How to Get Published on Catholic Websites

Writing for Catholic websites can inspire and educate others.

Writing for Catholic websites can be a great way to earn a bit of extra money, and may be especially rewarding if you have a strong faith and want to share it. Catholic websites, like other sites, often accept submissions from freelance writers. Freelance writers are paid for each individual article they write, rather than earning a salary. Although your chances of getting published are better if you have already been published elsewhere, you can still break in as a beginner.

Instructions

1. Study the content on the Catholic websites for which you are considering writing. Pay close attention to the tone of the content: is it serious, scholarly or irreverent? Notice the types of content they publish. If it publishes apologetics, a submission on this topic is likely to be welcomed. Some sites allow first-person testimonies, but others do not. Being able to show familiarity with a website's content increases your chances of getting published.

2. Research which Catholic websites accept submissions from freelance writers. This information can often be found under website headings such as "writers guidelines," "contact us" or "about us." Follow all guidelines closely. If a website specifies that they don't want phone calls, don't call.

3. Create a proposal or query about the article you want to write for the website you've chosen to target. Think of the query as a sales pitch, enticing the editor to want to read the whole article. It is not necessary to write the entire article in advance. A query letter should only be one page. Begin the query with a statement to grab the editor's attention, such as "have you ever wondered why some people love the Mass and others do not?" Explain how your article would answer the question you posed. Conclude the query letter with any publication history you have, but if you have none, you can leave out the information.

4. Demonstrate in your query letter that you are a practicing Catholic, or at least have a solid grasp of Catholic theology. Reference the Catechism of the Catholic church, if applicable to your article. The editor should be able to clearly see why your idea belongs on a Catholic website, as opposed to a secular or general Christian website.

References

• National Catholic Register: Contacts
• About Freelance Writing: Sample Query Letter