SAHM Finds Profit In Humor Blog

Courant.com:

Through high school and a series of waitress and clerical jobs, Dawn Meehan was unable to find what she wanted to be when she grew up. She married, had six children in 12 years and found her calling.

Her mission in life involves a flooded toilet, smelly diapers, a yogurt-covered TV, an escaped pet crab and a syrup-covered baby who eats the dog’s food - all before lunch. The mission also has to do with the power of the World Wide Web and the strength of Meehan’s writing, which has been compared with that of legendary humorist Erma Bombeck.

Meehan, 37, a suburban Chicago everymom, has become a blogging phenomenon poised to become much more.

Last week, she met with a publisher on a book deal. A producer from Nickelodeon has asked her to write a TV series, and a movie producer asked whether she would be interested in writing a screenplay. Four literary agents have offered representation for her work.

It all started two years ago when Meehan shared a funny story on eBay about how her sons shattered a light fixture while playing ball in their bedroom.

The hilarious 1,235-word story drew more than 220,000 people to view her auction listing for the ball.

The ball sold for $1,125.

Last spring, Meehan’s mother sent her an e-mail with ideas for making money from home.

One of those ideas was a blog. If enough people read the blog, companies would place ads on it. If people start clicking on the ads, the blogger receives payment.

Meehan started a blog June 29. She was getting about 10 visits a day. On Aug. 17, she decided she might get more traffic if she shared another funny story of modern motherhood on eBay - the story of her buying Pokemon cards unknowingly after her children sneaked them in the grocery cart.