Description:

Campus Crosswalk (CCW) is an e-magazine targeting the spiritual concerns of Christians and seekers on college campuses nation-wide. Our writers include campus ministers, students and guest writers with a mission and a message for young adults. The following guidelines will help potential writers to seek quality content and clear readability in their creative contributions.

Objective:

The purpose of CCW is to provide a thoughtful forum for students in our campus ministries to be challenged to grow in their faith and to provide practical and spiritual resources for that growth . Content should be inspiring and thought-provoking to college students.

Article Topics:

Each season (4 times a year), CCW will cover a new theme or topic. The upcoming theme will be announced and a list of suggested articles related to the new topic will be generated by the editor with assistance from the advisory board. Campus ministers and students are encouraged to propose topics to the editor. Authors may be assigned articles according to their interest or expertise in a particular area. Look the CCW site over before sending a contribution. Here is the link: campuscrosswalk.org.

Submitting a Contribution:

CCW is generated on a volunteer basis and your suggestions and contributions are appreciated. They will be considered according to alignment with the current theme, relevance to audience, and available space. Please submit your article to the editor, along with a brief description of your main objective. Also include a brief biographical description telling us about yourself (no more than 50 words). You may include your name, title, degrees, school, church or ministry association(s), campus connections, family information and/or personal interests.

Aspects to Consider While Preparing Your Article:

• Will this article appeal to college students? How will it benefit them?
   
• Independent topics are welcome but most should be tied to the current theme.
   
• Is it timely and relevant?
   
• Is it consistent with biblical ideals and precepts?
   
• Would a photo or graphic illustration go well with this article?
   
• Go to the CCW site to see our regular or special features. Consider submitting a book, movie or music review, a Top Ten list, or a Current Trends contribution.

Article Guidelines:

• Articles should be 500 to 700 words (unless otherwise arranged).
   
• A brief description of your subject and main objective should precede your text.
   
• A proposed title or headline should be at the top of your article.
   
• Articles should be written using a standard word processing program (i.e. Word, WordPerfect). 12 point Times New Roman typeface is fine.
   
• At the end of your article, include a brief biographical description about yourself (no more than 50 words). Include your name, title, degrees, school, church or ministry association(s), campus connections, family information and/or personal interests.
   
• Please send a photo of yourself to be posted with your article.
   
• Please proofread and spell check your article when it is complete.
   
• Articles should be submitted electronically to the CCW editor – pasted into an e-mail (please avoid attachments if possible), or on a disk that is mailed. If you cannot submit your article in the preferred manner, please discuss options with the editor.
   
• Please include any ideas you have for graphic illustrations that would nicely supplement your article. Photos can be returned upon request.

Suggestions for Style and Clarity:

• Begin your article in a clear and compelling way. Draw the reader in.
   
• Establish concrete connections early with the reader, then develop your ideas or build your case. To reach people today, it is often best to begin where they can see a connection with their needs or desires, then pull them toward higher truth.
   
• A short headliner quote under the title at the top of an article may draw the eye better than a straight paragraph of text. Using relevant quotes, anecdotes and examples in the body of the article can be effective too.
   
• Mind your logic. Show the reader where you are going and why. Make sure your points and passions are coherently connected.
   
• Seek a balance between diagnosing the problem and advancing solutions.
   
• Ground your claims. Abstract statements need to be supported with examples or evidence.
   
• Avoid cliches and superficial generalities.
   
• Avoid repeating a word or a point too often.
   
• Avoid the adverb “very.” Overstatement does not often persuade.
   
• Avoid technical jargon or professional terms. Language should be vivid and moving.
   
• Footnotes may be used but magazine-type articles usually avoid them. You can refer to Bible passages parenthetically in the text itself.

The Editing Process:

Your article will be edited as necessary based on:

• Grammar and syntax.
   
• Length and organization.
   
• Clarity and readability.
   
• Responsible references to specific events and places

The editor will make every effort to maintain as much of your original article and style as possible. When significant editing or re-writing is required, the article will be returned to you for reconsiderations. The key to good writing is re-writing!