Sparkle Writers’ Guidelines
2015/16
Sparkle is an exciting magazine designed especially for girls in first through third
grades. Sparkle is published by GEMS Girls’ Clubs (Girls Everywhere Meeting the
Savior), an international ministry that starts Bible-based club programs in churches
and Christian organizations. The mission of GEMS is to help bring girls everywhere
into a living, dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ.
Sparkle’s Mission is to help girls discover who God is and how He works in His
world and their lives. We strive to give girls the building blocks to create a living and
dynamic faith in Jesus Christ. The tagline is ‘Sparkling Jesus’ light into the world’.
Included in Sparkle:
We are looking for stories, articles, quizzes, poems, games, puzzles, and crafts that
are fresh, that present the Christian life realistically, and that cause young readers to
see how God’s Word—His Truth—applies to their daily lives. Submissions to Sparkle
are selected based on the following criteria:
• The manuscript must fit with the Sparkle Mission.
• The application of Scripture to everyday life.
• The ability to engage culture—meaning it must be relevant today while still
maintaining and upholding the truth of Scripture.
• The ability to delight the reader.
• The ability to cause the reader to evaluate her own life in light of the Truth
presented.
• The ability to teach a practical life skill.
Each season, Sparkle dedicates its pages to the exploration of an Annual Theme. The
next theme is Choose Truth (See below).
Sparkle fills up quickly, so get your manuscripts in early. We read manuscripts each
week. You can expect to hear from us within eight weeks.
Fiction: Our readers like stories with adventure, fantasy, and mystery, stories about
animals, and situations they can relate to in their daily interaction with family and
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friends. Each season we focus on a different theme. We are interested in seeing how
each Annual Theme connects to our overall mission—to help girls discover who God
is and how He works in His world and their lives. We strive to give girls the building
blocks to create a living and dynamic faith in Jesus Christ. More information about
this season’s theme is provided below. Stories should be realistic and need not
always have a happily ever-after ending. Stories with religious clichés are not of
interest to us. Length: 100-400 words
Nonfiction: Nonfiction articles about topics that interest our readers include:
animals, activities, games, sports, music, musicians, famous people, interaction with
family/friends/siblings, exciting and fun service projects, and dealing with school
work. Length: 100-400 words
Poetry: Sparkle publishes a limited number of poems per year. We prefer rhyming
poems since they help early readers. Length: 5-15 lines
2014/15 Theme: Choose Truth
Theme Verse
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path (Psalm 119:105).
Theme Concept
The Bible is like no other book! It’s God’s story, and it reveals His character and His
heart. In short, it’s truth! The storyline of the Bible is redemption, and all of its pages
point to Jesus. Each story uncovers His radical love and His plan to rescue us.
The Choose Truth theme will challenge women and girls to be lifelong hearers and
doers of His Word. We will learn to take God at His Word by studying it, clinging to it,
and digging into its richness. And in the process we will walk in its light and pass on
a contagious love for it to the next generation.
Theme Aims
 To teach girls that the Bible is God’s story; it’s all about His plan to rescue us.
 To show girls that God’s Word is a light to guide our steps.
 To stir a contagious desire to be lifelong hearers and doers of His Word
General Submissions and submissions regarding Choose Truth will be
accepted until January 2016. For a month-to-month schedule of how the specific
themes will be featured, check out the deadlines below.
Take the Sparkle Challenge!
We are looking for fiction and non-fiction stories and articles that weave the theme
of Choose Truth through each issue of our publication. We want to help girls
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discover who God is through His creation, the work He does in His world, but also
through His Word.
We will also be focusing on a specific issue girls deal with each month. Submissions
are not limited to these ideas—each issue will highlight a variety of fun, engaging
truths—but we will be looking for articles that can touch on these issues in subtle
ways. We look forward to your creativity!
October 2015
Deadline: March 11, 2015
Theme: Being a Good Friend
Going back to school means seeing old friends and being reunited with people you
forgot about over the summer. This issue is all about what it means to be a good
friend and how girls can continue to support the friends they have and invite new
friends in.
November 2015
Deadline: June 8, 2015
Theme: Fitting In
Girls at this age are beginning to figure out what some of their gifts are and, in the
process, are realizing they might be different than their peers. This can be hard for
girls to navigate. That’s why this issue focuses on the unique person God created
each and every one girl to be but also invites her and all of her peers to belong.
December 2015
Deadline: July 6, 2015
Theme: Loving Others
All gifts aside, Christmas is about the greatest gift of love. This issue is focused on
showing girls how they can show Christ-like love to everyone around them.
January 2016
Deadline: August 10, 2015
Theme: Being a Good Listener
Learning to listen well is hard! This issue will give girls tips on what it means to
listen well and help them apply what they learn to their every day conversations.
February 2016
Deadline: September 8, 2015
Theme: Being a Leader
Leading doesn’t always mean standing out in front. This issue explores what leading
well looks like and how girls’ can be good leaders in their schools, neighborhoods,
and churches.
March 2016
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Deadline: September 28, 2015
Theme: Being Honest
Learning the importance of honesty starts at a young age and is nurtured as girls
grow. That might mean testing the boundaries and figuring it out for themselves,
too! This issue will look at the importance of honesty and what that looks like in the
lives of young girls.
Manuscripts
Criteria for Selection of Manuscripts: Submissions to Sparkle are selected based
upon the following criteria:
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The manuscript must fit with the Sparkle mission.
The application of Scripture to everyday life.
The ability to engage the culture—be relevant today—while still
maintaining and upholding the truth of Scripture.
The ability to delight the reader.
The ability to cause the reader to evaluate her own life in light of the
Truth presented.
The ability to teach a practical life skill.
Preparing Your Manuscript
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On the first page put your name, address, and phone number, word
count, the issue and topic you are submitting, as well as the rights
offered.
Indicate fiction or nonfiction.
Include desired byline.
Give sources for all statistical information or quoted material.
Basis for Rejection of Material
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Inappropriate. Does not show girls how God is at work in their lives
and the world around them.
Too young or too old for grades 1-3 readers.
Simplistic, unrealistic, too predictable or the theological perspective
differs too greatly from our own.
Does not fit our themes.
Duplication of material already published or submitted.
Editorial needs filled.
Limited need for poetry.
Inept writing—poor opening, transitions, grammar. Lacks the drama
or crisis that appeals to our readers.
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Submitting Your Manuscript
To honor God by being responsible stewards of His creation, we are no longer
accepting snail mail submissions. Thank you for helping us reduce unnecessary
paper waste. Together we can make a difference Please place manuscript within
body of email. Do not send attachments. Email: sparkle@gemsgc.org
Query: We do not accept queries. Please submit a completed manuscript for
consideration.
Compensation: Compensation for all pieces that are published in Sparkle is made
upon publication. Fiction and nonfiction writers receive 3-5¢ per word up to $35.00
depending on length, quality, and rights. (See the below for list of rights.) Poetry
receives $5.00 to $15.00 depending on length, quality, and rights. Games and
puzzles are paid from $5.00 to $15.00. All published writers receive two copies of
the issue in which their piece is published.
Editing Privileges: The editorial staff of Sparkle magazine reserves the right to edit
any accepted manuscript. This is done with a conscious effort to preserve both the
writer’s style and the intent of material. If editing is extensive, the edited manuscript
will be submitted to the author prior to publication.
Rights: We purchase the following rights:
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First North American Rights—The author retains copyright, and may
submit the manuscript for publication elsewhere after it appears in
Sparkle. Sparkle has first time printing rights.
Second Rights—Rates are for a previously published article. Author
must own copyright, or submit proof of permission to resell from the
copyright owner.
Simultaneous Rights—The author must notify publisher that the
submitted article is being offered in another market that should not
overlap our readership.
For a Sample Copy of Sparkle
You may write for a sample copy of Sparkle. Please enclose $1.00 and a 9 x 12 inch
self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail to:
Sparkle Attn: Hannah/Sample Copy Request
1333 Alger St SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
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