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For the past few years, I’ve been the sole writer for Self-Sufficient Kids, aside from a handful of guest writers.
While I’ve enjoyed building the site and sharing what I’ve learned about raising independent, self-sufficient kids, I find value in the shared wisdom of diverse voices and now want to present new perspectives to my readers.
So, I’m putting the call out for article submissions. My plan is to start by publishing 2-3 articles per month with the possibility to expand that number if it makes sense for the site and me.
Authors will be paid based on the length of their piece (see details below).
To stay informed about Self-Sufficient Kids writing opportunities and other helpful writing resources, sign up to my email list here.
Self-Sufficient Kids grew out of my desire to break away from the persistent temptation to hover, mold, and micromanage my kids through their childhood. The inspiration for Self-Sufficient Kids came primarily from reading three books: How to Raise an Adult, The Opposite of Spoiled, and The Gift of Failure. Each of these books highlights the benefit of letting kids figure out life on their own and to be independent, responsible and ultimately grow into adults who can be self-sufficient.
While Self-Sufficient Kids promotes raising independent kids, it also subscribes to a positive parenting philosophy where kids feel loved, supported, respected, accepted, and understood. To learn more about positive parenting click here.
I’m looking for contributors who share this same philosophy.
What I look for in the articles I publish
The articles that resonate with the Self-Sufficient Kids community are ones where an author personally tells a story that relates to the chosen topic. This style creates an authentic and genuine connection with readers.
For instance, if you are writing about how to teach kids to stay organized, then you’ve had an experience where your child has not been organized, you’ve researched ways to help your child become and stay organized on his/her own, and the results were successful over a substantial period of time.
Think about it…Which would you rather read?
- A preachy list of cliched tips
- OR, a real-life account of what another parent actually did, their thought process, what they found while researching the topic, the obstacles they came up against and how they triumphed…
Keep it real, conversational, motivating and practical…But also keep it succinct and readable.
Three of the most popular personal anecdote stories on the site include:
Giving Our Kids the Gift of Doing Nothing
One Brilliant Thing My Parents Did That Turned Me Into a Money-Savvy Adult
Why Every Kid Should Talk Back to Their Parents
Typically, these personal anecdote stories either tell parents “what to do when” to help them with everyday parenting challenges, or are “how to”- type posts for things we parents want to teach our kids.
When reviewing personal anecdote articles I look for three things:
- An impactful personal story that will connect and engage readers.
- Lessons you learned from your experience that introduces new ideas, perspectives, and fills readers with confidence to try something new.
- Facts and research validated with links to relevant research and/or a pertinent book.
Also, your article MUST:
- Be written for the web: well-organized, skimmable short paragraphs with lists and bullets. (I use Kelly Holmes’ Sticky Blogging Method of writing. Click here to learn more)
- Be original: I do not accept articles that have been published elsewhere before they are published on Self-Sufficient Kids
Length: I prefer articles that are 1,250-3,000 words. If you have an article that is fewer words that you think would be a good match for Self-Sufficient Kids, I’d be willing to consider it and publish it at a reduced rate (see below). I wouldn’t publish an article that is less than 800 words.
If you’re not familiar with Self-Sufficient Kids, please read a few articles to get a feel for it. You can also get a broader sense of the topics I cover by looking at the articles I share in on Self-Sufficient Kids Facebook page.
How much will I be paid?
Articles selected for publication will be paid $75 via PayPal.
I pay $75 for articles of 1,250-2,000 words. This is my preferred length.
I’ll consider an article with fewer than 1,250 words (800 words minimum), but will pay $50.
Conditions
When you submit your article to Self-Sufficient Kids you agree that if it is published, Self-Sufficient Kids retains the right to republish or reuse the material in the future. Credit will always be given to you, the author.
I reserve the right to edit your article to fit the style and voice that is consistent with Self-Sufficient Kids.
Please do not submit the article elsewhere or publish it on your own site when submitting it for my consideration. Also, please do not submit the article elsewhere or publish it to your own site once it has been accepted. (See the next section about when it’s OK to republish to your site). Some articles take longer than others to go live, but I assure you, once accepted I will publish your article and get it out to thousands of parents who can benefit from it!
Note that in each post I may include affiliate links to relevant products and I may create a lead magnet for readers – typically in the form of a list or other printable.
Can I re-publish the article on my site?
Articles can only be republished on your personal blog (and nowhere else) after the article has been live on Self-Sufficient Kids for 90 days. The republished article must state that the article was originally published on Self-Sufficient Kids and also be linked to the original article.
How soon will an accepted article be published?
Since I am just beginning this process, I plan to accept 2-3 articles per month. So depending upon when you submitted your article and were accepted, your article should be published in the next ~6 months. You will receive an email with a link to your article once it goes live.
The topics I look for:
Major focus areas of Self-Sufficient Kids can be found in the menu on the homepage.
Just so you are aware, I’m more interested in a layman’s view of parenting backed with research rather than a highly scientific analysis of brain research, neurology or similar topics where this is the focus of the article.
Right now I’m especially interested in covering the following topics:
- The right way to support kids’ self-esteem
- How to raise independent kids while still maintaining a close parent-child bond
- Tips on how to connect with kids
- The right way for parents to deal with sibling rivalry
- How to coach kids through peer issues
- Instilling confidence in kids
- How to have conversations with kids that are meaningful
- How to instill healthy eating habits in kids
- Phrases parents can use to develop a growth mindset in their kids
- How to teach kids how to invest money wisely (the author should be an expert on the topic; also, know that I’m a strong believer in investing in index funds and would ultimately want to steer kids towards this strategy)
- Why it’s OK for kids to not find their passion before turning 18
- Why free play is so important to kids
- Why overscheduling can be detrimental to kids
- Why I’m raising my kids to think like entrepreneurs
- How to raise critical thinkers
- How to raise kids who demonstrate a grit mindset
- The importance of raising kids with a growth mindset
- How to raise kids who understand the importance of commitment
- How to raise internally motivated kids
- How to raise selfless kids in a self-centered world
- How a fear of failure can hold kids back (and what to do if your kid has a fear of failure)
- Why kids yell and what to do when they do
- How to raise problem-solvers
- How parents can coach kids to make big decisions in life
- How to help kids confront conflict
- How to teach kids to stay organized
- How to teach kids to manage time wisely
- How to teach young kids how to get dressed on their own
- Social skills that school-age kids should know and practice
- Soft skills all kids need before they leave home
- How to help/support kids as they find their first job
How to submit your article
When the submission window is open:
- Email completed articles to: articles @ selfsufficientkids . com. I accept either a link to a Google Doc or an attached Word doc.
- Please write the title/subject of your article in your email subject line.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs):
1. What will happen after I submit my article?
Once I receive your submission, I will try my best to reply within three weeks with either a yes or no.
That said, I get a LOT of emails. If you haven’t heard back from me after 3 weeks, please send me a reminder.
2. Can I submit more than one article?
Not at this time. Please send me one article about the topic that most resonates with you.
3. Can I include links to articles published on my own site in the article I submit to Self-Sufficient Kids?
Only if they add to the story and will make sense to the reader.
Good luck.
PS: If you’ve made it this far, we’re likely to work well together! I can’t wait to see what insights you can provide to Self-Sufficient Kids readers.