorious free time to do all the things I had always wanted to do as far as writing, organizing, reading, playing games with the kids, going on nature hikes with the family, etc. Instead, the biggest thing on my mind was, "I don't own hand sanitizer but we have enough toilet paper; should I buy more canned goods and why?"

STRUCTURE is important! I am not that mom who has the perfect daily schedule going on, but there is a sort of laid-back structure to our days, meaning after each kids wakes up, they have breakfast and chill before I start the homeschool day. The time might change every day, but it's a routine at least. My family knows lunch is around 1-2 (and we read at the table) and dinner is around 6-7, so we plan everything else around that, including my work.

Now that schools are closing all over the place, you'll want to get some structure/routine going for your kids so you all know that, for instance, from 7-9 every morning it's WORK TIME FOR MOM OR DAD. And that at 7 p.m. dinner is over and the kids can have screen time while you get another couple of hours of work in.

Here's some Help for the Non-Homeschooler!

PLAN your days. I recently got my first Passion Planner and it really helps me stay on track. I try to plan things in 30-minute or 1-hour increments. I write in pencil, though, so I can easily change things, like if the kids are up for an impromptu game of One Night Ultimate Werewolf. Planning includes creating a MEAL PLAN, a HOMESCHOOL PLAN (my kids are older so I can assign them things in Homeschool Tracker and print out a sheet per kid, clipped to a clipboard), and a CHORE CHART. Here's my homemade chore and toothbrushing chart from back in the day. The more independent your kids are, the more you can get done during your work day.

BE UNINFORMED and AT PEACE part of the day. Turn off the news and all social media for a set period of time daily. Checking on your computer, on your television, on your phone, etc. every five minutes doesn't do anything but fuel anxiety and depression. I consider myself to be a very happy person, but this thing has got me depressed just because of all the changes that are happening so quickly. I'm sad for those who are stuck inside, sad for those who are lonely, sad for those who won't have a lot of contact with anyone for quite a while other than getting groceries.

EXERCISE and FRESH AIR. Take a walk with or without your family. Meet up with a neighbor and walk on opposite sides of the street.

READ a book you've been wanting to read for a long time but were too busy to dive into. Read a book to your kids. Check out Read-Aloud Revival! This is a great way to relax your brain and get ideas for writing projects! Same goes for watching a MOVIE. Check out Scribd for a free trial of ebooks and audiobooks. We love the audiobooks for when we're in the car and also bedtime when I'm just too tired to read. It's also a great way for the kids to learn independently while you're trying to work.

Go for a DRIVE. Is there a drive-through open where you can maybe get a quick treat, a soda, something comforting? You went for a walk, so you get some extra comfort calories! (I'm on Weight Watchers, so I'm an expert LOL)

STAY CONNECTED. Get the Marco Polo app and encourage your loved ones to do the same. It's like FaceTime meets messaging. With the time difference from Kuwait to Kansas City being 9 hours, my husband and I used this quite a bit. And with my parents and grandparents being in self-quarantine, it's nice to be able to see their faces when it's convenient for everyone.

BE ALONE. If you're feeling nutty or salty, get out for a drive alone to catch up on Marco Polo messages, listen to podcasts or audiobooks, sing along to loud music, pray, hunt toilet paper.

ORGANIZE. If it makes you feel more in control, set a timer for 30 minutes or an hour and just organize/declutter an area that has been bothering you. Check out my Linen Closet Door Organizer and my Sheet and Pillowcase Storage in a Linen Closet.

REST. Yes, it's okay to rest. You can't work 16 hours a day; it's not healthy (and our health is even more important right now)! I used to feel sooo guilty when I would lay down with some Netflix for half an hour or lay by the pool, but it's perfectly fantastic to take some time off each day to rest body and brain. When you have time to just THINK, some great writing ideas come up! Also, it makes you a nicer, happier person in general.

My hope is that some of these ideas make you feel better (less anxious, more hopeful, better rested), as well as more creative. Stay healthy :-)

*This post contains a referral link for Passion Planner.

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.

Dads Can Write for Parenting Magazines Too!

What do you picture when you think of a parenting and family magazine writer? A woman sitting around in her jammies, laptop in front of her, while kids run underfoot? Or that same writer dropping her kids off at school then going home to write and take care of the house?

It does appear for now that the parenting and family market is dominated by females, but there are plenty of heartfelt and funny and dead-on awesome writers in this niche who also happen to be fathers! Here's why I think dads do great in this market:

Perspective
Dads have such a unique perspective, that's for sure. Something that would send me to the doctor to seek out a Xanax prescription has my husband saying, "The kids are fine!" And they are. Mostly :-)

Grit

Where I feel guilty having the kids help me with chores sometimes (they have so much homework plus activities!), my husband has no problem asking them to pitch in. And they do. Happily. As they have grown into teenagers who volunteer in the community and at church, and gladly help out on our 8 acres, I see he had a point.

Many magazines actively seek out submissions from fathers for just these reasons. They love the stories dads tell about parenting, whether poignant or humorous.

Write-at-home Dads
The stay-at-home dad is becoming more common, and so it would follow that we have the write-at-home dad making his appearance in magazines around the world more often! We also have dads who write in their free time ... late at night, early in the morning, dictating into their phones during a commute, etc.

Check out Patrick Hempfing here. And a fabulous guest blog post by him on my site here.

Here's William R. Bartlett from my own local Kansas City Parent.

The Published Parent 2019 Income Report

Writer friends, the McLoughlin household is healthy and happy and ready for 2020 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 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 8 years away :-)

Frederick's Child Magazine Acquired by Mid-Atlantic Media

As of August 20, 2019, Frederick's Child is now owned by Mid-Atlantic Media, who also run Baltimore's Child and Washington Family.

Did you know that you can write one article and sell it again for money to dozens of different magazines all over the world? And yes, the editors know we are doing this. It’s not a secret, just something that's not very well known. Check out my resource with 600 markets! (use promo code PPBLOG20 for 20% off) You can order "TheMother of All Writing Market Books" here.

Write for 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. 

Write for 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.

Write for Narratively -- Submission Writers Guidelines

Just got this information in my Parenting Magazine Writers Facebook group from one of our writers. She's going to be working as a guest editor for Narratively, "a digital publication focused on ordinary people with extraordinary stories." Amazing news!

She's looking for "first-person stories in the parenting space or hybrid first-person/reported. I'm also looking for other stories, so it doesn't need to be parenting-related. Stories should be framed around active, narrative scenes. I need drafts of first-person stories and will consider pitches for reported. Looking for quirky, weird experiences (not anecdotes or think pieces) that transformed you or shifted your perception in some way."

Kerrie McLoughlin's Books

First things first! If you're interested in learning about my unique self-publishing journey, just click here.

FULLY UPDATED with recipe descriptions/stories and meal planning advice in general plus more desserts and a new tater tot recipe!

What could be better than 35 tater tot casserole recipes all in one place? In addition to the naughty versions like Bacon Ranch, Fully Loaded, Buffalo Bleu Cheese, Chicken Alfredo and all sorts of other happy deliciousness, this amazing cookbook also contains dairy-free, skinny, gluten-free and vegetarian options for those times you want to (or have to!) eat in a more healthy manner!

And of course you have to top off a tater tot casserole meal with one of the 13 bonus easy dessert recipes, including Chocolate Suicide, Tutu's Chocolate Stars, Mock Apple Pie and Heavenly Sinful Bars. Your family will love you for this!

These recipes will have your family asking for seconds!

P.S. Make it for dinner, then heat it up in a pan with scrambled eggs in the morning for leftover delight!

 Head to Amazon here to purchase the ebook or print version.

Your Writing Journey: Keep Driving by Patrick Hempfing

Keep Driving

By Patrick Hempfing

http://patrickhempfing.com

            In June 2011, I attended Southeastern Writers Association’s (SWA) annual conference on St. Simons Island, my first writers conference.  A little over an hour into the trip, about halfway to my destination, Mr. Doubt visited. 

What are you doing?  Don’t you know you’ll be surrounded by writers with talent?  Catch the next exit and go home? 

            After a 20-year career in banking, accounting, and auditing, with college degrees in accounting and management, I had traded in my business suit and briefcase for an apron and diaper bag.  When my daughter began Pre-K, I, a stay-at-home dad since her birth, attempted to turn my writing into a career, while having flexible hours to maximize time with family.

            Prior to attending my first SWA conference, I had completed a manuscript, but was unsuccessful in landing a publisher or literary agent for it.  I should have attended the writers’ conference sooner. 

In addition to a fantastic learning experience and meeting new friends, I left the conference with an idea for a monthly column.  My hopes of earning a few publishing credits turned into a little business.  From September 2011 to January 2018, my monthly column, “MoMENts,” was published over 500 times in regional parenting magazines across the United States and Canada, and Tribune publications, including the Chicago Tribune, Orlando Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, Carroll County Times, and Capital Gazette.

To date, “MoMENts” has been published in 23 states and two Canadian provinces.  In addition to attending writing conferences these past years, another source that helped me publish my columns was Kerrie McLoughlin’s Make Money to Write About Your Kids.

            But the story gets even better.  In 2016, I compiled my monthly columns, added new material, and published my first book, MoMENts:  A Dad Holds On, a great gift for mothers and fathers.  At the 2018 Royal Palm Literary Award Competition, a contest sponsored by the Florida Writers Association, MoMENts:  A Dad Holds On took Second Place in the General Catch-All Category.

            Since my book’s release, I’ve also spoken at libraries, my daughter’s school, and the SWA conference.  Another highlight of my writing career occurred this past September in Orlando when I was honored to be the closing speaker at the National At-Home Dad Network’s annual conference.

            Could the journey get more exciting?  When my daughter was nine, one of my writing friends (Yes, I met her at SWA) suggested I write a column with my daughter, with each of us sharing our perspective on a topic – Dad’s view versus the tween’s perspective.  Up to this point, my “MoMENts” column had shared the joys and challenges of being a stay-at-home dad from the father’s perspective only.

            Last February, my daughter and I debuted our co-authored column, “Tween Daughter and Dad.”  After one year, our joint column has been published 38 times in 11 publications, spanning 7 states.    

Will my daughter and I make a lot of money from our co-authored column?  Though she negotiated a sweet deal for how we split revenue, our chances of earning a ton of money aren’t great.  However, “national columnist” will be a nice item to add to her college application in a few years.

            Where will my writing journey take me?  Only time will tell.  But I know it’s been an exciting “drive” so far, one that wouldn’t have occurred had I turned my vehicle around in the summer of 2011.  I even became SWA’s Treasurer in 2014.

            Drive.  In my opinion, even with writers’ conferences, investment in resources like Kerrie’s book, and some good fortune, one of the key ingredients to success is drive.  Drive is needed to finish a tough column or that challenging manuscript.  Drive comes into play when publishers pass on your work.  Drive is required when book sales are disappointing, yet book two needs written.

            Will a career in writing have speed bumps?  Indeed.  Pot holes?  Many.  Times where you’re running low on gas?  For sure.

            Fill your tank and keep driving.  And remember to cherish the moments during the journey. 

NOT PUBLISHING: Family Fun Magazine

UPDATE: Sadly, Family Fun Magazine is no longer publishing. Please see my PDF instant download, The Mother of All Writing Market Books: 600 Homes for Your Family, Parenting, & Women's Articles, Essays, and More for 600 current markets, as well as 190 other markets that are no longer publishing, as well as FREE updates.