Subject Matter

• As a Christian organization, Guideposts looks for stories that promote Christian values. The stories usually do not occur under extraordinary circumstances. Rather, they focus on the inspiring moments that happen to ordinary people every day. Stories should be limited in scope, showing the reader one occurrence in the author's life. They should tie up any loose ends, and they should have an optimistic and uplifting ending. Keep in mind that Guideposts accepts only true stories.
  
  

Point of View

• The stories that you submit to Guideposts must be written in the first person. You don't need to write about an instance from your own life, although many authors do. You may also write on behalf of someone else about an inspirational moment that he or she experienced. Even in this circumstance, your narrative should be written exclusively in the first person; write as though the events that you are relating happened in your own life.
  
  

Other Preferences

• The Writer's Guidelines published by Guideposts do not specify a length limit. However, B. J. Taylor--an author published in Guideposts--suggests that prospective authors write stories that are about 1,500 words long. She also suggests that writers submit stories with the same general feel of the stories in the magazine: they have a significant turn of events close to the end that leaves the reader with a satisfied, optimistic feeling.
  
  

Submitting

• Guideposts accepts only electronic submissions. You can email your story to submissions@guidepostsmag.com. You should include a short cover letter introducing yourself and thanking the editors for taking the time to read and consider your story. Guideposts does not specify whether to send the story in the body of the email or as an attachment; to minimize confusion and the risk of your story getting lost, send it embedded in the email after the cover letter.