How to Publish a Novena

Novenas are disciplines of prayer found in several traditions. Generally, a novena is a series of prayers that are offered on a specific schedule within a given time frame. Often, the novena has to do with a particular subject. Most commonly, a novena will be offered the same time of day for nine straight days, or offered at the top of the hour for nine consecutive hours in one day. Part of the traditional process for a novena is to publish the prayer once the period of offering has concluded. While this was once a somewhat difficult task, it is now easier than ever.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Internet Connection

Instructions

Publishing a Novena

1. Post the novena on your web site. If you have a family web site, include a page where the novena can be posted and present some background about the intent or reason behind the novena. This public presentation of your personally drafted novena may be helpful to others and the presence on the Internet fulfills the charge to publish it.

2. Share the novena on another web site. There are blogs and even web sites devoted to novenas that invite persons to share the prayers they drafted as a means of offering prayer on a specific issue. In most cases, these sites are free, although more and more of them require a submission process that allows the site owner to review content before the novena is published on the web site.

3. Submit the novena to print publications. There are a number of faith-based publications that will accept novenas from readers and evaluate them for publication. While there is usually not any pay for the novena involved, all submissions that are selected are included in a future weekly or monthly edition of the print publication.

4. Publish your own book of novenas. With the technology that undergirds publish on demand options today, anyone can put together a booklet for very little cost. Many POD service providers have an online interface that allows the writer to write his booklet directly into the server. In other cases, the writer can compile the booklet using word processing software, then upload the file to the server. Copies can then be ordered and distributed as desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Novenas are intended to inspire others to a stronger prayer life. By drafting a novena that focuses on one subject that may be of concern for many different people, there is a good chance that others will read, utilize, and then pass on the novena to other interested persons.

• If going the POD route, be sure to read the fine print before signing up for a service. There are sometimes fees and charges buried deep in the terms and conditions. Do not commit to something you cannot reasonably afford.