Blended Family Writing Submission Guidelines
Updated 06/26/03
See other section guidelines and general BPO guidelines [HERE]. Please visit the main BPO site and individual sections to get a feel for our needs. [HERE]
Mission: The Blended Family section of Busy Parents Online Magazine strives to support families in which one or both of the adults in a household is raising a child (or children) who is not their biological child. The Blended Family section provides quick-and-easy advice and information to these naturally busy families.
Writing Guidelines:
Blended families deal with many complex issues as separate family systems are brought together under one roof and seek to create a new system. On topics ranging from blending different lifestyles and personalities, to managing large families and all their activities, to dealing with negative outside influences, and everything in between, Blended Family seeks articles that inform and inspire blended families in all situations.
Blended Lives: 500- to 750-word essays relating an aspect of your blended-family situation that positively enhanced the lives of the family members involved and/ or others around them. Although sensitive subjects (such as children's mistrust, ex-spouses) will be considered, the end result must reflect a positive outcome or insight gained. Submit completed essay.
News and Feature Articles: News articles (400-700 words) must contain current information related to an aspect of blended families and must include quotes from primary sources and authorities. Features should also include a current news angle, but may explore the topic from a more humanistic point of view (600- 1,000 words). Query first.
Family Focus: Feature articles focusing on specific blended families who have obtained a harmonious balance within their situation. Query first.
Children's Book Reviews: 150- to 250-word reviews of children's books that positively address issues (such as divorce, new family members, different cultures) associated with blended families. Submit completed review.
Adult Book Reviews: 150- to 300-word reviews of books geared toward helping adults become successful blended-family parents. Submit completed review.
Compensation: At this time, Blended Family cannot offer payment for submissions, but each contributing author will be given a byline and opportunity to include a brief bio and URL to their website.
Rights: We accept first rights and reprints. BPO requests first electronic rights and archival rights for one year. Unless prior arrangements are made, submissions will be archived for that period. We reserve the right to reject any query or submission without explanation. BPO also reserves the right to re-title, modify, edit for length and clarity, abridge, and/or fact-check any material it accepts for publication.
We accept reprints from articles to which you hold the copyright. In submission, please give the piece's complete history of publication.
Please submit all queries and submissions in the body of an e-mail .
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