MomSense is a bimonthly magazine published by MOPS International and Christianity Today International (CTI). The purpose of MomSense magazine is to connect and encourage mothers of preschoolers from a Christian perspective with articles that inform and inspire on issues relating to being a mother and a woman. MOPS International provides editorial content and design, and CTI is responsible for circulation, production and advertising sales. As a potential MomSense writer, you should study the magazine’s tone and style. You’ll find articles from the magazine online at MomSense.com.

• Our audience consists of more than 110,000 mothers of preschoolers (infants through kindergarten). Most of our readers are between 25 and 40, married and attend local MOPS groups, although we welcome and encourage content for mothers outside these demographics.
• MomSense seeks to meet the needs of every mom – urban and suburban moms, stay-at-home and working moms, teen, single and married moms – moms with different lifestyles who all share a similar desire to be the very best moms that they can be.

Each issue of MomSense is theme-based, so the content you submit should be appropriate to that issue’s theme. However, we also accept articles that are not related to the issue’s theme but provide inspiration or practical ideas with either a mom focus or a woman focus. See descriptions of themed and non-themed articles below.

Themes are decided annually in March and are available on April 1 at MOPS.org/write. MomSense is planned four months in advance, so please submit articles according to the due dates listed below.

Our regular columns (Raising Great Kids, Just for Fun, The View From Here, One Tough Mother, MySense, Up Close, MOPS in Action and Next) are written by writers who have a long-standing relationship with MOPS.

MomSense does not publish: devotions, product reviews, fiction or individual opinions on controversial subjects that divide our readers. These include doctrinal, political and social subjects, as well as parenting issues that bring up strong emotions. While the decisions you have made for your family may come up in your submission, do not assume that all readers will see things the same way.

Intro to the theme article: An article written by a mom who explains what the theme looks like in everyday life and is targeted to mothers of preschoolers (650 words).

Theme-related article 1 (woman focus): A practical or inspirational piece related to the theme written with a woman focus. We are looking for humorous, inspirational or thought-provoking personal stories or well-researched practical information appealing to a wide variety of women and informing them on subjects relevant to their life. (450 words)

Theme-related article 2 (mom focus): A practical or inspirational piece related to the theme written with a mom focus. We are looking for humorous, inspirational or thought-provoking personal stories or well-researched practical information appealing to a wide variety of women and informing them on subjects relevant to their life. (450 words)

Non-theme article 1 (woman focus): A practical or inspirational piece not related to the theme and written with a woman focus. We are looking for humorous, inspirational or thought-provoking personal stories or well-researched practical information appealing to a wide variety of women and informing them on topics including marriage, relationships, how-to pieces, nutrition, health, exercise and finances. (450 words)

Non-theme article 2 (mom focus): A practical or inspirational piece not related to the theme written with a mom focus. We are looking for humorous, inspirational or thought-provoking personal stories or well-researched practical information appealing to a wide variety of women and informing them on topics including parenting, single moms, how-to pieces and other issues related to raising preschoolers. (450 words)

Real-mom article: A personal essay using real-life examples about how a mom overcame something, learned a life lesson or found a unique perspective about a relationship. (300 words)

Humor article: Humorous first-person pieces, including funny stories about family life or funny things preschoolers say (450 words or less).

• Use real-life mom examples that engage the audience.
• Include age-appropriate applications for kids (preschool age: infant through kindergarten).
• Write submissions from a biblical, but not doctrinal, perspective.
• Incorporate ideas that challenge and help women regardless of where they are in their spiritual journey.
• Avoid Christian jargon and use biblical quotes sparingly.
• Use the New International Version for most biblical references; note if other Bible version is used.

• Submit a complete article in an electronic Word document or hard copy. Articles should be double-spaced and include on the first page the author’s name, address, email address, phone number and the word count of the article.
• Most articles published in MOMSense Magazine are one page with 450 to 650 words. If accepted, articles will be edited by MOPS International editorial staff to fit the language, flow and size of MOMSense Magazine.
• MOMSense buys first rights to material. This includes the right to re-use the material in a MOPS or CTI anthology, reprint or in electronic form (online, CD-ROM, etc.).
• MOPS International may keep what you submit on file for up to two years to consider using in a future issue. We respond to most submissions within 12 weeks.
• Please include brief biographical information, including previous writing experience and credits, if you attend a MOPS group, as well as the ages of your children, if applicable.
• Please also include complete bibliographical references documenting sources you’ve quoted (if any).
• All submissions are received on speculation. A contract is sent after the assignment is made or article is accepted, although we cannot guarantee publication. The writer receives a byline and bio on each article, along with copies of the issue and payment upon publication. Articles cannot be published without a signed contract and cannot be paid without an invoice that includes your name, address, email address, phone number, payment amount, magazine issue date and title of article.
• E-mail submissions to MomSense@MOPS.org or mail to:

MomSense Magazine Editor
MOPS International
2370 South Trenton Way, Denver, CO 80231

2009-10 MOMSense Magazine Themes
Life on Planet Mom

September/October: Relationships change when you become a mom
Big idea: Finding your community (common unity) with the people around you, plus how your community is different in the early mothering season.
Article ideas: How to start relationships in this season of mothering; being intentional as a parent, spouse, friend, sibling; building relationships takes time; the collective strength of community; relationships 101; my part in creating community; initiating something – go for it, don’t wait for someone else to do it; identifying what you want in relationship; being authentic can be messy; voluntary and involuntary relationships; taking it deeper; resolving conflict; what momma wants, she needs to get; motherhood – the bond that surpasses differences.
Submissions due: May 1, 2009

November/December: Shaping your relationships
Big idea: Sculpting and shaping your relationships is important as a mom and a woman.
Article ideas: faces … voices, those who are like me, those who are different; working with what you have; sharing different ways of doing things; understanding safe vs. unsafe relationships; relating to people you’re stuck with; shaping your holiday traditions; dealing with different cultural issues and traditions at holidays, such as Santa Claus; being intentional about shaping the future and your goals for your family; understanding where you came from (family of origin) and deciding where your family is going; knowing your expectations and limitations; experiencing discomfort and the willingness to go into a foreign land (e.g., when Jesus was born, Mary was in a foreign place and uncomfortable); relating mom to child and adult child to parents; mentoring relationships; quality time vs. quantity of time.
Submissions due: June 15, 2009

January/February: Looking inside of me so I can move to the outside world
Big idea: Understanding who you are gives you the ability to relate fully to others around you.
Article ideas: Finding out why I’m here – what’s the point?; evaluating who I am and deciding what my place in the world is; understanding how my environment impacts my relationships; discovering my safe place; building face-to-face relationships vs. online ones; creating personal space; having the courage to be me; building confidence and personal power; doing a self-evaluation – am I an introvert or an extrovert?; becoming the person you want to be; deepening your spiritual foundation, overcoming competition and comparisons; on the outside looking in: isolation vs. community; dealing with insecurity.
Submissions due: August 15, 2009

March/April: Relationships are risky
Big idea: Risk going deeper in your relationships.
Article ideas: Fake vs. real relationships; developing trust and growing as you deepen relationships; knowing wherever you’ve landed, you’re not alone; establishing boundaries; dealing with difficult relations; caring about messy people; knowing who you are and what you can bring to a relationship; ending relationships; identifying marriage risks and ways to grow deeper; looking at relationships as opportunities not a negative; clearing out the dead stuff; understanding stuck relationships; feeling lonely in a crowd; encouraging kids to grow in relationships; deciding what I’m willing to risk; love and romance changes in marriage; dealing with authority issues; intimate friends vs. secondary relationships.
Submissions due: October 15, 2009

May/June: Linked - Going Global
Big idea: Celebrate the community you’ve created.
Article ideas: Serving in the community; getting involved; linking through social networking sites; going global changes you for what’s next; how to do celebrations; letting people know you appreciate them; taking relationships further; setting up networks of support: babysitting/meal co-ops; mentoring relationships; what a mom does in the community impacts her kids; embracing diversity; issues relating to globalization, tolerance and awareness; mothering in other cultures.
Submissions due: December 15, 2009

July/August: Getting through change.
Big idea: Change is a constant in our lives and learning to navigate change is crucial.
Article ideas: Navigating milestones as a mom and woman; getting ready for preschool, kindergarten or homeschool; changes you choose and changes that just happen; what’s constant in your life is critical; the spiritual dimension of change; improving your confidence; change is good, change is hard, change is never-ending, God is with us through it all; overcoming challenges; dealing with loss; remaining flexible, adapting to changes in your lifestyle: working at home or going back to work, daycare issues; types of change; making positive, personal changes.
Submissions due: February 15, 2010