Friends Journal welcomes articles, poetry, art, photographs, and letters from our readers. We are also helped by your comments and questions. We are an independent magazine serving the entire Religious Society of Friends. Our mission is “to communicate Quaker experience in order to connect and deepen spiritual lives,” which allows for a variety of viewpoints and subject matter. We welcome submissions from Friends and non-Friends alike.
Read our full editorial guidelines and learn about the different types of articles we publish on our Submissions Page.
Upcoming General Submissions Deadlines:
- 2022: Nov. 21
- 2023: Jan. 16, May 22, Nov. 20
Many issues of Friends Journal are set aside for specific themes. Every 18 months or so we poll readers and dream up ideas for future issues (you can see the current list on our submissions page).
We also keep five issues a year open: no theme and no expectations. Most of our unsolicited articles go into a “General Submissions” list that we hold for these issues. Sometimes a choice is easy: we’ll get a blockbuster article that we know we just have to print. But just as often we’ll run some quiet piece of Quaker life that is offered to us without regard to our schedules.
The first bit of advice is to give our editorial submission guidelines a good once-over. The introduction to what we’re looking for is instructive.
We prefer articles written in a fresh, non‐academic style. Friends value an experiential approach to life and religious thought. Our readers particularly value articles on: exploring Friends’ testimonies and beliefs; integrating faith, work, and home lives; historical and contemporary Friends; social concerns and actions; and the variety of beliefs across the branches of Friends.
You should also study our tips for writing for Friends Journal. This is our list of the most-common pitfalls for incoming submissions—problems like length, structure, and tone.
The next thing to ask when writing or pitching an article to us is “why Friends Journal?” There are very few places where someone can write on the Quaker experience and see their work published. This scarcity weighs on us as we select an open issue’s mix. Authors don’t need to be Quaker, but the piece should have a strong Quaker hook. We’re not above doing a control-F on a submission to see how many times “Quaker” or “Friends” is mentioned. If it’s just a tacked-on reference because you’re shopping a piece written for another publication, it probably won’t work for us.
When you’re ready to send us something, please use the Submittable service so that we will have all of your information on file. “General Submissions” is the category for material that we consider for non-themed issues.
Link to share: Writing for General Submissions
Please note: All poetry should be submitted separately here.
Yes, there are some Friends meetings and churches with a healthy mix of ages. But there are many more that are graying. Like many denominations today we are having a hard time retaining young people and attracting young families. How can we turn this around? How to we bring children, teens, and young adults into the life of the meeting? What supports and education do we give? How do we balance freedom and exploration with safety and instruction? And how do we invite them back into the life of meetings after school and work travel have settled them elsewhere?
Submissions due 6/19/2023.
A look at our relationship with other denominations and faiths. What do Friends raised in other traditions bring to us? What of Friends whose spirituality also embraces other faiths? How do we make common ground with other Christians? What is the balance between keeping to our own traditions and opening up to others?
Submission due 7/17/2023.
In November 2021 we published our first issue dedicated to Quaker fiction, specifically speculative and science fiction. This year we’re opening it up to all genres—romance, action-adventure, suspense, young adult, and more. Surprise us with your work!
Submissions due 8/21/2023.
In Genesis 2:15 it is said that God put us “into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.”What is the right relationship between humans and the world? What are our responsibilities for caring for the earth and other creatures? How do we use our talents to glorify God’s creations? What are Friends doing to promote sustainability, both on the personal and political level?
Submissions due 9/18/2023.
A fairly wide-open topic for Friends to consider: what does it mean to forgive? Are there any preconditions? Any limitations? What does forgiveness do to us and to the forgiven?
Submissions due 10/16/2023.
What is prayer? How does it work? How does it differ from the modern Quaker idea of holding in the Light?
Submissions due 12/18/2023.