Welcome back to another year of Anglican Life. While the calendar year starts on January 1st and the Church year begins with Advent Sunday, we align our publishing schedule with the school year, releasing ten issues from September to June.
Before my summer break I attended the Anglican Editors’ Association conference in Toronto at the end of May. This annual event, held in different locations across the country, brings together editors of diocesan and multi-diocesan newspapers for workshops, presentations, and fellowship. It was particularly enriching this year, as we had the opportunity to connect with people from the national church, The Anglican Journal, and PWRDF. Post-conference, I’ve made a few minor changes to our layout, though nothing too drastic.
September’s issue is always a big one, incorporating several months’ worth of submissions. While I’ve tried to include everything, some stories may have to wait until the October issue. So I think it’s a good time to revisit our submission process for Anglican Life, and how content is chosen for the paper.
I aim to make the submission process accessible to everyone. Each issue includes upcoming deadlines and submission guidelines (you’ll find this month’s on page 7). Photos should be sent as separate files in the largest format you have available. Arranging stories and photos for the paper is my responsibility, so there’s no need to worry about layout.
When writing, simplicity is key. Use plain English and avoid overly complex words. Please double-check your submissions for spelling and grammar, though I do review everything. My goal is for your work to maintain your voice, so the less editing I need to do, the better.
Please keep Anglican Life in mind for parish events. Most mobile phones can take high-quality photos, which are easy to send. Candid shots are often more engaging, so feel free to send multiple images; I’ll select those that best fit in the layout.
Finally, like many publications, we face rising costs in printing and mailing. I organize stories as they arrive, so although the deadline for the October issue is September 1st, we may have a full paper earlier. While I want to include everything, space constraints sometimes mean stories have to be postponed to the following issue. The sooner you submit, the better the chance your story will be featured in the next Anglican Life.
Thank you for your continued support. I look forward to sharing your stories about the wonderful work God is doing in our communities across Newfoundland and Labrador!
