Writing Process
For more information about writing, please visit the Writing page.
Who can write for the Christian Science periodicals?
- Anyone who has experienced inspiration or healing from studying Christian Science can write for the periodicals.
Do you have any specific topics to help a contributor get started?
- Your writing should come from your heart. What’s important to you? What experiences have you had? Writing on these topics will highlight the authenticity of your voice in your piece.
How long should my draft be?
- There are specific guidelines around word count within our content specific writing guidelines.
What tips do you have for how to write a submission?
- Along with our content specific guidelines, we also have general guidelines that give ideas for how to think about writing a submission. Both of these guidelines, general and content specific, can be found through the Writing page.
Generally, why do testimonies of healing need to be over one year old?
- This time frame serves the purpose of showing the reader that the healing is complete.
Submitting process
For more information about submitting, please visit the Submitting page.
How “final” does my draft need to be before I submit it?
- Although our editors will help to edit your draft if it’s accepted for editing, we highly recommend that you self-edit and send us the best version of your draft. Some ideas for how to self-edit can be found in our general writing guidelines.
Why are verifiers needed?
- Verifiers add credibility to your healing experience, as they either have witnessed the healing or can vouch for your integrity in sharing it. Verification is meant to ensure and underpin the integrity of what's published and is an important part of the process.
- Each published healing is verified by at least three people. There are two types of verifiers–witnesses to the healing and those who didn't witness the healing but are vouching for your integrity. Of your verifiers, at least two must be people outside your family. If you include one family member as a verifier, this person must have witnessed the healing. Verifiers who are vouching for your integrity and did not witness the healing should not be related to you. Your verifiers do not need to be Christian Scientists.
- Poetry submissions do not require verifiers
When will I know if my piece was accepted for editing?
- Generally, you can expect to hear back from our Editorial Team about the status of your piece within 30–45 days after submission. This is normal because editors are working on multiple issues at once, and we appreciate your patience. However, if you haven’t heard from us within this timeframe, feel free to get in touch. We’ll be happy to give you an update.
What goes into the process of deciding whether something should be accepted for editing?
- Every piece is considered in terms of how it fits the mission of the periodicals, and how well it meets the current and future publishing needs of the magazines.
- To better understand how we edit, please view our writing guidelines.
Why was my piece not accepted for editing?
- We are not able to publish all submissions. Whether or not your submission is published, writing and articulating gratitude for God and Christian Science always brings the blessings of spiritual growth. The thought and prayer that goes into writing each piece is a healing power that cannot help but uplift and comfort the world. There are many reasons why individual pieces are not accepted for editing, and you are welcome to be in touch with our Editorial Team to understand why your particular piece was returned—just email us at jshwrite@csps.com. Each of us has had articles or testimonies returned to us, and we learned how to write better in the process. We hope you will continue to contribute to the periodicals.
What if I'm asked to work more on my submission?
- If you receive an email indicating that the Editorial Team feels your piece has potential but needs more revision, you can choose to revise your piece and resubmit it afterward for further consideration. You will have the opportunity to be in touch with a staff editor who can share recommendations for further work on the piece. The staff editor will also guide you as to when it would be appropriate to resubmit.
What should I do if my piece is not accepted for editing?
- To know why your manuscript was returned, you're welcome to reach out to us at jshwrite@csps.com.
- If you are interested in trying to submit a different piece for review, consider reviewing our writing guidelines.
- Whether or not your piece is published, we know you’ll be blessed by expressing your gratitude for Christian Science healing through writing and submitting your piece to the periodicals.
- Keep writing for us! The prayerful growth that comes from the writing and editing process will continue to bless you.
Can I choose which magazine my piece goes into or what type of piece I am writing?
- While we encourage you to become familiar with the unique missions of each periodical and get to know the different types of content the magazines offer, the Editorial Team will prayerfully consider which magazine your piece fits in best and what type of content it best represents.
- For example, you may write a piece thinking it could be in “Of Good Report” in The Christian Science Journal, but an editor may decide to have it published as a testimony in the Christian Science Sentinel. These types of decisions are also based on a perspective of seeing how your piece fits in with an entire inventory of submissions and the current needs of the magazines. Learn more about the types of pieces you can write by visiting the Submitting page and find information about content curation on the Publishing page.
Editing process
For more information about editing, please visit the Editing page.
Why do submissions need to be edited?
- Mrs. Eddy instructed that the periodicals be “ably edited” (Manual of The Mother Church, p. 44). It can be challenging to put so much work into writing a piece only to have someone else change your carefully chosen words. But, everyone needs an editor. No matter how long someone has been writing, it can be helpful to have another perspective that points out the leaps of thought a reader may have trouble following or where a concept was repeated. The exchange of ideas with an editor, who is looking at a piece with a fresh set of eyes, should produce a better piece.
What can I expect when I work with a staff editor?
- Your staff editor will be in touch via email or phone. Together, you can have honest dialogue about editing suggestions and work to clarify metaphysical ideas. The editing process is a prayerful partnership that requires humility from both you and your staff editor. It includes many opportunities for spiritual discernment and listening.
Why might it take several months after my piece has been accepted to start working with a staff editor?
- Each issue of each magazine is planned weeks or even months in advance. Each editor is always working on multiple pieces at different stages in the process. If a submission is not scheduled to appear until a later date, an editor may pause work on it in order to prepare articles with tighter deadlines. This sometimes means that you will hear from a staff editor regarding an initial edit 1–3 months after your piece was accepted.
What can I expect in terms of timing for the editing process?
- When a piece is being edited initially, the staff editor will send edits back to the author for review and comments. There is usually some back and forth as the author incorporates or rejects the editor’s suggestions and perhaps does some rewriting. The staff editor may respond to the author with further explanation and ideas until both are satisfied with the piece. The piece then moves on to other stages of editing, including senior editors and a copy editor, with some more back and forth with the author until the piece is ready for publication. There also may be some last-minute changes the author will be asked to review and sign off on.
Publishing process
For more information about publishing, please visit the Publishing page.
Why does it take so long for my Journal, Sentinel, or Herald submission to be published after I’ve approved the initial edit?
- Once agreeing upon your edited piece with your staff editor, your piece is reviewed by other members of the Editorial Team, including other editors and a copy editor.
- Each issue is prayerfully curated by the Editorial Team, so your piece will be placed in an issue it fits best. You’ll receive an email letting you know the timing.
Are all published Journal, Sentinel, or Herald submissions printed in the magazines or are some published only online?
- Some submissions are published as online-exclusive articles, some of which run in print at a later date. The online-only pieces are every bit as worthy and valuable as the pieces that go to print. We only have so much space in the print magazines, and we’re grateful that we have so much material that we can publish even more online! Your piece will still be searchable on JSH-Online even if it does not appear in print.
Why do you offer payments to writers?
- We appreciate the prayer, time, and dedication writers give to writing for the periodicals. These payments reflect the gratitude of The Mother Church on behalf of those who read and listen to this content, and they echo Jesus’ promise in the Bible, “The labourer is worthy of his hire” (Luke 10:7).
For which published works will authors receive payment?
- Authors of articles, editorials, poems, “Spiritual Shorts,” “Of Good Report” pieces, “How I Found Christian Science” pieces, and “Turning Points” and “Christian Science Perspective” articles receive payment.
- Authors of testimonies, youth and children’s content (including TeenConnect), interviews, Sentinel Watch podcasts, and Daily Lift content do not receive payment.
How much do you pay your writers?
- Only published content is compensated. Payment amounts vary based on the country in which the writer lives and the type of submission. (Please note that acceptance of a submission for editing does not guarantee that it will be published, though it is rare for accepted submissions not to be.)
How and when do writers receive payment?
- If a submission is published, the writer will receive an email directly from the Treasurer’s Office of The Mother Church with details regarding payment. Writers will be paid after publication. If you have further questions, please email us directly at jshwrite@csps.com.
How do you pay writers from outside the United States?
- Writers located outside the United States will be paid as banking regulations and other payment-related circumstances allow. We process payment via check, direct deposit, or Western Union. If for any reason we are unable to process payment in a country through one of these methods, we will be in touch with the writer. If you have further questions, please contact us at jshwrite@csps.com.
Am I able to waive payment?
- If you wish to waive payment for your contribution, please email us at jshwrite@csps.com, and we will make note of your request. You may waive payment on a one-time or ongoing basis. Thank you for your generosity!