Guidelines for Freelance Writers

Writers: Would you like to write for STEPS magazine?

STEPS is a magazine of hope and healing for Christians in recovery. Published quarterly by the National Association for Christian Recovery (NACR), it serves Christians who are recovering from addiction, abuse, and trauma. STEPS readers are individuals, couples, families, pastors, ministry leaders, support-group leaders, and mental health professionals. We're always looking for good writers, despite our limited amount of space. Please be sure to read the guidelines on this page. You might want to print them and keep them handy. Thank you for your interest in STEPS magazine. We look forward to hearing from you!

Guidelines for Freelance Writers

Read a variety of articles in back issues of STEPS to get an idea of the tone and style we use. You can find some articles on our web site by going to the NACR Library.

  • We are currently looking for articles in the following areas:
  • The Recovery Church (News items from recovery churches in the US and around the world)
  • Twelve Step Practice for Christians (Practical hands-on articles, as well as articles relating Twelve-Step practice to Christian history and teaching)
  • Twelve-Step history and the history of drug and alcohol treatment.
  • Global Perspectives (profiles of people in recovery around the world)
  • Theology of Recovery (Thoughtful reflections on the theological meaning of Twelve-Step principles or else on themes in Christian Theology as they specifically relate to Christians in recovery)
  • Twelve Step Spirituality (Like Theology of Recovery, only more focused on the general experience of being in relationship with God for Christians in Recovery)
  • Profiles of people important to recovery culture, and/or to recovering church.
  • We are NOT currently accepting poetry. We rarely publish first-person recovery narratives. If you would like to tell the story of someone's recovery journey, interview someone you respect and write their profile. When writing a profile of someone in recovery, make sure to focus on their relationship with God, and how it has affected their recovery.
  • Avoid using jargon, especially Christian jargon. Write in plain, simple English that's understood by most English-speaking people.
  • Be sure your words are filled with compassion, grace, and humility. Avoid preachiness by using "we" rather than "you."
  • We welcome the use of scripture in your article, but our authors must refrain from "proof-texting," filling their prose with verse citations. Please use only a few representative verses, in order to maintain the flow of the language. In most articles we prefer the use of the New International Version. Also, keep in mind that some STEPS readers have been deeply scarred by people who misused the Bible, so choose scriptures that would encourage readers and give them hope.
  • Include sidebars if you want to.
  • Let us know whether your article has been published elsewhere, and if so, be sure to include the publishing information. We sometimes consider excerpts from published books and other periodicals.
  • PLEASE DO NOT SEND US A COMPLETE MANUSCRIPT. Instead, briefly describe your article in a one-page e-mail query, and send it to Barbara Milligan.
  • Response time will vary. Please wait at least two weeks before following up on your query.
  • Our authors receive a small honorarium, a one-year subscription to STEPS, and several copies of the issue of STEPS in which their article appears.

    Click here to recommend this page to a friend.