A typical Guideposts story is a first-person narrative written in simple, dramatic, anecdotal style with a spiritual point that the reader can "take away" and apply to his or her own life. The story may be the writer's own or one written in the first person for someone else. Even our short features, such as "His Mysterious Ways," "What Prayer Can Do," "Angels Among Us" and "The Divine Touch" use this format Writing a short feature is often the easiest way of making a sale to Guideposts.

Please observe the following in writing your Guideposts story:

• Don't try to tell an entire life story in a few pages. Focus on one specific happening in a person's life. The emphasis should be on one individual. Bring in as few people as possible so that the reader's interest stays with the dominant character.
• Decide what your spiritual point, or "takeaway," will be. Everything in the story should be tied in with this specific theme.
• Don't leave unanswered questions. Give enough facts so that the reader will know what happened. Use description and dialogue to let the reader feel as if he were there, seeing the characters, hearing them talk. Dramatize the situation, conflicts and struggle, and then tell how the person was changed for the better or the problem was solved.
• Most important: Study the magazine.

• Full-length manuscripts (750-1500 words): $250 - $500, occasionally higher.
• Shorter manuscripts (250- 750 words): $100 - $250.
• Short features and fillers (under 250 words): $25 - $100. These include "What Prayer Can Do" and heavenly encounters such as "His Mysterious Ways," "Angels Among Us" and "The Divine Touch"
  

We do not use fiction, essays or sermons, and we rarely present stories about deceased or professional religious people.We do not evaluate book-length material.

Manuscripts must be typed, double-spaced and accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Send submissions to

The Editor
Guideposts
16 East 34th Street
New York, NY 10016.

We receive thousands of unsolicited manuscripts each month, so allow two months for a reply.  

At this time we cannot accept electronic submissions.