By Joyce K. Ellis An ambulance whips in front of the hospital’s emergency entrance. One paramedic leaps from behind the steering wheel. Another jumps out the back, dangling an IV bag above the head of a lifeless patient. Inside the ER, Nurse Bella quickly takes vitals while other staff connect monitors. “I can’t get a […]
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By Andy Butcher Imagine going to church next weekend and finding the women in the choir have traded their gowns for micro-skirts and midriff-baring halter tops. When you inquire about the new dress code, you’re told that people expect a bit of skin these days, so we’re just giving people what they want—only in a […]
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Have you ever written a first-person article and wondered why it fell flat? If so, maybe I can help you with a tried-and-tested writing principle. This principle has a particular application for first-person articles, but it pertains to all nonfiction writing. I didn’t learn this from a writing book, but inferred it after reading Dale […]
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Some EPA members have asked for guidance on securing permission from people mentioned in articles. The following questions were sent to editors of some of the largest publications/organizations represented in the EPA membership. What is your publication doing in regard to securing permission from real people who are used in stories and articles? Do you […]
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By Andy Butcher I have always found the Journalism 101 guide—who, what, why, where, when, and how—to be of limited help. It’s a bit like telling an Olympic track hopeful that all they need to do to win a gold medal is run faster than everyone else. Yes, but… Which whats? What whens? Whose wheres? […]
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The Evangelical Press Association and the Associated Church Press are co-sponsoring three one-day regional intensive seminars in select cities this fall. In Washington, D.C., magazine consultant Lou Ann Sabatier will teach a class on content strategy on Friday, October 26. Lou Ann is a highly sought-after publishing consultant, renowned for her high energy and infectious […]
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By Lisa A. Crayton Research is either a much-loved task, humdrum chore or angst-filled process, depending which writers or editors are asked. Whether loved or dreaded, research is a building block for effective fiction and nonfiction projects. As a freelance magazine and devotional writer, I’ve used research in myriad ways, including to find or verify […]
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When pitching to a publication for the first time: Study the publication you’re pitching to in order to make sure your story idea is in line with their mission. Ask for a copy of the writers’ guidelines. (Better yet, see if they’re available on the website before you ask.) Most publications likely have some already […]
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Professional writers are key suppliers of quality editorial content. Magazine and newspaper editors are, in turn, key players in the relationship between their publication and freelance writers. For many years, EPA Associate Members who work as freelance writers have repeatedly encountered several challenges when writing for EPA and other publications. To work toward improving the […]
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By Andy Butcher What with fake news, partisan press, and click-bait, there may well never have been a time when we have more needed good Christian journalists practicing good Christian journalism. Thankfully, having had the privilege of judging some of the categories in the EPA Higher Goals contest over the past couple of years, I […]
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