Writer's Guidelines

We're happy you want to write for Women of Spirit, a magazine to inspire and disciple Christian women. Women of Spirit seeks to be a friend and mentor, stimulating spiritual vitality, nurturing emotional growth, fostering balanced, healthy living, and encouraging a loving Christian witness in the home and community.

To fulfill this mission, Women of Spirit seeks writers from a diversity of ethnic and cultural backgrounds who think creatively and seek God deeply. Though primarily targeting Seventh-day Adventist women, this magazine appeals to women of other faiths and therefore avoids using language and experiences not easily understood outside the Adventist arena. Women of Spirit aims to build a joyful sense of community among women and to affirm their place of service in the body of Christ.

Women of Spirit welcomes you to share a piece of your heart. Here is a glimpse of our articles.

Stories

Writers share their own experiences or those of others. We are looking for a variety of styles and themes--a crisis overcome, God's leading, nostalgia, daily miracles, encounters with memorable people. We also consider quality fiction.

Devotionals/Spiritual Topics

These articles emphasize the place of spirituality in real life. You might share spiritual experiences or insights that were significant to you. We also want in-depth Bible studies written in a conversational tone and applied to everyday life. Occasionally we need creative slants on stories about biblical women with modern applications.

How-to Articles

This category includes a variety of articles offering useful, specific advice to Christian women. Topics have included exercise, hospitality, Sabbathkeeping, creative gift- giving, reducing fat in your diet, beating stress, and witnessing. Writers might consider dividing their advice into a certain number of clearly separated points (examples: 10 Ways to Relieve Stress Fast; 7 Keys to Super Friendships).

Personal Issues

These articles may focus on a woman's personal experience with an issue or might be comprehensive articles written by experts in a given field. Possible topics are marriage, friendships, single life, widowhood, child rearing, divorce, remarriage, abuse, health, sexuality, careers, retirement, and many other issues that affect Christian women. Writers should weave stories and anecdotes into their articles. Focus on solutions and keep the slant positive.

Short Humor
500 Words

These articles use humor in dealing with relationships, failure, spiritual growth, teens, life, and more.

Poetry

We're sorry, but we use very little poetry. Some of our regular features include:

How I Share My Faith at Work
150 words

Readers tell how they share their faith on the job. Featured women have included a home health aide, an equine specialist, an occupational therapist, and an executive assistant.

Spirited Life
500 Words

A devotional sharing insights the writer has learned about God or from God. This could be a deeply spiritual experience or a personal turning point. Emphasize meaningful communication with God.

Manuscript Length

Most of the manuscripts printed in Women of Spirit are between 500 words (one magazine page) and 1,000 words (two magazine pages) in length. Longer articles are usually written on assignment.

Tips for Good Writing

Keep your writing personal and conversational. Imagine that your reader is sitting right next to you.

Make sure you have a solid beginning that hooks your audience into reading your article or story.

Use strong action verbs.

Your descriptions should enable your reader to see what you see as you write.

Get rid of clichés.

Include realistic dialogue in your story.

Show, don't tell.

Remember that truth is better than fiction.

Manuscript Checklist

Have you included your name, address, Social Security number, and an accurate word count in the upper left-hand corner of your manuscript?

Is your manuscript under 1,000 words?

If you use e-mail to send your manuscript, we prefer you save your file as a Word .DOC file and send it as an attachment.

If not using e-mail, are you sending a quality printed copy of your manuscript?

Is the type double-spaced?

Manuscript Checklist
Manuscript Copy Only

We wish we could accept every good manuscript we receive, but that is never possible. With the use of computers, some authors prefer just to run another copy rather than sending return postage. If you want your manuscript returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your submission.

You can expect to hear from us within 8 to 12 weeks after we receive your manuscript. We pay upon acceptance. And when your article is printed, you will receive complimentary copies of the magazine in which it appears.

So don't wait!

Send your manuscript to:

E-mail: WomenofSpirit@rhpa.org

Women of Spirit
55 West Oak Ridge Drive
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Fax: 301-393-4055
Phone: 301-393-4125