Click here to see call for submissions (Winter 2008)

Theme: "Sexuality and Dharma "

Deadline to submit articles: October 26, 2008

Writers' Guidelines for Turning Wheel

Patricia Justine Tumang, Managing Editor

Turning Wheel is published quarterly by the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. Circulation: 5,000. 48 pages (double issue is usually 72 pages). Sample copy: $7. Subscription comes with BPF membership.

Turning Wheel Young Writer's Award: We are currently not offering the award at this moment. Please continue to check the website for future updates.

Subject matter: We publish material that promotes peace, social justice, environmental awareness, and social activism from a Buddhist (broadly interpreted) perspective. Of special interest are articles that are grounded in personal experience, that are helpful and encouraging to others, that inspire activism, and that include some broad analytical perspective. Our editorial bias is toward the experiential, and toward stories that exemplify how the personal is political (and the political is personal).

Forthcoming themes (and deadlines) are noted on the editorial page of each issue and on the website. However, all the articles in a particular issue do not have to relate to the theme of that issue. Query letters are welcome.

Submissions that have nothing to do with Buddhism, or have nothing to do with social/environmental justice, or have nothing to do with either one are likely to be rejected.

Language: Should be clear and accessible. Avoid academic styles, jargon, and flowery lyricism. No footnotes. Refrain from the utilization of polysyllabic signifiers whenever the message permits being communicated by monosyllabic signifiers. That is to say: Don't use long words when short words will do.

Genres: We accept nonfiction features, personal essays, interviews, opinion pieces, reviews, and poetry. We receive a superabundance of poetry submissions. We are also happy to receive artwork, especially line drawings and photos. Keep in mind that artwork is reproduced in black and white. If you send artwork or photos, please send high resolution files of at least 300 dpi.

Deadlines: Turning Wheel is a quarterly, with two issues usually combined for a total of three issues a year. Current editorial deadlines are:

Summer/Fall 2008: June 1
Winter 2008: October 26

Spring 2009: March 1

Poetry and articles unrelated to a particular theme can be submitted at any time.

Length: For articles: 800 to 2000 words. (2500 words is equivalent to about 7 typed pages, double-spaced.) We do occasionally publish longer pieces. Book reviews should be 400 to 850 words. Query before submitting book review.

Submission policy: Preferred method of submission is by email to turningwheel@bpf.org. Please send your submission as an attached Word document, if possible. Do not submit by fax. If sending by postal mail, please include a cover letter and self-addressed stamped envelope if you would like your submission returned. See bottom of this web page for postal address.

We do our best to respond to queries in two months or less, and to manuscripts in four months or less. If accepted, expect publication in 3-9 months.

Formatting: All submissions should be double-spaced, paginated, and have 12 pt. Times font, and1-inch margins on all sides. The author’s name, the date of submission, and the title should be placed on the top left corner of the first page.

Terms: One-time rights, no payment. After publication in Turning Wheel, copyright returns to the author. Authors receive 2 copies of the issue and an opportunity to purchase additional copies at a discounted rate.

Sample copies available from the office for $7. Contact:

Buddhist Peace Fellowship

PO Box 3470

Berkeley, CA 94703-9906 USA
Tel: 510-655-6169, ext 302
E-mail: turningwheel[at]bpf[dot]org