Interview with
Erika-Marie S. Geiss
Freelance Writer and
Founder of TheWAHMmagazine
Interview by Dawn Allcot
Erika-Marie S.
Geiss is an editor, freelance writer, art historian, wife, parent, and-- most
recently-- magazine publisher.
This winter, she launched TheWAHMmagazine for
"work-at-home-moms, work-at-home-dads, freelancers, telecommuters, veteran
work-at-home parents, and future work-at-home parents." The new publication is
available online only, as a content-driven, interactive virtual magazine.
Geiss is the author of The Passion of Christ (Publications International,
2004). Her articles have appeared in Speak2Me magazine, The News Herald, InkWell,
Newswatch and World Energy Review. In addition to her title as editor-in-chief
of TheWAHMMagazine, Geiss is a copy editor for World Energy Magazine and World
Energy Monthly Review.
A regular AW visitor, Geiss wears each of her hats with style, dexterously
donning one after another to talk about life as a freelance writer,
editor/publisher and WAHM in this interview.
Tell us about your inspiration to launch
TheWAHMmagazine. How did the idea come about?
The idea occurred to me from the convergence of two events. First was my
personal dissatisfaction with the information that is out there for work-at-home
parents. There is a lot of information available for women, and while some of it
is good, I found the sheer quantity overwhelming and the quality of some of the
content lacking.
I wanted to see a resource like the print magazines that I subscribe to for
parenting, but geared for work-at-home parents. There are publications out
there: the WC, Working Mother Magazine and such, but I also wanted
a greener solution and one that was friendlier to being at the computer a
significant amount of time.
The second event was when my husband, Doug, wanted to telecommute. When he
broached the idea at work, he was met with initial resistance, and told, "Only
one other guy in the ever company did that; it's something women do."
He and I were both incensed at the apparent gendering of telecommuting. He was
eventually granted permission… But during that experience, I found that there
wasn't a lot of information available for work-at-home dads or for work-at-home
parents.
There are resources for being a home-based-business owner, but they don't
necessarily tackle the issues unique to that professional role and parenting,
and they don't really speak to the issues of freelancing, telecommuting, or
working at a traditional brick-and-mortar job, but doing a significant amount of
work at home for that job.
TheWAHMmagazine is not a print magazine and it's
not a conventional website, either. What should readers expect from this
interactive online publication?
TheWAHMmagazine is a virtual magazine, in what's called a
flip-book flash engine. Subscribers will have the ability to save articles as
PDFs or print them out as they need, but the overall format is live and dynamic.
Readers can expect to feel as if they are literally flipping through the pages
of a print publication, skipping to page 18 if they want to read the article on
that page, or "thumbing" through each page through the navigation bar or by
clicking on direct links.
Another feature of the magazine is that subscribers will have direct access to
advertiser websites. Instead of having to jot down a product or company, or rip
the page out, they can click on Company A, and have a new browser window open.
They can view Company A's products or make a purchase without ever leaving the
magazine.
What are the benefits to this type of publication over
a print magazine or a website-- to the publisher and to readers?
For the publisher, it cuts down on printing costs, paper use, and ink use. To
that extent, the magazine is eco-friendly. You're still using electricity, but
no more than you would use if you already have your computer running.
For the readers, it's one less thing in their mailbox to set aside and get to
"when they get a chance." While you might not be able to take it to the bathroom
with you, you also don't have to worry about recycling it. Unlike other e-book
formats for magazine publishing, you don't have to download the entire magazine,
which means that it should be readable whether you're on a Mac or a PC.
Did you find, in selling advertising for TWM,
that you also had to "sell" advertisers on the format, since it is a new
concept?
Yes, it has been difficult. Advertisers are accustomed to print magazines and
when they hear online or Internet, I think they think of a static website with
only links to articles as opposed to a format that matches traditional magazine
design.
What was your biggest challenge in launching the magazine?
Aside from courting advertisers, the biggest challenge has been optimizing the
website, so that it's compatible for different browsers and platforms. Just when
you think the site looks great in IE, someone with Firefox says "I have to
scroll to see the site," so, you go in and make the changes.
Experienced writers know there is a difference between
writing for print and writing for the web. Do you favor content for TWM
that is written more like web copy or more like magazine articles?
I prefer content that is written more like magazine articles, but if a piece is
written in more of a writing-for-the-web style, but is written well and matches
our goals and mission I would consider running it.
What tips do you have for writers interested in getting
involved in TWM?
As we say on the AW forums, Just Hit Send.
Seriously though, once the magazine is launched, read the sample issue that will
be on the main website. Better yet, become a subscriber and read the magazine to
get a feel for us. Becoming familiar with your target publications and knowing
that publication's market are tips that are useful for any freelance writer.
What kind of stories are you looking for?
We're looking for stories that relate to the work-at-home life and parenting,
relationships (beyond the romantic kind), business issues, relaxation and
rejuvenation, something that I call "stories from the trenches," which are
nonfiction and fictional stories about being a work-at-home parent.
Each issue we have a "Voice," which is an interview with a successful
work-at-home parent. Our first one is Stephanie Gruber, owner of
babytalkbio.com,
frunchymama.com and Frunchy Mama Magazine, and Christina Katz will be
the "Voice" for our March/April issue. I'm also seeking candidates for that
segment of the magazine.
I especially want to hear from work-at-home dads, telecommuters, freelancers,
and from "retired" work-at-home parents.
You are a successful freelance writer. How do you
balance the two job descriptions in your work day? How do you divide your time?
I'm a big list maker. I set out my goals for periods at a time: immediate term,
short-term and long-term, for each of my professional roles. I tend to work on
the magazine in the evening after my son and husband have gone to bed, using the
day for my writing and my editing clients. The deadlines also shape my
organization.
I also have great help and support from family-- my mother-in-law watches my son
twice a week, and my husband is home on Fridays. That's when I head to my local
Internet café and write.
What's in the future for TWM? Is the goal to
eventually go monthly and/or to turn it into a full-time job?
Right now, I want to keep the publication bi-monthly. It allows more time to
build rich content. As a full-time job, in the future, I'm not sure about that
yet. I think I'll always be writing and editing in some capacity as well, so I
don't see it as becoming a nine-to-five kind of full-time job. But then again,
that could all change as our family needs evolve, as my son goes off to school
in a few years, whether we have more children… all of those are factors.
In the near future, as in within the next year, we will be adding a .mobi format
and iPhone capability, so that readers can have theWAHMmagazine with them
even when they aren't at their laptop or desktop computers.
Who else is on the staff? Or is this a one-mom-show?
It's definitely not a one-mom show. Marna Poole and Nina Welding, who also
freelance for Red Pencil Editing Services, are editors with the magazine. Craig
Pepin-Donat, author of The Big, Fat Health and Fitness Lie who is a
former client, and a WAHD, is our Health & Fitness columnist. A dear friend, a
former WAHM, who did the design work for the publications for my husband's
campaign for city council is our designer.
Plus there are the writers, who, even if they aren't on the masthead, I consider
part of theWAHMmagazine. Without them, we wouldn't be able to make
theWAHMmagazine the kind of publication that it is.
Of course, I can't forget my husband, who said "go for it" when
theWAHMmagazine was just an idea, and who's willing to listen to me prattle
on and on about it.
As a WAHM with a toddler, what advice do you have for
other work-at-home parents?
As a work-at-home mom who's donned "the suit" and gone away from the house to
work, but made a conscious decision [to stay home] before we even started to
plan a family, I would say never lose sight of two things: first, why you're
working from home to begin with and second, your professional goals overall.
To me, that means being present when you're home with your child (especially if
they are very young). Some days you can get away with parallel activities… for
us, I can get some writing in while he's drawing or playing with his blocks, but
when he says "Mama color too," and shoves a crayon in my hand, I stop and we
draw.
Sometimes, it means that my time is all about him, if that's what he needs. On
other days, he wants nothing to do with Mama except for meals, and I can write
or edit. I know that such things will change as he gets older.
But, back to my point, I think when you lose sight of either, why you're working
from home or your professional goals, it creates conflict and resentment.
Make sure that you have a good support system, whether it's other work-at-home
parents, your spouse or partner, extended family or your friends… people who
will support your endeavors, but who are candid enough with you to "pull you
back to reality" when you need it.
Third, don't forget to take time for yourself, whatever that means for you, even
if it's just a walk around the block.
You have a great quote in your sig line on the AW forums:
"I leave the room for 15 seconds and my toddler covers chapter two in a collage
of green crayon and apple-wheel paste." What's the best/funniest/most
heartwarming or most frustrating story you can share about being a WAHM?
My son thinks he can write. I think because we have so many books and because he
sees us writing and reading, he wants in on the action. There was one day when I
was sitting on the couch editing a short piece I had written-- about him,
ironically-- and he climbed onto the couch to see what I was doing.
Then he looked at the paper, climbed into my lap, took the pen from me and
started to write on the hard copy. I guess he's going to go into the family
business.
Dawn Allcot is a freelance writer and the editor-in-chief of RECON, the
Magazine of Woods Paintball. She is a regular contributor to Sound &
Communications, Paintball Sports, Club Business International, Church Production
Magazine and theWAHMmagazine. Dawn lives on Long Island with her husband and
four cats.
