This is where you come in. I need help with this oh-so-important decision, so I’m counting on you, my readers, to help me out with this by leaving a comment telling me which one(s) is/are your favorite(s).

Here we go. (This is in no particular order, by the way.)

1.  Careful, or you’ll end up in my NOVEL.

2.  I am an instrument of change — I write.

3.  Deadlines amuse me.

4.  The voices are getting louder. Must be time to write.

5.  WRITER’S BLOCK: When your imaginary friends won’t talk to you.

6.  bad grammar makes me [sic]

7.  Obey the muse.

8.  Books may well be the only true magic.

9.  How To Write Good: Rule #4 — Avoid clichés like the plague.

10.  Don’t read this shirt. It’s only a draft.

11.  I write, therefore…I’m broke.

12.  NOT NOW! I’m on deadline.

13.  I prefer my own worlds to this one.

14.  Eschew obfuscation.

15.  Oh, this is SO going in my next novel.

16.  Writers create immortality.

17.  Instant writer: Just add coffee.

18.  Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.

OK, so what do you think?

For even more fun, I’ll send the person who leaves what I deem the most amusing comment a surprise gift. Woo hoo!

My friends/colleagues/fellow writers Jeannette Moninger, Kris Bordessa and Teri Cettina, have written an e-book called “Cash In On Your Kids: Parenting Queries That Worked.” Between them, these gals have written for magazines like Parents, Parenting, Redbook, Reader’s Digest, Family Circle and Family Fun, just to name a few, so they definitely know what they’re talking about.

Their book not only has 16 queries that landed them assignments, it also answers questions about getting into freelancing and creating a query letter. For a limited time, they’ve slashed the price by half, to $14.95. You can order it for download here.

They have also generously answered some common questions about freelance writing:

Is parenting writing something I can do part time or on a flexible schedule?

Absolutely! However, when you need to do an uninterrupted telephone interview or a deadline is looming, it’s smart to have a back-up plan: A neighborhood babysitter, a supportive fellow mom, or a drop-in after-school program that will watch your kids while you work.

Can I write about my own kid or my personal parenting experience?

Often, yes. But first study the magazine you’re pitching to see whether they use first-person anecdotes in their stories (i.e., “When my child was 2, he shoved a penny up his nose…”). If they don’t structure stories that way, craft your pitch accordingly. And remember: Even if you write about your family’s experience, you’ll still need to provide research and/or advice from experts.

Do I need to be a professional writer to break into writing about parenting and kids?

Not necessarily. However, before you write for national newsstand magazines, you must have “clips,” or samples of other articles you’ve had published. Weekly or monthly community newspapers are often open to new writers, as are regional parenting publications.

What should I send an editor: A completed article or just a proposal?

Most editors want to see a proposal (a “query”) before they decide whether to assign an article to you. The exception is an essay–a first-person account of an event, without interviews or quotes from experts. Editors prefer to see completed essays before they decide whether they’ll publish them.

How do I learn more about publications that run parenting articles?

Start with The Writer’s Market (www.writersmarket.com). You can pay a monthly fee for the online version, or see if your library carries the book. Cash in on Your Kids: Parenting Queries that Worked (http://cashinonyourkids.wordpress.com/) also lists American publications that accept parenting articles, along with e-mail codes for reaching editors.

How much can I make writing about parenting and kids?

Local parenting publications pay less than national magazines but writing for them is a great way to develop a portfolio of your work. These “clips,” as they’re called, are crucial if you want to break into larger, better-paying magazines. National magazines—like Parents and Parenting—pay anywhere from $250 for a short item in the front or back of the magazine to more than $3,000 for longer features.

For more tips on writing for parenting publications, along with samples of actual writers’ queries, read Cash in on Your Kids: Parenting Queries that Worked (http://cashinonyourkids.wordpress.com/)

© 2009 Kris Bordessa, Teri Cettina, Jeannette Moninger

I figured it’s good practice, good discipline, and who knows what sorts of things I might come up with? This could be very interesting . . .

To check out Michelle’s blog, which is all about freelancing in the digital media age, go to www.michellerafter.wordpress.com. She has some great tips right there on the first page.

I’m a freelance writer and the mom of 9-year-old twin girls, a 5-year-old boy, and a nearly-4-year-old boy. We live in a big old farm house in the middle of nowhere with two dogs, two horses and two cats, homework, extra-curricular activities, preschool, a large yard and garden and the juggling of three (at-home) part-time jobs. To say life is crazy would be spot on.

I recently decided that instead of just watching other people become known as parenting experts, I’d do better to start getting my name out there too. After all, no one ever accomplished anything by simply watching and wishing. We’ve been through epilepsy, febrile seizures, depression, allergies, asthma, food intolerance, hernias, chronic sinus infections, accidental poisoning and a host of other ailments that tend to run through every household. Though we’ve never had a major health crisis, we’ve had a few scares over the years.

As with all kids, mine can come up with the most hilarious comments and observations, particularly my 5-year-old, who possesses a vocabulary that surprises me almost daily. Tips, news, advice and parenting updates will all be available here, plus I’m happy to answer any questions you want to throw at me. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll find it. I’ll tell you stories that will make you smile, some that you’ll think you could have written yourself, you can relate to them so much, and maybe even a few that will make your eyes blurry (from tears, that is).

This parenting journey is filled with twists into the unknown, turns that slam you up against a concrete door, happiness beyond what you ever could have imagined existed, pain over situations you can’t control and above all, continual learning by trial and error. It’s heartwrenching, consuming, scary, lonely, amazing, frustrating and uplifting all at the same time. And no expert or book can tell you exactly what you should do. You know your kids better than anyone else, so it’s up to you to pick and choose the elements of good advice that help you be the best parent you can be. I’d like to help you create your own brand of parenting and remind you that you’re not alone on your own journey. 

I hope you enjoy reading this blog as much as I know I will enjoy writing it.

Stop by again soon!

Sarah