How to Become a Christian Magazine Writer
Christian magazines are great resources that can provide discipline, encouragement, inspiration and advice to their readers. If you have a story to tell from a Christian perspective, a Christian magazine is a great place to share it. Many Christian magazines accept submissions from freelance writers, which is a great way to get noticed by an editor and break into the world of magazine writing. Taking some simple steps can help you begin.
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Instructions
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Read the magazine you wish to write for. Editors almost always recommend doing this and it is a great way to become familiar with the style of magazine and the types of articles they publish. Additionally, reading the magazine may spark some of your own ideas for articles.
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Find the magazine's writer's guidelines. Many magazines offer guidelines specifically geared for freelance writers. These will be a guide for the types of articles the magazine is looking for, the word count and payment information. You can generally obtain a magazine's writer's guidelines by sending a written request with a self addressed stamped envelope to editorial department. The address for the magazine should be available on their web page as well as the inside cover of the magazine. Also, some magazines will post their guidelines for writers on their website as well. They can generally be found in the about us section of the site. Additionally there are some on-line resources that provide writer's guidelines including www.writersmarket.com and www.freelancewriting.com. It is also a good idea to type in the phrase writer's guidelines for Christian magazines in your Internet search engine.
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Write your piece with the guidelines in mind. Remember to use the preferred submission method of the editor. If they are only interested in queries, you will be wasting your time sending them a complete manuscript. Additionally, they may see this as an indication that you do not follow instructions and be less inclined to work with you. Make sure to take the time to check the spelling and edit your submission. A submission containing a great deal of grammatical errors is more likely to be rejected.
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Submit your article by following the magazine's writer's guidelines. Some publications accept email submissions, which is very convenient. If the magazine requests a written submission, include a self addressed stamped envelope for their reply. This will make it more convenient for the editor and increase the likelihood of your getting a response. Also, make sure that you address your submission to the correct person. Many magazines have different editors for different sections. Knowing whom to address your submission to will increase the likelihood that it gets read.
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Keep submitting. If the Christian magazine you are trying to write for accepts simultaneous submissions, go ahead and send your idea to several magazines. The more you submit, the better your chances will be to have your article purchased.
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Be patient. Pay attention to the turn around time for article acceptance provided as stated in the guidelines. If they say they generally reply in two months, then expect to wait two months. Being aware of time frame will help you stay at ease as you await the editor's response.
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Tips & Warnings
Some Christian magazines do not pay for articles so, if payment is important to you, pay attention to the guidelines and do not submit to those magazines.
