How have you found running the magazine to be? Stressful? Exciting? Disappointing? How about the writing talent out there?
Erika-Marie: I've been on both sides of the publishing equation—either as a writer or as an editor, but this is my first time really running a publication. I won't lie—it is hard work, and I have a healthy new respect for all of those editors that I and countless others query constantly. It is also a lot of fun.
During the two years that I took off between undergraduate and graduate schools, I decided that I did not want to ever have a job that I did not love at the core. It's what makes the stressful days worth it...and I love what I do.
I've met a lot of writers, and I've been surprised at how many writers are interested in the magazine—and that is very exciting to me. Watching it grow, develop and manifest into this very real thing that was once a seed of an idea is a profound experience. As any editor experiences, there are good and bad queries and submissions, but overall, I think that I've been lucky so far. Most submissions are well targeted to the publication and its audience and the writing has been very good. In the cases where I have had to turn people away, it has been because it was clear that a "general form query letter" was sent out or there wasn't that "something" that grabbed me in either the submission or clips that made me say "Yes, this writer or this article is a perfect fit." In other cases, the article proposed just didn't fit the editorial calendar or was something we had just done, which is ironic given our relative youth in the magazine market.
Why should readers who are WAH parents consider the $24 investment for your subscription- and writers in particular?
Erika-Marie: BecausetheWAHMmagazine addresses the issues of business, parenting, relationships, health and fitness, personal time and other issues. It's an investment in the work-at-home parent's life. I think that, for what amounts to $4.00 per issue, they are receiving timely, rich content that matters to their lives as parents, as professionals and as human beings.
TheWAHMmagazine doesn't try to compartmentalize, and each issue addresses each of these aspects so that the parent who works from home can have tools to achieve the family/work and the family/self balance that so many parents who work at home seek.
For writers, many of whom work from home either part time or full time, I think it's as much of a business investment as it is a life or lifestyle investment. They can learn from the writers in the magazine—I know that I learn from writers in other magazines—not just about the craft of writing by examining the work of other writers, but also about those issues that face writers who also happen to be work-at-home parents. So far, it has turned out that many of our Stories from the Trenches are by writers.
I noticed that you recently hired writers- what were you looking for in that process? Where/how did you advertise? How did you find the advertising process, from an editors POV?
Erika-Marie: Actually, I went about it in a non-conventional way, I think. There were some writers who queried me specifically about columns and did so very well. There were also some writers whose work I had become very familiar with and in conversations about theWAHMmagazine and their excitement about it and wanting to be involved, it made sense to suggest a column or create a regular column for one of the featured departments. It just made sense to have a regularly occurring "cast of characters" (if you will) not only from the standpoint of having regular strong work, but for our readers, to have a sense of greater continuity among the bi-monthly issues. I didn't really advertise for columnist positions specifically, it kind of occurred…it was all very synergistic.
What are you looking for in freelance submissions?
Erika-Marie: That's a tough question. As a writer, I know that you always want to know that one thing that will make your submission be the one that gets through. But as an editor/publisher, I also know that you don't want to end up seeing hundreds of the same submissions based upon what you say in an interview that you want to see. Overall though, I like to see fresh perspectives, strong research (where required), and work that is tightly written. I also like to see submissions and queries that show that the writer has done their homework. When I say "homework" I mean that writers have read and followed the submission guidelines and the editorial calendar and that they've maybe even read the magazine to understand our tone and style.
How can readers/writers best relate to you as an editor?
Erika-Marie: I think that the best way to relate to me as an editor is to for readers and writers understand that I'm like them—laptop on the desk and the little guy is coloring or playing with his cars and blocks on the floor nearby, and when he wants to go outside and play or read—we do. (It also means that I'm often working at some very strange hours.) Also, because I am a work-at-home mom who is married to a telecommuting dad, I can make the kind of thoughtful decisions about editorial content because I live the life.
Since I am also a writer, I do keep in mind how I would like to be treated by editors and try to approach writers (whether accepted or rejected) in that manner—in other words, I try to keep my inner Miranda Priestly in check. The flip side of that however, is that I am still a professional and I take the magazine as seriously as I would if we were located in some posh New York office and I expect writers who approach theWAHMmagazine to have that same level of professionalism with their craft. We're fun but down-to-earth. We're a little casual, but we're still a professional publication.
Thanks Erika-Marie!
