"Wholeness" Submissions will open June 1-July 1.

On this page, find the theme overview and information on how to submit. Before making your submission, please review our Content Guidelines, which include specifications for things like article length, formatting, and photography and artwork requirements.

About the Wholeness Issue

Integration, holistic living, wholeness, health. Do these feel like buzzwords to you? The reality is, as persons following the way of Jesus, we are called to be an active demonstration of what it means to live our lives as whole people. This means we push against fragmentation, pretending all is well when it is not, and instead reach into the holy, healthy life that God intends for us.

In this issue, we want to focus on pieces that explore the concept of wholeness in different life stages and circumstances. As God draws us toward Himself, He is inviting us to be healed and whole. What surprising ways have you leaned into that wholeness He offers in your own life? What does it mean to be whole followers of Christ when we and the world will never be completely healed until we are brought to the new earth? How can we relearn to not put such sharp distinctions between our lived, physical life, and the (supposedly) more abstract “spiritual” life? What ways has play and laughter or grief and lament caused you to live a more complete life? This issue should be a thoughtful collection of ways that Jesus has and is shaping us to be His chosen, holy, whole people.

Wholeness for Writers

  • Think of what “wholeness” means to you, whether in a spiritual or physical context. We’re hoping for a broad variety of content that focuses on different aspects of the word.

  • Topic Ideas

    • The already/not yet
    • Work as worship
    • How counseling or mentoring has impacted you
    • The older teaching the younger
    • Seven types of rest - how to know what you need

  • Topic Ideas

    • Healing - physical, spiritual, emotional, mental
    • Emotional maturity
    • Building healthy relationships
    • Living in congruence, not fragmentation
Submit Writing

Wholeness for Photographers and Artists

  • Rest, Peace, Healing

    We are seeking visual art that captures the feeling of whole-ness, of being at rest in the peace that follows “Be still.” Our whole-ness comes from a current of love that flows into us from the Holy Spirit. It is not the striving of the world to achieve optimization and completeness in ourselves. It is a completeness and “It is finished.” that is already present, we must simply rest in it. We then are called to carry this whole-ness and restoration into our daily lives. This is a making-holy of all things--tending a garden, resting in the sunshine, feeding our families, observing nature, comforting a child, drinking a glass of water.

  • Idea Sparks

    In art, this may look like: A photo of a woman resting by water, on a hazy afternoon, feeling the flow of water in her hand. A painting of a drop of water, rippling outward. Flowers held up against a soft blue sky. A woman standing still while the breeze tugs at her clothes. Moments of pause such as sunrise, a sudden moment of quiet, laying in tall grass. A bluebird on a branch. Flaxen wheat, gently bending in the wind. A calm lake at sunrise. Anything with soft pastel flowers. Food that is beautiful and nourishing. Simple things that bring calmness and rest.

  • Visuals Description

    We are looking for art that is gentle, hazy, calm, slow, relaxing, quiet, restful, comforting and pastel. Think about lighting that wraps around you like a warm friend. Colors that are more in the mid-light tones--sunrise colors. Pause a moment, ask yourself, “What does peace and wholeness feel like to me? How can I make art to capture that feeling?” Think about keeping frames uncluttered, with a clear subject. Browse through the mood board link below to get an idea of how we envision capturing this feeling.

    Mood Board 
Submit Photography/Artwork

CONTENT GUIDELINES

Please read over the applicable guidelines below prior to submission. Due to rising production costs and the expansion of our staff, we will not be offering compensation to guest Commonplace contributors in 2026. Contributors will receive a free copy of the issue, and a discount code for subsequent copies. Thank you for understanding!

Written Content Guidelines

Written content should relate to the issue’s theme, and reflect a practice, experience, or lesson that highlights the goodness of the ordinary in that context. Real life is funny, weird, interesting, challenging, and full of noteworthy moments if we take the time to notice them. We look forward to reading about the beauty you’re discovering, and lessons you’re learning, in your ordinary everyday.

Accepted written content includes anecdotal stories, essays, fictional tales, poetry, book reviews, lifestyle articles, Bible studies, and interviews.

WRITTEN SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

  • Author must be 18+ years of age.
  • Articles must be submitted as completed pieces (no rough drafts) of 800-1000 words. Articles shorter or longer will not be accepted. Poetry should fit within two pages, single spaced.
  • Articles must be submitted in a .doc or .docx format. Do not submit screenshots, handwritten, or PDF files of your article.
  • Please use Chicago-style citation, using full endnotes (not footnotes). No bibliography is necessary.
  • Author’s name and the date written should be included in the top left corner of the title page. A title for your piece must be included. DOP reserves the right to change your title to best suit the needs of the volume.
  • A brief author bio, written in the third person, should be included at the end of the article/poem.
  • Your piece should demonstrate excellence in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure. Capitalize all names and pronouns referring to God. Obtain permission to share others’ personal stories or details.
  • All submissions are welcome, with priority given to those previously unpublished, and which support the Anabaptist faith tradition.
  • Authors will retain the rights to their work and are free to sell, post, or publish it elsewhere anytime. DOP will only publish the piece in the volume for which it was submitted, unless permission is obtained otherwise.

THE PUBLISHING PROCESS:
If your piece is selected for publication, here is what you can expect:

  • A staff editor will provide copy and line edits to articles. We do not provide edits to poetry.
  • You will receive the edited version of your article to approve. In the event that you strongly object to an edit, we will work with you to reach a result that both you and our team are happy with.
  • Once the issue containing your article/poem is released, you will receive an email with instructions for claiming your free copy of the issue, plus a discount code for subsequent purchases, and to share with friends and family.

Photography Guidelines

You do not need to be a professional photographer to submit photography! We’re looking for those with an eye for beauty in the everyday.

PHOTOGRAPHY REQUIREMENTS:

  • We accept individual images (up to 10) and photo series (10-25 related images, submitted via google drive or a gallery)
  • Contributors must be 18+ years of age.
  • Images taken with either a smartphone or professional camera are welcome.
  • Submission(s) must belong to you and be your original work.
  • Photos can be new work (taken for this issue), or from your archives.
  • When human subjects are featured, either use close ups or please ensure that the main subjects follow the DOP dress guidelines (see below).
  • It is the photographer’s responsibility to obtain permission from people featured in the photos before submitting photos for consideration.
  • Photo series must be submitted as a gallery of at least 10, but not more than 25 images, via either a Google folder or personal gallery.
  • You will retain the rights to your work and are free to sell, post, or publish it elsewhere anytime. DOP will only print it in the issue for which you submitted it. Your work may be featured promotionally on our social media and will always be credited, and tagged if possible.

DRESS CODE:

In respect for our Anabaptist tradition and readers, we only consider photos in which the main female subject(s) reflect the following dress:

  • Hair gathered up (not hanging loose), covered with a traditional veil, net covering, scarf, kerchief, or hat.
  • Sleeved, non-sheer skirt + top or dress, at least knee length, that does not reveal cleavage/undergarment lines.
  • No jewelry (engagement/wedding rings, necklaces, wristbands, etc.) or obvious makeup (nail polish, eye shadow, etc.).

Artwork Guidelines

Whether you are a digital artist, or use traditional mediums, we welcome your illustrations of goodness in the ordinary. All submissions will be reviewed by our visuals team, who will make final selections based on skill level, originality, quality, and cohesion with the issue’s theme. You will receive an email notifying you whether or not your piece has been chosen for publication. We look forward to seeing what you create!

Accepted art forms include DIGITAL ART (typography, patterns, illustration, etc.), TRADITIONAL ART (oil, acrylic, pen, watercolor, charcoal, etc.), and HAND LETTERING PROJECTS

ARTWORK REQUIREMENTS:

  • Contributors must be 18+ years of age.
  • Create artwork that is inspired by the issue’s theme, color palette and Pinterest mood board.
  • Submissions must be high-quality .PNG, .PDF, or .JPG files, with a minimum resolution of 3300x2550, or 300dpi at full page size. If creating digital art, please ensure that your artboard is at least 8x10 in size. Pieces that do not meet these criteria will not be considered.
  • Submission(s) must belong to you and be your original work. Do not submit illustrations copied off of someone else’s work.
  • New (published or unpublished) work, as well as pieces from your archives, are welcome.
  • When human subjects are featured, please ensure that they reflect the DOP dress guidelines, listed below.
  • Please limit your submissions to 3 art/lettering prints.
  • You will retain the rights to your work and are free to sell, post, or publish it elsewhere anytime. DOP will only print it in the issue for which you submitted it. Your work may be featured promotionally on our social media and will always be fully credited, and tagged if possible.

DRESS CODE:

In respect for our Anabaptist tradition of dress, please adhere to the following in illustrations that include female subjects:

  • Hair gathered up (not hanging loose) and covered with a traditional hanging veil, net covering, scarf, kerchief, or hat.
  • Sleeved skirt and top or dress, at least knee length
  • No jewelry (such as engagement/wedding rings, necklaces, wristbands, etc.)

Upload Your Submission for this Issue

Submissions for the Wholeness issue open on June 1.

submit Writingsubmit photography/artwork

Your one life is worth noticing.

Commonplace is a publication of the quotidian; a gathering place for what is beautiful and good in your ordinary, everyday life. We invite you to share!

Attentiveness to the goodness of God is always a worthy practice. It’s our hope that the exercise of writing, drawing, and photographing the beauty of the commonplace will give you a sweet awareness that your ordinary matters.

Submissions by women of all Christian faith traditions are welcome. As an Anabaptist ministry, our aim is to publish works that represent the values and vision of this tradition. Content will be selected accordingly.


2026 THEMES

  • January: Storyseekers & Storytellers
  • May: Celebration
  • September: Wholeness
2026 Themes Overview