Five Websites for Mother Writers
On-line Inspiration and Resources for Moms Who Write
If you're a busy mom trying to keep writing, here are five literary websites specifically for mothers. Hip Mama, MotherVerse and others are there for you.
Here are some great websites created by and for mothers who write. It can be hard to find that perfect balance between writing and motherhood. Hopefully after browsing you'll find yourself inspired to pick up that pen and get writing.
Literary Mama: A Literary Magazine for the Maternally Inclined Literary Mama features high-quality writing by mothers that explores the complexities of motherhood. The site features fiction and poetry, as well as non-fiction, literary criticism, recommended reading and insightful profiles of writers who are also mothers. One of the best things about this site is the writing prompt based on the monthly essay. Readers are encouraged to read and respond in 500 words, with the best entries being published the following month. Other submissions are also encouraged.
Mother Words: Mothers Who Write Mother Words is a personal blog written by writer and teacher Kate Hopper, who teaches a course called 'Mother Words' in Minneapolis. The site mainly chronicles the author's emotional journey as a mother and a writer but it's also full of links to other sites, books and resources of interest to mother writers.
Hip Mama According to their website, Hip Mama “is a magazine bursting with political commentary and ribald tales from the front lines of motherhood.” Definitely political, always diverse and challenging, this website created by Ariel Gore has it all. Read about anything from mothering in a wood-heated cabin in Northern Canada to a mother traveling to Spain to take Spanish lessons with her teenage son. Hip Mama accepts submissions.
Mom Writer's Literary Magazine This is a fairly new website (June 2005) but it has already progressed to its second print issue. The info-packed online version features essays, reviews, and poetry written by moms or mothering figures. It also has a comprehensive writer's resources section. They accept submissions of creative non-fiction from mothers or mother-figures (adoptive moms, stepmoms, aunts, foster moms, grandmas, etc). They prefer writing that deals with real-life motherhood rather than the sugar-coated version.
MotherVerse: A Journal of Contemporary Motherhood MotherVerse magazine aspires to create a global community of motherhood in its pages. Unique in its focus on international mothering, and full of thoughtful, well-written articles, it's worth a look. In order to read the entire articles, you need to purchase a subscription, which is available in an affordable online or print version. Or check out their blog for free: Mothering Out Loud. MotherVerse accepts submissions.
Even if you don't have time for writing, make time for exploring these websites. You'll find out what writing mothers are doing and thinking about, and hopefully get inspired to contribute.
