GEMS Girls' Clubs - SHINE brightly Magazine Writer's Guidelines

Writer's Guidelines

SHINE brightly is a magazine for girls ages 9 to 14. It is published by GEMS Girls' Clubs (Girls Everywhere Meeting the Savior), an international ministry that starts Bible-based, all-girl club programs in churches and Christian organizations. The goal of GEMS is to help bring girls into a living relationship with Jesus Christ.

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>> We are looking for materials that relate to our Annual Theme. Learn more about this year's Theme.

SHINE brightly Mission

We believe when young girls are equipped, motivated, and passionately engaged in living out their faith in Jesus Christ they have the potential to be world changers. Our mission is to bring girls into a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ, a relationship that empowers them to see how God can work through their individual personalities, situations, and talents. Christ was an activist. He did not neglect the needs of the people as He brought His message. We strive to encourage girls to look more like Christ by reaching out of themselves to serve the needs of others—in their homes, schools, communities, and across the world.

Included in SHINE brightly:

We are looking for stories, articles, interviews, quizzes, poems, games, puzzles, crafts, and recipes that are fresh, that present the Christian life realistically, and that cause young readers to see how Christian beliefs apply to their daily lives. We like to see articles that relate to girls ages 9-14 and the experiences with which they can connect. Most of their time is spent at school, in sports, involved in after school activities, with friends, dealing with peer problems/pressure, with family, in church groups, and learning to reach out beyond their small world. Manuscript topics should build girls up in Christian character, but they should not be preachy. Pollyanna endings, where everything is wonderful in the end, are not always realistic and our readers want realistic stories. They have a great sense of humor, so your manuscripts should be fun as well as educational and inspirational. Stretch our readers by challenging them to new vision, new experiences, and setting new goals.

Fiction
Our readers like stories with adventure and mystery, stories about animals, and situations they can relate to in their daily interaction with family and friends. Each season we focus on a different theme, which can be found in the Annual Theme Update. We are interested in seeing how each annual theme connects to our overall mission—to equip, motivate, and inspire girls to be activists for Christ. Stories should be realistic and need not always have a happily ever-after ending. Stories with religious clichés are not of interest to us. We have found that there is a great void when it comes to adventure stories for girls. Whether fiction or actual accounts, we are looking for stories that highlight our theme within the text of an exciting story. Length: 700-900 words.

Nonfiction
Nonfiction articles about topics that interest our readers include: animals, sports, music, movies, musicians, personal care, fashions, famous people, interaction with family/friends/siblings, exciting and fun service projects, dealing with school work, and recipes. Length: 100-800 words.

Urgent Needs:
We are currently in need of the following topics. We are looking for manuscripts that connect the following with the theme of prayer.

Inspirational Biographies: We are in need of inspirational biographies. We are looking for people (preferably girls and women) who have in some way changed the world and will inspire girls to do the same. Length 200-800 words.

Stories from Zambia: We are looking for stories, articles, and biographies from Zambia, Africa. Please remember to present information in a manner that is relevant to girls. When writing about another culture, it is very important to write with a deep respect for both the people and traditions of that culture. We are not interested in “westernized” stories. Instead, we are looking for manuscripts that are researched and culturally true to Zambia. Length: 200-800 words.

God’s Green Team: We are in need of stories, articles, and biographies about living a green lifestyle. These should be written from the Christian perspective that we are charged with caring for and protecting God’s Creation. Length 200-800 words

Miscellaneous needs: Also needed are games, puzzles, party ideas, short humorous pieces, cartoons, jokes, and inexpensive craft ideas. Tear sheets from other publications are not accepted. We have a limited need for poetry, but occasionally use eight to ten line poems that are of general interest to girls.

Manuscripts:

Criteria for Selection of Manuscripts: Articles should cause readers to see how God’s Word—His Truth—applies to their daily lives. Submissions to SHINE brightly are selected based upon the following criteria:

The manuscript must fit with the SHINE brightly mission.
The application of Scripture to everyday life.
The ability to engage the culture—be relevant today—while still maintaining and upholding the truth of Scripture.
The ability to delight the reader.
The ability to cause the reader to evaluate her own life in light of the Truth presented.
The ability to teach a practical life skill.

Basis for Rejection of Material

Inappropriate. Does not show girls how God is at work in their lives and the world around them.
Too young or too old for our 9 to 14 year-old readers.
Simplistic, unrealistic, too predictable or the theological perspective differs too greatly from our own.
Does not fit our themes.
Duplication of material already published or submitted.
Editorial needs filled.
Limited need for poetry.
Inept writing—poor opening, transitions, grammar. Lacks the drama or crisis that appeals to our readers.

Preparing Your Manuscript

Type on one side of white opaque paper.
On the first page put your name and address in the upper left corner.
In the upper right corner, give the approximate number of words, the topic of the article, and the rights offered.
Beneath the title indicate Fiction or Nonfiction and give desired byline, plus the copyright information as required.
Number each succeeding page. Include your name at the top of each page.
Give sources for all statistical information or quoted material.
A self-addressed-stamped envelope with the correct postage is necessary for the return of your manuscript.

Submitting Your Manuscript

All submissions should be printed on a high quality laser or ink jet printers. Please do not staple the pages of your manuscript together. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope with your manuscript. Manuscripts are read as they are received in our office. We strive to review and respond to your manuscript within two months of its receipt. If your manuscript does not meet our needs, it is returned to you in your SASE. If we want to hold your manuscript we will send a request to hold your work for further consideration and give you the option of allowing us to do so or not.

Email submissions are NOW accepted! Please place manuscript within body of email. Please do not send attachments.

Email: shinebrightly@gemsgc.org

Mail to:
Sara Lynne Hilton/Senior Editor
SHINE brightly Magazine
PO Box 130266
Ann Arbor, MI 48113

Query: You need not query before submitting a manuscript. We usually read and return each article in four to six weeks.

Compensation: Compensation for all pieces that are published in SHINE brightly is made upon publication. Fiction and nonfiction writers receive 3-5¢ per word up to $35.00 depending on length, quality, and rights. (See the next page for list of rights.) Poetry receives $5.00 to $15.00 depending on length, quality, and rights. Games and puzzles are paid from $5.00 to $15.00.

Editing Privileges: The editorial staff of SHINE brightly magazine reserves the right to edit any accepted manuscript. This is done with a conscious effort to preserve both the writer’s style and the intent of material. If editing is extensive, the edited manuscript will be submitted to the author prior to publication.

Rights: We purchase the following rights:

First North American Rights—The author retains copyright, and may submit the manuscript for publication elsewhere after it appears in SHINE brightly. SHINE brightly has first time printing rights.
Second Rights—Rates are for a previously published article. Author must own copyright, or submit proof of permission to resell from the copyright owner.
Simultaneous Rights—The author must notify publisher that the submitted article is being offered in another market that should not overlap our readership.

For a Sample Copy of SHINE brightly

You may write for a sample copy of SHINE brightly.
Please enclose $1.00 and a 9 x 12 inch self-addressed stamped envelope.

Mail to: SHINE brightly
Attn: Michele/Sample Copy Request
P.O. Box 7259
Grand Rapids, MI 49510