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Writer Guidelines

Purpose

All submissions should seek to “unify and strengthen, broaden and enlighten, build and inspire all of us in our walk of faith” (Covenant Women Magazine, Vol. 1, No. 1, Sept. 1977, p.3). [inSpirit was formerly called Covenant Women Magazine.]

This broad purpose permits a variety of material to be considered for publication. Primarily, articles that inspire faith, describe Christian positions on current affairs or issues and support women in their personal faith journeys, home and family lives, local churches, work places, communities and service opportunities are requested

In addition, inSpirit is a communication link between the denominational office of Women Ministries and local groups. Articles that report on the work, nature and vision of local groups are also encouraged.

Approach

All articles must have a Christian perspective, and must be of general interest to Christian women, particularly to women of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Writers may write from personal experience, professional or vocational expertise.

Personal experience stories should have a single focus and a clear point. All information in the story should directly relate to the experience being related. Submissions will be evaluated on how well the author communicates the power, intensity, meaning or ramifications of the experience.

Reports, instructive articles and issue-oriented articles should be well organized, accurate and concise. Authors should give credit to other sources using text notes. Direct quotes should include the speaker’s full name and title. Authors of issue-oriented articles should present convincing arguments to make their case, with more emphasis on informing than persuading an audience.

Presentation

1. Audience considerations. All material should be written for an audience of Christian women.

2. Style. inSpirit uses the University of Chicago Style Manual. We accept AP and MLA styles as well. Submissions should use a consistent style. Manuscripts must be typed, double-spaced and sent as a Word document e-mail attachment. Women cited should be referred to by their full names and all references to them should be consistent.

3. Previously published articles. Previously published articles will be considered for publication.

4. All articles should be submitted as an e-mail Word attachment. The body of the e-mail should contain the author's name, mailing addrss, brief bio, and word count for the attached article. Appropriate photographs, clearly identified, (300 dpi) may also be submitted with the article.

5. Length. Articles should not be longer than 750 words. All manuscripts are subject to editing at the editorial team’s discretion.