Submission Guidelines

Thank you for considering Travelingmom as a host for your writing talents.
Travelingmom.com is an online community and information center for moms who
travel – with and without their kids.

Please read a few of the stories currently published on Travelingmom to acquaint
yourself with our tone. Most are personal essays interspersed with destination
information. Each story has a distinct personality and provides an opportunity for
discussion and questions. Mostly, we are sharing our personal experiences to
make traveling easier for other moms, and we do it – when possible – with good
humor and the knowledge that hindsight is often 20/20.

Travelingmom reserves the nonexclusive right to republish your story, under your
name, in other columns or books for up to one year from date of author
agreement. If any money is collected for republishing, 75% will be paid to the
author. Travelingmom reserves the right to edit stories for length and clarity.

There are several areas to which to submit articles. Payment currently is $25-$50
per story; preferred article length is 800 to 1,000 words. Travelingmom does not
currently pay for articles submitted to other sections of the site. However, they
are great places for reader interaction, story ideas and feedback.

Travelingmom offers the following sections and categories for your articles:

GOING PLACES
TRAVEL TALES – Your story as only you can tell it, from your perspective. Did
you tell the cab driver to step on it as you drove away, kids crying at the window?
Was the family fun vacation fun? (Family vacation is, after all, an oxymoron).
Guidebook-type information is welcome, but is not the primary focus in this
section. Of particular interest are interviews with executive and celebrity moms.
The Travelingmom signature question: How do you stay connected to your kids
when traveling?

DESTINATIONS – The focus here is on the practical aspects of travel with
children. When you went to Egypt, China, India, or Indiana, where did you stay?
What amenities were offered to you and to the kids? If traveling with an infant,
were you able to find formula, diapers, and Tylenol? And we all want to know:
Do they have chicken nuggets? All Destinations articles must include the
following, in this format (becomes a call-out to your article). A separate
attachment will be provided to you to fill in.

 
 
SOLUTIONS – Have a favorite stroller, bag, skincare product, minivan, private
jet? What things are on your kid’s must-pack lists? How about yours?

Have a great travel tip or product to share? Security guidelines are changing
daily. How is it affecting our travel choices? Travel insurance, evacuation
insurance, emergency care, neighborhood information, safe travel, safety gear –
all are hot topics. We also address health care on trips: the good, the bad, the
waiting room.

ALL ABOUT YOU
FOOD – Not just about food on board (although that topic arises too). This
category was created when publisher Kim Orlando was traveling weekly for work.
Leaving home-cooked meals for the kids comforted her while away – a way of
being there in spirit.

    Now & Later® dinners are recipes that work for at least two meals. In
    some, the same ingredients are used to make two dinners simultaneously
    – one for tonight and one for the freezer. Other recipes delineate a meal
    for tonight along with a recipe for leftovers that can be enjoyed another
    day.

FITNESS – Mind and body fitness tips while traveling. Hotel fitness, ways to stay
in shape while on vacation. Interviews with fitness experts.

SANITY – For all of you Licensed Family Therapists, life coaches, and mothers
of wisdom out there with a story or advice for the guilt-ridden, exhausted,
travelingmom -- as well as her kids!