Inspired Verse

By Cheryl Steenburn

There's a need for real voice--raw emotions that pour out of the heart. Today's inspirational markets are calling for writers with true inspiration. Remember the last time someone said those words that deeply touched you? Was it in an hour of troubled times or perhaps a time of joy needing to be shared? Reach deep inside and find those words, grab a pen, and jot down those feeling that come to mind. Don't worry about style, punctuation, or spelling just yet. Just let it flow. What inspires you? Is it a quiet walk in the woods? A riverside? A child discovering something for the first time? Think on those things. Watch details come to life and flow onto your paper.

There is especially a need for writers of Christian inspirational verse. Poetry reflects the innermost soul and faith of the people. Capture a time when you were most inspired. Quiet mornings, the new birth of a child, answered prayers. Explore your faith. Share your thoughts and dreams. Your goals and aspirations. Take a break from the hectic world and immerse yourself in the miracles of everyday life. When something inspires you, pass it on.

Listed below are a few markets to get you started. Consult Poet's Market from Writer's Digest books for more places to submit your inspirational verse. Look in the subject index under Religious and Spirituality/Inspirational. Don't just write for money! There are markets that don't pay in monetary terms, but the satisfaction of having made a difference in someone's life.

Blue Mountain Arts, Inc. is a publisher of greeting cards, calendars, prints and mugs. They are looking for poems, prose and lyrics (usually nonrhyming) about love relationships, family members, friendships, philosophies and any other aspects of life. Poems and writings for specific holidays and special occasions are also considered. Submissions must be typewritten, one poem/page or sent via email. Simultaneous submissions are discouraged. Submit seasonal material at least four months in advance. Reports in 3-6 months. Pays $200/poem for the worldwide exclusive rights and $25/poem for one-time use on an anthology.

Blue Mountain Arts, Inc.
Dept. PM, P.O. Box 1007
Boulder, CO 80306-1007
email: bma@rmii.com Contact the editorial staff.

Broken Streets is a digest-sized magazine which appears twice a year. This publication is a Christian-centered outreach ministry to poets. The editor, Ron Grossman, is looking for Christ-centered poetry, feelings, etc., usually 5-15 lines, but also haiku. No more than three poems at a time. No previously published poems. Cover letter required. Reports in one week and pays 1 copy.

Broken Streets Ron Grossman, Editor
57 Morningside Dr.
E. Bristol, CT 06010

Decision magazine is a publication of the Billy Graham ministry. Poetry sent to Decision should encourage, inspire, uplift, edify or strengthen in some way, while at the same time remain faithful to scriptual truth. Decision's readers are young people, middle-aged adults, older people, new believers, seekers, and mature believers. The upper right-hand corner of every page should contain your name, address, telephone number, date of submission, and an email address and fax number if available. Also indicate copyright date and ownership, along with the rights offered. Decision prefers first rights. Submit up to seven poems. Length should be 4 to 16 lines. Submit seasonal poems at least 10 months in advance. Payment is made on publication.

Poetry Editor DECISION
1300 Harmon Pl.
Box 779
Minneapolis, MN 5540-0070

Also send by email at: submissions@bgea.org

Heart Impressions, a division of CCM Publishing, is interested in reviewing poetry and writing that would be appropriate for their "Suitable-for-Framing" and greeting card Heart Impressions line. The following material is especially welcome: encouragement for those who are hurting and thank you to specific people who minister or serve (pastor, pianist, church custodian, choir member, Sunday school teacher, prayer warrior, church secretary, waitress, etc.) Also considered are submissions for special occasions and holidays. Poem length is not a consideration. Manuscripts should be typewritten double-spaced. Submit one poem per page. You may submit as many poems as you like. Enclose a SASE with the correct postage if you would like a response and/or your work returned. Allow up to six weeks for a reply. Payment of $5.00 to $10.00 is paid upon acceptance for reproduction rights.

CCM Publishing
A Division of Creative Christian Ministries
P.O. Box 12624
Roanoke, VA 24027

--CS

©1999 Cheryl Steenburn