Faith in Detroit

Running from 2026–2029, the Faith in Detroit Journal will publish seven themed issues of short nonfiction exploring moments of faith and transformation in Metro Detroit. Submissions open June 15, 2026 for our Fall, 2026 issue.

The Faith in Detroit Journal publishes brief (maximum of 750 words) true stories based on personal moments or experiences of faith, hope, transformation, restoration, belonging, and renewal. The journal’s mission is to use the power of storytelling to inspire deeper reflection and foster meaningful connections that unite communities across diverse backgrounds, faiths, and traditions.

We are seeking flash nonfiction pieces written by new or established writers that bear witness to how short, personal stories can embody the Faith of and faith in Metro Detroit, its history, present, presence, and future as a city and idea. These should be stories of personal growth and development, not simply stories of conversion to a faith tradition. The journal is open to experiences grounded in all religious traditions, as well as those that identify as “spiritual, but not religious.”

The first issue will focus on the theme of renewal. If you experienced a moment that gave you hope when you thought all hope was lost or a time your faith in yourself or someone else’s faith in you pushed you to not give up on something, we invite you to share your story. If you had a time when someone gave you a second chance that significantly changed your life or someone else’s, you gave someone else a chance when no one else seemed to think they deserved it, a time you lost your faith in something but something restored that faith, your story should be heard. Authors will receive an honorarium of $180 after publication.

Submission and Review Processes 

For consideration in the October 2026 issue of the Faith in Detroit Journal, please submit your manuscript by August 31, 2026 to [email protected]    

Manuscript Guidelines

Please submit your manuscripts as a MS Word file in 12-point font, single spaced, with no indentations. Authors should anonymize characters in their story unless they have explicit permission to include identifying information.

In the body of your e-mail, include a cover letter with a 2-3 sentence biography, including previous publications (if any). In addition to your cover letter, please include a brief statement indicating that this is your own writing, and AI was not used for content generation.

Manuscripts generated using AI will not be accepted and the Editorial team reserves the right to withdraw acceptances and remove previously published essays found to be partially or fully generated by AI.

Review Process

Authors will receive confirmation within a week that the editors have received their manuscript. Submissions will first have identifying author information removed and then will be forwarded to our editorial staff for consideration.

The Faith in Detroit Journal Editors and our panel of readers will review each manuscript and provide a status update to the author regarding its acceptance, rejection, or suggestions for revisions or edits within four weeks of confirmation of receipt.

For manuscripts receiving suggestions for revisions or edits, a member of the Editorial team will work with those writers who chose to continue working on their manuscript, which can be resubmitted for further consideration.

Professor of English and Creative Writing Kathy Pfeiffer leads a team of collaborators that include OU faculty and alums, guest writers, artists, guest faculty and community partners.

Faith in Detroit Summer Writing Workshop

Susan Lynne Beckwith, Ph.D., Workshop Support, Marketing and Outreach

Susan is Special Lecturer in the Department of English, Creative Writing, and Film, where she teaches courses in British Literature, Creative Writing, and Modern fiction. She also serves as the Director of British Studies at Oxford, and Faculty Fellow to the Dean of the Donna & Walt Young Honors College and the Midwest Center for Undergraduate Research (MCUR). Susan also serves as Councilor, At-Large: Council on Undergraduate Research.

Jonathan Cooper, Creative Consultant

Jonathan is a multidisciplinary designer & educator with a passion for culture and community. He has experience in agency branding and marketing, in-house experience and interaction design, and freelancing branding and illustration. His focus is a research-driven and empathetic approach to design.

Faith in Detroit Journal

Greg Giberson, Co-Editor

Professor of Writing and Rhetoric at Oakland University, Greg teaches first-year and upper-level writing courses. His scholarship focuses on the history and development of undergraduate Writing Majors, the history and reality of scholarly editing in the field of Writing Studies, and the corporatization of higher education. He is the founder and lead facilitator of the Pomeroy Senior Living Orion Discussion Group and Guest Lecturer Series.

Brandon R. Grafius, Co-editor

Brandon is professor of biblical studies and academic dean at Ecumenical Theological Seminary, Detroit. His work explores the intersection of religion, horror, and politics, and has been widely published in both academic and popular spaces, including Salon, The Christian Century, and The Metropolitan Review. His recent book, Scared by the Bible: The Roots of Horror in Scripture, was published in 2025 by Morehouse publishing. Concerning Dust and Ashes: Affects of Horror in the Hebrew Bible, is scheduled for publication in 2026 by Oxford University Press.

Rachel V. Smydra, Web Content Curator 

Rachel is an Associate Professor in the Department of English, Creative Writing, and Film. Her scholarly interests focus on stimulating curiosity, embedding active learning strategies, and improving student writing. She is currently working on a historical fiction novel that explores 20th century map-making.

Kaitlyn Piggott, First Reader

An Oakland University graduate in Creative Writing, Kaitlyn worked as a Writing Center consultant and served as Vice President and President of the Student Writers Group at OU. In that capacity, she helped create the student literary journal Swallow the Moon, contributing to all facets of editorial production. 

Sonja Wilhelm, First Reader

An Oakland University Presidential Scholar who graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Women & Gender Studies, Sonja earned Summa Cum Laude and Departmental Honors. During her time as President and Vice President of the OU Student Creative Writing Club, Sonja led numerous workshops and editing sessions, and her success in these roles earned her an invitation to conduct a creative writing workshop for the Rochester Older Persons Commission.