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  • Writers Guides

Writers Guidelines

Writing for LIVE (take-home quarterly) BELOW:

Writing for Us

Overview
Under the Assemblies of God (Gospel Publishing House) publishing umbrella, we have several imprints. Most resources are published under one of the following imprints:

My Healthy Church & Gospel Publishing House: books and resources are published primarily with those associated with the Assemblies of God in mind.

The content of all our books and resources must be compatible with the beliefs and purposes of the Assemblies of God. We hold these resources to a "Value Statement for Outreach Products" which states:

We believe the Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God. There is only One God, but He exists in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Jesus Christ is the Son of God and was born of a virgin. He is both fully God and fully man. He lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose from the dead. Christ will return to the earth again. The Holy Spirit bears witness to Jesus and empowers and equips believers today for witnessing and effective service.

How do I submit a formal proposal?
Please see below for the types of unsolicited manuscripts we are currently accepting. For all other imprints we are ONLY accepting unsolicited manuscripts for review when a professional literary agent represents them.

If submitting your manuscript through a professional literary agent, please see guidelines below.

Submit your proposal by following the format described below via e-mail to: [email protected].

We ask that you not send your entire manuscript. If we would like to see it we will contact you to make that request.


What should be included in a proposal?
Please use the following Book Proposal Outline (or similar format that includes the same information) when submitting your manuscript or project for review:

Title Page

Proposal Overview

  1. The Content
    1. Premise
    2. Unique Selling Proposition
    3. Overview
    4. Manuscript
      1. Manuscript Status
      2. Special Features
      3. Anticipated Manuscript Length
      4. Anticipated Manuscript Completion Date
  2. The Market
    1. Target Audience
    2. Affinity Groups
    3. Motivations to Read
    4. Related and Competing Works
  3. The Author
    1. Background
    2. Previous Writing
    3. Personal Marketing
    4. Platform
    5. Possible Foreword/Endorsers

Chapter-by-Chapter Synopsis

Two Sample Chapters

Please note due to the large amount of submissions we receive, we do not return proposals, resources, or manuscripts. All unsolicited proposals, resources, or manuscripts received outside of the above instructions, will not be considered.

Currently we are accepting for review:
Unsolicited manuscripts for LIVE, our take-home quarterly for adults. (Please see below for guidelines for submitting to LIVE.)

For all other imprints we are ONLY accepting unsolicited manuscripts for review when a literary agent represents them.

What should I expect after my proposal has been submitted for review?
If you have followed the procedure outlined above you can expect to hear back from us within 60 to 90 days of submitting your proposal electronically.

After the editorial and marketing staffs have reviewed your proposal they may (1) accept it for publishing (2) invite you to revise and resubmit it, (3) reject it.

We regret that we cannot accept all manuscripts nor can we provide a detailed critique or evaluation of manuscripts. Many factors must be taken into account in deciding which manuscripts are accepted for publication, and rejection does not necessarily mean that the manuscript is not publishable—only that it is not right for us at this time.

Writing for LIVE (take-home quarterly for adults)

LIVE is a take-home story paper distributed weekly in adult Sunday School classes. It is freelance and has a circulation of about 40,000. The audience is Christian adults. We seek to encourage Christians in living for God through stories which apply biblical principles to everyday problems. Solutions to life's problems can be found in the Scriptures.

LIVE publishes true stories, based on true stories, nonfiction, "how-to" articles, and fiction (please indicate the category). Poems, first-person anecdotes, and short humor are also accepted. LIVE presents realistic characters who utilize biblical principles to resolve their problems.

WRITING TIPS: We do not accept Bible fiction or SciFi. The stories should be encouraging, challenging, and/or humorous. Even problem-centered stories should be upbeat. Stories should not be preachy, critical, or moralizing. They should not present pat, trite, or simplistic answers to problems.

We accept first and second/reprint rights. Manuscripts are published about 18 months to 2 years after acceptance. Payment is made upon acceptance but does not guarantee publication. Manuscripts may be edited slightly for clarification.

Plot: Stories should consist of action, not just thought-life; interaction, not just insight. Heroes and heroines should rise above failures, take risks for God, prove that scriptural principles meet their needs. Conflict and suspense should increase to a climax! Avoid pious conclusions or tying up all loose ends. Think of the story as a snapshot of someone's life.

Characters: Characters should be interesting, believable, and realistic. Avoid stereotypes. Characters should be active, not just pawns to move the plot along. They should confront conflict and change in believable ways. Describe the characters' looks and reveal their personalities through actions to such an extent that the reader feels he or she has met these people. Readers should care about the characters enough to finish the story. Feature racial, ethnic, and regional characters in rural and urban settings.

Style: Use precise, active, vivid verbs. Avoid overworked adjectives and phrases, and clichés. Keep a consistent perspective (voice) on both time (past or present) and point of view (first person, second person, etc.). Avoid flashbacks.

PREPARATION OF COPY:
1. Type copy double-spaced with 1-inch margins.

2. Type your name and complete address in the upper left corner of page 1.

3. Type the approximate number of words in the upper right corner of page 1.

4. Indicate if you are submitting the story as first or second/reprint rights and if it is a simultaneous submission.

5. Under the title of the article, indicate if it is non-fiction, true, based on a true story, or fictional (the phrase "as told to" indicates a true story.)

6. Number each page and include the title and your name on each page.

7. Although we prefer manuscripts sent as an MS Word attachment to an e-mail, if you send it through the mail system (USPS), please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope so your manuscript can be returned to you. Do not submit your one and only copy! Manuscripts can get lost in the mail. If mailing, please make a copy of your manuscript for your files.

WORD LENGTHS:
Cover stories: 800 to 1,200
Inside stories: 200 to 600
Poetry: 12 to 25 lines

SEASONAL MATERIAL:
All seasonal materials should be submitted more than 18 months in advance.

PAYMENT:
First rights: 10 cents per word.
Second/reprint rights: 7 cents per word.
Poetry: $35 to $60
You will be notified within 6 weeks of receipt if your manuscript was accepted for publication.

E-MAIL TO:
[email protected]
or
MAIL TO:
LIVE EDITOR
1445 N. BOONVILLE AVENUE
SPRINGFIELD, MO 65802-1894
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For a printable version* of these guidelines click here. (78kb)

*(.pdf format: Requires Acrobat Reader.)