Submitting Articles

Reach UP exists to serve marginalized, low-income, at-risk women — many in prisons, shelters, rehab, government housing, and tough urban or rural communities. Most receive Reach UP because they are in crisis and connected to a program.

Our readers:

Are women 18+
Often have very limited income
Have frequently experienced severe trauma, often more than once
May be parenting, in recovery, under supervision, or rebuilding life after incarceration

We welcome article submissions that respect this reality and offer:

Sincere, faith-filled encouragement
Practical help and tools
Stories of overcoming that feel real and relatable

Topics & Categories

We’re currently looking for articles that fit one or more of these areas:

Becoming a Better Me – character growth, emotional health, self-control, resilience, decision-making, life skills
Beauty & Fitness – modest fashion, basic self-care, movement, nutrition on a budget, body image, health in simple steps
Gritty Life Issues – homelessness, addiction, abuse, trauma, incarceration, re-entry, probation/parole, recovery, grief, shame
Home & Lifestyle – cleaning, organizing, decorating on a budget, creating a peaceful space, simple routines, stewardship
My Spiritual Life – knowing God, prayer, Scripture, faith in hard places, identity in Christ, hope, forgiveness, grace
Relationships & Family – parenting, co-parenting, blended families, boundaries, conflict, forgiveness, healing family patterns
Woman to Woman – first-person stories, testimonies, encouragement from one woman to another

If you’re not sure where your idea fits, don’t worry. Submit it and we’ll place it where it serves best. Articles may be used online, in print, or both.

Length & Reading Level

Most of our readers are not habitual readers. Many have had limited educational opportunities. Because of that:

Most articles: 300–450 words
Occasionally: up to 600 words if charts or visuals are included
Feature articles (by invitation or prior arrangement): up to 900 words

We aim for about a 3rd–5th grade reading level — simple, clear, and direct. Please:

Avoid long, complicated sentences
Use everyday words rather than three- or five-syllable vocabulary
Remember you’re writing for adults, not children — and not donors or colleagues

We will edit article submissions for clarity, length, and readability.

Voice & Language

Our hallmark: we talk WITH our readers, not ABOUT them.

Please:

Write as if you are sitting across from one woman — or a small group of women — in a class, chapel, or support group.
Avoid slang, “Christianese” (e.g., “God spoke to my heart”), and clichés.
Be careful with idioms and region-specific phrases, especially since Reach UP is translated into Spanish.
Choose simple, thoughtful words over insider language or jargon.

Our audience responds to:

Concrete illustrations and examples
Tips, simple “how-to” steps, and short articles
Sincerity, practicality, and genuine hope
First-person stories that reflect their socio-economic world and living conditions

They do not respond well to:

Denigrating comments or talking down
Heavy statistics
Complicated sentences and abstract concepts
Subject matter that doesn’t relate to their reality

First-Person Stories & Ministry Voices

We especially welcome:

First-person stories from women who have lived through homelessness, prostitution, prison, abuse, addiction, and other gritty life issues — and are on a journey of healing and growth.
Don’t worry if you’re not a polished writer; we have excellent editors. Your story can help other women.
Articles from counselors, chaplains, pastors, case managers, and program staff who work with women in hard places every day.
If you find yourself explaining the same issue again and again — about parenting, relationships, boundaries, recovery, housing, work, or faith — that wisdom may serve women across the country.

Everyday experiences can become powerful articles:

A counseling conversation that addresses a common problem
A positive example of making the most of a holiday or difficult situation
A practical life-skill or job-skill you often coach women through

Break it down, write it up, and send it in. We can help with editing; you provide the experience and the insight.

Photos

Reach UP is very visual, and we are always in need of positive, real-life images of women and communities like those we serve.

High-resolution photos only (300 dpi)
Modest, dignifying images — no exploitation or “poverty porn”
Inner-city, rural, prison, recovery, and everyday life settings are welcome
Photographers receive credit when images are used

Please see our Contact page for how to submit photos or ask about current photo needs.

Who Should Submit?

For authenticity’s sake, we especially welcome writers and photographers who:

Have a working knowledge of inner-city life, prison, re-entry, addiction recovery, trauma, or poverty, or
Work closely with women in shelters, rehabs, jails/prisons, pregnancy centers, residential homes, trafficking recovery homes, and similar ministries.

If you don’t have this background but feel a strong pull to write for our readers, we invite you to:

Take time to learn about their reality,
Listen to the voices of women who have lived it, and
Approach your writing with humility and a learner’s heart.

Our editorial team always reserves the right to accept, decline, or significantly edit submissions to best serve our readers.

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