I realized that I don't say much about my kids. I try and keep there private lives private, but I really wanted to share information about their latest endeavors. Kids just love to stay busy. My children keep some sort of entrepreneurial project going at all times. My oldest makes these wonderful pencils with flower tops. I will post pictures of those later. My youngest daughter designs her own t-shirts. My sons mow yards and clean sports fields to earn extra cash. Its a busy life but its what makes them comfortable.

They have come up with a collaborative effort recently called Excess Papers. Check out their flier!

Are you finding yourself with an excess amount of newspapers in your front yard? If you love the papers, but you don't have time to pick them up everyday, let Excess Papers, pick them up for you. Excess Papers is a group of young kids looking to run a reverse paper route. Excess Papers will pick up all of the papers in your front yard on Friday mornings. If a different day works better for you, feel free to make a request.

Bouncing back to writing for a moment, I wanted to shed some light on Highlights for Kids. I actually remember Highlights from my youth (yes I can remember back that far). I find it amazing that Highlights takes submissions but its even more amazing that I am just now posting this information. (Put the tomatoes down and read further...geez so violent.)

Have you ever thought that you would love to write a book but you really do not have the time? The answer to that dilemma is short stories. There are not that many places that openly accept children's short stories but Highlights is a wonderful place to begin.

Warning: If you sell your work to Highlights, then they buy ALL rights to your work, copyright included.
No previously published work accepted.
No writers under the age of 16
No emailed of faxed submissions


Now we have all the warnings out of the way, Highlights accepts fiction, rebus, verse, nonfiction, craft ideas, fingerplays, action rhymes, and puzzles. Each piece of work features its own dollar amount and guidelines. Guidelines are available upon request.

All submissions should be mailed to:
Send submissions to
Manuscript Coordinator
Highlights for Children
803 Church Street
Honesdale, PA 18431

Pay details as well as descriptions of work and guidelines are available at the Highlights for Kids website

For those that are not interested in writing but will enjoy checking out Highlights for Kids... click here