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What is Pockets®?
What should I write about?
Who reads Pockets?
What type of material should I write?
How should I submit my writing?
Will Pockets pay to use my writing?
How do I submit my manuscript?
What is Pockets?
Pockets is a Christian devotional magazine for children 6-12 years old, focused primarily on the 9-12 age group. The magazine offers wholesome devotional readings that teach about God's love and presence in life. The content includes fiction, non-fiction, scripture stories, puzzles and games, poems, activities, and scripture readings. Freelance submissions of fiction, non-fiction, poems, puzzles and games, and activities are welcome. The magazine is published monthly (except in February).
The purpose of Pockets is to help children grow in their relationship with God and live as Christian disciples. It is written and produced for children and designed to help children pray and to see their faith as an integral part of their everyday lives. The magazine emphasizes that God loves us and that God's grace calls us into community. It is through the community of God's people that we experience that love in our daily lives.
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What should I write about?
Each issue is built around a specific theme with material that can be used by children in a variety of ways. Submissions should support the purpose of the magazine to help children grow in their faith, though submissions do not need to be overtly religious. We use seasonal as well as thematic material, especially pertaining to the church seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter. Adults write most of the magazine’s content, but we also welcome submissions from children.
Themes are set each year in December and are available on-line at www.pockets.org. Copies are also available by mail with an SASE. When submitting, please note the deadline for the issue. Late manuscripts cannot be considered.
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Who reads Pockets?
Pockets is inter-denominational, and our readers include children of many cultures and ethnic backgrounds. These differences should be reflected in the references that are made to lifestyles, living environments (suburban, urban, rural, reservation), families (extended families, single-parent families, and blended families as well as more “traditional” families), and individual names. Stories should show appreciation of cultural differences.
The magazine is designed primarily for the child’s individual use, but it may also be used in families and in group settings in the church.
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What type of material should I write?
Fiction and scripture stories should be 600 to 900 words. Our primary interest is in stories that can help children deal with real-life situations. We prefer realistic settings and do not accept stories about talking animals or inanimate objects. Fictional characters and some elaboration may be included in scripture stories, but the writer must remain faithful to the story.
Stories should contain lots of action, use believable dialogue, be simply written, and be relevant to the problems faced by this age group in everyday life. Children need to be able to see themselves in the pages of the magazine. It is important that the tone not be "preachy" or didactic. Use short sentences and paragraphs. When possible, use concrete words instead of abstractions.
Poems should be short, not more than 20 lines. Both seasonal and theme-related poems are needed.
Non-fiction articles should be 400 to 600 words. These do not necessarily have to relate to an issue’s theme, but a natural tie-in is a plus.
We particularly seek articles about children involved in environmental, community, mission, and peace/justice issues. These do not need to relate directly to the theme of an issue, but, again, a natural tie-in to the theme is a plus. Please include 4 to 6 photos of children involved in their activities, the name and address of the photographer, and a statement of parents’ permission to use the photos of all children appearing in the photographs. (Either printed or digital photos are acceptable, but digital photos must be at least 300-dpi.)
We also seek brief biographical sketches of persons, famous or unknown, whose lives reflect their Christian commitments and values.
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How should I submit my writing?
Contributions should be double-spaced, on 8 1/2"x 11" paper, accompanied by a SASE for return. Writers who wish to save postage and are concerned about paper conservation may send a SASP for notification of unaccepted manuscripts, and we will recycle the manuscript. Please list the name of the submission(s) on the card. We do not accept manuscripts sent by FAX or e-mail.
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Will Pockets pay to use my writing?
Payment will be made at the time of acceptance. We will make an initial response within eight weeks after receiving the manuscript. We often place manuscripts on long-term hold for specific issues. Authors are free to request the return of their manuscripts at any time during the long-term hold. We purchase newspaper, periodical, and electronic rights, and we accept one-time previously published material.
Stories and articles: 14 cents a word
Poetry: $25.00 and up
Activities, games: $25.00 and up
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How do I submit my manuscript?
Mail manuscripts to:
Lynn W. Gilliam, Editor
Pockets
P.O. Box 340004
Nashville, TN 37203-0004
USA
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