How to Pitch Parents Magazine: A Freelancer’s Guide

This high-paying publication is looking for pitches that explore all aspects of the parenting experience

Dana Robinson is a freelance health, beauty, and culture writer with 20 years of experience creating content for publications including Shape, WeightWatchers, Wine Enthusiast, AARP, and Southwest: The Magazine. She holds a master's degree in mass communication from California State University-Northridge.

4 min read • Originally published February 5, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Dana Robinson

Dana Robinson is a freelance health, beauty, and culture writer with 20 years of experience creating content for publications including Shape, WeightWatchers, Wine Enthusiast, AARP, and Southwest: The Magazine. She holds a master's degree in mass communication from California State University-Northridge.

4 min read • Originally published February 5, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

Circulation: 2.2 million
Frequency: Monthly

Background: Kids don’t come with a manual, but Parents magazine has been striving to become the closest thing to a parenting handbook for the past 90-plus years. The publication is targeted toward millennial moms and dads who have children under age 10, and its mission is to “address all of the challenges and joys of parenthood, and to give parents the information they need to raise happy, healthy children,” says Diane Debrovner, deputy editor.

Parents gives its readers information that they crave by taking a 360-degree approach to parenting, says Debrovner. This includes coverage of fitness, beauty, food, relationships and various aspects of family life in addition to child development—all through the lens of being a young parent.

What to pitch: Editors are open to receiving pitches from new writers, and the following sections are the best places to direct your well-thought-out pitch:

Features: Reported stories that focus on children’s health and behavior, discipline, women’s health, relationships, and the experiences of being a parent are all fair game for the feature well. Word count: 1200-1800.

News & Ideas: This is the kid’s news department, and editors are looking for short news items that cover health, behavior, and safety. *Editors are less likely to accept a pitch for this section from an unknown writer. Word count: under 250.

The Heart of Parenting: This essay section is the place to pitch your first-person stories about any emotional aspect of parenting—from happy to sad. Word count: 600-1000.

Kids: This section includes feature stories that are focused on all aspects of kids’ mental and physical health: asthma, flu, accident-prevention, etc… Editors will also accept features about children’s behavior and discipline as well as pitches about values (e.g. how to raise a kid who is honest or kind.) Word count: 1200-1800.

Mom: This section houses feature stories that relate to relationships, women’s health and fitness, and the psychology of being a parent. Word count: 1200-1800.

What not to pitch: Food, beauty and travel content are handled in house.

Online opportunities: Online editors are looking for coverage of hot-topic news events and health studies. Feel free to also pitch first-person essays that are tied to parenting experiences, as well as bigger reported features that cover health, lifestyle, and parenting trends. And if you have a multimedia proposal that goes beyond the written story, feel free to include it in your pitch. Essay fees start at $100. Word count: 600-750.

What publicists should pitch—and when: Send pitches that cover relevant products that center around child care, traveling with kids, and new research. Editors are also interested in hearing from publicists who represent book authors. Lead time: 3-5 months.

Percentage of freelance content published: 60 percent
Percentage of freelance pitches accepted: 10-25 percent

Recent freelance stories pitched and published: A freelancer pitched What Science Really Says About the Difference Between Boys and Girls. The pitch was a winner because it offered a fresh take on the question of nature vs. nurture. Sports for Kids: How to Raise a Sporty Kid made the leap from pitch to assigned story because of the author’s voice and personal experience about how the world of kids’ sports has changed over the years, says Debrovner.

Etiquette: If you’re pitching a feature story, editors would like to see a 1-2-page proposal. The voice, angle and structure of the story should be extremely clear, and it should also include the types of sources you’d like to use. Pitches for other sections should only be about one paragraph in length. And be sure to provide links to clips.

Lead time: Three to five months
Pay rate: $1.50+
Payment schedule: On acceptance
Kill fee: 25 percent
Rights purchased: All rights or shared rights—depending on the story

Contact info:
Parents
225 Liberty St.
New York, NY 10281
Parents.com
Twitter handle: @ParentsMagazine | Facebook

FirstName.LastName@Meredith.com

View the Parents masthead

Direct all pitches to:
Deputy Editor Diane Debrovner: DIANE dot DEBROVNER at MEREDITH dot COM

Editor in Chief Julia Edelstein: JULIA dot EDELSTEIN at MEREDITH dot COM

EDITOR’S NOTE: Though we’ve updated this article recently, the speed at which things move in media means things may have already changed since then. Please email us if you notice any outdated info.

Topics:

How to Pitch

Skills & Expertise

5 Smart Reasons to Ask Your Boss for a Performance Review

'A conversation in the present could save your job in the future'

By Joel Schwartzberg

Joel Schwartzberg is a workplace communications coach, speechwriter, and bestselling author whose books include "Get to the Point!" and "The Language of Leadership," with articles published in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Newsweek. He brings over two decades of senior communications and editorial leadership experience at organizations including the ASPCA, PBS, and Time Inc.

5 min read • Originally published February 5, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Joel Schwartzberg

Joel Schwartzberg is a workplace communications coach, speechwriter, and bestselling author whose books include "Get to the Point!" and "The Language of Leadership," with articles published in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Newsweek. He brings over two decades of senior communications and editorial leadership experience at organizations including the ASPCA, PBS, and Time Inc.

5 min read • Originally published February 5, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

Asking your boss for an official review may sound like asking for trouble, but it actually has a number of not-so-obvious advantages for both your peace of mind and your chances for promotion. The question is: Do you feel secure enough to ask for one? Here, job experts explain why a simple “How am I doing?” might do you a lot of good.

1. To Get Important Feedback

The most obvious reason to seek a review is to know where you stand in your boss’ eyes. “You can’t improve without being told what you’re doing well and what you’re not doing right,” says Andrea Ballard, a career coach for midlife professionals at Expecting Change LLC. “Asking for feedback gives nervous bosses permission to tell you what’s bugging them.”

Cheryl Palmer, a veteran career coach at calltocareer.com, agrees that a little insight goes a long way. “A performance review gives insight into how well you’re meeting your boss’ expectations,” Palmer says. “Without this knowledge, you’re flying blind.”

Seeking feedback is a good idea even when you have a new manager. In such a case, “it may be a wise move to ask for a mini review a month or so after the supervisory change,” says Marla R. Gottschalk, an industrial and organizational psychologist. “Not only can you obtain feedback about how he sees you as a contributor, but it allows you to discuss his specific performance expectations going forward.”

2. To Improve Your Standing

A review can help you take the first step in repairing a negative reputation. “If you performed in a less-than-satisfactory fashion, this allows you the opportunity to appear proactive and avoid being harshly perceived by management,” says Stacey Hawley, a principal with Credo, a career counseling firm. “It’s your mea culpa.”

“A conversation in the present could save your job in the future,” suggests Gottschalk. After all, losing your job is a far darker prospect than enduring an awkward conversation with your boss.

3. To Demonstrate Your Commitment

Even before you have the meeting, simply asking for a review says something positive about your work demeanor. “Asking for constructive criticism will communicate that you’re proactive and dedicated to growing as a professional and to your organization,” says Kathy Kane, chief human resources officer for Emergency Medical Associates.

“On the most basic level, it emphasizes your interest in your own performance and your desire to improve and develop,” says Hawley. It also emphasizes another quality rarely on display in the office: bravery.

4. To Highlight Good, Unnoticed Work

A big benefit of having a review is the chance to sing your own praises. “If your boss isn’t involved in your day-to-day, she might not know what you’re working on,” says Rachel Dotson, marketing manager for SaneBox. “A review forces her to sit down with you, so you can communicate your impact and value to the company.”

“Sometimes the cumulative effect of what you do every day is hard to see, but when you sit down and list accomplishments, your contributions become obvious,” says Sara Sutton Fell, CEO and founder of FlexJobs and founder of Remote.co.

A review is not just a boss’ chance to grade you, but also a chance for you to make the case for yourself. So prepare in advance a list of individual accomplishments or your role in team accomplishments.

5. To Set the Stage for a Raise or Promotion

While you shouldn’t use your review time to ask for a raise or promotion (we repeat: don’t use your review time to ask for a raise or promotion), a review will help identify “what growth areas to focus on, what your strengths are and what qualities and projects you’ll want to highlight when asking for a promotion or raise,” says Kane.

Putting those successes, qualities and projects on the record is crucial. “Without documentation of what you have been doing, it’s difficult to convince management you deserve that promotion,” says Palmer. “If you’ve been working without a pay raise for some time and have a high quality of work, the review can show that you are due a raise, whether a promotion comes with it or not.”

Even if a raise or promotion isn’t in your immediate future, a review can put you in the right professional direction. During a review “you’re better equipped to ask for specific responsibilities or development opportunities to get you where you want to go,” says Hawley.

Tips on Preparing for a Review

Once you schedule a review, don’t just wing it. “Before going into a review, be prepared with a few examples of projects that you enjoyed or excelled in,” says Kane. “This will give your manager an idea of when you are happiest and perform your best, which may result in being put onto similar projects in the future.”

“Start by listing the initial duties that were described in your job description,” advises Nicole Williams, founder and CEO of the career website WORKS by Nicole Williams. “Give examples of how you’ve successfully completed these tasks and then demonstrate how you’ve gone above and beyond what was expected of you.” Williams also recommends being honest about your self-assessment and open to criticism.

“When they point out a weakness you don’t necessarily agree with, go with it anyway. It takes a little pride-swallowing, but it demonstrates you’re easy to work with,” she says.

Of course, even well-meaning managers may decline your request for a review or ask that it be scheduled during an official review period, but if your boss says yes, then go in knowing it’s never too late to improve on a first impression.

Topics:

Climb the Ladder, Get a Media Job, Skills & Expertise

Job Search

No One Is Responding to Your Job Applications — Here’s What to Do

See why it's 'the honey that catches the fly' when job hunting

By Celeste Mitchell

Celeste Mitchell is an editorial writer and editor with nearly 30 years of experience creating consumer lifestyle content for publications including Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, and SELF. She previously served as Deputy Editor at Cosmopolitan and taught journalism courses through Mediabistro.

4 min read • Originally published February 5, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Celeste Mitchell

Celeste Mitchell is an editorial writer and editor with nearly 30 years of experience creating consumer lifestyle content for publications including Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, and SELF. She previously served as Deputy Editor at Cosmopolitan and taught journalism courses through Mediabistro.

4 min read • Originally published February 5, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

It’s a common feeling these days. You apply for jobs online and you rarely get a response. It seems almost like your resume just disappears into the ether, never to be seen by an actual person. You wonder: Is anyone on the other end reading these things?

We feel your pain. And while it may seem like there isn’t anyone on the other end of your applications, we can assure you, from personal experience, that there is. Not only that, but recruiters who post on job boards are—believe it or not—also frustrated by the process. Especially when they receive hostile emails from job seekers who receive a standard auto response.

“While I understand the frustration of someone looking for a job and either not getting a response or getting an automated response,” says Emma Logan, director of human resources and IT at Mother Jones magazine, “it is really counterproductive to lash out at the people doing the hiring. If you’re on a job hunt, it’s not the squeaky wheel that gets the grease, it’s the honey that catches the fly.”

Try not to feel hopeless and helpless. At least you can make sure that you aren’t doing anything to undermine your chances.

Here are some do’s and don’ts for applying online:

1. Follow directions. Read the job listing and follow instructions to the letter. Don’t send attachments if the ad says they’re not wanted. And don’t call if they explicitly say not to. This is not the time to take matters into your own hands. You want to demonstrate that you can read and follow directions.

2. Don’t apply for a job that’s completely out of your league. For example, a recent college grad shouldn’t toss his hat into the ring for a job that requires 3-5 years experience in a specific industry. This approach simply clogs the recruitment pipes and won’t land the job of your dreams.

3. Always write a cover letter. A resume will never be enough to represent you as a professional. Use your writing talent and communication skills to describe the experience most relevant to the job.

4. Cherry-pick your opportunities. Rather than firing off 30 applications in a single hour, spend the same amount of time writing one powerful and persuasive cover letter. Random spamming with the same cover letter and resume will not get you any closer to employment. Recruiters won’t consider you as a serious candidate.

5. Address cover letters to a person. More often than not, a specific contact person is named in the job description. Address your correspondence to him or her. In other words, avoid nameless-and-faceless salutations such as “Dear sir” and “Dear Human Resources.” In the rare instance a name is not provided, go with the old-fashioned “To whom it may concern”—and remember that only that first T should be capitalized.

6. Nail the tone. Writing informally is fine for emails to friends, but it doesn’t fly in a job application. On the other end of the spectrum, an overly formal approach is just as much of a turn off. Check this out: “At this time I would like to present myself as a candidate for employment.” A bit stilted, right? How about this instead: “I’m very interested in learning more about this position.”

7. Ask not what the company can do for you; ask what you can do for the company. A winning cover letter speaks directly to the needs of the employer. Write about your experience, but put it in the context of the potential employer and how your skills are relevant to the job. Here’s an example of what not to do: “The position you advertise is attractive to me.” Instead tell the recruiter why your resume should rise to the top. Try this instead: “After ten years as a copy editor for national magazines, I believe my experience is relevant to your needs.”

8. Proofread on paper. Before sending your email application, take time to proofread it on paper first. It is difficult to spot spelling errors, typos, extra spaces and superfluous words on screen. And show it to a friend—preferably a copy-editor friend. Check job titles as well. Little mistakes are the kiss of death.

Of course, it’s still tough, and there are still an awful lot of people applying for relatively few positions. You won’t necessarily get your dream gig, but hopefully you’ll at least start getting some callbacks.

Ready to take your job search to the next level? Check out Mediabistro’s Career Services and get your Free Personalized Resume Evaluation right now.

Topics:

Get Hired, Job Search

Interview Tips

Should You Share Your Salary History With a Prospective Employer?

Go after the salary you deserve with these tactics

By Celeste Mitchell

Celeste Mitchell is an editorial writer and editor with nearly 30 years of experience creating consumer lifestyle content for publications including Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, and SELF. She previously served as Deputy Editor at Cosmopolitan and taught journalism courses through Mediabistro.

5 min read • Originally published February 8, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Celeste Mitchell

Celeste Mitchell is an editorial writer and editor with nearly 30 years of experience creating consumer lifestyle content for publications including Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, and SELF. She previously served as Deputy Editor at Cosmopolitan and taught journalism courses through Mediabistro.

5 min read • Originally published February 8, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

Here’s one of those timeless career questions: What should you do when a prospective employer asks for your salary history?

It’s always an awkward topic, but it’s one an applicant should be prepared to answer. And regardless of how it’s brought up, negotiating about money is the toughest part of the interview process. It must be handled delicately: Aim too high and you could be out of the running, but lowball and you might find it hard to get your salary up later on.

To find out the smartest negotiating techniques, we called Karen Danziger, managing partner at the Howard-Sloan-Koller Group and one of New York’s top media recruiters. Here’s her best advice on how to handle sticky situations and still get what you’re worth.

What should you do when an employer asks for your salary requirements?

It’s very common to be asked this, and it’s really important not to start out too high because you can get knocked out for overreaching. It makes employers think of you as the person they’ll never get. But it’s easy to get tripped up here because most people have grandiose ideas of what they’re worth and no one wants to come in at the bottom.

What’s the best way to handle this without shooting yourself in the foot?

I don’t normally advise people to deflect a question, but in this case, deflect the question as much as possible. Say something like, “I’m accustomed to earning a range from X to Y, but I am very interested in this organization and I’m willing to entertain your best offer.” Or say, “Money isn’t really my focus, but I’d love something in the range of X and Y.” They may come back later and ask for your minimum.

Some job listings require that you include your salary requirements in a cover letter. What’s the best strategy here?

You do need to address it in some way. Ignoring it will only annoy the employer. Anyone who currently has a job could write, “I’m currently earning X, but my needs are entirely negotiable, and I would love the opportunity to talk about this position.” Someone without a job might give a range.

The bottom line is that if your background is exactly what they’re looking for, you’ll probably receive a call even if your salary is a bit off.

One of the more awkward moments is when an employer asks how much you make in your current job.

Word to the wise: Don’t lie. It will haunt you. Some companies will ask for pay stubs from your current or previous employer, or they’ll ask to see tax returns. If the salary you stated in the interview can’t be verified, the offer can be nixed. It’s totally legal, so protect yourself and tell the truth.

But what do you do if it’s low? Doesn’t that cut into your bargaining power?

If it’s low, then explain the unusual circumstances. Perhaps you took a cut in pay because it was a job you really wanted. Or it’s early in your career and you are still climbing the ladder. One strategy is to talk about other sources of income like freelance work. That will bring up your total income. It’s unfortunate that your next salary is based on the last salary, but that’s the way this works.

What should you do when an employer wants to talk salary right off the bat?

The only thing to do is to think on your feet and decide if you are willing to consider it. If the amount isn’t what you had in mind, then be gracious and gently end the meeting. If it sounds doable, then say yes, you are willing to consider it.

If the job is eventually offered, are you locked in at this salary?

No, you aren’t. The door is not closed for negotiation later on. Some people find that when they learn more about a job during the interview, the compensation no longer sounds reasonable. In that case, you can say something like “I’m thrilled about this opportunity and I know you mentioned the salary, but I was wondering if there’s any possibility of bringing it up again.” They’ll tell you if they can do it or not.

Once the compensation offer has been put on the table, how do you get the number up?

There are two schools of thought. Some employers expect you to bargain, so they intentionally come in with a low offer. They appreciate the psychology of someone who negotiates for themselves to get more. Others don’t feel that’s a game they want to play, so they come in with a firm offer and will not budge—unless, of course, you twist their arm.

Basically, it isn’t wise to negotiate just to negotiate. You run the risk of annoying the employer and having the offer taken away. Whatever you do, don’t overreach and be difficult. If you have an offer in hand and the situation becomes too much about money, they might renege the offer and go to another candidate.

If you really, really, really feel you need more in order to justify taking that job, try to be totally appreciative and gracious and say that you are thrilled with the offer but you were still hoping for a touch more. Ask if there is any way to sweeten the package a little with a six-month review.

Sounds tricky. Do you think it’s worth the risk?

If it’s really important to you, then you need to know. Just handle it very gently. If they tell you there’s no flexibility, then that’s the end of the conversation. You can take 24 hours to think about it, but call them the next day to either take the offer or walk away.

In order to make it to salary negotiations, you’ll need to nail the interview. The best way to prep is through a mock interview. Refine your interview skills in a one-on-one session with a Mediabistro career counselor and learn how to talk about your work history and answer tough questions, anxiety-free.

Topics:

Get Hired, Interview Tips

Skills & Expertise

How to Make Yourself Invaluable to Your Employer

"Always keep your boss' WIIFM in mind: the 'What's In It For Me'"

By Joel Schwartzberg

Joel Schwartzberg is a workplace communications coach, speechwriter, and bestselling author whose books include "Get to the Point!" and "The Language of Leadership," with articles published in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Newsweek. He brings over two decades of senior communications and editorial leadership experience at organizations including the ASPCA, PBS, and Time Inc.

5 min read • Originally published February 8, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Joel Schwartzberg

Joel Schwartzberg is a workplace communications coach, speechwriter, and bestselling author whose books include "Get to the Point!" and "The Language of Leadership," with articles published in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Newsweek. He brings over two decades of senior communications and editorial leadership experience at organizations including the ASPCA, PBS, and Time Inc.

5 min read • Originally published February 8, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

Media jobs are like fickle romantic partners. What seemed like a sure thing when you first started can suddenly go south, especially when budgets and staffs tighten. Like any relationship, you need to tend to your job and prove the value you bring to it in order to keep it.

But you can’t exactly buy your job flowers from time to time. And ensuring your job security is about more than simply “not screwing up.” It’s about raising your value in the eyes of those who control your professional future—proving to your boss you’re more than a headcount.

The good news: it’s not that hard. The bad news: you’d better start tomorrow. Here are seven tips that will make you more visible, more valuable and hopefully less likely to fall victim to a sudden breakup.

1. Ask for a Meeting

Paula Caligiuri, a professor of human resource management at Rutgers University and author of Get a Life, Not a Job, suggests volunteering to sit in on meetings to which you may not ordinarily be invited.

“Many times, receiving more visibility at work is as simple as asking for a high-profile opportunity. Once that opportunity is given to you, be sure you are ready to shine,” Caliguiri says. “The two things you can control when it comes to giving yourself greater job security are the critical skills you possess and the high-quality network you have at work. A high-visibility project will give you the chance to expand both.”

You can also ask to take a private informative meeting with your company’s executive leaders—it will give them a chance to wax on about the organization (which they’ll probably enjoy), and demonstrate your commitment to both the company and to self-improvement. After it’s over, your name and face will be remembered.

2. Pass it Forward

When you read an insightful article or catch wind of breaking industry news, share the link with your colleagues.

This is a trick new employees often use to get noticed, but it can also cement your standing. Don’t just hit ‘Send:’ “Forward the document along with your three bullet points summarizing what people really need to know from the article,” says Andrea Ballard, recruiter, hr consultant and corporate trainer at the Olympia-based firm Expecting Change LLC.

“You’ll save others in your group time and energy and help them feel better prepared.” Forwarding industry insight is also an easy way to show that you care about the corporate mission above and beyond your day-to-day responsibilities, and that you can think independently.

But don’t send around jokes or cartoons—that only indicates that you’re bored at work.

3. Take the Lead

Never turn down an opportunity to lead.

“When your company’s leaders say they are looking for a volunteer for something, speak up right then. Don’t wait to go back to your desk, mull it over, investigate all of the alternatives and then finally get back to your boss,” says Ballard.

“Leading a project and training others, and being perceived as the expert in an area will help boost your credibility,” she says. Of course, don’t set yourself up for failure either. If you feel uncomfortable presenting in front of a group, don’t take yourself out of contention—consider taking a public speaking class.

4. Become Known as the Expert

Being perceived as the expert in an area or having expertise in a particular skill—like writing, video editing or even Facebook and Twitter proficiency—will help boost your indispensability.

“Know how your organization competes and where your skills fit into their competitive core. If you expertise is needed for the competitive core, you are more critical to the organization,” says Caligiuri.

“If you can add skills to your repertoire to make you more unique within that critical role, even better.” You can also bring to the job something valuable, like a full Rolodex of contacts, or a social platform following.

5. Raise the Proof

Start collecting tangible evidence of your value to the company, including facts and figures like website traffic reports or met revenue goals.

Also keep testimonials from clients or coworkers. “Whenever you get an email that says ‘great job on project x’, keep that and forward it to your boss. Better yet, ask the person who wrote it to forward it to your boss directly,” says career coach and former Fortune 500 recruiter Caroline Ceniza-Levine.

“Use these testimonials during any review or salary meetings to tangibly demonstrate your worth.”

6. Dress the Part

That advice about dressing for the job you want, not the one you have? Very true. “Professional” versus “casual” not only describes how you dress, but how your commitment is assessed when you dress that way.

“Your manner of dress provides a visual cue others may subconsciously—or possibly consciously—use to decide where you belong in the organization,” says Caligiuri. “Professional attire will help others readily see you as someone who belongs at the next level in the organization.”

7. Check In

Face time is vital to your success at work.

Your boss may not have time for non-essential meetings, but will appreciate frequent (though not annoying) check-ins about a project’s status, even if everything is running smoothly.

“Taking 60-90 seconds of their time every day isn’t much off their time plate, but over time brings them tremendous information about you and your team that keeps them in your loop,” says Jim Hornickel, director of training for corporate consultants Bold New Directions.

“But make sure to get feedback to see if your strategy is working. Always keep your boss’ WIIFM in mind: the ‘What’s In It For Me.’ It’s the most critical factor in having your boss’ receptivity and buy-in to taking up more of their time.” Career expert Barry Maher, author of Filling the Glass, says written notes work well too.

“A great strategy is simply to write the boss a very short note at the end of each week, explaining just what you did during the week,” he says. “Many bosses will save these and, come review time, they might even write the review from them.”

Like #4 says, being perceived as an expert in a skill can boost your indispensability. With Mediabistro’s online courses, you can learn valuable media skills from successful industry experts with experience in marketing, advertising, copywriting, copy editing, social media and more.

Topics:

Climb the Ladder, Skills & Expertise

Productivity

Morning Person or Night Owl? The Best Times for Creatives to Do Their Best Work

It’s never too late, or too early, to discover what time of day is best for you

By John Lombard

John Lombard is a content strategist and writer with over a decade of experience creating interactive and video content for brands like Apple, IBM, and Samsung. He previously worked at Mediabistro and now serves as a Client Strategist at Ceros.

3 min read • Originally published February 8, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By John Lombard

John Lombard is a content strategist and writer with over a decade of experience creating interactive and video content for brands like Apple, IBM, and Samsung. He previously worked at Mediabistro and now serves as a Client Strategist at Ceros.

3 min read • Originally published February 8, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

While some creatives say the early bird gets the proverbial worm, others argue it’s the night owl that crushes creatively. Here, through recent research and insight from creatives, we’re examining the best times for productivity, helping you get an idea of when to unleash your creative mind…and actually get stuff done.

Morning

Many agree morning is the best time to create. And there’s a few reasons for this:

Fewer distractions in the morning means more time to let your inner creative voice be heard. The distractions that pop up as the day progresses make that inner voice harder to make out, says Leo Babauta, founder of ZenHabits, “The more noise that’s around us,” he says, “the more difficult it is to hear our voice.”

Your inner critic is still asleep. Research suggests that our minds are most creative during and just after sleep. This is partly because the editing part of our brain tends to sleep in, allowing us to be fully creative without our inner critic analyzing our ideas. Author Richard Goodman urges writers: “Get in there and write before it wakes up and starts sabotaging your work.”

Willpower, as it turns out, is a finite resource. Studies have shown that our ability to make good decisions is not an endless well. Think about it: Have you ever eaten healthy all day only to binge on chips that night?

How many times have you told yourself you’d write when you get home from work, only to have Netflix take over your life? Willpower can run out throughout the day. If you’re the type of person who needs a full tank of willpower to get writing, maybe the morning’s for you.

Night

And of course, others strongly believe in burning the midnight oil. Here are some of the reasons why:

Your tired brain is actually more creative. While this may seem entirely counterintuitive, recent studies have found a link between creativity—greater insight in problem solving performance—and a foggy brain. Ron Friedman, Ph.D., author of The Best Place to Work, suggests when your mind is fatigued, you’re less able to block out what may seem like unassociated ideas, therefore connecting more thoughts and increasing your creative capacity.

Creating at night can take the pressure off. When developing creative work in the morning, most likely there’s a quickly approaching deadline. Whether it’s class, work or other daily tasks that take you away from your creative projects, it can make the process seem truncated, leaving you with unfinished thoughts.

While some creatives favor the idea of a morning deadline, other writers love the ability to write into the night, uninterrupted. And Neil Patel—digital marketer and founder of companies such as KISSmetrics and Quick Sprout—cites evidence suggesting when you’re not in a hurry to finish other work, you’re more able to become emotionally involved in your creative endeavors.

It’s your time. With no kids to prepare for school and no work emails to return, the night allows you to finally focus on you. Many creatives find night to be almost a magical time to go inward and create. In a NY Mag article, author Kathryn Schulz discusses her love of night writing:

For the first time all day, I get interested in writing. As a corollary, I get a lot less interested in everything else. My normal indiscipline, the ADHD-ish inability to keep my head inside my work, finally drops away. For the next few hours, I write steadily, cleanly. If my body is producing a drug during that time, it is a natural methylphenidate—a dose of pure focus, side-effect-free and sweet.

Find Your Time

Still not sure what time of day boosts your creativity? Try a few experiments: Spend one night creating work and then try the same thing a few mornings later. Ask yourself which session felt most productive and creatively fulfilling.

Or, to get even more granular, follow the lead of Susan Snipes, founder of Q Digital Studio, who suggests pinpointing your optimal work hours with the help of a worksheet to track them.

Topics:

Be Inspired, Productivity

Interview Tips

How to Answer the 5 Most Common Interview Questions Like a Pro

Hiring pros share what they're looking for in job candidate responses

By Brittany Taylor

Brittany Taylor is an enterprise marketing manager and content strategist with over a decade of experience in B2B content marketing, brand building, and ghostwriting, with bylines in SELF, Teen Vogue, and Mediabistro. She currently leads content and branding across multiple brands at HireQuest Inc.

5 min read • Originally published February 8, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Brittany Taylor

Brittany Taylor is an enterprise marketing manager and content strategist with over a decade of experience in B2B content marketing, brand building, and ghostwriting, with bylines in SELF, Teen Vogue, and Mediabistro. She currently leads content and branding across multiple brands at HireQuest Inc.

5 min read • Originally published February 8, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

The interviewer sitting across the table might seem perfectly chatty, but her questions are loaded with ulterior motives. While you might think you’re the answer to her hiring needs, it can be nigh on impossible to get that across—unless you’re thoroughly prepped to answer her queries. We asked three industry pros to tell us which questions job candidates tend to bungle the most, and how you can avoid every single pothole on your way to interview nirvana. Read on for their best advice.

1. “Tell me about yourself.”

This may sound like carte blanche to drag out your entire past, but it’s not. Whether your interviewer says it or not, she means, “Tell me about yourself—as it pertains to this role,” says Heidi Nicoll, Shutterstock’s marketing and creative recruiter. Aim for professional, not personal. If you’re recently out of college, it’s fine to talk about projects you helmed, extracurricular activities you spent a lot of time working on and any work experience—as long as it relates to the position you’re currently interviewing for.

Not quite sure how long to ramble on? First: Don’t ramble. Prepare some sort of chronological story that shows how your background and interests intersect with the company’s open position as well as its history and culture. “Your answer should be similar to a slightly lengthened elevator pitch, about a minute [long],” says Lisa K. McDonald, a brand strategist and career coach at Career Polish. And do be focused. “Your experience should be limited to the positions that lead you to this moment,” she adds.

2. “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

Cruise through this question by harmonizing your own interests—the ones that made you apply for this job in the first place—and relating them to the direction in which the company is heading. “They are looking for how you look to add value, grow and be a part of the organization,” McDonald advises. Whether or not you’re aiming for a traditional path of advancement (like managing others), Linda Pophal, a certified senior HR professional and founder of marketing firm Strategic Communications, urges you to emphasize your desire for personal growth. If you’re aiming to bring your interactive media skills to digital platforms, for example, or would like to have the opportunity to nurture young writers or editors, this a great place to say that.

Keep in mind that while some jobs do tend to have high turnover, particularly in lower levels and the industry as a whole sees a lot of lateral movement rather than vertical, no company wants to hire someone who knows she’s going to leave in two years. Nor does your hiring manager want you to look him in the eye and say, “Oh, I want to have your job!” Awkward. Instead, end your answer with a positive and reaffirming statement such as, “Most importantly, I want to work for an organization where I can build a career.”

3. “Tell me about a time you made a mistake.”

Don’t get nervous. “They are not trying to make you squirm,” McDonald tells us. “They are attempting to ascertain if you take risks, acknowledge failure and, most importantly, learn from mistakes.” Both Nicoll and Pophal agree: The mistake you made isn’t the important part of the question. Go through your thought process so your interviewer can see how you made each decision. Adds Nicoll, “How you describe your work is critical—the thought that went into it and who you give credit to. What did you do and what did your team do?”

To begin with, “Pick an example of something that is not a red flag, hints to inexperience or ineptitude,” McDonald cautions. “Get right to the point by starting with the mistake. Give the parameters: ‘This is what happened,’ in a non-accusatory manner. This is where, looking back, you realize where something should have been done differently. End with, ‘This is what I learned and how I incorporated it going forward.'”

4. “What’s your dream job?”

This question is all about fit, Pophal says. If the job you describe here doesn’t bear any resemblance to the gig you’re interviewing for—or to any potential career arcs available within the company —you’re not going to make a good impression. Not sure what your dream job is exactly? That’s normal, and even if you do know, it may change as your career evolves, McDonald says. To handle the flux, focus on your ideal environment rather than a list of responsibilities you might want to tackle. “The best way to address this question is to focus on the qualities of a position, company and skills,” adds McDonald. “Emphasize that it is not a job title, but rather being in an environment that allows you to continue to increase your skills, take on opportunities and provide value to both your organization and its clients.”

Bottom line: “Keep it focused on the prize you’re after that day,” Nicoll says. “If you’ve done your research and it makes sense to, maybe you can say the next job in line above that. But don’t say you want to run the department you’re interested in joining. Be realistic about it.”

5. “Why are you the best person for the job?”

Now is not the time to sidle away from the spotlight. “You have a moment to tell someone what sets you apart. Don’t shy away or be humble,” Nicoll urges. “Brag when the opportunity is presented to you.”

How do you do that, exactly? Pull out your biggest accomplishments. “Have three to five solid reasons ready that are in line with what is most important to them,” McDonald shares. “Go beyond simply stating your strengths by demonstrating your value. This means providing accomplishments tied to each strength (innovative thinking = new product line = more revenues). This is a great time to emphasize any unique combination of skills. For example: If you work in a highly technical role that normally does not allow for training or communication with stakeholders, but you have been recognized for developing and facilitating training.”

Remember, as Nicoll says, “Nobody else is going to sell this except you.”

Topics:

Get a Media Job, Get Hired, Interview Tips

Career Transition

What Is Corporate Writing — and Why Is It Such a Great Gig?

Learn what this corporate dream gig is all about

By Celeste Mitchell

Celeste Mitchell is an editorial writer and editor with nearly 30 years of experience creating consumer lifestyle content for publications including Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, and SELF. She previously served as Deputy Editor at Cosmopolitan and taught journalism courses through Mediabistro.

4 min read • Originally published February 8, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Celeste Mitchell

Celeste Mitchell is an editorial writer and editor with nearly 30 years of experience creating consumer lifestyle content for publications including Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, and SELF. She previously served as Deputy Editor at Cosmopolitan and taught journalism courses through Mediabistro.

4 min read • Originally published February 8, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

Corporate writing is writing for business purposes. It’s not journalism, so if that’s what you’re looking for you might as well stop reading now. “You are writing to convey the values and goals of a company,” says Kristin Espeland, former director of corporate communications for The MONY Group. Specifically, what does that mean? Here are the main types of corporate writing:

Public relations or media relations:

This is anything written for the press. A press release, for example, is corporate writing. So is the content written for a company’s informational web site, whether it’s used by journalists or the public.

Business communications:

Business communications are written for people who deal with the company, either internally or externally.

Business communications to the internal audience—that is, to employees—are things like newsletters, in-house magazines, company-wide memos, email updates and intranet sites. External business communications are geared toward shareholders, analysts or the public.

Examples of external business communications are annual reports and other financial statements, opinion pieces and policy statements. There are also speeches and presentations for both audiences that need to be written.

Marketing communications:

These are things written with the specific purpose of selling a product or service. They’re directed to the consumer or to a business customer. Brochures and other sales material (the stuff a salesperson leaves with a potential customer, for example) are examples of marketing material.

Still interested? We’ve got good news and bad news. Bad news first: Like anything good, corporate-writing gigs are tough to track down. “Each organization handles its writing projects differently,” says Ann Wylie, president of Wylie Communications, a writing, training and consulting firm for corporate communications.

“In order to see who is hiring for what, you have to go from company to company,” Wylie says. “And depending on the size of a business, a corporate-communications department might consist of anywhere from one person to a hundred people. There isn’t a designated job title to look for. Sometimes the writing is done in-house, sometimes it’s commissioned.”

Here are some suggestions from Wylie and Espeland on how to snag a corporate-writing gig:

1. Be a joiner

Become a member of a trade organization for business writers.

The biggest is the International Association of Business Communicators. Others include the Public Relations Society of America and the Association for Women in Communications.

Then attend seminars, luncheons and social events. “It’s a great way to get your name out there,” says Espeland. “A trade event is an appropriate environment for freelance writers to connect with people who hire.” Introduce yourself to everyone. Follow up with phone calls and letters describing your services. Try to set up face-to-face informational meetings or coffee dates. Sell. Sell! SELL!

2. Pick up the phone

Call businesses in your area and ask to speak with someone in corporate communications. If such a department does not exist, try another name, like public affairs, public relations, public information, marketing, marketing communications, public administration, human resources or community relations.

3. Try small companies

“One mistake people make is to go after the big guys,” says Wylie. “A small company has a small staff, and they simply cannot do everything themselves. My first gig was to write a book for a woman who was a public speaker. She was a one-person business. That one project was the jump start for my own business.”

4. But try big companies, too

All the big guys—names like Sprint, Procter & Gamble, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merrill Lynch—produce newsletters, magazines, press releases, financial reports and other documents. Someone has to write them—why not you?

5. Stick with topics you know

If your experience is at a business trade mag, say, go for financial and business-consulting firms. If you write about beauty, try skin-care, cosmetics and hair supply companies. If fitness is your thing, contact sports equipment and apparel manufacturers. “Sell yourself with writing samples on the related topic of the client,” advises Wylie. “Anything to show you are part of the club and you talk their language.”

6. Reach out to people in your circle

If you think about it, you probably already know someone who could hook you up. “Start your networking with professionals you have a history with,” says Wylie. “One person leads to the next in a series of concentric circles.” Don’t expect to land a project with everyone you speak with. You want to build relationships.

7. Sell your professional services professionally

“You want to demonstrate that you have business skills,” says Espeland. “We want to know that you can handle an interview with a top executive without wasting the person’s time.”

8. Present yourself as a quick study

“Someone who is smart and can pick things up fast is appealing,” says Espeland. “If I describe a balance sheet to a writer and she can turn around and write about it, that’s a good thing.”

Looking for a corporate writing job? Check Mediabistro’s job board, where employees regularly post openings in public relations, media relations, marketing communications and other related fields.

Topics:

Be Inspired, Career Transition

Interview Tips

How 3 Job Seekers Crushed Their Interviews (and What You Can Learn)

Make a great impression where it matters the most—with hiring managers

By Amanda Layman Low

@AmandaLaymanLow

Amanda Layman is a B2B tech content writer and strategist with over 15 years of experience creating content for startups and enterprise brands. She founded Tigris, a content agency serving leading tech companies, and authored The New Freelance: A Book for Writers.

3 min read • Originally published February 10, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Amanda Layman Low

@AmandaLaymanLow

Amanda Layman is a B2B tech content writer and strategist with over 15 years of experience creating content for startups and enterprise brands. She founded Tigris, a content agency serving leading tech companies, and authored The New Freelance: A Book for Writers.

3 min read • Originally published February 10, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

Every hiring manager has a candidate they remember far after the interview itself. These unforgettable folks are often known as the ones who landed the job. Here are three media pros with experience in hiring and their real-world tales of interview success.

1. She Engaged the Interviewer

Erinn Farrell, SVP at space150, recalls a college student who emailed her agency, “seeking me out specifically and reacting to something I had written. I appreciated her confidence, so I met her for coffee.”

Farrell shares that they wound up talking for two hours, and the student asked some of the smartest questions she’d ever heard. “She wasn’t looking for anything but a connection,” she says. “I offered her a job on the spot.”

The Lesson: Truly earning and keeping the attention of the person you’re interviewing with can pay off. “The biggest mishap I see is wanting to get the whole sales pitch out there,” Farrell says. “Work on structuring your answers like you only have a paragraph of space to respond.”

2. She Read the Room

“One graphic designer candidate saw that we were in a room with a laptop and projector, and spontaneously asked if she could walk us through her portfolio online,” says Mishri Someshwar, AVP of marketing at The National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

“Most designer candidates bring in a physical portfolio, but this candidate used our equipment, joking about technical difficulties and walking us through her portfolio in a relaxed but informative and thoughtful way. It made a real impression.”

The Lesson: Rather than following a prepared speech, it’s best to keep it conversational, says Someshwar. “The more relaxed you seem, the better it goes,” she says. Good interviewees “can tell when they’re rambling too long, and rein it in. They can sense from the interviewer’s body language what matters and what doesn’t.”

3. She Showed Her Enthusiasm and Personality

Don Raskin, senior partner at MME and author of The Dirty Little Secrets of Getting Your Dream Job, recalls an undergrad who heard about a job opportunity at his advertising agency and reached out right away.

“She had a sense of urgency, which I value,” he says. “She was leaving to go back to school but told me she changed her flight so she would be in New York to see me.” The candidate came to the interview with a thorough knowledge of the company, and after a great meeting, “she sent me a follow-up within 48 hours and reiterated her interest. I sent her a formal written offer and she signed it and sent it back at the start of the next business day.”

The Lesson: On top of doing your homework, Raskin emphasizes the importance of letting your personality shine. “If you love shark fishing tournaments, tell them that. The interviewer will see many candidates and he or she needs something to remember you by.”

Still having trouble landing the interview itself? Maybe it’s your resume. Mediabistro’s Career Services can help you transform your resume, cover letter and social media profiles into a professional package employers can’t resist. We’ve also got you covered with mock interviews; one-on-one sessions led by career experts, tailored to the type of job you’re after.

Topics:

Get Hired, Interview Tips

Skills & Expertise

What Does a Community Manager Actually Do?

It's much more than just firing off tweets

By Jenell Talley

Jenell Talley is a journalist and program analyst with a background spanning media, government, and editorial work. She holds a journalism degree from Howard University and a master's in human resources management from the University of Maryland.

3 min read • Originally published February 10, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Jenell Talley

Jenell Talley is a journalist and program analyst with a background spanning media, government, and editorial work. She holds a journalism degree from Howard University and a master's in human resources management from the University of Maryland.

3 min read • Originally published February 10, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

Despite what you may have heard, a community manager doesn’t just troll the Internet all day. And it’s not all firing off promotional tweets. Nope, the job is a lot more involved—and way cooler—than that. Intrigued? Here’s the skinny:

What exactly does a community manager do?

A community manager helps build, grow and manage a company’s or brand’s online communities. Using analytics tools to monitor social media outlets, online forums and blogs, a community manager finds out what people are saying about a company or brand. A community manager also engages with customers and fans, and uses social media and live events to help increase brand loyalty.

By creating and implementing programs that connect customers and help them learn from one another, a community manager communicates value to an organization’s customers, says Melanie Olsen, community and events manager at Widen, a marketing technology company in Madison, Wisconsin. Olsen oversees Widen’s live events, which allows her to meet customers and create open-forum discussions, educational breakout sessions and networking opportunities for them.

What skills do you need?

As a community manager, you should be passionate about the company or brand youre representing—you’re talking to customers to get them to start or continue buying the company’s products. And constantly engaging with customers and fans means solid communication skills are essential.

Are you a master multitasker? The job requires juggling a lot of balls, so your organization and project-management skills should be on point.

Having a servant’s mindset helps too, adds Olsen. You have to love helping people, and connecting people to solutions should make your heart sing.

Who is a community manager’s boss?

Some, like Olsen, report to the director of marketing. But, as with lots of jobs, this depends on the company, its size and culture and individual job responsibilities.

Are there other titles with similar responsibilities?

Community management is often among the duties of other jobs, including digital marketers and social media managers. But, says Olsen, it’s less about a job title and more about the role you play at your company, and that role can vary wildly, depending on the industry and (size of) the organization.

What do I need to get ahead in this position?

Good communication skills are a must. You have to be able to talk to people in a way that makes them comfortable with you, and you have to listen to what they expect, what they want. Empathize with them. Trustworthiness is also important. Your customers have to believe what you’re saying and buy (in more ways than one) what you company is selling.

Being agile is also key. “This is a value-add job,” says Olsen. “It’s your job to provide additional value to your customers by way of community growth,” so a willingness to jump in whenever and wherever needed is essential.

How can I get my foot in the door?

A resume that showcases your writing, sales, marketing and event-planning experience will help. A degree in something like business, marketing, management or event planning is gravy.

If you’d like to hone your social media and community management skills even more, consider taking a class. Mediabistro’s Online Courses include Public Relations: Social Media and Community Management will teach you how to engage your audience, incentivize customer feedback, measure your success and more.

Topics:

Climb the Ladder, Skills & Expertise

1. To Get Important Feedback

2. To Improve Your Standing

3. To Demonstrate Your Commitment

4. To Highlight Good, Unnoticed Work

5. To Set the Stage for a Raise or Promotion

Tips on Preparing for a Review

Here are some do’s and don’ts for applying online:

Here’s one of those timeless career questions: What should you do when a prospective employer asks for your salary history?

What should you do when an employer asks for your salary requirements?

What’s the best way to handle this without shooting yourself in the foot?

Some job listings require that you include your salary requirements in a cover letter. What’s the best strategy here?

One of the more awkward moments is when an employer asks how much you make in your current job.

But what do you do if it’s low? Doesn’t that cut into your bargaining power?

What should you do when an employer wants to talk salary right off the bat?

If the job is eventually offered, are you locked in at this salary?

Once the compensation offer has been put on the table, how do you get the number up?

Sounds tricky. Do you think it’s worth the risk?

1. Ask for a Meeting

2. Pass it Forward

3. Take the Lead

4. Become Known as the Expert

5. Raise the Proof

6. Dress the Part

7. Check In

Morning

Night

Find Your Time

1. “Tell me about yourself.”

2. “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

3. “Tell me about a time you made a mistake.”

4. “What’s your dream job?”

5. “Why are you the best person for the job?”

Public relations or media relations:

Business communications:

Marketing communications:

1. Be a joiner

2. Pick up the phone

3. Try small companies

4. But try big companies, too

5. Stick with topics you know

6. Reach out to people in your circle

7. Sell your professional services professionally

8. Present yourself as a quick study

1. She Engaged the Interviewer

2. She Read the Room

3. She Showed Her Enthusiasm and Personality

What exactly does a community manager do?

What skills do you need?

Who is a community manager’s boss?

Are there other titles with similar responsibilities?

What do I need to get ahead in this position?

How can I get my foot in the door?

Accounting HW