Humor Writing

Here is a great website for any writer. It is filled with general writing information (writing tips, markets, etc.), but because Erma Bombeck was a great writer of humor, the focus of this site is on humor. Great for those who want to tickle the funny bone.
www.humorwriters.org

Bookmark it and visit often.

Agents - Great new booklet!

Sally Stuart

Sally Stuart's website lists a number of great, inexpensive booklets, books and pamphlets that you can purchase. One of the new ones was written by Cecil Murphey. If you are looking for an agent, this little booklet is a great resource.

Agents: What You Need to Know, by Cecil Murphey

Update

Sorry, no picutures available right now so you'll have to settle for text on the blog for a few messages.

I'm have a wonderful time in Virginia visiting my son & daughter-in-law. My mom flys back to Michigan tomorrow. We had a great visit with her for the last two weeks. Tomorrow I will be speaking at the Richmond Christian Writers Who Write group and teaching how to Show rather than Tell a story. Keep my in your prayers if you think of me. I will be back in no time.

Please continue to pray for our upcoming Oct 8th A Reason To Write conference. and continue to invite your friends and family to attend.

Hope to see you all there!

Louise Bergmann DuMont
njcwg.dumont@gmail.com

Theme List - The Kids Ark

Kids Ark Theme List

Below is an updated list of themes and deadlines.

Temptation - Due ASAP (deadline passed, but if you have a good story, they would still love to read it.)
Fear - Due 9/26
Patience - Due 10/24
Lies - Due 11/21
Perseverance - Due 12/19
Praise and Worship - Due 1/30

If you have any questions. please contact me. Joy Mygrants, Senior Editor, The Kids' Ark (writingwonder78@yahoo.com)

NJCWG

POETRY NEWS from Maude:
WALT WHITMAN POETRY FESTIVAL...OCEAN GROVE, NJ
Saturday, September 24:
Mark your calendar...the third annual Walt Whitman Poetry Festival will be held Saturday, September 24, 10am to 5pm, in Auditorium Square Park, adjacent to the Great Auditorium, and it's FREE! This year's festival will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Whitman's, "Leaves of Grass."

There's a great line-up of activities...Heritage poems; readings from "Poetic Reflections," an anthology of Monmouth County poems; Spiritual Poetry (I'll be one of the featured readers); War & Peace Poetry; Humorous Poetry; Whitman Poetry; "Voices Rising From the Grove," readings from this hot off the press anthology; open mic readings throughout the day. There will be a host of fine poets as well as workshops, tutorials, a panel discussion, a walking tour and a Walt Whitman display all day in the museum. Soooo, whether you write poetry, enjoy listening to it or if you would just like to visit a lovely Victorian beach town and are open to receiving a little culture, to boot...come join us!

Kevin Chambers, president of the Historical Society of Ocean Grove, and Gloria Rovder Healy, poet and author of, "Out of My Mind," and editor of two volumes of Monmouth County poetry, are co-chairmen. For additional information, go to: http://poetsonline.org/Whitman/

NJCWG - Meeting

North Jersey Christian Writers' Group
Next Meeting
Monday, September 12, 2005

Usual Meetings Run Like This
6:15-7:00 Chat Time
7:00-8:00 Lesson
8:00-9:00 Critiques

BUT
This Monday's Meeting... will be a bit different...
I will be "traveling" and might arrive just a few minutes late. I will certainly try to be there at 6:15, but please be patient if traffic hold me up a few minutes.

Our Lesson
will be talking about author's who find their writing "voice" and I would like each person attending the meeting to bring a paragraph that they wrote. If you don't have time, don't fret. You can write it when you get there.

God Bless

Louise Bergmann DuMont
Facilitator, NJCWG

Writing Ops - MANY

*****************************************

NICKELODEON
Viacom International Inc.
1633 Broadway, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 654-7707
Fax: (212) 654-4840

Website: http://www.nick.com/all_nick/nick_mag/index.jhtml

Contact: Vanessa Johnson, Managing Editor

Contact's e-mail: vanessa.johnson@nick.com

Writers’ guidelines online: No

Pays: $1-2 per word

Rights: All rights

Description: This is a magazine for kids 6 to 14 years old.
Its mission is to "stimulate our readers' creativity and
curiosity, to answer their questions about the world, and
to make them think and laugh. Each month we invite readers
to immerse themselves in a single topic, which we integrate
into every element of an issue, from page borders to folio
to actual content. Nickelodeon magazine translates the
sensibility and energy of the network into print, so kids
can take Nickelodeon wherever they go."

Circulation: 1,050,00

*****************************************

OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Werner Publishing Corporation
12121 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1200
Los Angeles, CA 90025-1175
Phone: (310) 820-1500
Fax: (310) 826-5008

Website: http://www.outdoorphotographer.com

E-queries: No

Contact: Christopher Robinson, Managing Editor

Contact's e-mail: editors@outdoorphotographer.com

Pays: 10-15 cents per word

Photos: Yes

Rights: One-time rights

Description: This magazine is published for enthusiasts
with a special passion for nature, travel and outdoor
sports. It "is written and presented to accomplish two
ends: to stimulate outdoor, sporting and nature enthusiasts
to enhance their recreational and travel enjoyment through
photography, and to satisfy the needs of amateur and
professional photographers with special interest in the
outdoors."

Circulation: 216,000

*****************************************

RENOVATION STYLE
Meredith Corporation
1716 Locust Street
Des Moines, IA 50309-3023
(515) 284-3000

Website: http://www.renovationstyle.com

E-queries: Contact the editor for assignments

Contact: LuAnn Brandsen, Editor

Description: This is a magazine about remodeling. It is
one of the Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest
Publications and has a before-and-after approach that helps
the reader to visualize the possibilities.

Circulation: 325,000

*****************************************

HERBS FOR HEALTH
Herb Companion Press
1503 SW 42nd Street
Topeka, KS 66609-1265
(785) 274-4300

Website: http://www.discoverherbs.com

E-queries: No

Contact: Amy Mayfield, Editor

Pays: 5-10 cents per word

Rights: All rights

Description: This is a natural remedy and healthy lifestyle
magazine. It publishes "scientifically sound, up-to-date
information about using plant-based medicines, natural
foods and alternative therapies." It "covers topics
ranging from recent scientific research to consumer guides,
medicinal recipes to legislative updates. We strive for a
balance between accessible language, a visually appealing
format, and a careful and accurate presentation of
well-researched information."

Circulation: 160,000

*****************************************

9-1-1 Magazine
http://www.9-1-1magazine.com/information/edGuides.asp

5280 Magazine
http://www.5280.com/about_guidelines.php

Metropolis Magazine
http://www.metropolismag.com/html/about/submit.html


=========================
WRITERS’ GUIDELINES
=========================

We’re always looking for new interviews, articles, essays,
and humor for this newsletter. We pay $5 or a 1-year
subscription to the Absolute Markets Premium Edition
(www.absolutemarkets.com – a $15 value). We’re happy to
check out reprints, and we take non-exclusive electronic
rights. Got some advice for your fellow writers? Check
out our guidelines here:
http://www.absolutewrite.com/site/submissions.htm

* Travel Writers Wanted!

There's great demand for an elite corps of highly skilled,
professional travel writers...a pool of travel writing
specialists that can be relied on to write vivid, lively
and interesting articles.

If you ever dreamed about the romantic life of a travel
writer, here's a very unusual opportunity to actually live
it!
http://www.absolutewrite.com/dt/t/travelawn.php

Writing Op - Praire Times

Writer's Guidelines
PO Box 880
Byers, CO 80103

Payment
1,500 plus words - $50
850 - 1,450 wrds - $30
600 - 800 wrds - $20
300 - 550 wrds - $10

Click here to download a PDF of our writer's guidelines.

One story per author per issue.
Do NOT want: Hunting stories, Poetry

DO Want: Funny, heartwarming, family stories.

Stories accepted six months in advance.

Christian Parenting Today
http://www.christianitytoday.com/parenting/features/info.html
#writers (Copy and paste both link lines into your browser)

465 Gundersen Drive
Carol Stream, IL 60188-2489

Mailto: cpt@christianparenting.net

Published quarterly this magazine "provides parents information
that spans birth to 14 years of age in the following areas of
growth: spiritual, social, emotional, physical, academic."

Pays 12-20¢/word for pieces between 750-2,000 words. Buys FNASR and
reprint rights.

Does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. Query via postal mail
only. Response time is 6-8 weeks. Does not accept simultaneous
submissions.

(When querying, make sure to remember this is a Christian
publication for parents--not a mainstream parenting mag.)

Writing Op - Atlantic Publishers & Distributors

ATLANTIC PUBLISHERS & DISTRIBUTORS
7/22 Ansari Rd.
Draya Ganj New Delhi 110002
India
Phone: (91)(11)3327-3880
Fax: (91)(11)2328-5873
E-Mail: info@atlanticbooks.com
Website: www.atlanticbooks.com

Freelance Facts:
Established: 1977

Needs:
General Nonfiction
Reference
Textbook

Subjects include:
Anthropology/Archeology
Art/Architecture
Business/Economics
Computers/Electronics
Cooking/Foods/Nutrition
Education
Health/Medicine
History
Language/Literature
Law
Military/War
Music/Dance
Nature
Philosophy
Psychology
Religion
Science
Sociology
Sports
mass media/journalism, math, film/theatre, political
science, tourism, textile

Chocolate Speaking Engagement

My mom is visiting me for the next two weeks. I will not be posting quite as often until after she leaves. Also note that I will be out visiting my son in VA next weekend so the posts will be less during that time as well. Thanks for your understanding as I take small sebbaticals to refresh before our October 8 conference. I appreciate your continued prayers and encouragement.

Also note that I will be speaking at the Upper Montclair Country Club tonight for Bromilows Chocolate Company. Please keep this engagement in your prayers. The topic? One of my favorites - CHOCOLATE of course!

Louise Bergmann DuMont
www.louisedumont.com
www.cafemochalight.blogspot.com

Writing Op - Gallant Greetings Corp.

GALLANT GREETINGS CORP. (formerly Gallant Greetings)
P.O. Box 308
Franklin Park IL 60131

E-Mail: joanlackouitz@gallantgreetings.com
Website: www.gallantgreetings.com
Contact: Joan Lackouitz, vice president product development.

About GALLANT GREETINGS CORP.: Gallant is a publisher of traditional, religious, and humorous greeting cards for all occasions and seasons. All card ideas are purchased from freelance writers. Payment is $45/card idea purchased.

Writing Op - Montgomery's Journey

MONTGOMERY'S JOURNEY
Sharing Hope, Buidling Community
Keep Sharing
555 Farmington Rd.
Montgomery AL 36109
E-Mail: deanne@montgomerysjourney.com
Contact: DeAnne Watson, editor

About MONTGOMERY'S JOURNEY: Magazine covering Christian living
Frequency: Monthly
Includes Protestant Christian writing, topical articles on Christian living, and Christian living articles with helpful information for walking with Christ daily.

Freelance Facts: 50% freelance written
Established: 1999
Circulation: 8,000
Pays on publication
Publishes manuscript 6-12 months after acceptance.
Byline given.
Offers 25% kill fee.
Rights purchased: One-time rights, Second serial (reprint) rights
Editorial lead time 1 year.
Submit seasonal material 1 year in advance.
Accepts queries by: E-mail
Accepts simultaneous submissions
Accepts previously published submissions
Sample copy for $1.75 and self-addressed magazine-size envelope.
Writer's guidelines available via e-mail.

Nonfiction:
Needs: Inspirational, Religious
Does Not Want: No fiction, poetry, or autobiography.
Submission method: Submit query or complete ms.
Length: 1,300–2,200 words.

Pays $25-50 for assigned articles; $25 for unsolicited articles.

Writing Op - Highway News

HIGHWAY NEWS

Transport For Christ
1525 River Rd.
Marietta PA 17547

Phone: (717)426-9977
Fax: (717)426-9980
E-Mail: tfcio@transportforchrist.org
Website: www.transportforchrist.org
Contact: Jennifer Landis, editor

About HIGHWAY NEWS: "We publish human interest stories, testimonials, and teachings that have a foundation in Biblical/Christian values. Since truck drivers and their families are our primary readers, we publish works that they will find edifying and helpful."

No Payment - 50% freelance written
Established: 1950
Circulation: 35,000
Publishes manuscript 1 year after acceptance.
Byline sometimes given.
Rights purchased: First rights
Submit seasonal material 9 months in advance
Accepts queries by: Mail, E-mail, Fax
Accepts simultaneous submissions
Accepts previously published submissions
Responds in 2 weeks to queries.
Responds in 2 months to manuscripts.
Sample copy free.
Writer's guidelines by e-mail (editor@transportforchrist.org)

Nonfiction:
Needs: Essays, General Interest, Humor, Inspirational, Interview/Profile, Personal Experience, Photo Feature, Religious, trucking
Does Not Want: No sermons full of personal opinions.
Buys 20-25 manuscripts/year.
Submission method: Send complete manuscript
Length: 600–1,200 words.
Pays in contributor copies.
Does not pay the expenses of writers on assignment.

Photos:
Send photos with submission.
Reviews: Prints, GIF/JPEG files
Photos Require: Captions, Identification of subjects, Model Releases
Buys one-time rights
Does not pay for photos.

Columns & Departments:
Columns open to freelancers: From the Road (stories by truckers on the road); Ladies' Corner (stories for truckers' wives), both 600 words.
Submission method: Send complete manuscript

Fiction:
Needs: Humorous, Religious, /Slice-of-life Vignettes
Does Not Want: No romance or fantasy. "We use very little fiction."
Buys 1 or fewer manuscripts/year.
Submission method: Send complete manuscript
Length: 600–1,200 words.

Poetry:
Needs: Traditional
Does Not Want: Don't send anything unrelated to the trucking industry.
Buys 2 poems/year.
Submit maximum 10 poems.
Length: 4–20 lines.

Fillers:
Needs: Anecdotes, Facts, Short Humor
Length: 20–200 words.
Tips: "We are especially interested in human interest stories about truck drivers. Find a trucker doing something unusual or good and write a story about him or her. Be sure to send pictures."

Writing Op - Hopekeepers

HOPEKEEPERS
Joyfully Serving the Chronically Ill
Rest Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 502928
San Diego CA 92150
Phone: (888)751-7378
E-Mail: rest@restministries.org
Website: www.hopekeepersmagazine.com
Contact: Lisa Copen, editor
Quarterly
Publishes manuscript 3-6 months after acceptance.
80% freelance written
Established: 2004
Circulation: 10,000
Pays on publication
Byline given.

Christian publication for those with chronic illness or pain. Christian authors are preferred. "We are open to health articles as long as they don't promote New Age practices. We are open to any topic with an illness slant and a Christian tone. See guidelines for specific details."

Rights purchased: First rights, Second serial (reprint) rights, Electronic rights, Makes work-for-hire assignments
Editorial lead time 4-6 months.
Submit seasonal material 6 months in advance.
Accepts queries by: Mail, E-mail
Accepts simultaneous submissions
Accepts previously published submissions
Responds in 3-6 weeks to queries.
Responds in 2 months to manuscripts.
Sample copy for $2.50 or condensed version is online.
Writer's guidelines for #10 SASE or online.

Needs: Book excerpts, Essays, How-To, Inspirational, Interview/Profile, New Product, Opinion, Personal Experience, Religious, Technical
Does Not Want: "No 'God healed me and can heal you too' articles. Your story cannot be the main content of the piece. The article should be a on a specific topic with your story as an example. We prefer to have other stories as examples, too."
Submission method: Query with or without published clips
Length: 350–1,200 words.
Pays maximum $100.
Pays in contributor copies for article with little research.
Does not pay the expenses of writers on assignment.
Columns & Departments:
Columns open to freelancers: Refreshments (devotional/journal style).
Buys 6 columns/year.
Submission method: Send complete manuscript
Pays maximum $50.
Column Needs: Facts, Newsbreaks, Short Humor

Buys 20 fillers/year.
Length: 25–200 words.
"We want fillers that are original, uplifting, and informative, and are interested in how-to articles: how to find contentment, how to know when to change doctors, etc. A large percentage of our publication is open to secular articles with faith-based sidebars."

NJCWG - Tapes On Loan

Would those people who borrowed tapes from the NJCWG library please let me know which ones you have. I will need them before I go down to teach in Richmond VA in Mid-Sept.

Louise Bergmann DuMont
njcwg.dumont@gmail.com

NJCWG - Jars of Clay Review

Would the person who offered to do a music review for my church's parent's newsletter (for our youth groups) please contact me ASAP. I need the review of a Jars of Clay CD by Monday!

Louise Bergmann DuMont
njcwg.dumont@gmail.com

Writing Op - Amazon Shorts

Looking for Something New to Read?
Amazon Shorts are never-before-seen short works from a wide variety of well-known authors, available only on Amazon.com. Try a new genre or a new author--there's something for everyone. Amazon Shorts are:

• New short-form literature from top authors for only 49 cents
• Delivered electronically; there are no printed editions
• Yours forever after purchase; save or print and read at your convenience

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How to Submit:
Amazon Shorts

Program Information

Amazon Shorts features previously unpublished short-form literature for sale exclusively at Amazon.com. Fiction and nonfiction pieces on a wide variety of topics are available in a digital format only for just $0.49. This is a great way for authors to maintain a more direct and frequent communication with their readers as well as promote their backlist.

Benefits of participation in Amazon Shorts:

• Access a powerful marketing tool to promote an author's backlist in a new and meaningful way
• Create an author profile page with biography, photo, and complete backlist
• Maintain author's visibility between published projects
• Establish a more direct and frequent communication with readers
• Introduce readers to unfamiliar writers
• Provide a new outlet to sell short fiction and nonfiction

Amazon Shorts on the site:

• Customers get instant reading gratification from favorite authors.
• Readers can easily sample new writers without investing much time or money.
• Shorts are available to customers via PDF, HTML, plain-text e-mail, and they are stored in customers' Digital Lockers forever. Shorts can be read immediately on-screen or printed out to be read later.
• Amazon Shorts will be promoted on the Books home page, presented as part of book search results, and recommended to book buyers.
• Full personalization features--customer ratings, reviews, recommendations--will be included.

Attention publishers, agents, editors, and authors: If you would like to participate in Amazon Shorts, please contact amazon-shorts@amazon.com.

Author FAQ

What types of material can I list as an Amazon Short?

Any previously unpublished short-form work (2,000 - 10,000 words, fiction or nonfiction) you've created that your readers would find interesting. An Amazon Short could be a single short story, an update on a well-loved character, a compelling speech, additional material that enriches your published works, or even your commentary on your work or other subjects. Some authors have chosen to treat this as a "laboratory" for experimentation with new genres, themes, etc. We are open to creative ideas for new work.

What if I want to contribute more than one piece?

Once you are accepted into the Amazon Shorts program, you are free to contribute as many pieces as you wish. We are especially interested in getting new material from you on a regular basis. Please allow a turnaround time of approximately three weeks from the time you deliver the material to the time you can expect it to appear on the site.

Can I sell my material elsewhere? Can I publish it later? Will I continue to own the rights to it?

Authors retain the rights to their material. However, we do require that all Shorts be exclusive to Amazon.com for a minimum of six months.

Can anyone submit an Amazon Short?

We are accepting work from a diverse group of authors. In order to be eligible for participation you must be a published author with at least one book currently for sale on Amazon.com. If you are an agent, author, publisher, or editor, and you would like to be considered for inclusion in this program, please contact us at amazon-shorts@amazon.com.

Does this material get reviewed by customers just as books do?

Absolutely. The digital content listed in Amazon Shorts is just like other media products that Amazon.com sells to customers and is subject to the same privileges and conditions that are afforded to books, CDs, and other media products.

Can authors promote their Shorts on their own Web sites?

Yes. Authors who have their own Web sites are encouraged to join the Amazon.com Associates Program. Through this program, you can use your own Web site to drive traffic to your Amazon Shorts as well as any books you have for sale on Amazon.com. This is especially worthwhile for writers who have active or well-frequented Web sites.

Hurricane Katrina

One of the advantages of having your own blog is that you can put on that blog anything you choose. I'm taking a moment here to address the needs of those who experienced Hurricane Katrina first hand.


Floodwaters pour through a levee along the Inner Harbor Navigational Canal near downtown New Orleans. (AP/Pool/New York Times)


Avis Ellis (foreground) walks through the rubble of her apartment building in Gulfport, Mississippi, one of the cities that suffered the worst damage from Hurricane Katrina. (AP/Dallas Morning News)


John Allen sits at his makeshift guardpost in front of the A. J. Produce Company in New Orleans, as police elsewhere tried to crack down on looters. (AP/Dallas Morning News)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Houston area is full of refugees from New Orleans, who only brought enough clothing for a couple of days (and officials are now saying it may be four MONTHS before anyone will be allowed back into New Orleans. The area is under martial law). More refuges continue to arrive. It is being said that this is probably the worst natural disaster in the history of the U.S.

The first thing they need is PRAYER but we can't neglect the physical assistance that they need. There are many relief organizations to help these people but each is strapped for funds. Except for Houston shelters and food banks, the various organizations do NOT want clothes or food. What they need is money or and gift cards.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here is a list of some organizations that could use monitory donations:

Operation Blessing: 800-436-6348
America's Second Harvest: 800-344-8070
Adventist Community Services: 800-381-7171
Catholic Charities, USA: 703-549-1390
Christian Disaster Response: 941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee: 800-848-5818
Church World Service: 800-297-1516
Convoy of Hope: 417-823-8998
Lutheran Disaster Response: 800-638-3522
Mennonite Disaster Service: 717-859-2210
Nazarene Disaster Response: 888-256-5886
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance: 800-872-3283
Salvation Army: 800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769)
Southern Baptist Convention - Disaster Relief: 800-462-8657, ext. 6440
United Methodist Committee on Relief: 800-554-8583

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here are a few organizations that will accept monetary donations and/or gift cards. Some of the have Spanish speaking donation alternatives, internet donation options or other special ways to contribute.:

KSBJ, a local Houston radio station, is accepting gift cards for the refugees. www.ksbj.com

Red Cross - If you would like to make a donation to the Red Cross, please call 1-800-HELP-NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013. Internet users can make a secure online credit card contribution by visiting www.redcross.org or www.houstonredcross.org.

West Houston Church of Christ is collecting gift cards (phone, gas, food, Wal-Mart, etc) in any denomination to be distributed to Hurricane Katrina victims in Red Cross shelters in Texas. The collection will extend through the month of September and cards may be brought (or mailed) to West Houston Church of Christ, 17100 West Road, Houston, TX 77095. For additional information, see our website www.westhoustonchurch.org or call 281-856-0001.

Project Noah - www.projectnoah.org
Starting as a lifeboat for the many homeschoolers and other families hurt by Tropical Storm Allison in June of 2001, Project Noah soon became a loving facet of the homeschool community with the mission to help homeschool families in crisis. They are now helping families whose children will be staying home from public school for the next two months due to Hurricane Katrina.

Writing Op - Christian Parenting Today

CHRISTIAN PARENTING TODAY
Christianity Today International
465 Gundersen Dr.
Carol Stream IL 60188-2489
Phone: (630)260-6200
Fax: (630)260-0114
E-Mail: cpt@christianparenting.net
Website: www.christianparenting.net
Managing Editor: Caryn Rivadoneira
Assistant Editor: Dawn Zemker
Contact: Raelynn Eickhoff, editorial coordintor
Issues: Quarterly

"Strives to be a positive, practical magazine that targets real needs of today's family with authoritative articles based on real experience, fresh research, and the timeless truths of the Bible. CPT provides parents information that spans birth to 14 years of age in the following areas of growth: spiritual, social, emotional, physical, academic."

Pays on acceptance
Byline given
Accepts previously published submissions
Responds in 2 months to manuscripts
Sample copy for 9 x 12 SAE with $3 postage
Writer's guidelines for #10 SASE
Paying Market

"Tell it like it is. Readers have a `get real' attitude that demands a down-to-earth, pragmatic take on topics. Don't sugar-coat things. Give direction without waffling. If you've `been there,' tell us. The first-person, used appropriately, is OK. Don't distance yourself from readers. They trust people who have walked in their shoes. Get reader friendly. Fill your article with nuts and bolts: developmental information, age-specific angles, multiple resources, sound-bite sidebars, real-life people and anecdotes and realistic, vividly explained suggestions."