Forward Movement - Writers' Guidelines

The Daily Office

Writers' Guidelines

For Forward Day By Day

Selection of Authors

Controversial Topics

For Other Publications

Number and Length of Publications

Submitting a Manuscript

Publication Schedule

Copyright and Honorarium

Where to Send Submissions

For All Authors to Remember

For Forward Day by Day:

Selection of authors:

We welcome new authors to our daily devotional guide. To be considered as a Forward Day by Day author, send three sample meditations to us, in care of the Editor. The Editor issues invitations to write for Forward Day by Day, usually between two and three years in advance.

Length:

Space is limited. Each page contains approximately 972 characters or 215 words. This includes the date at the top, your scripture quotation, the text of your meditation, and the lectionary at the bottom. It does not include the Anglican Communion prayer reference. Please follow the Forward Day by Day format in what you submit (caps for day of week, italics for Bible quotation but not quotation marks, etc.).

Biblical text:

Weekday meditations should be based on a verse or sentence of scripture drawn from the Daily Office Lectionary of the Episcopal Church USA, found on pages 933 to 1001 of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. We use the Revised Common lectionary for Sundays. Observe major feasts and holy days; we do not normally observe lesser feasts and fasts. Your heading, below the date, should quote your biblical text from the Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, Authorized (King James) Version, Today's English Version (Good News Bible), New English Bible, Jerusalem Bible, or New International Version (except for the Psalms—use Prayer Book translation). Be sure to identify for us what translation you are using. Remember that Forward Day by Day is intended to be read without a Bible or Prayer Book at hand.

Techniques:

Use concrete images, illustrations, analogies, and parables when possible. First person stories are very effective. Do not assume your readers are Episcopalians or Anglicans. Be sensitive to readers from other churches, non-Christian readers, and readers with limited education. Use inclusive language when possible. Many writers find it helpful to write a day at a time a full year in advance so they live through the same season of the church year they write about.

Controversial topics:

Forward Day by Day is not the place to score points on controversial topics. Occasionally, when the scripture passage pertains to it, an author chooses to say something about such a topic. If you write about a hot-button issue, do so with humility and make certain your comment shows respect for persons who hold a different view.

Computers:

Most authors prepare their work on a personal computer. Our production work is done on a Macintosh desktop publishing system. We are able to receive manuscripts in MAC or PC format. You may call us to ask about specific file formats or for suggestions on the best way to save your files.

Editing:

All Forward Day by Day meditations are subject to editing for grammar, spelling, clarity, theology, and literary style. That is one reason authors are not identified by name. (The other reason is that some of our authors are well-known figures and we want the meditations to be judged on their merits, not because the reader likes or dislikes the author.)

Due date:

Completed meditations are due in our office one year in advance of the day of your first meditation. Earlier than this date is acceptable; later is not. Meditations may be submitted via email attachment. As a backup, also send a hard (printed) copy.

For Other Publications:

Topics:

Forward Movement is an official agency of the Episcopal Church. In addition to Forward Day by Day, our daily devotional guide, we publish other books and tracts related to the life and concerns of the Christian church, especially within the Anglican Communion. These typically include material introducing the Episcopal Church, meditations and spiritual readings, prayers, liturgical resources, biblical reflections, and material introducing the Episcopal Church and on stewardship, church history, issues before the church, and Christian healing.

Number and length of publications:

Approximately thirty new titles are published each year. Some are booklets of up to sixty-four pages; the rest are tracts of under twenty-four pages. There is a special need for tracts of under eight pages. (A page usually runs 130-140 words.) On rare occasions, we publish a full-length book..

Submitting a manuscript:

To have a manuscript reviewed, send a letter and a quality, double-spaced manuscript on paper to the address below. Send only completed manuscripts, not sample chapters or proposals. We do not accept manuscripts via email. Previously published material is accepted, but always indicate when and by whom it was previously published. Disks should only be sent after a work has been accepted for publication. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want your manuscript returned.

Publication schedule:

Response is usually within one month to say whether we are interested in pursuing publication. Actual publication date always remains tentative. The publication schedule is set several months ahead of publication date and is subject to last minute changes. If not scheduled promptly, authors are free to pursue publication elsewhere upon notification to us.

Copyright and honorarium:

Usually titles are printed under Forward Movement’s copyright, with the rights and remaining copies reverting to the author when the publication goes out of print. A new work remains in print a minimum of three years. No royalties are paid, but a modest, one-time honorarium based on the length of the work is paid upon publication. The author is sent several free copies and given a fifty percent discount on additional copies purchased.

Catalog:

For a catalog of our current publications and a sample tract, send seven 37¢ stamps. Do not send a stamped envelope.

Send Submissions To:

The Editor, Forward Movement

300 West Fourth Street

Cincinnati, OH 45202-2666

Phone: 1-800-543-1813

Email: rschmidt@forwarddaybyday.com

For all authors:

Following these rules will help you write real good:

Don’t use no double negatives.

Make each pronoun agree with their antecedents.

Join clauses good, like a conjunction should.

About them sentence fragments.

When dangling, watch your participles.

Verbs has got to agree with their subjects.

Just between you and I, case is important, too.

Don’t write run-on sentences don’t you agree they are hard to read?

Don’t use commas, which aren’t necessary.

Try to not ever split infinitives.

Use your apostrophe’s correctly.

Proofread your writing to see if you any words out.

Check speling.

(Guidelines revised March 2007)

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