Writer’s Guidelines From the Editor in Chief

A successful writer must pay careful attention to writer’s guidelines in order to be published. Without them, writer’s remorse is sure to follow!

The first experience I had with an editor was in my freshman year of college when I wrote for the campus newspaper. I don’t remember the assignment, but I do know that when a particular issue was distributed, I immediately spotted my title and byline; but the content was hardly recognizable. The editor had virtually rewritten my copy. Evidently it was not the kind of reporting he had in mind; and with deadlines looming, I missed the opportunity for a rewrite.

Guidelines would certainly have helped!

Since then, whenever I have written for a public audience, it has always passed through the hands of an editor or peer reviewers in writing classes. Usually the copy came back with suggestions, edits and (sometimes painful) critiques.

Taking the first step

Since the goal of freelance writers is publication, their first step is to request writer’s guidelines for a particular periodical. These guidelines typically define focus, length, style, format and the expected turn-around response time. Using the guidelines, the writer can then percolate ideas into fully developed topics ready for submission.

I’ve been invited

Currently, I’ve been invited to submit an entry for an extraordinary volume of collected works. It will be the seminal piece of my entire life. Here are the writer’s guidelines:

• Focus

The focus of this entry is your life. A completed manuscript is not required at this time, but regular updates, progress reports and revisions are mandatory and go directly to the Editor in Chief.

• Length

This is an ongoing assignment until the Editor deems your entry complete and ready for a final review. If accepted, it will appear in this priceless collection with your unique byline.

• Style and format

Develop your own style and voice with these caveats: Truth is mandatory—no embellishments or plagiarism allowed! This is your life, not someone else’s. The Editor expects a predominance of positive action verbs, and the copy must be as clean and error-free as possible.

• Content

The emphasis of this piece is core values and the condition of the heart. Excuses, red herrings, justifications or obfuscations will be red-inked, and a warning will be issued concerning the use of such devices. The bad content must be corrected, and there will be no permanent record of it kept on file.

A word about edits and the Editor

Any good editor asks a very important question: Is this submission ready for publication as it is? The Editor for this publication asks a different question—what will it take to make this piece absolutely perfect? The Definitive Guidebook for Inclusion* defines in detail the steps for pursuing such excellence.

The Editor of this publication has no peers. He embodies perfection, patience and kindness. He is not willing that any should fail and is always available for (and, in fact, welcomes) private consultations and help. Follow His guidelines, apply His edits, and success is guaranteed.

Response time

Some have already been accepted—people like Moses (Exodus 32:31-33); King David (Psalm 56:8); Euodia, Syntyche and Clement (Philippians 4:3); and the disciples (Luke 10:20). The Editor in Chief determines when the time for submission has expired and the Index of Excellence is complete.

An invaluable advance

Those who have committed to this project receive an invaluable advance: “Having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise … the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Upon completion …

The prize of having our life story accepted by such an esteemed Publisher ultimately includes amazing blessings:

“And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son’” (Revelation 21:6-7).

“But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. ... But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Revelation 21:22-27).

After lovingly changing and perfecting us, God will accept us into His family and record us in His book!

Progress report

I’m more than three-fourths of the way through my entry. I’ve made lots of edits, and I’m still working hard on submitting an acceptable copy before the deadline. Ultimately its inclusion will depend on the graciousness of my Editor in Chief!

How about you?

_______________

* Also known as The Holy Bible.

To learn more about the Book of Life and how you can be included in it, read “The Book of Life.”

Karen Meeker enjoys the challenge of writing and all its accompanying lessons. This is the most important assignment she has ever accepted.