Friday, July 18th 2025
They publish work on parenting-related themes. They’re accepting submissions on these themes (see ‘Current call for submissions’):
“What keeps us up at night as parents? Topics might include: raising kids in a digital world as well as a comparative culture; parenting from a place of calm rather than self-doubt and anxiety; keeping our kids safe; adjusting expectations as our children experience life’s hardships and challenges.
What it means to navigate our identities and life changes as kids get older. Topics might include: how divorce or the shifting of relationships affects us; reclaiming purpose/redefining ourselves as women; balancing the role of caring for older kids and older parents; adapting to dynamics as our families regenerate, evolve and grow.
All formats welcome; suggested word count up to 1,200. Completed essays only and please include word count.” They’re open for other themes / formats too, including personal essays on parenting, on holidays as a parent, and more. Please note, they do not pay for certain formats (see guidelines). Details here.
Friday, November 5th 2021
They publish personal
essays on parenting. Their guidelines say, “We are looking for evocative
first-person narratives that have a unique focus, or take a novel angle, on a
slice of the parenting experience. We are open to a range of styles and tones:
the only requirement is that the essay works on its own terms—be it lyrical,
humorous, research-oriented, etc—and conveys something fundamental about its
writer.” They also publish themed pieces, including on Home for the
Holidays, Parenting and Food, as well as perspective pieces, and more. Some of
the pieces are unpaid (see guidelines).
Deadline: Ongoing
Length: Up to 1,200 words
Pay: Unspecified
Details here.
Sunday, September 12th 2021
They publish essays
about parenting, capped at 1,200 words. Apart from the themes below, they
publish personal essays and perspective pieces on parenting, as well. Some
shorter pieces and formats are unpaid (see guidelines). The Women at Work and
Siblings series have deadlines coming up. There are no deadlines mentioned for
the others.
-- Women at Work: “We are looking for new stories, up to 1,200 words,
that tackle all aspects of what it means to be a working mother during such an
unprecedented time. Interpretations might include: the effect of the pandemic
on mothers working from home; the implications for gender roles and the burdens
of caregiving and domestic labor; how women are making childcare and schooling
decisions in the face of so many complex considerations. We are open to a range
of styles; this is a paid opportunity.” Deadline: 17 September 2021.
-- Siblings: “We are looking for new stories, up to 1,200 words, that
tackle all aspects of what it means to be or have a sibling, from the
perspective of either parents or the siblings themselves. Interpretations might
include: the sibling experience, the bonding and/or the rivalry; the
intricacies of step-siblings and blended family relationships; the unique
dilemmas of the only child; when does the number of siblings matter, if at all?
We are open to a range of styles; this is a paid opportunity.” Deadline: 17
September 2021.
-- Motherwell Books: This is a platform on the site “where we will be
curating and showcasing the best books for parents and parents-to-be. We’re
currently looking for posts related to reading and writing, themed book lists
(e.g. for new moms, parenting teens, empowering girls), and articles and essays
that are centered around a parenting book (or books) that aren’t your own.”
-- Parenting and Food: They want stories “that delve into all the ways
in which these two areas of life can intersect. Interpretations might include:
cultivating cooking skills with your kids; body image around pregnancy; raising
picky or limited eaters; managing food allergies; coping with weight concerns,
at either end of the spectrum.”
Details here.
Deadline: 17 September 2021 for Women at Work, and for Siblings
Friday, June 11th 2021
They publish essays
about parenting, capped at 1,200 words. Apart from the themes below, they
publish personal essays and perspective pieces on parenting, as well. Some of
the shorter pieces and formats are unpaid (see guidelines).
Motherwell Books – This is a new platform on the site "where
we will be curating and showcasing the best books for parents and
parents-to-be. We’re currently looking for posts related to reading and
writing, themed book lists (e.g. for new moms, parenting teens, empowering
girls), and articles and essays that are centered around a parenting book (or
books) that aren't your own.”
Parenting and Food – They want stories “that delve into all the ways in which these two areas
of life can intersect. Interpretations might include: cultivating cooking
skills with your kids; body image around pregnancy; raising picky or limited
eaters; managing food allergies; coping with weight concerns, at either end of
the spectrum.”
Details here.
Friday, March 12th 2021
They publish
essays about parenting. They do not pay for certain formats/shorter pieces.
Pieces are generally capped at 1,200 words. They have these themes listed (see
guidelines).
Teen
Challenges and Solutions – “The teenage years are characterized by a
push for independence. As parents, how do we deal with the new host of problems
that accompany such change as it relates to our adolescents' relationships, motivation,
mental health, communication, social media use, among other issues. We want to
hear about your family’s teen-related difficulties, and how you've addressed
them.”
Family
Traditions and Rituals – “Does your family have a secret handshake? A
dinnertime ritual? A holiday tradition? A unique bedtime routine? These kind of
things connect us and bring meaning to our family lives, they tell our stories:
we build them up and we also preserve what's been passed down. We want to hear
more about your family traditions and rituals”.
Home
for the Holidays – “Valentine's Day, Passover, Easter (and possibly
Mother's Day and Father's Day too), many of us will be home for the holidays
this year. Motherwell is looking for original essays about how these days make
you feel as a parent and how you might be celebrating a little differently in
2021.”
Back
to School and COVID-19 – “There is a
host of uncertainty surrounding schooling right now and Motherwell would love
to hear your perspective and/or your experience: as a teacher, a parent, or a
student.”
Parenting
and Food – “Our new weekly column. We
are looking for stories, up to 1,200 words, that delve into all the ways in
which these two areas of life can intersect. Interpretations might include:
cultivating cooking skills with your kids; body image around pregnancy; raising
picky or limited eaters; managing food allergies; coping with weight concerns,
at either end of the spectrum.”
They also want short pieces on the ‘Pandemic Little Lessons’ theme, which are
unpaid. They publish personal
essays and perspective
pieces on parenting, as well. Details here.
Saturday, January 2nd 2021
They publish personal essays
and features/perspective pieces, some of them themed, as well as work in
alternate formats (like graphic memoir) on the parenting experience. For personal
essays their guidelines say, “We are
looking for evocative first-person narratives that have a unique focus, or take
a novel angle, on a slice of the parenting experience. We are open to a range
of styles and tones: the only requirement is that the essay works on its own
terms—be it lyrical, humorous, research-oriented, etc—and conveys something
fundamental about its writer. Up to 1,200 words. Completed essays only and
please include word count.” Apart from general essays on parenting, they are
also reading essays on two themes: Home for the Holidays; and Back to
School and COVID-19. Some types of
submissions/formats are unpaid (see guidelines). There is no deadline specified.
Length: Up to 1,200 words for personal essays
Pay: Unspecified
Details here.
Sunday, December 20th 2020
They publish personal essays
and features/perspective pieces, some of them themed, as well as work in
alternate formats, like graphic memoir, on the parenting experience. For personal
essays, their guidelines say, “We are
looking for evocative first-person narratives that have a unique focus, or take
a novel angle, on a slice of the parenting experience. We are open to a range
of styles and tones: the only requirement is that the essay works on its own
terms—be it lyrical, humorous, research-oriented, etc—and conveys something
fundamental about its writer. Up to 1,200 words. Completed essays only and
please include word count.” Pay is unspecified,
and some types of submissions are unpaid (see guidelines). Details here.
Thursday, October 15th 2020
This is a parenting publication,
and they are reading on three themes. They do not pay for certain formats/short
pieces (see guidelines).
--
Home for the Holidays: Their guidelines say, “Halloween, Thanksgiving,
Hanukkah, and Christmas, most of us will be home for the holidays this year.
Motherwell is looking for original essays about how you are celebrating a
little differently in 2020, but also any reflections on past holiday
experiences. All formats welcome and please include a word count (we tend to
cap at 1,200).”
--
Back to School and COVID-19: Their guidelines say, “There is a host of uncertainty surrounding schools
opening this fall—we are all confused, exhausted, concerned—and Motherwell
would love to hear your perspective: as a teacher, a parent, or a student. All
formats welcome and please include word count.”
-- Parenting and Food: Their guidelines say, “Our new weekly
column. We are looking for stories, up to 1,200 words, that delve into all the
ways in which these two areas of life can intersect. Interpretations might
include: cultivating cooking skills with your kids; body image around
pregnancy; raising picky or limited eaters; managing food allergies; coping
with weight concerns, at either end of the spectrum. Completed essays only and
please include word count.”
They are also reading perspective
pieces and personal essays. Details here.
Sunday, October 11th 2020
Motherwell is an online publication about
parenting. They have posted their call for submissions: “Halloween,
Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas, most of us will be home for the holidays
this year. Motherwell is looking for original essays about how you are
celebrating a little differently in 2020, but also any reflections on past
holiday experiences. All formats welcome and please include a word count (we
tend to cap at 1,200).” They pay $50/selected featured essay. To learn more,
refer to their Tweet
and this page.