SHINE brightly

SHINE brightly Writers Guidelines

2012/2013

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

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 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 outside of themselves to serve the needs of others—at home, at school, in communities, and across the world.

Included in SHINE brightly:

We are looking for stories, articles, interviews, quizzes, 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 daily life.

We accept articles that relate to girls ages 9-14 and the experiences they can connect with. Most of their time is spent at school, in sports, involved in afterschool 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 turns out perfectly, are not always realistic and our readers want realistic stories. Our readers 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.

Each season SHINE brightly dedicates its pages to the exploration of an Annual Theme. The next theme is Think Right: Win the Fight! (See below.)

SHINE brightly fills up quickly, so get your manuscripts in early. We read manuscripts each week. You can expect to hear from us in eight weeks.

Fiction: Our readers like stories with adventure, fantasy, 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 below. 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 context 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, fashion, famous people, interaction with family/friends/siblings, exciting and fun service projects, dealing with schoolwork, and recipes. Length: 100-800 words.

Introduction to Theme

Each season SHINE brightly dedicates its pages to the exploration of an Annual Theme. The next theme is Think Right: Win the Fight! Below you will find a summary of the theme as well as needs for each issue.

Think Right: Win the Fight!

THEME VERSE

Finally, brothers (sisters), whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

THEME CONCEPT

Think Right: Win the Fight! will help girls look at their thoughts and how thinking about what they think about impacts who they become. God cares about what we think because He designed our minds to be our control centers. Every word, action, and choice begins with a thought. To become the person God wants us to be, He commands us to love Him with our minds, and to set our mind on what His Spirit desires—whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy. But it's not easy! We have enemies – the world, our sinful nature, and the devil – who compel us to have stinkin' thinkin'. When we rely on the Holy Spirit's power to help us think about these things, we will think right and win the fight!

THEME AIMS

• To show girls that there is a right and good way to think about things.
• To teach girls that there is an ongoing battle within their minds about what thoughts they will choose.
• To provide girls with tools they can use to help them win the fight and think right.

The SHINE brightly Challenge!

We are looking for fiction, non-fiction, and inspiring biographies that weave the overall theme of thinking right into each issue. We encourage submissions that complete this task well and successfully relay the importance of thinking about the words in Philippians 4:8.

We will also be intentionally focused on the tough stuff girls go through every day. We will explore issues like bullying, jealousy, cheating, friend issues, body image, obeying parents, and peer pressure and give girls guidance on ways to deal with them.

General submissions and submissions regarding Think Right: Win the Fight! will be accepted until January 2013. For a month-to-month schedule of how the issues girls deal with will be featured, check out the deadlines below. We look forward to your creativity!

Issue: September 2012

Deadline: April 2, 2012

Topic: Jealousy

Issue: October 2012

Deadline: May 17, 2012

Topic: Cheating/Lying

Issue: November 2012

Deadline: June 18, 2012

Topic: Sibling Issues

Issue: December 2012

Deadline: July 25, 2012

Topic: Bullying

Issue: January 2013

Deadline: August 20, 2012

Topic: Body Image

Issue: February 2013

Deadline: September 24, 2012

Topic: Gossip/Friend Issues

Issue: March 2013

Deadline: October 22, 2012

Topic: Obeying Parents

Issue: April 2013

Deadline: November 19, 2012

Topic: Peer Pressure

Issue: Summer 2013

Deadline: December 17, 2012

Topic: Think Right: Win the Fight!

SHINE brightly fills up quickly, so get your manuscripts in early. We read manuscripts each week. You can expect to hear from us in eight weeks.

Manuscripts:

Criteria for Selection of Manuscripts: Submissions to SHINE brightly are selected based upon the following criteria:

1.The manuscript must fit with the SHINE brightly mission.

2.The application of Scripture to everyday life.

3.The ability to engage the culture—be relevant today—while still maintaining and upholding the truth of Scripture.

4.The ability to delight the reader.

5.The ability to cause the reader to evaluate her own life in light of the Truth presented.

6.The ability to teach a practical life skill.

Preparing Your Manuscript

1.   On the first page put your name, address, and phone number, word count, the issue and topic you are submitting, as well as the rights offered.

2.   Indicate fiction or nonfiction.

3.   Include desired byline.

4.   Give sources for all statistical information or quoted material.

Basis for Rejection of Material

1.Inappropriate. Does not show girls how God is at work in their lives and the world around them.

2.Too young or too old for our 9 to 14 year-old readers.

3.Simplistic, unrealistic, too predictable or the theological perspective differs too greatly from our own.

4.Does not fit our themes.

5.Duplication of material already published or submitted.

6.Editorial needs filled.

7.Limited need for poetry.

8.Inept writing—poor opening, transitions, grammar. Lacks the drama or crisis that appeals to our readers.

Submitting Your Manuscript

To honor God by being responsible stewards of His creation, we are no longer accepting snail mail submissions. Thank you for helping us reduce unnecessary paper waste. Together we can make a difference Please place manuscript within body of email. Do not send attachments. Email: shinebrightly@gemsgc.org

Query: You need not query before submitting a manuscript.

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 below 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. All published writers receive two copies of the issue in which their piece is published.

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:

1.   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.

2.   Second Rights—Rates are for a previously published article. Author must own copyright, or submit proof of permission to resell from the copyright owner.

3.   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