The Christian magazine market for children and teens is a great place for writers who enjoy writing inspirational or religious stories and articles for kids. From Sunday school take-home papers to devotional magazines and e-zines, the opportunities for publication are abundant. But as with any writing market, breaking in isn’t always easy. The best way to do it? Start with something small – like fillers.
Fillers are short pieces that fill in gaps on the pages of a publication. Unlike sidebars, fillers stand alone and are often used in the front or back of the magazine. They offer interesting or entertaining information that may or may not be related to a longer story or article.
Most important, fillers are sought after by editors and especially popular with Christian children’s magazines. And because fillers are fun to write, it’s easy to get started. Here’s what you need to know:
Types of Fillers Used in Christian Magazines for Kids
Christian magazines for kids use a variety of fillers. Below are some of the most common types of fillers requested by editors of Christian children’s magazines:
- prayers
- inspirational sayings and quotes
- hints and tips for Christian living
- games, quizzes, or puzzles related to a monthly theme
- short bios of Christian leaders and other famous persons
- mini how-to articles related to the theme
- anecdotes of kids involved in Christian activities
- craft, recipe, and party ideas related to the theme
- breaking news of a religious/inspirational nature
- jokes, short humor, and cartoons with a Christian slant
- short, personal experience pieces of overcoming hardship
- religious and spiritual poetry
Christian Writer’s Market Guide lists many Christian children and teen markets that accept fillers, along with the types of fillers they publish. Christian magazines, Sunday school take-home papers, e-zines, journals, and newsletters are all potential markets for fillers and pay anywhere from $5 to $50 or more, depending on the length and depth of the filler.
Writing Fillers for Children’s Christian Magazines: Still Serious Business
The nice thing about fillers is they usually require no query letter. And because they’re short, fillers don’t take nearly as much time to write as feature articles. Payment is generally quick, too. But writing fillers is still serious business. While a Sunday school take-home paper, for example, may seem relatively small-scale, its editors can be just as picky about the material they use as any publication.
Some fillers for Christian magazines for kids won’t require research, but most will. Obviously, writers won’t want to spend too much time researching a filler; however, the research that is performed must be valid and relevant. Interviews, churches and other religious organizations, and Bibles are just a few useful resources for writing fillers.
A word of caution when writing fillers for the Christian magazine market for children and teens: be careful not to force religion on the reader. While Christian kids magazine editors like inspirational pieces and ones that show God or Christ’s presence in daily life, they usually prefer writing that’s not overly religious or preachy. Simply put, fillers that are light, upbeat, and engaging have a better chance of selling.
Here are a few other tips to consider when writing fillers for Christian magazines for kids:
- make sure the writing is age appropriate
- connect fillers to a Bible story, lead story, or theme
- humor is always welcome
- use proper Biblical abbreviations and style for citing scripture
Follow Writer’s Guidelines to a T
A good rule of thumb for writers, including children’s Christian writers, is to always request writer’s guidelines and theme lists, if they exist. This rule is just as important for feature articles and stories as it is for fillers. The guidelines will specify exactly what the editors are looking for and when and how to submit material, in addition to other important submission information.
Pay extra close attention to word counts, too. Most fillers run anywhere from 100 to 500 words or more. If the word counts are noted, don’t run over the maximum (or under the minimum). Some editors will allow a slightly longer or shorter filler, but many won’t. To be safe, adhere to the guidelines as closely as possible.
Writing for Christian magazines for kids can be a rewarding and lucrative endeavor and one that’s easy to break into with fillers. Not only do many Christian children’s magazines use fillers abundantly, they’re fun to write, relatively easy to sell, and inspiring to read.
Susie Yakowicz - Susie Yakowicz is a Minnesota freelance writer whose work has appeared in dozens of publications for children and adults.
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