Ignite Your Faith Guidelines
see also the Christian College Guides guidelines below
Who Writes for Ignite Your Faith?
Writers who understand and empathize with a Christian world view is a good start, but that's not enough. Freelancers must be pros who understand our unique style and editorial philosophy. Don't query until you've studied at least one issue of Ignite Your Faith (Sample copy available for $3).
What Type of Article Works Best?
First-person stories that capture experiences from the lives of teenagers are our readers' favorite. These can be dramatic narratives or stories that highlight a "life lesson" learned through common everyday adolescent experiences. A first-person story must be highly descriptive and incorporate fictional technique. While avoiding simplistic religious answers, the story should demonstrate that Christian values or beliefs brought about a change in the young person's life. Since this is our editorial bread and butter, experienced freelancers should consider writing "as told to" first-person stories based on an experience from an interviewee's life Guidelines for writing first-person stories are available upon request.
What Else Does Ignite Your Faith Print?
Humor, fiction, and information for teens considering a Christian college. All such writings must be tied to the teenager's life experience. We also offer several regular departments that are largely staff-written. Specific writer's guidelines for fiction, first person and humor pieces are available upon request.
What Doesn't Work?
Essays and how-to articles are not wanted. There are a few exceptions, yet even exceptions must be highly anecdotal and demonstrate a clear understanding of our style and editorial philosophy. Manuscripts are rejected if they: become moralistic or preachy; offer simplistic solutions; take an adult tone; use religious clichés and overuse/misuse religious language; lack respect and empathy for teenagers.
Guide for Writing First-Person Stories
The first-person or "as told to" first-person story is the best way for a new writer to break into our freelance pool. It is also the best way for a seasoned writer to remain there. It's no overstatement to say that the personal narrative is our editorial "mainstay." Follow these guidelines and your manuscript will receive serious consideration.
- Study first-person stories. Guideposts© and Reader's Digest© are excellent resources. Most of all, study the first-person stories that appear in Ignite Your Faith before submitting anything. (Sample copy available for $2.00.).
- Interview thoroughly. For "as told to" stories, be sure to tape a thorough interview with your subject. During the interview, probe for details that will add life and color to your story.
- Show, don't tell. Appeal to the five senses through strong descriptive writing. Use fictional technique: Pay attention to plot (problem focus), character and scene development, setting, dialogue, and credible resolution.
- Focus on the best scenes. Don't try to "tell it all." Pick scenes that are germane and develop those to the fullest. If possible, try to keep your story within a short interval of time.
- Don't force your message. Weave your "life lessons" into the fabric of the story.
- Think readers. Your story needs to have "universal appeal" to all of our teenage readers, both male and female.
- Don't force religious values. A Christian world view should be represented, yet creatively and in a manner that won't alienate or puzzle the non-churched teenager. If the story becomes preachy, brings characters "out of character" to deliver a message or uses religious clichés, it won't work for us.
- Mechanics. Ignite Your Faith does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. Query first. Requested manuscripts should be typed/keyboarded and double-spaced. Simultaneous submissions must be indicated on the first page. Length should be between 1,200 and 2,500 words. Based on difficulty and length, we pay 15 cents to 20 cents per word. Expect a response in three to six weeks.
Guide for Writing Fiction
It's not uncommon for a writer to query us with: "I know a teenager who had a problem and I have written a fictional piece based on that problem. … " Our usual response: "So why not tell the story in a true, first-person narrative?" That is the most helpful advice we can offer. At tops we print three short stories a year, and those are usually written by experienced, seasoned professionals. With that caution, consider these guidelines.
- Know Ignite Your Faith. Do not query without a thorough understanding of this magazine. (Sample copy available for $3; when requesting a copy be sure to ask for fiction samples.).
- Style and technique. Pay attention to strong descriptive scenes, credible dialogue, and realistic action, conflict and resolution.
- Setting/perspective/tone. Story must take place in the world of today's high-school or college student and must be told from a teenager's perspective. Tone must not be condescending and/or adult. The overall "feel" must show a respect and empathy for the teenager's life and experiences.
- Language. Strive for simplicity. Keep adjectives and adverbs to a minimum. Go instead with active, appropriate verbs. Remember: Lions roar, parents yell; rain trickles, people cry; cars travel, eyes look; etc. Exchange clichés for fresh expressions. Use metaphorical language sparingly and without mixing. Faddish, teen colloquialisms are not acceptable.
- Predictability. We quickly reject stories that are simplistic, dependent on coincidences or end too neatly. A good fictional piece reflects life's shades of gray and complexities.
- Point and message. In keeping with our editorial philosophy, each story we publish must contain a "lesson life" that represents a Christian world view. Yet this life lesson must be natural—not forced. "Religious message writing" is out. Give the reader credit for a good measure of intelligent, analytical thinking. Offer a credible resolution, yet strive for subtlety.
- Mechanics. Ignite Your Faith does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. Query first. Requested manuscripts should be typed/keyboarded and double-spaced. Simultaneous submissions must be indicated on the first page. Length should be no longer than 1,500 words. Based on difficulty and length, we pay 20 cents to 25 cents per word. Expect a response in three to six weeks.
Writer's Guidelines for Christian College Guides
Four times yearly we publish Campus Life Christian College Guides—special magazines related to the Christian College experience. Manuscripts should be informative, practical, anecdotal (whenever possible) and conversational. Freelancers need a good understanding of life on the Christian college campus. Don't query until you've studied at least one recent college edition. (Sample copy available for $3 each; when requesting a copy, please indicate which edition you'd like to receive: August's Guide for Parents, October's Guide to the Christian College Choice, December's Financial-Aid Guide, February's Guide to Christian College Life.
August's Guide for Parents. Offers parents guidance as they help their child explore the Christian college option. Includes interviews with and insights from Christian college personnel and parents of college students. Articles also offer perspectives from students on how parents can help them with the decision process. Guide is divided into three sections: "The College Choice," "Paying for College" and "Life at College." We want practical how-tos as well as personal stories.
October's Guide to the Christian College Choice. Focuses on the college search and admissions process. Often includes articles from or interviews with Christian college admissions experts, guidance counselors and other experts in the "search field." We also print first-person stories or vignettes that highlight college search struggles and successes.
December's Financial-Aid Guide. Deals with the ins and outs of financing a Christian college education. Offers the latest information on grants, loans and scholarships, along with practical information for budgeting and other college financial concerns. Often includes articles by or interviews with Christian college financial-aid personnel.
February's Guide to Christian College Life. Gives practical helps for the college-bound high-school student. Features anything from study tips to picking a roommate. Any freelance pro who's attended a Christian college probably has a story that's a "fit." Often features interviews with current Christian college students (or recent graduates) on a variety of subjects that cover life on a Christian campus.
Mechanics. We do not accept unsolicited manuscripts. Query first. Requested manuscripts should be keyboarded and double-spaced. Simultaneous submissions must be indicated on the first page. Length: 400 - 3,500 words. Based on difficulty and length, we pay 20 cents to 25 cents per word. Expect a response in three to six weeks.
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