Blog #21 - Sue

ESSAY: Mom's Lover. My essay deals with my mother being an alcoholic and how it forced me into becoming or mothering my 2 younger sisters. Also how that experience with my mother's problem directly effected the mother I am to my 2 children.


PUBLICATION: http://www.literarymama.com/


AUDIENCE: that are writers. Sharing changes and views on Motherhood. On line magazine about motherhood.


PURPOSE: Giving mothers a voice. An outlet for mothers that are writers.


SUBJECT MATTER: The changes women experience about wanting to be mothers, becoming mothers or if you are in a mothering role.


FORM/ARTISTRY: Exploring ideas and emotions on motherhood. An on line magazine where mothers can share their views, ideals, feelings, thoughts on motherhood.


POLITICS: Give mothers a voice. Allow mothers to be visible. Community atmosphere.


DEPTH OF DISCUSSION: Narrative, personal, reflective, sharing, informative.


VOICE: Serious, personal, funny, intimate.


LENGTH: No specific length. It can be poetry, essay, short story, fiction, non-fiction, or a book.


SUBMISSION: All volunteers. No fee. Need to be a self-identified mother. Electronic submissions only, with cover letter. 500 - 7,000 words. One piece at a time. We are seeking personal essays and stand-alone creative nonfiction excerpts by mothers related to motherhood that read like fiction. We look for:

A distinctive personal voice.

Attentiveness to language, rich details, lyrical phrasing.

Vivid imagery, use of metaphor, simile, personification, symbols, setting, and other literary elements.

Illustrative anecdotes or vignettes.

Compelling narrative.

A fresh or startling topic area, or a fresh or startling take on a universal or common experience.
Character development.

A reflective element. We're looking for thoughtful pieces that take the experience of motherhood and use it as a jumping off point for exploring deeper issues of identity, relationship, family, politics, transformation, loss, and more. Make sure, for example, that your piece not only describes an experience but reflects, either overtly or metaphorically, on how the experience changed you.