Writing for MomSense Magazine

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 www.MomSense.com.

Audience and Distribution

• 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.

Content

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. We typically receive many more mom-focused submissions than woman-focused articles. See descriptions of themed and non-themed articles below.

Themes are decided annually in March and are available on April 1 at www.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, UpClose, Mine, 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.

Article Needs for Each Issue

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 (450 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).

Writing Tips

• 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.

Submitting an Article

• 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

2010-11 MOMSense Magazine Themes

Momology: The Art and Science of Mothering

Even there your hand will guide me; your right hand will hold me fast. (Psalm 139:10)

The theme for 2010-11 is Momology: The Art and Science of Mothering. For nearly four decades, MOPS International has studied mothers and mothering, learning what makes a better mom who makes a better world. Through extensive research and years of experience, we’ve found that mothering is both art and science.

Mothering is so complex it requires both sides of our brain. There's the scientific side of mothering where we develop a hypothesis based on certain principles, test that hypothesis in real-time, consider the results and decide what parts worked best for us and our family and what parts didn't. Intertwined with the scientific, mothering requires an artistry that shades with our personality, colors with our unique gifts and blends past and current experiences.

Following are the themes for each of the six issues of MOMSense magazine:

September/October: Momology: The Art and Science of Mothering
Big idea: In real life, moms are like scientists, researching and testing what we think our child needs to be a successful adult. But we’re also artists, combining what we learn with a unique creativity and passion that influences the outcome of our child’s life.
Article ideas: Submissions that demonstrate or describe an aspect of the art or science of mothering and help a mom become the unique mother God created her to be.
Submissions due: April 22, 2010

November/December: Core – knowing who you are: building a healthy, resilient mom
Big idea: Core is about understanding and working with our unique temperament, experiences and emotions in a way that develops resilience. Research clearly shows that a mom with a strong, resilient core is more likely to raise a child with a strong, resilient core.
Article ideas: Knowing yourself is important to shaping and maintaining a resilient core; understanding and embracing your innate temperament helps you be a better mom; how to assess, assign and address any negative emotions currently impacting your core; treasure hunting – looking for your core and also your child’s; bending in the wind versus going with the trend; doing things you never thought you could do; discovering one life-defining moment that shaped you into who you are today; barriers and challenges to finding your core; making time for self-care as a woman.
Submissions due: June 15, 2010

January/February: Finesse – shaping ourselves as moms so we can shape our children.
Big idea: Finesse is about honing practical mothering skills – intentionally carrying out our daily responsibilities in ways that encourage growth and resilience in our kids.
Article ideas: How to introduce your child to the world; the recipe of mothering; confident decision-making; maximizing time for attachment and bonding; getting a handle on the dailies leaves time for the biggies; how to get better at being a mom; family traditions are tools that indelibly sketch shared family memories; taking control of the family calendar; positive influences to include in your child’s life; making discipline more effective; getting your child to listen; squelching sibling squabbling.
Submissions due: August 15, 2010

March/April: Circle – the people and networks who share in shaping your family environment
Big idea: Circle is about building relationships with neighbors, care-givers, extended family and, most importantly, with your husband or for the single mom, with a parenting partner.
Article ideas: Knowing who we can count on for support; interacting within a circle of relationships; getting to know your neighbors; respecting other approaches to raising kids; developing healthy relationships with service providers; becoming a mom changes friendship needs; extended family relationships can be tricky but offer a rich resource of love for our kids, co-parenting in blended families, engaging other women in new relationships; strengthening your relationship with your spouse.
Submissions due: October 15, 2010

May/June: Grandscape – knowing who God is: engaging with him in the broadest view of life
Big idea: Grandscape is about engaging with God and his unique purpose for your life – in those things seen and unseen – in the past, the present and the future. Both secular and Christian research identifies faith in God as an essential element for successful parenting.
Article ideas: Getting to know God better; making space for your relationship with God within the busy days of mothering; sharing spiritual disciplines with your children; being part of a faith community supports spiritual growth; discovering your personal story within God’s story; sharing his love with others as you journey through the grandscape; different ways to feel close to God.
Submissions due: December 15, 2010

July/August: A collection of “Momology” stories written by MOPS moms will highlight this issue.
Big idea: Real-life applications that show something you’ve experienced or learned about the art and science of mothering.
Article ideas: Share your story about any of the four elements of successful mothering: core – a healthy, resilient mom; finesse – understanding basic parenting skills; circle – interacting with supportive relationships; and grandscape – building a spiritual foundation. Post your “Momology” story online at www.mom-ology.org. (Website coming soon - please wait until June 1, 2010 to post.)
Submissions due: February 15, 2011