Children's Playmate publishes poems, stories and nonfiction for children ages 6-8. Prefers complete manuscript to query. Must be typewritten. No assignments. Response time is 3 months.
     Nonfiction - Sports, science, nature, historical and biographical. Needs profiles of famous amateur and professional athletes who overcame obstacles to excel. Features usually concern some aspect of health and fitness.
Length of 500-800 words. Pays 17¢/word.
     Fiction - Easy-to-read for beginning readers. Includes rhyming stories. Also, health-related theme. This includes exercise, sports, safety, nutrition and hygiene. The characters should have good health practices. Same length and pay.
     Poetry - No specific length. Traditional. Pays $25. Minimum.
     Photos - No single photographs. Buys short photo features of 6-8 photographs which accompany articles. No drawings. Pays $15 minimum.
     Writer's guidelines are available for SASE. Sample copy is $2. Subscription is $16.95 (6 issues). Contact: Terry Harshman, editor, Children's Playmate, PO Box 567, Indianapolis, IN 46206. Web site: www.childrensplaymate.com; e-mail: T.Harshman@cbhi.org.

     Highlights For Children is a monthly publication very open to new writers. It's recommended for children 2-12 years of age. Used as a reading tool to get ready to read, to begin to read and to practice reading skills. Emphasis on language skills in an entertaining format. Response time varies.            
     Nonfiction - Articles on science, nature, sports, travel, biographies and crafts. Length - 400 words for pieces targeted to 3-7 year olds.
     Fiction - Action-filled, strong plot characters and language. Story should revolve around a child solving a problem on his own. Length - 400-900 words. Pays $100 minimum.
     Crafts - List easy-to-understand instructions and use items that are readily obtained. Pays $25.
     Photos - 35mm slides or photos to accompany manuscript.
     The online version has material not found in the print version. Both target the same audience. Stories must be enjoyable for 8-12 year olds to read and younger children to hear aloud.
     Writer's guidelines are available for SASE. Sample copy free. Subscription is $29.64 for 1 year. Call 1-800-301-8165 for individual rates. Call 1-800-603-0591 for waiting room editions. Contact: Editor, Highlight's For Children, 803 Church St., Honesdale, PA 18431. Web site: www.highlightsforchildren.com/ magazine.

     Jack and Jill is published 8 times per year by the Children's Better Health Institute. Uses stories, articles and activities with health-related themes. This includes exercise, sports, safety, hygiene and drug education.
     Fiction/Nonfiction - Stories and articles should be written at third-, fourth-, or fifth grade level. Heavily fiction oriented. Uses realistic, adventure, mystery and fantasy stories. Especially needs humorous stories. Nonfiction material may deal with sports, science, nature and biographical articles. Length - 500-800 words. Pays up to 17¢/word.
      Writer's guidelines are available for SASE. Sample copy is $2. Subscription is $21.95 for 1 year. Contact: Daniel Lee, editor, Jack and Jill, 1100 Waterway Blvd., Box 567, Indianapolis, IN 46206. Web site: www.jackandjillmag.org; e-mail: d.lee@cbhi.org.

    FellowScript is a quarterly newsletter published by Inscribe Christian Writer's Fellowship. This is Canada's largest organization for Christian Writers. Publishes features, book reviews, tips and special assignments. Prefers query or manuscript by e-mail.
     Features - Prefers articles written in a casual, anecdotal style. Should stress values for Christian writers. Length -400-1,200 words. Pays 26¢/word (Canadian).
     Book Reviews - Must be relevant to Christian writers. Length -150-300 words.
     Fillers - May be used in the online version for no more than three months. Pays in contributor copy.
     Special Assignments - These are published in each issue. Open to members only.
     Writer's guidelines are available for SASE. Sample copy available for 9 x 12 envelope and three first-class stamps (Canadian) or $3.50 (U.S.). Contact: Elsie Montgomery, FellowScript, 333 Hunters Run, Edmonton, AB T6R 3N9. Web site: www.inscribe.org.; e-mail: submissions@inscribe.com.

     Guide is a Christian story magazine for children 10-14 years of age. It is published weekly by Review and Herald publishing. Main focus is on bringing young people to Jesus and showing Christian principles in practice.              
      Needs stories in all categories. Adventure predominates.
     Adventure - Make new discoveries while seeing character building principles in action. Uses mystery, action and discovery.
     Personal Growth - Stories are aimed at providing guidance.
     Christian Humor - Lighthearted stories that expose a character building principle.
     Inspiration - Possible topics include: answers to pray, biblical narratives, mission stories and Bible study.
Story Series - Continued stories (5-12 parts, with each chapter about 1,200 words in length).
     Nature - Carefully study the bimonthly Creation Station feature before submitting. Documentation necessary. Length - 800-1,200 words. Pays 7-10¢/word.
     Sample copy is available for SAE and 2 first-class stamps. Subscription is $43.95 for 1 year. Contact: Editor, Guide Magazine, 55 W Oak Ridge Dr., Hagerstown, MD 21740. Web site: www.guide magazine.com; e-mail: guide@rhpa.org.

     Reader's Digest Magazine is a monthly that publishing articles, quotes and humor. Does not solicit article-length manuscripts but welcomes short contributions. The best chance for freelance publication is the regular feature section. Sometimes, freelance submissions are used in other media and rights are negotiated accordingly. A kill fee is applied to assigned articles that do not work out, usually $1,000.
     Half of the 30 articles published every month are reprinted from magazines, newspapers and books. The remainder are original. Mostly assigned, some submitted on speculation.
     Stories - True, unpublished stories for Life in These United States (anecdotes illustrating humorous or appealing sidelights on the American scene); Humor in Uniform (amusing stories about life in the armed services); All in a Day's Work (humorous happenings on the job); and Virtual Hilarity (computer humor). Pays $300.
     Pays $100 to the first contribution of a previously published or original item printed in Laughter, The Best Medicine or Quotable Quotes. Original contributions should be under 100 words. An original article may be proposed by query. If interested, the Digest will request it to be written within 2-3 months. Length - 3,000-3,500 words.  Pays 1,200 for reprints; up to $400 for true, unpublished stories or department items; original fillers pay
$30/2 column line and $35 to the first contributor of an item used from T.V. or radio.
     Writer's guidelines are available for SASE. Sample copy in libraries. Subscription is $24 for 1 year. Contact: Editor, Reader's Digest, Reader's Digest Association,  Pleasantville, NY 10570. Web site: www.RD.com; e-mail: laughlines@rd.com.

     Tin House publishes, fiction, nonfiction and poetry. No fax or e-mail submissions. Usually no reprints. Responds in 3 months.
     Nonfiction - Essays, interview/profile. Length under 5,000 words. Pays $200 minimum.
     Fiction - Experimental, mainstream and literary. Same length and pay.
     Poetry - Avant-garde, free verse and traditional. Submit up to 5 poems. Length - open. Pays $50 minimum.
     Writer's guidelines are available online. Sample copy is $17. Order from: McCormick Communications, Back Issues, Box 10500, Portland, OR 97296-0500. Subscription is $29.90 for 1 year (4 Issues). Contact: Submissions Editor, Tin House, McCormick Communications, Box 10500, Portland, OR 97210. Web site: tinhouse.com; e-mail: tinhouse@europa.com.


Updates:

   Learning Magazine no longer accepts unsolicited manuscripts. Unsolicited submissions go to its sister publication: The Mailbox Magazine, 3515 West Market St., Greensboro, NC 27429; Web site: www.theeducationcenter.com.
   The Silver Web in Tallahassee, FL is currently closed to submissions.
   Bridges Romance Magazine in Denver, Colorado has been sold. Go to www.bridges http://www.bridges magazine info for current information.
   Men's Fitness is now located at 1 Park Ave., 10th FL., New York, NY. Colors By Design and The Calligraphy Collection are presently closed to submissions.
'Til next time...