POWER FOR TODAY WRITER'S GUIDELINES

     Here are some general suggestions to get you started on your devotional article. 

• Consider the audience. It's not easy to write in a way that can be understood by the youngest person in the audience and still challenge and encourage the oldest, but good writing and timeless themes have done just that through the fifty-four year lifetime of Power for Today.

• Power for Today has a role in instructing its audience, but its main purpose is to provide spiritual inspiration and strength for the inner person.  Christians need encouragement to live close to Christ, to seek God's guidance, and to let the Spirit of Christ dwell richly within. That's what we focus on when we write.  If someone is reading Power for Today, they probably already know what they should be doing.  Our mission is to help people find the spiritual help they need to live their lives in the abiding presence of God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Strengthener.

• Remember you can't say everything about anything.  Narrow your thought to one or two ideas so that the central truth of the scripture reading is predominate.

• Use clear, concise and current language.  Use short words. Write short sentences. Start new paragraphs when there is a shift in the flow of the thought.  The best writing is understood by its readers.  Use briefly-stated examples, illustrations, metaphors or stories, based on your own experiences. 

• If you use examples and stories that come from experiences with special people and great causes, keep in mind the focus of your mission: encouraging readers rather than recognizing or promoting worthy people or causes.  Children can provide great illustrations, but as difficult as it may be, avoid mentioning by name your children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, elders, ministers and organizations.

• Follow the format shown on the Daily Reading Page, making sure to include each element of the article, i.e., title, Bible Thought, body of the article (200 words or less), song, prayer and your name and location.

     Submit your article in one of two ways.  We actually prefer to get material through the Post Office in the traditional "hard copy" format. Our mailing address is:

Steven and Emily Lemley, Editors

Power for Today

833 Riverrock Circle

Westlake Village, CA 91362

     We are able to receive your article if you prefer e-mail. Send your article as an attachment that can be opened in Microsoft Word, not simply typed in the body of your e-mail. Online, we are emlem@pacbell.net.