Guidelines for Writing for the Adventist World

We’re looking for new writers—men and women whom the Lord has gifted and called to write. It would help to read books and articles on writing and/or take a class or seminar to build your skills as you prepare your material.

What we’re looking for
Spiritual Food: How to have a relationship with God. How to know Jesus better. Deeply spiritual material; the difference God makes in your life.
Message and Mission: What makes us Seventh-day Adventists, our beliefs and God-given task of brining others to Jesus.
Diversity: Ethnic, age, and gender differences are great assets. The Review is for all people.
Reader Interaction: More letters and new opportunities to share how we live the Christian life.

The Edition
Adventist World: Focused monthly as the world church paper; exciting news from the church around the world. We want articles of international interest on topics important around the globe and in the church.

Important Things to Remember:
We want articles solidly based in Scripture and in accordance with the Spirit of Prophecy (Ellen G. White). Use biblical texts and Spirit of Prophecy quotes as appropriate. Keep quoted material to 10 percent maximum. Make sure you give credit to others when you use their material.

Make sure your writing is finished/edited as best as you can. Use short sentences with simple, colorful vocabulary and active verbs. Use examples from real life to illustrate your topic, and apply the material to life. Stories work for all people groups.

Relationships, nature, feelings—these are universal and they work for all groups.

Seek to be positive and unifying; but also candid, honest, and open. We encourage writing that is fresh, lively, and upbeat.

Avoid:
Expressions and illustrations confined to one culture. Avoid stereo-typing individuals or cultures.

Quoting from songs or hymns (the copyright can cost us $400 for one line!). Avoid quoting poetry and songs (unless very widely-known) because they are difficult to translate.

Political viewpoints or agendas.

References to World War II (Germany, Japan).

Sending long academic dissertations. Avoid tired, familiar ideas.

Heavy use of passive voice (Passive voice is the use of the verb form "to be"—is, are, a, was, were, has been, have been, had been, will be, will have been—followed by a past participle. “I have walked” is passive; “I walked” is active voice.).

Do not send more than two manuscripts at one time. If you send your manuscript elsewhere, don’t send it to us.

Sending Your Article
1. You get an idea (focus on one idea), write it out in detail, edit it down, and edit it down again to meet necessary lengths listed below.

2. You submit a double-spaced manuscript with a cover letter. Send by regular mail. You may use e-mail, but some of the editors prefer hard copy through regular mail. Mail to the address below (not to a specific editor), or your manuscript will not be processed.
Mailing address:
Editorial Assistant (Manuscript Submissions)
Adventist World
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring MD 20904-6600

3. You will receive an acknowledgment card and your manuscript will be evaluated by at least two editors. (Less than 20% are accepted.)

4. We notify you of our decision, usually within 10-12 weeks. Please retain copies of your submissions for your records. (Rejected articles are disposed of after six months).

5. If we accept—we buy your manuscript for one-time use, then the copyright returns to you. Regular articles are paid on acceptance, not publication. You will receive a check in the mail:
$50 - $100 for unsolicited articles
$75 - $300 for solicited articles

(No payment for World Exchange, Letters, or The People’s Place)

6. When we accept your manuscript, we will ask for a disk or CD (if available), your Social Security number (where applicable), a photo, and a request to grant our publishing houses overseas permission to reprint without cost.

7. You may send photographs to accompany your manuscript (in addition to your author photo). If editors choose to use these photos with your article you will be compensated at $15 per image. We prefer hard copy pictures on photography paper. You may also submit high-resolution digital images via e-mail or CD.

8. In time (not usually right away) your article appears in the Adventist World. You’re happy. Thousands of readers benefit.

ARTICLE TYPE DESCRIPTION LENGTH (words) EDITOR


Our Beliefs
Devotionals
World Mission
Heritage
Lifestyle
Community Service
Stories
The People's Place
Letters to the Editor
World Exchange
World Voice
Window
News Report/Feature


 


Fundamental beliefs
Practical Christianity
Workers led by God
Adventist history
Personal, practical
Christianity in overalls
True, personal, real
Anecdotes, photos, quotes
Short, specific, topical
Prayer requests, meditations
Opinion; church/world issues
Country feature with photos
As assigned


1,000-1,200
650-1,200
1,400-1,800
1,000-1,200
1,000-1,200
1,000
1,000
short, no payment
250 maximum
250 maximum
300-650
500


Roy Adams
Roy Adams
Roy Adams
Bill Knott
Bonita Shields
Steve Chavez
Steve Chavez
Kimberly L. Maran
Kimberly L. Maran
Kimberly L. Maran
Sandra Blackmer
Sandra Blackmer
Sandra Blackmer

If Your Article Quotes Other Sources
If quoting from a book, please include with the article a photocopy of the actual page/s of quotations plus a photocopy of the title and copyright page for that book. If quoting from a magazine, please photocopy the magazine’s masthead as well as the actual page/s from which you’re quoting, and include these with your article.