Traditional Publishing for Christian Poets & Writers

If you're drawn to writing poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or books, stories, and poems for children, you'll eventually want your work to be published, but how do you go about this? Here are some tips with Christian poets and writers especially in mind:


• Notice the names of traditional publishers whose work you enjoy reading.

• Do these publishers have a website? If so, study the titles in their book lines and the poems or magazine articles in their archives.

• List publishers whose books or publications seem similar yours.

• Study and follow the writers' guidelines on each company's website.

• Send a book proposal, article or batch of 3-5 poems to 1 editor at a time.

• Keep track of where and when you sent your work.

• If you have no response in 2 to 3 months, follow-up.

• While you wait to hear about one manuscript, begin another.

• If an editor returns your work, read the manuscript or poems aloud.

• Listen for rough spots. Revise as needed, then submit your revision to the next publisher on your list.

In addition to those tips, check the website for your denomination.

Study the Mission Statement of your church.

Study church-produced publications such as Bible studies, church curriculum, devotional guides, and children’s take-home papers.

Write the appropriate editor to express your interest in writing those materials.


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(c) 2010, Mary Sayler, all rights reserved.

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How To Read Like A Writer

Writing well often depends on reading well, which means studying a poem or manuscript that you really like to see what works and why. To do this, try asking questions of the text. For instance: Why did the poet or writer use that particular form, structure, setting, viewpoint, character, or ____ (fill in the blank)? What effect did this decision have on the poem or manuscript?

Analyze each of those techniques to give yourself more information about what works well and what does not. Ask, for instance, if the style is formal, loose, or chatty. Does the poem or manuscript have a rhythmic flow when you read the piece aloud? What words jump out? Do they add emphasis or reinforce a sound effect or encourage readers to think more about the topic?

Also notice sensory details. Analyze whether the poet or writer relied more on the sense of sound, sight, smell, taste, touch, or feeling. A well-written poem or manuscript might tap into all of the senses.

Notice the viewpoint or perspective, too. Does anything seem fresh or memorable? If so, what? Be specific. Also ask what would happen if a first person poem or story (I, me, mine, we) were written in second person (you) or third person (he, she, his, hers, them, they.)

Asking questions of a poem or manuscript may seem awkward at first, but your interrogation skills will improve with practice. To ease the task, start with a book, story, article, or poem that you think is poorly written, then focus on the flaws. Identify each as clearly as you can. For instance, you might think a children’s picture book text or a short story for adults has too many characters doing too many things in too short a space. Or maybe a nonfiction article rambles too much to clarify the points. Or maybe you just don’t believe the characters in a novel.

As you precisely identify any flaws, you will begin to read like a writer. More importantly, the process will help you to be less apt to make the same mistakes yourself. If, however, you suspect your work of a similar problem, just ask questions of the poem or manuscript. See what’s not working and why. Then correct those mistakes as you revise.

Mary Sayler