Trying to make some extra income by freelancing is hard. First of all, a lot of times the sites are not a viable option for you. They’re no longer paying for guest posts (i.e. ScaryMommy) or have found a stable of writers and don’t need submissions anymore (i.e. A Fine Parent.) And don’t get me started on how many of the magazines/websites are regional. Only for parents in Michigan, or Arizona (where I don’t happen to live, so, yeah, can’t write for them.)
Second, in the world of the Internet things change constantly. Lists of paying sites that were accurate in 2015 are no longer a good resource. I’ll try my best to make sure this list stays live and accurate as things change but I’m sure that in two years it will have to be completely updated.
Anyway, I’ve found the lists, tried the links, submitted, been rejected, and sometimes accepted. Let me share the trial and error I’ve done with you. If you’re interested in writing for a parent focused site and getting paid, this is for you.
1. Her View From Home
Up to 100$ per post, paid by page views.
Her View is aimed at “millions of mothers connected by love, friendship, family and faith.” They’re looking for 600-800 words. Payment starts at 0$ for 0-250 page views of your article and works all the way up to 100$ for 4K + views. Page views are tracked for 30 days after your piece goes up. Online submission form.
2. Stork Guide
50$ per original article, flat fee.
Stork Guide is aimed at new parents and covers topic from pregnancy to dealing with toddlers. They’re looking for a minimum of 700 words, shorter posts do not get paid. On the plus side, you get paid regardless of pageviews. Online application form. I have had zero responses to my queries to them.
3. Sammiches and Psych Meds
Up to 50$ per post, paid by page views
Sammiches and Psych meds is the new Scary Mommy. Written with lots of humor and maybe some cussing, they want 500-1,000 word posts for parents at all stages. 0-999 page views gets you 0$, 999-1,999 is 25$ and 2,000 + is 50$. Submissions go through the online Submittable site.
write for sammiches and psych meds
4. Focus on the Family/Thriving Families
50$ Flat fee for 50-300 word posts
Focus on the Family is an online and print based place to find articles on Christian parenting. Two separate magazines, but under one parent company with one submission form. Do not approach them unless you are willing to write faith-based pieces. They have ongoing calls for specific submissions (holidays, summer break ideas, specific family issues) and explicit instructions about how to submit for each call with a separate email for each one.
Focus on the Family Call for Submissions
5. Mamalode
Up to 50$ per post, paid by page views
Parenting with a modern, humorous twist. They’re looking for articles between 400 and 1,500 words that are authentic, heartfelt and non-judgmental. Views are tracked for 30 days after your piece goes up and you are paid based on that. 5,000 + page views will net you 50$. Submissions are done online through Submittable.
6. Family Fun Magazine
1.25$ per word, depending on which section you’re writing for
Family Fun magazine is “the country’s number-one magazine for families with children ages 3-12.” They’re looking for articles on activities, vacation ideas, cooking, parties, and crafts. Their writing guidelines have specific sections like “Idea of the Month” or “Explore” and each one has a different word count and quoted payment. Payment runs anywhere from 100$ flat fee to 750$. Competition is stiff and I personally have had zero luck getting accepted by them but that doesn’t mean you will, so don’t let that stop you! Submissions are all emailed to the same lady with the appropriate section specified in the subject line.
7. Longreads
$250 Original stories (800-1K words) 500$ researched essays (2K-3K words)
Longreads is not parenting centered, but they will sometimes take essays or stories from a parenting point of view. They are looking for “thoughtfully written and engaging” “often dealing with topics in the news from a personal angle or a historic one” and they want pieces that will provoke further discussion. Look around their site to get an idea of the tone they’re looking for before you pitch. Pitches are emailed to the specific editor you’re looking for.
8. The Penny Hoarder
75$ flat fee, up to 12.50$ per picture if you take your own for them to use.
OK so it’s not “parenting” specific, but as soon as you become a parent you learn to pinch pennies. Odds are good you have a money saving trick or two up your sleeve, and that’s what the Penny Hoarder wants to hear about. Keywords for them are practical, actionable, and detailed. They want 700-900 word posts. They have a standard format for their pitches that you can copy and paste into your pitch email, making it easy to outline your entire post.
9. Perfection Pending
Up to 75$ per post, paid by page views.
Something I haven’t seen before, the pay starts at 20$ for 0-1K views. Which makes it sound like you get paid a flat fee of 20$ no matter how many views you get, with the option to level up with more views. That would be awesome. I’ll try submitting and report back on whether or not this is the case. (*Update, the 20$ flat fee is the case.) Anyway, Perfection Pending is looking for heartfelt, positive, funny stories and actionable tips for parenting. Clean content only. They request that you join their FB writers page, even before you submit, so be sure to do that first.
10. Motherwell
50$ flat fee, original articles only.
Personal essays or perspective pieces, Motherwell wants “all sides of the parenting story.” They like and look for more provocative pieces that are well-argued for your point of view, although they don’t fall into the black hole of clickbait. Up to 1,200 words, and they are picky about word count so don’t go over. Submissions go through the Submittable website (as a side note, I absolutely adore Submittable. It’s super user friendly, easy to see everything you’ve ever submitted and view every communication about each particular piece. Very much recommended.)
11. Romper
50$ per original post (reported).
Romper is a brand spanking new site aimed at Millenial age moms that’s all about sharing “your experience of motherhood, whatever that looks and feels like for you.” The 50$ was reported to me by other freelance writers for these kind of sites, I haven’t personally verified it. They like think pieces that are tied to some sort of pop culture, motherhood, feminism, editorials and strong personal essays. Word count-800 to 2000 words.
*2018 Update* I tried submitting to what I hope was the correct email twice, got no answer, and got no answer to my query asking if they had received the email after a month. So all I can do is wish you luck.
12. She Knows
65$ per original post (reported).
Again, the pay rate is by report from other writers so I’ll let you know if it turns out to be inaccurate. SheKnows is interested in 400-600 word original posts on Celebs, Beauty, Cooking & Recipes, Home DIY, Love, Sex and Dating, and a lot of other things. Check out their submission site for more. They have a specific format to cut and paste in your pitch for them, please do use it! They have several different branch sites like PregnancyFashion.com. Pitches go through email to an editor.
13. Pregnant Chicken
50$ flat fee, per original article.
Pregnant Chicken (side note: bahahaha!) is targeted towards pregnancy and new parenthood. They want advice, information and tips with the occasional dash of humor. They are looking for pregnancy/newborn ONLY, toddler or school age pieces will be rejected. No min or max word count. They don’t want previously published from anywhere other than your own personal blog. Submissions go to an email account.
14. Mothers Always Write (MAW)
25$ for feature articles
Mothers Always Write publishes a monthly online magazine that is intended to “honor parenting as one of life’s greatest callings”. Their submissions page includes monthly themes that they would like you to focus on. Word count guidelines-up to 2K. They take poems as well as essays. The only pieces that are paid are the ones featured in the once-per-month big issue and they can’t guarantee that they will feature yours, but they are working on the goal of being able to pay every contributor. Submissions go through Submittable website.
Write for Mothers Always Write
15. Greatist
125$ for 1K-1,500K words
Greatest is again not a parenting specific site, but they will take pieces on family and relationships. They want personal stories about “all the ways people try to live their lives a little bit better . . . and screw up even as they give it their best shot.” Regularly covered topics include mental health, relationships (friends, family, love, dating) and body image journeys. All of those could have a parenting slant, if you work it that way. The pitch summary goes to an email address and if accepted first drafts will go through Google docs.
16. Savy Mom
“competitive rates for original content”
Savy Mom is looking for “helpful, funny, informative—but not judgmental” pieces about the journey of parenting. No specific word counts. They are based in Canada and especially interested in city feature pieces about major Canadian cities (from a parenting point of view). A pitch with the completed article goes to an editor email.
Need some more ideas?
Start here with an excellent article by Elna at Twins Mommy.com on 12 sites that pay 100$ or more.
Beyond Your Blog has this excellent article about all the different ways to pitch Hearst Publications (this includes Redbook, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, and a bunch of other magazines).
Or try this older article (from 2015) that still has some pretty good ideas from The Write Life, 28 Parenting Blogs and Magazines that Pay
featured image stocksnap.io artist Josh Byers