Writers' Guidelines

You want to write for New Wineskins, but you're not sure how to start. Here is a FHC (Frequently Had Conversation) about writing for Wineskins that just might help you.

Can anyone write for New Wineskins?
Yes.

What do you mean?
Anyone.

Well, how do I submit something?
You send us an email with an idea.

You mean you don't want the article?
We can give you a quicker answer if you just write us one paragraph idea. It's called a query.

Oh. What's your email address?
Keith Brenton, our managing editor's email is webservant@wineskins.org. Greg Taylor, our senior editor's email is info@wineskins.org.

Do I send to both?
Both, one or the other - your choice.

What kind of articles do you want?
Something about real life, faith, culture, your community, you. In other words, non-fiction, biographical, authentic, centered on God and how you or someone else is expressing your faith today.

What kind of articles do you NOT want?
We love fiction, poetry, how-to articles, and of course recipes, but we don't publish those much. Oh, if you have a good recipe for non-alcoholic bananas foster, please send it. We won't publish it, but we'll cook it and love you for it.

How do I break in? What do you need most?
Book reviews. Seasonal stuff around Easter, Christmas. A great summer reading list with short reviews of new books. Interviews with great people of faith. Go to our archive page and you'll see example after example of what we love to publish.

How long will it take to publish something if you accept it?
You're kind of getting ahead of yourself, aren't you?

What do you mean?
Well, have you written something yet?

Well, sort of?
Then wrap it up, send us the idea paragraph . . .

And then what?
We're getting to that, hold on.

Well?
Then if we like the idea, we ask you to send the article for us to look at. We might immediately say we love it, it's prize-winning, and you're going to be famous. Not likely, but sure makes you daydream, doesn't it?

Are you sure I'm talking to the right person? Is anyone else there I can talk to?
No, we're a small operation. That's why we publish 90% freelance stuff.

So then I'd email you the article. What's the deadline?
Yes, you email, and we'll talk about that based on the idea. Stop getting ahead of me.

What if you don't like the idea?
We say, "No thanks." Same goes for when we ask you to send an article. We don't guarantee we'll publish the article just because we've asked you to send it.

Does it matter how long it is?
Again, depends on article, and we'll discuss that after you send idea. Length is really flexible but we're not talking a quarter mile of scrolling. We mostly publish articles 600-1000 words but occasionally do much longer articles in the 2000-3000 range.

What if I don't hear back from you?
We're pretty good about getting back to people, but most magazines are notorious for making you wait, and this is just part of it. We're working on current stuff and we plan months ahead. If you don't hear from us in six weeks, write us a reminder and tell us what article you're talking about, the gist, etc. and just politely ask the status.

You mean you won't remember my article?
Yes, we probably will, but like many of you, we get a couple emails a day, so it would help if you take a crow bar and pry open our brains a bit and shout in a couple details to refresh us.

Then what?
We edit it that puppy.

Do we have any final say on the way the article reads?
Yes and no.

What?
Well, most of the time we send revision ideas back to you and you work on a second draft and send it. Then we edit a second or even third, sometimes fourth draft. We love making articles excellent, not just good, so expect us to tear them up. You're one of the lucky ones if we don't, but then again, most people appreciate the free crash course in writing and editing. Most people aren't willing to tell you the truth about your empty throw away catch phrases, parroting, and droning on, but we will tell you, ask you to fix it, or we will.

Okay. Anything else?
Yes, if we ask you to submit an article, please also send a digital photo of yourself. Don't go out and get a studio shot. Just send something natural, but good quality lighting and relatively solid background, close up of your head and shoulders. Also, write a 4-5 sentence bio for us to publish with your article and tell us whether we can publish your email or not.

Can I ask you one more question?
No. Go write.