Writer's Guidelines

Writing for Stepping Stones
Are you a writer? Stepping Stones accepts unsolicited articles and poems for the newsletter. We welcome your contributions!

Will Every Article or Poem Be Published in the Newsletter?
Please understand that Stepping Stones receives more excellent material than we can publish. We can't promise that we will publish every article or poem in the newsletter, but we do promise that we will consider each submission carefully.

How Long Should Articles or Poems Be?
We favor articles that are brief. A 1,500-1,800 word article is okay, if it is compelling. However, articles of 1000 words or less have a better chance of being published.

What Kinds of Articles Are Needed?
We receive numerous articles in which writers simply share their story. We can only publish a limited number of these articles and poems. We encourage authors to write about a particular subject or a specific aspect of their experience rather than submit a history of their infertility journey. For example, the following kinds of articles are more likely to be published in Stepping Stones than a "This is Our Story" kind of article:

How Our Church Helped Us Face Pregnancy Loss
Lessons that Infertility Has Taught Me
Handling the Holidays with Hope
Coping with Secondary Infertility
Keeping Your Marriage Strong Through Infertility
What Our Doctor Didn’t Tell Us About IVF
Adoption and A Reluctant Spouse: Coming Together on a Decision
How God Prepared Us for Adoption
Infertility: What Has Hurt Us? What Has Helped Us?

Of course, the writer's personal story can, and should, be included in an article. But we usually find that the best articles are not simply a retelling of the author's personal history.

What Else Should We Know Before Submitting an Article or Poem?

• We favor submissions that not only relate the pain and heartache of infertility, but also offer some Christian based encouragement for the struggle.
• Unless the author specifies another Bible version, Stepping Stones typically uses the New International Version of the Bible (NIV).
• We will do our best to acknowledge receipt of each article or poem immediately. However, it may be several months before we are able to determine if we will be able to use a particular article or poem.
• As a non-profit ministry, we are not able to pay for articles that are published in Stepping Stones. If your article is published, you will automatically receive two extra copies of the Stepping Stones issue in which your article appears. We will gladly you send you additional copies at your request.
• We know how much time and energy it takes to write an article or compose a poem. We really appreciate your willingness to minister to others through your writing!