Our Mission
Alive Now is a devotional magazine that supports the spiritual lives of small groups as well as individuals. The magazine invites readers to enter an ever-deepening relationship with God, helps them reflect on contemporary issues from a faith perspective, and supports them in acting on these issues.

General Guidelines

Each issue of this bimonthly, 64-page magazine focuses on a contemporary topic that impacts the faith life. Divided into sections that move readers through exploration and reflection on the theme, the magazine may be used weekly by individuals or members of small groups. The sections contain scripture, prayers, meditations, stories, poetry, reflection aids, photographs, and art. Seasonal material, both theological and liturgical, is appropriate.

Readership

Alive Now is ecumenical, including both lay persons and church professionals. Our readers are primarily adults -- from young adults to older adults -- and include persons of many cultures and ethnic backgrounds.

Style and Format

Your submissions should invite readers to seek God in the midst of daily life by exploring how contemporary issues impact their faith lives. We do not pretend to have the final answer to life's dilemmas. But we hope that the magazine will provide a glimpse of the life of faith to which we all are called.

Submit for a theme. We make selections based on a list of upcoming themes. Manuscripts which do not fit a theme will be returned. To receive a current themes list by mail, please send your request to us with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Alive Now also posts upcoming themes online. We place manuscripts on long-term hold for specific issues. Authors are free to request that their manuscripts be returned to them at any time during the long-term hold.

Meditations and stories should be 250 to 500 words. Send your best work. Use language that is inclusive. Material that contains sexist language and imagery is difficult to use.

Manuscript Preparation

We prefer submissions typed into e-mail or attached as Microsoft® Word documents, but also accept mailed submissions. Contributions should be typed, double-spaced, on 8 1/2" x 11" paper and should be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope for return. If you are submitting material for more than one theme, send an SASE for each theme represented. On each page you submit, include your name, address, and the theme for which the piece is being sent.

Notification and Payment

Payment will be made at the time of acceptance for publication. We will notify contributors of manuscript status when we make final decisions for a theme, three months before the issue date. Unusable material will be returned if an SASE was sent with the manuscript. We purchase newspaper, periodical, and electronic rights so that we can respond to requests for reprints from local church publications and other periodicals as well as promote the magazine on the World Wide Web. We may purchase one-time use. The usual fee is $35 and up.
Sending Manuscripts

Mail manuscripts to:
JoAnn Evans Miller
Alive Now
1908 Grand Avenue
P.O. Box 340004 (Please note new address)
Nashville, TN 37203-0004
e-mail: alivenow@upperroom.org