Paying Markets: Children's Periodicals

American Girl

Appleseeds

Babybug

Boys' Life

Boys' Quest

Calliope

Cicada

Cricket

Guide

Highlights

The Kids' Ark

Ladybug

My Light Magazine for Catholic Children

Nature Friend

Odyssey

Pockets

Primary Treasure

Shine Brightly

Paying Markets: Blogs

Did you know you could be paid to blog? That's right, blogging can be a nice source of extra income for a writer. Plus, blogging helps establish credibility in your area of expertise. If you are interested in reaching professional blogging status, check out the following websites, but use caution. Not all of the blogs listed are Christian in nature, and some of those that appear to be Christian are actually looking to take advantage of the generous hearts of God's people. Put those research skills to the test before applying for any blogging job to ensure you don't find yourself in a sticky situation.

ProBlogger - Website listing paying blogging jobs

Elance - Freelancing website that allows writers to bid on blogging jobs among others

ifreelance - Another option for bidding on freelance blogging jobs

How to Cite Sources the Easy Way

If you're like me when I started out writing nonfiction articles, the thought of citing sources brought me back to the boring days of high school reports. I wondered if I could remember the proper layout and which style to use. Finally, I stumbled upon a website that does the work for you!

Easybib.com lets you pick the source, fill in a few fields, and produces a bibliography for you. It's a valuable time saver. Some style formats are considered premium and require a fee, but I've found that the free MLA format does the trick just fine, and with three kids in the house, every extra minute counts. Enjoy!

Expert Source: The McBades--Missionaries to Japan

I had the pleasure of connecting with John & Belinda McBade over the course of the last couple of weeks for a project I'm working on with MissionsLaunch.com. They had some fascinating stories to share. I have to admit I learned quite a bit. I didn't realize how great the need is in Japan.

If you would like to learn more about the McBades, and their ministries, check them out on the web at www.mcbade.com or www.gracejapan.com. Please join me in prayer for John and Belinda, and all of those dedicating their lives to reaching the world for Christ.

Expert Source: Dr. Fred Luskin

Many thanks to Dr. Fred Luskin, who took some time out of his busy schedule to chat with me recently. Dr. Luskin, who directs the Stanford Forgiveness Project, shed some light on forgiveness for an upcoming article.

You can find out more about Fred, his research and books at his website www.learningtoforgive.com.

Expert Source: Melissa Stanton

I recently connected with Melissa Stanton, author of The Stay-at-Home Survival Guide, while in search of info for some up-and-coming articles. Melissa had some wonderful insights on the stay-at-home life we all know and love. She was professional, prompt, and provided thoughtful answers to all of my questions.

Melissa's book, The Stay-at-Home Survival Guide, is full of practical insights from the author, and the many real-life women she interviewed. Topics covered include the ups and downs of stay-at-home motherhood, mothering multiple children, and an especially beneficial chapter on finances. The Stay-at-Home Survival Guide is available at amazon.com.

You can find out more about Melissa Stanton and her book at both www.stayathomesurvivalguide.com and www.lifesupportformoms.com. Follow Melissa's blog at reallifesupportformoms.blogspot.com.

Quick Tip on Federal Statistics

Ever wonder where writers get those useful statistics? Some of the most reliable statistics can be found on a wide variety of US government websites, such as the US Census Bureau website, or the Department of Labor Statistics site. For quick and easy access to a plethora of helpful statistics try fedstats.gov. The site allows you to browse national stats by topic or agency. Happy hunting!

How to Write Devotions in 10 Easy Steps

Devotions are one of my favorite markets. Short, specific, and packed with the work of the Holy Spirit, devotions compliment the stay-at-home mom's lifestyle. If you'd like to break into this rewarding market, but aren't sure where to start, this is the article for you.

1. Seek out the guidance of the Holy Spirit. A good devotion will inspire the reader to draw close to God. The only way to accomplish this goal is to be completely dependent on God to lead your writing from the lead to the conclusion.

2. Select your scripture reading, or review the assigned verses. Study the scriptures and summarize them in your own words. What do these scriptures mean to you?

3. Vividly describe a tangible example of how this scripture applies to our world. This is the most difficult part of devotion writing. Ask God to lead the way, then listen to His reply. Write in as much detail as possible in your initial draft.

4. Keep your audience's age and location in mind when choosing an anecdote. Many devotionals are translated and published in locations around the world. Stick with examples that are relevant to the human experience as a whole.

5. Put it all together. Lead with your anecdote, or experience. Grasp the readers attention and help them to relate to your topic. Summarize how your audience can apply the lessons learned to their own lives.

6. Set it aside for a few days. Allowing your mind to move on to other things for a few days will help you with the editing process.

7. Review the writer's guidelines for the publication to which you are planning to submit your devotion. Edit your manuscript to conform to the required format, keep your eye out for spelling and grammatical errors as well.

8. Submit your devotion for publication. When you are satisfied with the results, take a leap of faith and send your manuscript for consideration.

9. Move onto new topics, scriptures and ideas while you are waiting to hear back on your submission.

10. Praise God for your success. If your devotion isn't accepted the first time around, don't despair. Lean on God to lead you to a market where your writing can be a blessing in His kingdom. Rework your manuscript and try again. If your heart is set on the will of God, failure is not an option.

5 Reasons Every Christian Writer Should Blog

It may seem overwhelming to add a blog to your To Do list. With work and families, it's hard to squeeze anything else into the day. If you are a writer, then blogging is well worth the time investment. Here are 5 reasons why you should blog:

1. Blogging keeps your writing fresh. We've all heard the saying practice makes perfect. When it comes to our writing, this is sound advice. The more you write, the better writer you will become. Blogging gives us another venue to perfect our craft.
2. A well kept blog will help you market yourself. Creating a blog will help you market and sell your writing skills to potential editors and clients.
3. Establish your expertise in a field of interest through your blog. A blog is a great venue to show off what you know, and how well you can communicate on the subject.
4. Earn extra income blogging. Blogging can be a great means of extra income for freelancers. There are lots of websites that are looking for writers to keep their blog content fresh. Try the ProBlogger Job Board, but be aware that these jobs aren't necessarily Christian in nature. Keep your eye out for suitable topics.
5. Bring glory to God through your blog. A blog is yet another means that we can use our God-given gift for words to bring glory to Jesus and help spread the gospel. For more info, check out the Boundless Webzine article Blogging to Worship God by Bob Kauflin.
   

Expert Source: Lucy Rosen

Yesterday I connected with Lucy Rosen, a business woman and entrepreneur. Lucy is the President of The Business Development Group, Inc., a leading marketing, public relations and business development firm based in New York. She is also the president and founder of Women on the Fast Track, an international networking organization for women in business.

Lucy is great to work with, willing to help out and quick to respond. I learned a little something too, business networking isn't just about making self-serving connections, it's about helping people out.

Hmm... networking for Christ, now there's an idea I'm on board with!

You can reach Lucy through her websites:

• The Business Development Group, Inc.
  

• Women on the Fast Track

How To | Writer's Resource Page

Want to increase your chances of landing that next proposal? This is the place to improve on your freelance writing skills, and learn how to leave the editors wanting more.

5 Great Resources for Writers

5 Reasons Every Writer Should Blog

8 Steps to Query Letter Success

Free Online Writing Courses

How to Cite Sources the Easy Way

How to Write Devotions in 10 Easy Steps

The Query Letter Checklist

Free Online Writing Classes

For the working mother on a budget, flexibility is a must, and free is exactly the right price. There is no shortage of options when it comes to online writing courses. You can find courses covering nearly every genre imaginable, and some you may not even have heard about! Most of these courses come hand-in-hand with a hefty fee that may leave your wallet a little too light for comfort. Whether you are looking to spruce up your grammar, or dig into the effects of media on our social climate, here are a couple of sites that are sure to satisfy:

News University - interactive, inexpensive courses (many of which are free) for journalists at all levels of experience and in all types of media.

MITOpenCourseware - free course materials from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Resources

Poetry Resources

The Poetry Society of America
The Library of Congress Poetry Home Page
RhymeZone Rhyming Dictionary
Online Rhyming Dictionary for Poets and Songwriters
Glossary of Poetic Terms

Writer's Resources

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary and Thesauras
Writer's Market
Absolute Write
Christian Writer's Marketplace
BibleGateway.com

5 Great Resources for Writers

Whether you are looking for a quote, expert advice, or to polish up your grammar, you'll find a useful reference right here:

Looking for an expert for an article, book or blog? Profnet.com will connect you with an expert in your field of interest.

Infoplease.com provides a wealth of reference information through almanacs, an encyclopedia, a dictionary and an atlas, as well as other fun features.

If you need statistics, nilesonline.com offers a variety of useful links.

Bartleby.com publishes books and offers free access to their site. Search through references, or find applicable quotations for your writing needs.

You'll also find The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. on Bartleby.com. A must have grammatical reference for any serious writer.