editors speak

Straight from the Editor’s desk: Q & A with POCKETS' Patty McIntyre
By Donna Earnhardt

Pockets Magazine is a terrific market that is all too often approached incorrectly because of lack of familiarity. It’s packed with great fiction and nonfiction, but many writers mistakenly assume that it’s in the market for preachy didactic stories simply because it’s produced by the United Methodist Church. This month, we have Pockets Assistant Editor Patty McIntyre to help us understand the real Pockets Magazine. She provides some terrific details.

Donna: What is the biggest mistake you see with first time submissions?
Patty: Writers who submit material without familiarizing themselves with Pockets or knowing our audience. A submission is more likely to be accepted if:

(1) the writer has studied several issues of Pockets and grasps for whom we publish and
(2) the writer has read the Writers’ Guidelines and the current themes.

Donna: Are there any storylines you are tired of reading?
Patty:

• Disruption of a household due to a sick, ailing grandparent who moves in with the family, necessitating that a child share his/her bedroom with the grandparent or the child moving into another child’s bedroom, causing them to share a room.
• Dad lost his job and the adjustments the family must make to “cut back”.
• New student comes to school; those who have been friends “drop” their old friend. “Old” friend feels neglected. They finally discover that they can all being friends.
• Many, many of the children in submissions walk to school. This is reality in very few places today. Write realistically.

Donna: Do you mind seeing submissions from the same author over and over? How often is too often to submit to Pockets?
Patty: We are happy to receive an author’s submission. Seems as though the author would tire of having lots of submissions returned. Study issues of Pockets. Study issues of Pockets. Study issues of Pockets. Talk with other writers whose work has been accepted. Critique one another’s work.

Donna: What is the most repeated mistake you see and would encourage others NOT to repeat?
Patty: Stories that are written and submitted, obviously not knowing that Pockets is a devotional magazine for 6 to 11 year olds, and paying no attention to the themes. There is no need to send a story if it does not address a current theme. We have no need of stories that do not address current themes. Current themes can be found on the website.

Donna: Do you have a personal "Top Ten" or "Top Five" lists? (Ex: Top Ten Reasons for Rejections or Top Five Reasons for Acceptance or any other list you want to share).
Patty: There are some major reasons for rejections

• Characters are weakly developed or unrealistic.
• The story is too old or too young for our audience.
• Dialogue is too formal or adult.
• Dialogue not true to the way kids and parents talk.
• Stories are dated. Slang can quickly date a story.
• Names of characters that are out-dated.
• Is too long.
• Is fine, but we have more stories for this issue than we can use.
• A story is about or contains talking animals or talking inanimate objects.
• Does not conform to our guidelines. Guidelines are always available.
• Pockets is not afraid to deal with issues of drugs, drinking, fortune-telling, etc. However, we do NOT deal with pregnancy.
• Story lacks a strong plot—May mean that the plot of the story would not be of interest to a significant number of readers; may also mean that the story makes no real point or doesn’t seem to be about anything.
• Has an ending that is unrealistic or too predictable—If the reader knows within the first couple of paragraphs how a story is going to end, that story is not of interest. Likewise, if it is hard to believe the story would happen in real life, it is not of interest. An example of an unrealistic ending might be something that resolves too quickly, a character makes a sudden shift in attitude without any foundation being laid for that in the story: the bully suddenly becomes best buddies with the narrator for no apparent reason. Another example is the child who is uncoordinated and untalented in athletics suddenly leads the team to victory in the city championship. A story needs some resolution, but resist the temptation to tie things up too neatly.
• Does not have enough action—This doesn’t mean every story, or even most stories, should rival the latest action-adventure movie or video game. But the story must have some movement. Something must happen in the story.
• Has unrealistic dialogue—Good dialogue is difficult to write, but bad dialogue makes a story seem dated or unbelievable. Dialogue is important to the story, so give it some thought. Listen to children talk. Think about how you talked to your friends when you were a child. After writing your dialogue, read it over and see if it seems real to you. Even better, have a child read it and ask him/her if it sounds real.
• Relies too heavily on stereotypical roles—This seems to be more of a problem with peripheral characters than primary characters. Many writers seem to have a hard time moving Mom out of the kitchen or laundry room or Dad out of the office or workshop. Sometimes we buy a strong story that has this problem and edit in the changes, but if we are choosing between two equally strong stories the one that doesn’t put characters in stereotypical roles is the stronger option.
• Lacks well-developed characters—This is the most common reason a manuscript doesn’t work. A character has to be believable and more than one-dimensional. The main character can’t be used simply as a device to move the plot along. Knowing not only what the character did but also what she or he thinks and feels. Good character development is difficult work. Know that character yourself. Some writers write biographies for their characters before they ever begin a story. Most of that material may never appear in the story, but it helps the writer write about the character as if she or he were real. As a reader, in order to identify with a character, I have to believe that that character is real, that this is a child who could be one of my friends or one of the kids in my Sunday school class or one of the readers who writes to us at Pockets.
• Doesn’t fit planned themes—Sometimes a story is really good, but doesn’t fit any theme we have planned. Theme lists are always available.
• Deals with themes inappropriate for our purpose—Most of the time when this happens, it’s a case of a writer not knowing much about Pockets. Read and study, read and study, read and study several issues of Pockets before submitting a story.
• Is similar to a previously published piece—Sometimes a story is fine, but similar in theme or plot to one recently published.
• Doesn’t appeal to a broad enough age range—Pockets readers are six to 11 (with many on both sides of that line). There aren’t many stories that would be right for that whole range, but stories that appeal to only 11-year-olds or only to 6-year-olds don’t work. Wendell stories are to be targeted specifically for children ages 4 to 6. No more than 600 words.
• Doesn’t have strong reader identification—A very gifted writer can make the reader identify with almost any character, but we can’t all write that well. Sometimes the character’s lifestyle is so remote from the experience of most children that the connection doesn’t happen. This is often a problem with historical fiction.

Donna: Do you have any other “helpful hints” you would like to share with authors?
Patty: Sure, here are some additional tips to keep in mind --

Pockets publishes contemporary stories, re-told Bible stories, and occasionally fables.
Historical fiction is considered if it fits the theme for a particular issue and has a faith perspective.

Stories should be a max of 1500 words. We also use articles (profiles), recipes, poetry (meter is more important than rhyme), games, and puzzles (must relate to the theme). Biographical sketches of persons, famous or unknown, whose lives reflect their Christian commitment is another area of interest. These should be written in a way that will appeal to children.

There is always a theme list available online. We have an annual fiction-writing contest. There are no themes for the fiction contest. Guidelines are at the same Pockets site.

We publish well-done Biblical accounts. A child does not necessarily need to be one of the characters in the story, but that is a welcomed idea. The story should be as true as possible to the Bible. Don't assume the same kind of life we have, such as freedoms of young girls to move about. Do your research. Characters unnamed in the Bible may be given names. Stories should be 600-1400 words, fifth grade reading level. Consider word choice, sentence length and paragraph length. Stories may be in first or third person.

Profiles of children involved in ministry is a need not frequently addressed. Examples: peace work, environmental care, or help for those on the fringe of society. It may be as personal as a child visiting in a nursing home on a regular basis (though that is a very popular activity for children, we have published a number of articles on that topic so a different foci is refreshing) or collecting money for a good cause. These pieces should be 400-1000 words. Focus on the people and the activity. Study published articles (primarily Peacemakers at Work) about people involved in peace-making activities, etc. to know the kinds of information for this type of article. Many of these pieces are poorly written, rambling, and ungrammatical.

Along with the story, send pictures of the child “in action.” Pictures draw the readers to the article and make the article more interesting to the reader. It enables the reader to see the child who is being profiled involved in the activity. We must have releases (permissions to print text and picture) from parents in order to print the story and pictures.

"Someone You'd Like to Know" profiles a child or adult who does something of interest to children such as an artist who does children's art or a basketball player who runs camps for inner-city children. Emphasize how the person is living out his/her Christianity. The form of the article should be narrative with quotes. Question and answer format is not one that holds children’s attention. This article should run 400-1000 words.

• We want three to six pictures of the person(s) involved in the activity.
• Digital photos must be 300dpi for sufficient resolution.
• Provide captions with email.

Photographs must:

• be at least 1 ¾” x 2 ½” or larger
• have no marks from staples or tape
• Captions may be written on the back, but writing must not “show the imprint” on the picture
• be written on labels and affixed to photos
• be numbered and written on a separate piece of paper, with corresponding numbers written on each photo

Pockets pays $25/picture published. Please include the name and address of the photographer. Read it again: Please include the name and address of the photographer.

One story in each issue is written for the younger readers, 4-6 year-olds. These “Wendell Stories” must also support the theme. 600-word stories are considered for this audience. Consider the interests and the comprehension abilities of children this age. It is helpful to the editorial staff if authors will note Wendell Story underneath the title of the submitted story.

In terms of fiction Pockets does not need stories with grandparents who are dying or infirmed nor stories about children having to give up a bedroom because a grandparent has come to live with the family. Many grandparents today are younger and younger acting than they were in the past. Today’s grandparents are still able to participate and enjoy many of the same activities as the child. Pockets would hope to receive stories that show children and grandparents interacting.

Other realities that they accept are working mothers, divorced parents, and family groupings other than the traditional nuclear family. We want stories that reflect the real life of today's child. In a story with a working mom, the mom should not do all the chores around the house; stories should model families sharing household chores. We welcome stories about city kids and multicultural stories told in an authentic way. They receive too many stories in small-town settings, with children walking to school, to town, and to church. Safety is also a strongly-considered factor. Children alone or children going places without letting their parents know is not modeling we want for children.

Stories should fully show how children can address the real life temptations that they face in today's culture and society. Show how the child decides not to give in. Model the behavior for the reader. Show the feelings of the child and how he/she works through his/her feelings and decisions.

We like fiction stories in which the plot and conflict are strongly developed. The story makes a point, though not necessarily theological. The main character (a child) learns something from going through an experience. There is a moral resolution or the child helps someone else learn something. Pockets likes to see children pray or talk with a parent before making the decision which leads to the action which leads to the plot resolution. Prayers should be simply talking to God.

One failing of many stories is that the child prays and gets an instant answer. Stories need to show the child seeking the answer, maybe by talking to someone else. In this talk, however, let the older person or adult give guidance not directives:

• How would you feel if someone did this to you?
• What would you want that someone to do?
• What do you think Jesus would do?

Show the child using the resource of being in a Christian community. Show the struggle that the child undergoes to decide. Do not minimize the child's problem, but then show that despite difficulties new life can come.

Kids Cook has simple recipes, usually snacks. Easy salads are okay. Recipes run 200-300 words. State that younger children may need help with cutting if the recipe calls for that. It can be a recipe that a child could do on his/her own or one that the child could do with minimal help from an adult.

Pockets accepts submissions of games: word searches, crosswords, codes, and mazes. You guessed it, these must relate to the theme also! Many are biblically based, but not all. Some more complicated mazes that interest older children are published. Games that have 2 parts, such as a word search in which the left over letters spell something are popular. Word searches that form a linear design are also desirable. One when finished created a butterfly, another a camping scene. A variation on a crossword puzzle (no numbers included) could be the list of words to fit onto the grid. To make this work use two long words and then smaller words that can intersect on the grid. More logic puzzles would be published if more were submitted that are age-appropriate. Remember the ages of the children, 6 to 11.

Pockets encourages children to write and presents several opportunities for children to interact with the magazine.

• "God in My Life" children write in 75-200 words how they saw God at work in a particular problem or situation in their lives.
• "Pocketfuls of Friends" Children send a picture of themselves, tell their age, what state they live in, and what they like to do.
• "Pockets Club" children send jokes, drawings, and poems. They may send a picture of their pet and write a sentence or two telling what their pet likes to do to appear in Pet Corner.

We would like to have more submissions from children. Encourage children you know to submit material for one or more of these features.

When submitting, remember to include an SASE if you want your manuscript returned, should it be rejected. If you don't want it returned, include a stamped self-addressed postcard with the name of the submission on the postcard. If you have not had a response after six weeks, you may re-submit that same manuscript. It is possible that your manuscript never arrived. Or it may have been returned to you, but never arrived. If you do re-submit in the belief that it has been lost in the mail, please note in your cover letter that it is a re-submission. Work not selected for a specific issue can be assigned to a different issue. You will receive a “hold” card notifying you that that the piece will be considered for a specific issue at a later date. Out of consideration of the workload of the editorial staff, it is helpful that you not call inquiring about your manuscript.

This page last updated on 01 December 2007