The Christian Writers Market Guide site is designed to make it easier for you to sell your writing. It will serve you well if you use it as a springboard to become thoroughly familiar with the markets best suited to your style and areas of interest and expertise.
How the Online Listings are Organized
Book Publishers
The Book Publishers section contains contact information and what editors are looking for. Notice that many houses accept manuscripts only from agents or through meeting with their editors at a writers conference. If you need an agent, see the Literary Agents section.
Independent Book Publishing
Since independent book publishing is a viable option today, three sections provide resources to help you. Independent Book Publishers includes companies that specialize in self-publishing; many of them provide all the services you need as packages or à la carte services. If you decide to publish on your own, check out Design & Production Services and Distribution Services. You’ll also want to hire a professional editor, so see Editorial Services for help in this area.
Periodical Publishers
In Periodical Publishers, you’ll find magazine, newspaper, and newsletter markets. There you can filter listings by topics (e.g., marriage, evangelism) and types (e.g., how-to, poetry, personal experience). Although these lists are not comprehensive, they can provide a shortcut for finding appropriate markets for your ideas.
Cross-referencing may be helpful. For example, if you have an idea for a how-to article on parenting, look at the lists in both the “how-to” and “parenting” categories. Also, don’t overlook writing on the same topic for different periodicals, such as money management for a general-adult magazine, a teen magazine, a women’s newsletter, and a magazine for pastors. Each would require a different slant, but you would get more mileage from one idea.
Specialty Markets
Don’t overlook specialty markets—nonbook, nonperiodical markets like daily devotionals, drama, gifts & greeting cards, tracts, and Bible curriculum. There is even a miscellaneous section for companies that publish in a variety of areas. Here you can explore types of writing you may not have thought about but that can provide a steady writing income.
Literary Agents
If you plan to submit to a publishing house, many will accept manuscripts only from agents or through meeting with their editors at a writers conference. See the Literary Agents section to find an agent to represent you and your writing.
Conferences & Seminars
One of the best ways to get published today is to meet editors at writers conferences. Check out Writers Conferences & Seminars for a conference or one-day seminar near you—or perhaps in a location you’d like to visit. Before deciding which conference to attend, check the websites for who is on faculty, what houses are represented, and what classes are offered that can help you grow your craft and writing business. You may also want to factor in the size of the conference. Don’t be afraid to stretch outside your comfort zone when choosing a conference.
Writers Organizations & Groups
For ongoing support and feedback on your manuscripts, join a writers group. In Writers Organizations & Groups, you can search for a local group by state. If you can’t find one near you, consider starting one or join an online group. Also check out the national organizations for writers that often include a list of local groups, as well as other benefits.
Editorial Services
Since editors and agents are looking for polished manuscripts, you may want to hire a professional editor. See Editorial Services for people who offer a variety of services, including coaching.
Publicity & Marketing Services
Whether you publish your book with a royalty house or go the independent route, you’ll need to do most, if not all, of the promotion. If you want to hire a specialist with contacts, check out Publicity & Marketing Services.
Contests & Awards
Entering a writing contest can boost your sales, supplement your writing income, lead to publication, and sometimes give you valuable feedback on your writing. Check out the Contests & Awards section where you can search by genre. Many of them are not Christian oriented, but you can enter manuscripts with a Christian worldview.
Searching & Browsing the Directory
- ✔ On each section homepage, you can search and/or filter the listings to find what you are looking for. Then just click through each listing title to read the full entry.
- ✔ You can browse all the listings in each section by clicking through to a single listing, and then using the navigation links to go to the NEXT or PREVIOUS listing.
- ✔ If you run into words in the listings that you are not familiar with, check the glossary.
Saving & Printing Listings
- ✔ To save a listing you are interested in, you can click the button on that page and a link to the listing will be saved in your SAVED LISTINGS page that you can refer to later.
- ✔ You can also use the button to print a hard copy of a listing.
The Next Step
- ✔ After you identify potential markets for your ideas and/or manuscripts, read their writers guidelines. If the writers guidelines are available online, the URL is included in their directory listing. Otherwise, email or send (with a SASE) for a copy.
- ✔ Study at least one sample copy of a periodical (information to obtain one is given in most listings) or the book publisher’s website to see if your idea truly fits there.
- ✔ Never ever send a manuscript without doing this market study.
- ✔ Above all, keep in mind that this site is only a starting point for your research, and change is the one constant in the publishing industry. Although this site is updated regularly, it is impossible for it to be 100 percent accurate at all times. But it is an essential tool for getting published in the Christian market and making an impact on God’s Kingdom with your words.
