Guidelines for Writers
Photo of Elizabeth Gray Vining in her attic study in Philadelphia, 1950s:
Quiet Pilgrimage. November 2000 Issue.
We welcome submissions for publication in Friends Journal. The statement that appears on our cover, "Quaker Thought and Life Today," summarizes what we are looking for—but we interpret this mandate very broadly. Authors need not be Friends, but articles should show an awareness of Friends’ ways and concerns, as well as sensitivity to them. Within these guidelines, articles on a very wide variety of subjects have appeared in Friends Journal.
We prefer articles written in a fresh, nonacademic style, using language that clearly includes both sexes. Historically, Quakers have especially valued an experiential approach to life and religious thought, and articles reflecting this are most appreciated. Articles having a constructive approach to problems and spiritual seeking are generally selected over those with a purely negative one. Articles authored by or speaking to young people are encouraged. We appreciate receiving Quaker-related humor, and we occasionally print games and puzzles.
Twice each year, Friends Journal publishes special themed issues, which are listed separately on our website.
We prefer concise writing. Feature articles should generally be less than 2,500 words, but we will occasionally publish longer submissions if their content truly justifies their length.
Please include references in the text for all quotations (including Bible citations), statistics, and unusual facts. We do not use end- or footnotes. The author’s name and address should appear on the body of the submitted text. Please include a cover note with brief information about yourself. If you submit material that has been published or that you are also submitting to other publishers, be sure to indicate this in your cover note. If you want your manuscript returned, please indicate this and include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. We prefer digital submissions attached to e-mails (info@friendsjournal.org), but we do accept submissions on paper. Receipt of all submissions is acknowledged within a month; however, writers can expect to wait longer to hear whether their manuscripts have been accepted. Due to the small size of our staff, we are not able to respond to every submission.
News items (preferably 50–400 words) and Bulletin Board items (preferably less than 50 words) are welcome, subject to editing for space and style; publication cannot be guaranteed. Depending on where we are in our production cycle, a lead time of less than three months may be too short. Epistles and reports of Quaker events are considered (450 words). Milestones (announcements of births, marriages, deaths, etc.) are published at the request of meetings or families (see "Guidelines for Submitting Milestones"). Forum letters and Viewpoints (preferably less than 300 and 1,000 words respectively) are a valued part of the dialogue that occurs in the pages of the Journal (see "Submitting a Forum Contribution"). Book reviews are usually solicited by the editor; we welcome inquiries from potential reviewers.
Upon request, we are glad to supply a sample copy of Friends Journal. Since we are a small organization, we are not able to pay for writing. Authors of feature-length articles receive four free copies of the issue in which the article appears, while poets receive two copies. Authors of shorter material appearing in the departments will receive two free copies upon request.
