Generated by All in One SEO v5.0.0.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Words Collide by Kate Wehr Women, Writing, Working from Home ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://wordscollide.co/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Do You and Your Editor Have Different Publishing Goals?](https://wordscollide.co/do-you-and-your-editor-have-different-publishing-goals/) - Authors and editors frequently have different publishing goals. Most, not all, of these are rooted in their respective roles within the publishing business. Learn when you should listen to your editor and when it’s better to listen to your gut. So, you’ve finally acquired an editor. Of course you did, because you’re a stunning artistic - [Red Ink Reset: Empathy Is Not a 'Made-Up' Word](https://wordscollide.co/red-ink-reset-empathy-is-not-a-made-up-word/) - In the aftermath of a politically charged and tragic week, it’s become increasingly clear that Americans aren’t speaking the same language when they refer to empathy, sympathy, and their synonyms. In modern usage, all of these words mean different things. - [Y'all Need a Copy Editor: Native Icons Deserve Basic Respect](https://wordscollide.co/yall-need-a-copy-editor-native-icons-deserve-basic-respect/) - What's the problem with this obituary in Variety this week? An unfortunate misspelling at exactly the wrong place and time. While reporting on the death of Native actor Graham Greene, Variety's copy and layout team failed to catch that the word "Indigenous" was spelled incorrectly. - [To make space for more memories, I'm deleting the outtakes](https://wordscollide.co/to-make-space-for-more-memories-im-deleting-the-outtakes/) - I started this week with about 16,600 photos stashed on my personal computer. I didn’t check the beginning numbers on my phone's archive, but after an hour of sorting and deleting on both devices, I still had 492 videos and 9,935 images left to back up from my cell. My photo storage was overfull. Again. - [Do you need a cover letter?](https://wordscollide.co/do-you-need-a-cover-letter/) - Some hiring managers think cover letters aren't needed anymore. Here's why I think cover letters are essential to the professional job hunt. - [It's tough to be a working mother with sick kids](https://wordscollide.co/its-tough-to-be-a-working-mother-with-sick-kids/) - When women talk about the structural impossibility of winning at both motherhood and career, and when working mothers vent our exasperation at always taking the hits whenever one of our children is sick, this is what we mean. - [Writer anxiety is common; try our 12 best coping tips](https://wordscollide.co/writer-anxiety-is-common-try-our-12-best-coping-tips/) - It’s no surprise that what's happening in Ukraine has been spiking feelings of fear, sadness, anger, depression, and anxiety among writers and creatives everywhere. Here are 12 tips for managing those fears. - [How to talk to your kids about Ukraine: a homeschool lesson plan](https://wordscollide.co/talking-to-kids-about-ukraine-a-homeschool-lesson-plan/) - Right now, there is no more significant global event in our national conversation than Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and we believe it's imperative for us to be talking to kids about Ukraine. As homeschoolers, we were taught to build homeschool lesson frameworks and knowledge connections around news events. - [My essay contest entry was rejected. This is what I did](https://wordscollide.co/rejection-read-my-unsellable-essay-contest-submission/) - I normally don’t participate in essay contest calls as a freelance writer. This time, my odds felt good, but I still needed the funniest essay possible. - [Feeling too frazzled to write? Just write one page](https://wordscollide.co/feeling-too-frazzled-to-write-just-write-one-page/) - Elaborate daily calendars are unrealistic for parents and caregivers who write. Keep it simple and write one page a day. - [Y'all Need a Copy Editor: HOW much alcohol are we allowed to drink, again?](https://wordscollide.co/yall-need-a-copy-editor-how-much-alcohol-are-we-allowed-to-drink-again/) - Here at Words Collide, we’re not into grammar nazism. We do, however, believe that if you’re a well-resourced entity running a public-facing agency, company, or brand, you cannot afford to let messy or offensive errors destroy your messaging. Y’all need a copy editor. I’ve learned that I no longer have the time or energy to - [Y'all Need a Copy Editor: Sure, Let's Just Ignore the Victims](https://wordscollide.co/yall-need-a-copy-editor-sure-lets-just-ignore-the-victims/) - Here at Words Collide, we’re not into grammar nazism. We do, however, believe that if you’re a well-resourced entity running a public-facing agency, company, or brand, you cannot afford to let messy or offensive errors destroy your messaging. Y’all need a copy editor. I’ve learned that I no longer have the time or energy to - [We need to talk about Coldplay (and that viral Jumbotron moment)](https://wordscollide.co/we-need-to-talk-about-coldplay-and-that-viral-jumbotron-moment/) - An alternative PR storyline lies within the company itself: the hundreds of hardworking employees who are not presently mired in a scandal of epic proportions. At a moment when everybody is frantically googling who the heck Astronomer is, that's a ball the company needs to keep in the air. - [A mass shooting struck our community. The rumors came after.](https://wordscollide.co/a-mass-shooting-struck-our-community-the-rumors-came-after/) - Last Friday, all eyes turned to our little corner of the Rockies for one of the worst reasons imaginable: yet another mass shooting in the United States. This time, someone walked into a bar in Anaconda, Mont., and opened fire on the morning regulars, killing four, including the bartender. The shooter--presumed to be Michael Brown, - [Test Your Media Communications Strategies Before You Need Them](https://wordscollide.co/test-your-media-communications-strategies-before-you-need-them/) - After more than a week of intensive regional and national scrutiny, accompanied by collective questions from shocked and saddened residents that may never receive fully satisfactory answers, among my observations stemming from this month’s local mass crisis event is this: A genuine public emergency is not the time to field test your media communications strategies. - [Pantser Versus Plotter: Which One Are You?](https://wordscollide.co/pantser-versus-plotter-which-one-are-you/) - Pantser versus plotter: an unending debate. But what about plantsers? Photo by Saffu on Unsplash. Author's Note: This is an updated version of an archived post. Because of family commitments this week, I will be reviewing and rereleasing some of my previously published work for today's audiences. The original version of this post was published - [The candy is going to fall: How to handle problems at work](https://wordscollide.co/the-candy-is-going-to-fall-how-to-handle-interruptions-at-work/) - Succeeding as a writer depends on learning to work with little daily challenges. They aren't going anywhere, so waiting for the perfect moment, the right circumstances, isn't going to get you very far. - [Y’all Need a Copy Editor: Bloomberg News, are you TRYING to start a war?](https://wordscollide.co/yall-need-a-copy-editor-bloomberg-news-are-you-trying-to-start-a-war/) - News publications often write dummy headlines before inserting the final version. In the context of heightened international tensions, Bloomberg News made an incredibly irresponsible pick. - [Y’all Need a Copy Editor: Do a photo background check, please!](https://wordscollide.co/yall-need-a-copy-editor-do-a-photo-background-check-please/) - I love Bones, its lead actress, and the rest of its cast to death. But there is a reason that publications should have attentive photo editors on standby. - [Y’all Need a Copy Editor: Chile verde isn't red](https://wordscollide.co/yall-need-a-copy-editor-chile-verde-isnt-red/) - “Verde” is Spanish for “green.” Chile verde is a traditional dish made with green chiles and, depending on the source's level of purism, tomatillos. - [Pitch me your story](https://wordscollide.co/pitch-it-to-me/) - Sooner or later, nearly every freelance writer will need to produce a written pitch. Perhaps you have a compelling story idea that won’t work for the publications you usually submit to, or maybe you just want to break into a different market or genre. In any case, there are a few simple guidelines you’ll need to follow to maximize your chances of landing a gig. - [Make working with the media simpler with these easy tips](https://wordscollide.co/seven-tips-for-working-with-reporters/) - Working with the media doesn't have to leave a bad impression! As a former journalist and editor, I've seen all of these situations firsthand. If you have occasion to work with the media--either as an interviewee, or as part of your promotional strategy--here are some quick tips for keeping basic professionalism in mind. Don’t approach - [Breaking Up Writer's Block: Thunder and Brainstorm](https://wordscollide.co/breaking-up-writers-block-thunder-and-brainstorm/) - You won’t build a prominent writing career by yourself. Why would you expect to craft the Great American Novel (or anything else) without help? - [Why This Millennial Writer Struggles With Queries](https://wordscollide.co/hello-world/) - A millennial writer’s true nemesis, you understand, is not crass commercialism or an uneducated public or even a literary archrival. No, it’s that danged refresh button. - [Why Don’t More Literary Agents Take Multiple Queries?](https://wordscollide.co/why-dont-more-literary-agents-take-multiple-queries/) - My sympathies lie with the literary agents and editors who must routinely contend with general douchebaggery and entitlement disguised as “artistic personalities.” Yet for the thousands, if not millions, of writers aiming to publish, and publish professionally, the textbook industry wait times are nothing short of demoralizing. ## Pages - [Terms and Conditions](https://wordscollide.co/terms/) - Terms and Conditions Please read these terms and conditions carefully before using our website and services. 1. Acceptance of Terms By accessing and using this website, you accept and agree to be bound by the terms and provision of this agreement. 2. 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This is by no means a comprehensive list of places to find - [Contact Words Collide](https://wordscollide.co/contact-words-collide/) - Thanks for reading Words Collide! We love hearing from readers. Here's how to contact Words Collide for advertising placements, writing questions, and more. - [Welcome to the Homestead](https://wordscollide.co/home/) - Montana journalist and editor Kate Wehr discusses parenthood, writing, and working from home. - [Legal Terms & Privacy Policy](https://wordscollide.co/contact-words-collide/legal/) - This document last updated 2025. If you have any questions about document confidentiality or similar concerns, please message me. This page is for legally required disclosures about online advertising and the technical ways this site operates. Terms & Conditions Please read these Terms and Conditions (“terms”) carefully before using www.wordscollide.co (the "Website") operated by Kate - [Get Your Writing Projects Off the Ground](https://wordscollide.co/request-a-quote/) - Looking for a skilled freelance editor in Montana? I’ve worked with both native English speakers and English language learners from around the globe. Whether you need a writing coach, a developmental editor, a business writing expert, a media liaison, or a manuscript editor, I can either help you myself or suggest what to do next. - [Order Writing and Copy Editing Services](https://wordscollide.co/shop-writing-and-editing-services/) - Need a skilled copy editor or beta reader fast? See below for a small selection of copy editing and writing services that you can order immediately. You can ask for many more packages and custom quotes with the quote request form. All writing and copy editing services must be fully prepaid unless otherwise specified. 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Please click the "rush fee" listing if you know your project will require a quicker response. ## Categories - [Uncategorized](https://wordscollide.co/category/uncategorized/) - Montana journalist and author Kate Wehr talks parenting, education, remote work and all things writing on the Words Collide blog. - [writing process](https://wordscollide.co/category/writing/writing-process/) - [writing business](https://wordscollide.co/category/writing/writing-business/) - [Writing](https://wordscollide.co/category/writing/) - [Parenting](https://wordscollide.co/category/parenting/) - Drawing on her experiences as a foster mom, adoptive mother, and biological parent, author Kate Wehr drops real talk about modern parenting and motherhood. - [Working From Home](https://wordscollide.co/category/working-from-home/) - Montana writer Kate Wehr has been working from home for more than 10 years. She covers remote work, freelancing, and home-based business for parents on her blog, Words Collide. - [freelancing](https://wordscollide.co/category/working-from-home/freelancing/) - Montana freelance writer mom Kate Wehr discusses freelancing tips on the Words Collide blog. - [Y’all Need a Copy Editor](https://wordscollide.co/category/yall-need-a-copy-editor/) - [Humor](https://wordscollide.co/category/writing/humor/) - Montana humorist and author Kate Wehr finds the funny in parenting. 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