Vita Poetica Journal is an online quarterly publication of creative work explored through a spiritual lens. This may be engaging directly with religious faith or a broader inquiry into meaning and the human experience. We appreciate a sensibility that is open and thoughtful rather than didactic. We seek diversity in experiences, backgrounds, and spiritual perspectives, as well as in genres and art disciplines. We also welcome cross-genre, cross-discipline, or multimedia experimentation. Those interested in submitting are encouraged to read previous issues to gain a sense of the kind of work we're looking for.
CALL FOR READERS & EDITORS
We're currently seeking a Poetry Reader and a Reviews Editor. Reader positions are volunteer. Editor positions receive a stipend of $50 per issue. Please see details in the listing below for Readers & Editors.
SUBMISSIONS
We are open year-round to submissions of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, visual art, and other media. Please see details within each genre for guidelines specific to the section.
We are also open to pitches for our reviews, interviews, and contemplative practices sections. Please send queries to hello@vitapoetica.org, along with a brief bio and 1-2 writing samples. For reviews, please see full guidelines as well as suggested review titles on our website here.
We do not accept previously published work, including web-published or self-published material. Simultaneous submissions are welcome provided you notify us immediately if the work is placed elsewhere.
We ask for first-time rights of publication and request acknowledgment as the first place of publication. All rights revert to the author/artist after publication.
Please allow up to 3 months while we review your submission. We publish on a quarterly cycle, and it can sometimes take a bit longer if the submission arrived in between issues. If you sent a query or pitch, we will confer as a team and respond in about a month.
We regret that we’re unable to offer payment for publication at this time. Vita Poetica is a nonprofit organization and relies on a small team of volunteers who read every submission carefully. We appreciate your understanding and thank you for sharing your work with us.
Join our team! Vita Poetica is seeking a colleague for the position of Reviews Editor. We are a small nonprofit organization with a mission to connect artists of faith and enliven spiritual conversations through the arts. Individuals with a heart for building community and a desire to engage more deeply with the arts are especially encouraged to get in touch.
The position entails a commitment of 6-8 hours per month, with some months being busier than others. Currently, editor positions receive a stipend of $50 each quarter as a small token of our appreciation. There is potential for increase as our organization develops. All positions require familiarity with our mission and with our quarterly online journal, which publishes work at the intersection of art, faith, and spirit.
Please note that editors are ineligible for the publication of their creative work in the journal but are welcome to contribute interviews, reviews, and contemplative practices in conjunction with the respective section editors.
The Reviews Editor is responsible for maintaining an up-to-date list of potential review titles in various genres and disciplines (books, movies, events, etc.) that would be of interest to our audience. Some familiarity with media pertaining to the arts and faith scene is preferred, but input from our editors and other industry professionals is also encouraged. The editor will attend occasional editorial meetings (virtual). In addition to editing the 1-2 reviews published per issue, the editor will correspond with publishers and PR associates to arrange for books to be mailed to reviewers or for press coverage, as relevant. The editor may also choose to review works if desired.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until filled. Those interested should submit, via Submittable, a resume and cover letter introducing themselves and sharing why the position appeals to them. The application process requires a free Submittable account. If you need any help with the process, please email hello@vitapoetica.org.
Vita Poetica Journal is an online quarterly publication of creative work explored through a spiritual lens. This may be engaging directly with religious faith or a broader inquiry into meaning and the human experience. We appreciate a sensibility that is open and thoughtful rather than didactic. Those interested in submitting are encouraged to read previous issues to gain a sense of the kind of work we're looking for.
Please submit fiction of up to 5,000 words in a standard word-processing format (.doc or .docx).
Vita Poetica Journal is an online quarterly publication of creative work explored through a spiritual lens. This may be engaging directly with religious faith or a broader inquiry into meaning and the human experience. We appreciate a sensibility that is open and thoughtful rather than didactic. Those interested in submitting are encouraged to read previous issues to gain a sense of the kind of work we're looking for.
Please submit creative nonfiction (including personal essay, memoir, reportage, and other types of literary nonfiction) of up to 5,000 words in a standard word-processing format (.doc or .docx).
Vita Poetica Journal is an online quarterly publication of creative work explored through a spiritual lens. This may be engaging directly with religious faith or a broader inquiry into meaning and the human experience. We appreciate a sensibility that is open and thoughtful rather than didactic. We seek diversity in experiences, backgrounds, and spiritual perspectives, as well as in genres and art disciplines. We also welcome cross-genre, cross-discipline, or multimedia experimentation. Those interested in submitting are encouraged to read previous issues to gain a sense of the kind of work we're looking for.
Please submit up to 3 poems at a time, as a single file, in a standard word-processing format (.doc or .docx). Pdf files are permitted if special formatting is required. All efforts are made to preserve formatting in publication across platforms (web, social media), but we may at times be subject to limitations within a particular platform.
We welcome visual art, including but not limited to painting, drawing, photography, ceramics, textile, and sculpture. Previously published pieces (in a magazine/journal, print or online) are not eligible. The work should engage, whether directly or indirectly, with our publication's focus on art and spirituality. We ask that artists be familiar with our publication and the art we've featured in past issues before submitting.
Submit up to 5 pieces as a zip file or private link(s). Lower-resolution images may be submitted first, with high-resolution files (300dpi) required upon acceptance. Please include an artist statement of at least 1 paragraph or up to 250 words addressing your work as a whole and the submitted pieces in particular. Submissions without an artist statement will not be considered.
As a digital publication, we are open to exploring new ways to create and share, as well as new ways to publish and help creative people reach as wide an audience as possible. We welcome submissions of multimedia art, short film or performance, audio, and other hybrid or experimental forms suitable for web publishing and within the duration of 15 minutes in length. The work should engage, whether directly or indirectly, the theme of art and faith. Submitters are strongly encouraged to look at past issues to gain a sense of the kind of work we publish. Work may be submitted as a file (compressed if needed) or via private link.