How to submit
Please read before submitting
Submissions by email only, pasted into the body of the message with ‘Website Submission’ in the header. Do not send attachments. Spell-check and proof read your work. There is no limit on word length but preference will be given to material that is less than 3,000 words. If you are sending a birth story, title it with your first name, the name of your child and the year of his/her birth (eg, Anne-marie’s story of Harry’s birth, 2001). Anonymity is acceptable so let me know if you want to use a pseudonym to protect your privacy. Material is uploaded regularly so you can submit at any time.
Please note that Parenting Express reaches a global audience so try to minimise culturallyspecific references that may not be understood by most readers. If you feel your story needs these references, you could try listing them with brief definitions at the end of the piece. I edit the submissions to maintain regional spelling, so you may find some stories with realiZe, for example, and others with realiSe. Feel free to add a link in your submission to your own published material (in the parenting genre).
Photography
On the home page, I am happy to publish suitable photographs featuring parents and children. I’m interested in well-framed, clear, quality shots with thoughtful composition, in either colour or black and white. Send images as jpegs in low resolution, with file sizes no larger than 200K and name them with your surname.
Submission guidelines (PDF)
“A gender-equal society would be one where the word ‘gender’ does not exist: where everyone can be themselves.”*
I’ve always been aware of gender conditioning and actively tried to combat any lingering prejudices or stereotypes in my own parenting, even down to encouraging dolls with my boys when they were little. It’s great to read people writing about gender issues they’re experiencing with their kids. For too long these subjects have been discouraged or silenced. I’d love to publish some more creative writing on this topic, especially if you are struggling with a child who actively tries to move away from gender normative preferences. A society where everyone can be themselves – thanks Gloria for those aspirational words.
* Gloria Steinem