Eye - 25 October 2024

Advice on writing for The Friend

Putting pen to paper

The Friend is a magazine for Friends, and by Friends. You are our lifeblood! So, Eye is setting aside some time this week to offer guidance to anyone who has a story to tell, but is unsure about how to go from reading these pages to appearing in them.

Please know, a significant number of the articles we print are unsolicited, which means you don’t need to wait for us to ask you to write!

Every reader is valued by the team here at the Friend, and we are grateful for the support you give, whether as a subscriber, writer, or advertiser.

The Friend has always been the product of Friends on the bench, a place where you can hear directly from other Friends, and make your own voice heard.

We know this isn’t always comfortable – these pages are a mirror of the Society. Not every piece will speak to every Friend, just as we wouldn’t expect every piece of ministry to speak to every person in a Meeting for Worship. But that is what makes this a meaningful space. Even if you don’t agree with someone, we are all Friends, seeking to understand each other and the Spirit.

We also know that making your voice heard can be uncomfortable if you aren’t accustomed to, or confident about, putting pen to paper. So, let Eye try to alleviate some of those concerns with answers to some of the most common questions!

Writing isn’t my thing but I have a story to tell…

We still want to hear from you! If there is something you want to share with Friends, it could be written up by one of us for the news (news@thefriend.org) or Eye (eye@thefriend.org) pages.

What makes a good article?

If something moves or inspires you, it is likely to resonate with other Friends too – think of what drew you to your subject and start there.

We publish articles on a wide range of topics and are keen to hear personal stories and reflections, especially of a spiritual nature and of faith in action.

What do you publish?

• Spiritual reflections

• Reports

• Features (on anything from activism, to a piece of history, to a comment on the world, our Society, and your place in it)

• Reviews

• Poetry

Should I get in touch before starting?

Unsolicited articles are welcome, but it is helpful to hear from contributors before they commit ink to page. For example, if three Friends write on the same topic around the same time, it is unlikely that all three will be published.

Is there a word limit?

Yes, we advise:

• 600 words for a one- page article,

• 1,200 words for a double-page spread

• no poetry longer than a page.

What happens when an article is chosen?

Each article is edited for length and clarity. It is laid out on a page with an accompanying photo or illustration before going through our weekly process of:

• fact-checking,

• proofreading, and

• sub-editing.

If edits are small, it is unlikely we will be able to get in touch prior to publication. However, if a significant change is needed, the editor will contact you before the piece is published. 

How can I send my article to you?

We prefer to accept articles via email, to editorial@thefriend.org, in a Word or Open Office document.

Do you reply to every message?

Ideally every submission would get a reply, but with the time pressures of a weekly publication on a very small team, it is not possible to reply to everyone. Please know that each message is valued, but time and resource constraints step between what is possible and our ideal.

Can I get extra copies if I’m published?

Absolutely! Every writer is sent three copies of the edition their article appears in free of charge. And with our website now allowing new visitors to read their first three articles for free, you can share the link with friends and family easily!

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For more information, please visit: thefriend.org/page/writing-guidelines.

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