EXTRACT FROM LIFE-WRITES: ORDEAL BY FIRE

MB&S or ‘mind body and spirit’ is one of the fastest growing interests in contemporary publishing. Although many people can be forgiven for thinking that the genre relates to weird folk doing something strange in the woods, the subject matter is now open to readers (and writers) from all walks of life. In the early days of ‘alternative belief’ publications back in the 1970s, the majority of magazines were home-produced, small press affairs and often difficult to locate. Since the advent of the Internet, all that has changed, and there is now a general sharing of spiritual and ‘green’ ideas that do not compromise anyone’s religious or spiritual integrity.

For those with northern European roots – particularly Celtic, Scandinavian and Germanic – there has always been a love of ghost stories, the supernatural, folklore and a strong tradition in fairies, or the ‘little people’. The attraction has persisted down the ages, and even the vampire is alive and well, and living in various prime-time television series. This element of writing has come a long way since the introduction of the 19th century Gothic Fantasmagoria or Tales of the Dead, which inspired Mary Shelley and John Polidori to write Frankenstein and The Vampyre. According to Dr Terry Hale, the popularity of these tales of terror was also closely linked to the ‘emergence of a new literary genre that frequently employed traditional folk-motifs coupled with increasingly sophisticated narrative techniques.’

Today, on the supermarket and newsagents’ shelves we find glossy monthly magazines such as Prediction, Spirit & Destiny, High Spirits, etc., that are aimed at the readers’ developing interested in holistic health, emotional well-being and spiritual guidance. Various forms of divination, from astrology to zoanthropy, also feature widely in each issue. The following are examples of the subject matter found in some recent MB&S magazines, which differ very little from articles regularly featured in mainstream women’s glossies – only the writing style/approach is slightly different by being tailored to suit the ‘alternative’ readership.

Holistic health:

• How to give up addiction

• Bio-energy healing therapy

• Holistic approach to varicose veins

• Ten tips to stop smoking

• Cleansing foods to spring-clean the body and soul

• The health benefits of eating tofu

• Natural beauty

• Soul food

Emotional well-being:

• Tantra, love and sexuality

• Crystals for attracting love into your life

• Toxic relationships

• Love and the limbic brain

• Past life support

• Retail therapy

• Films as a counselling aid

• Celebrate the Equinox/Solstice

Spiritual guidance:

• Fate – things happen for a reason

• My son’s bedroom is a spirit portal

• Life after death

• Bless this house

• What you didn’t know about fairies

• Freaky Friday 13th

• Who’s your inner goddess?

• Revealed at a séance

Divination:

• Numerology

• Horoscopes/Astrology

• Astro yoga

• Teach yourself Tarot

• I-Ching

• Psychic phone lines

• The dream doctor

• Crystal oracles

• Dowsing

The only difference in approach when writing for MB&S magazines and mainstream women’s magazines is the use of appropriate jargon, but we need to be familiar with this in order to produce publishable material. We must also convey the impression that we actually believe in, and have practical experience in the subject we are writing about. And if you’re still not convinced, don’t forget that anything connected with Prince Charles’s interest in alternative health treatment is newsworthy, despite the fact that he is constantly criticised for supporting holistic techniques. There is also a rumour that his daughter-in-law Kate is a kindred spirit, and may become patron of a new charity offering alternative therapies.

There are also the glossy pagan magazines that are available by subscription only. The content of these particular publications covers the same topics as the MB&S magazines, but the emphasis is more on things magical, earth mysteries and the emergence of Wicca as a recognised spiritual belief. This is a much more specialist market and anyone submitting material would need to have more than a passing interest. Generally speaking the pagan publications are non-paying.

Many of the more general aspects of MB&S writing – particularly green issues - are now finding their way into the more orthodox religious magazines. And if we have an interest in issues that are compatible, we can also consider submitting material to the Protestant, Catholic and Jewish publications. Whichever market we are aiming at, we must avoid the polemic or controversial, and maintain a well-balanced and respectful approach to the beliefs of others … even if they are not our own. 

Be warned: Any insincerity or tongue in cheek approach will be instantly rejected.