Not a mama, but I've published quite a few short stories and a couple of nonfiction essays, so I can probably help you.
What do you mean by manuscript? To me, that suggests novel or collection of short stories or poetry. Working on that assumption of what you have for a manuscript, it's very hard to find a publisher to accept your work unsolicited. Look for competitions or get an agent, straight up.
It's difficult to give you advice or ideas unless I have an idea of what you're trying to send out.
Cover letters are important. Publishers don't take internet publications seriously as a rule (unless they are already well-known).
However, since I got burned on this once, a bit of generic advice: if you post something on, oh, say, a website like this, that counts as first-publication rights when trying to publish creative writing. And first- publication rights are important to most magazines.
If you have questions, I can probably answer them.
Good luck, it's a tough business.
Not a mama, but I've published quite a few short stories and a couple of nonfiction essays, so I can probably help you.
What do you mean by manuscript? To me, that suggests novel or collection of short stories or poetry. Working on that assumption of what you have for a manuscript, it's very hard to find a publisher to accept your work unsolicited. Look for competitions or get an agent, straight up.
It's difficult to give you advice or ideas unless I have an idea of what you're trying to send out.
Cover letters are important. Publishers don't take internet publications seriously as a rule (unless they are already well-known).
However, since I got burned on this once, a bit of generic advice: if you post something on, oh, say, a website like this, that counts as first-publication rights when trying to publish creative writing. And first- publication rights are important to most magazines.
If you have questions, I can probably answer them.
Good luck, it's a tough business.