Writing

Write your best draft

Writing guidelines

1. Consider a variety of readers:
   Make your ideas accessible to newcomers as well as longtime Christian Scientists. More ▾Less ▾

   The Christian Science periodicals are intended to serve a worldwide community of thinkers. Our readers and listeners come from a broad range of religious, cultural, national, and geographic backgrounds, and they are at all levels of spiritual understanding, from the newcomer to the longtime student of Christian Science.

   What they have in common is an innate spiritual sense—which we all have—that enables everyone to understand spiritual ideas. The challenge and the joy of sharing your inspiration in the periodicals is to speak to this diverse community in a way that meets each thinker's needs.

   One of the best ways to do that is to imagine talking to a friend about Christian Science. What would you say about the true nature of God and of every individual's spiritual identity to someone who is intelligent and spiritually receptive but not necessarily acquainted with Christian Science—or with any religion?

   You don't need to "water down" the metaphysics; it's possible to convey deep spiritual ideas to a wide audience by giving clearly reasoned explanations in jargon-free language. Writing that clearly communicates the Science of the Christ to newcomers usually speaks most effectively to experienced Christian Scientists too. Stay open to expressing ideas in fresh, unexpected ways that will be compelling to those who are already familiar with Christian Science.

2. Focus on one idea:
   Develop one spiritual theme to give readers a clear takeaway. More ▾Less ▾

   Writing communicates best when it focuses on one central idea. Trying to cover too big a subject or too many points in one article is like trying to hit a lot of targets with one arrow. Instead, take aim at a single helpful insight and develop that in depth, readers are more likely to get the point.

   One of the most helpful things an article in the Christian Science periodicals can do is offer a spiritual thought model on a topic of concern to readers. What does God know about that subject? A clear view of what's spiritually true about an aspect of God's creation can be so inspiring that it heals instantly.

3. Speak from the heart:
   Write as though you were talking with a friend. More ▾Less ▾

   Logic alone won't convince people of the reality and power of God. They also need to feel the love in what you say to be convinced of its truth. So every article should speak to the heart, not just to the intellect. Don't be shy about sharing from your own experience, in your natural voice. A sincere, authentic tone will resonate more deeply with readers than an approach that is academic or preachy. As Mary Baker Eddy says in her Message to The Mother Church for 1900, "Sincerity is more successful than genius or talent" (p. 9).

4. Share how you applied Christian Science:
   Show the practicality of Christian Science in daily life. More ▾Less ▾

   Readers want to know how they can prove for themselves the practicality of Christian Science in daily life. It's instructive to share a healing experience in your article so they can see the truth about God and His children that you prayed with, and how that transformed your thought and brought about the healing. But even if you don't include a personal example, the thought process that brings healing should be apparent enough that readers feel empowered to take what they've learned from your piece and apply it in their own lives.

5. Show the connection between your ideas and the Bible and Mary Baker Eddy's writings:
   Although not required, feel free to include a few citations that support your point. More ▾Less ▾

   One of the most valuable things an article or testimony can do is inspire readers to get better acquainted with the Bible and Mary Baker Eddy's writings. So feel free to use quotations from these books that naturally support your point. That said, try to keep the piece in your own words as much as possible.

6. Consider the missions of the periodicals:
   Find inspiration in the periodicals' unique missions. More ▾Less ▾

   As you write for the various periodicals, it's inspiring to think about the spiritual mission of each one. Here is what their founder, Mary Baker Eddy, says in an article titled "Something in a Name" (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 353):

   I have given the name to all the Christian Science periodicals. The first was The Christian Science Journal, designed to put on record the divine Science of Truth; the second I entitled Sentinel, intended to hold guard over Truth, Life, and Love; the third, Der Herold der Christian Science, to proclaim the universal activity and availability of Truth; the next I named Monitor, to spread undivided the Science that operates unspent. The object of the Monitor is to injure no man, but to bless all mankind.

7. Edit your piece to the best of your ability:
   It's recommended that you refine and self-edit your piece as ably as possible so that it's your best version so far. More ▾Less ▾

   Reading your piece from the perspective of someone reading it for the first time can be helpful. You might do this by reading your draft aloud to catch mistakes, or having a friend or family member provide feedback can help get it ready to submit. It can also be helpful to double-check any quotations. If you provide information or quotes from research in sources other than the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings, please provide documentation (book title and page number, or website) so the accuracy can be confirmed by the Editorial Team.

View the full writing guidelines 

Types of submissions

While we encourage you to explore the different types of content, the Editorial Team will also help you determine what type of submission is best expressed in your writing.

Inspiration to consider

From the Bible, Mary Baker Eddy's writings, and the Christian Science Hymnal

• Psalms 68:11
• Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures 546:31
• Mary Baker Eddy, Manual of The Mother Church 47:11
• Mary Baker Eddy, Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896 149:4
• Mary Baker Eddy, Miscellaneous Writings 155:24–4 (to .)
• Edith Gaddis Brewer, Christian Science Hymnal No. 85

From the periodicals

• “Blow ye the trumpet, blow” by Editor
• “Spiritual growth and healing while writing” by Diane Collins
• “Happily writing for the Christian Science periodicals” by Betty Lynn Evans
• “Who, me? Write for the periodicals?” by Joan Ware
• “The Reader prays” by Grace K. Sticht

Questions about the process?

Email us and hear back from our Editorial Team within 3–5 days.

jshwrite@csps.com

FAQs

Next steps

Once you feel you have the best version of your draft, submit it through our submission form.