Editor Interview: Solum Journal

Literary Christian work

Ekstasis Magazine, Heart of Flesh Literary Journal, The Cresset, Poems for Ephesians, Trinity House Review, Anser Journal

Poets: Todd Copeland, Russell Rowland, Margaret Avison, St. John of the Cross, T. S. Eliot, Matthew J. Andrews, Michael G. Donkin, D. S. Martin, Tyler James Russell, Brad Davis, Sharon Scholl, Bethany F. Brengan
Fiction Writers: Cormac McCarthy, Flannery O'Connor, C. S. Lewis, James Joyce, William Faulkner, William Gaddis, Thomas Pynchon, Andrew Reichard
Philosophers: William Lane Craig, J. P. Moreland, Greg Ganssle, David Horner, William Alston, Douglas Geivett, Richard Fumerton, Brian Leftow
Spiritual Theologians: Dallas Willard, Henri Nouwen, John Coe, Steve Porter
Homilists: St. John Chrysostom, John Wesley, Charles Spurgeon, St. Augustine
Visual Artists: Stephen Shore

Solum's mission is to uplift young or undiscovered Christian authors, philosophers, and artists, and provide a space for them to interact and grow from one another. Additionally, we hope to initiate dialogue between the modern renaissances in evangelical literature, philosophy, and spiritual formation by putting them together in one place.
The breadth of work we publish is quite wide compared to other journals. We primarily publish poetry, but also short stories, nonfiction and spiritual essays, analytic philosophy articles, homilies, and visual art. We’ve basically run the gamut of established literary art forms to give the widest possible swath of Christian artists a voice.
Our preferred styles and genres are pretty unique in the field. In short stories, we prefer the stylistic conventions of Southern Gothic, postmodern, experimental, and country noir or “grit lit.” For nonfiction and spiritual essays, we prefer both personal / spiritual narratives and more scholarly work in the vein of Dallas Willard, Henri Nouwen, John Coe, Steve Porter, and others. For philosophy, we prefer work dealing with philosophy of religion, theological aesthetics, philosophy of mind, and philosophical theology.
There are very few literary journals out there looking for work in these areas (particularly Southern Gothic and country noir, and the analytic philosophy and spiritual formation essays we prefer), and even fewer looking to bring literature, philosophy, and spiritual formation together in the same place.

We want work engaging Christian theology and the Christian life. This doesn't mean that every piece must be theological, but it should in some way interact with the Christian life, i.e., the trials and triumphs of daily life with God.

Properly formatted cover letter (name and title of submission[s], relevant prior publications, other experience in writing, closing), .docx/.doc/.pages format, Garamond/Times New Roman/Times, 12-point font, content within the parameters prescribed.

We try to read to the end of every piece, but if it's clearly outside our stated interests or mission, we'll stop before reaching the end.

My team reads and comments on submissions and then bring ones they think are worthwhile to my attention. The review process doesn't formally begin until the submission deadline, though some cursory reading is done during submission periods. The team's dispersed across the country, so all communication happens electronically and by phone.

We do basic proofreading. We don't alter poetry unless there's some clear grammatical error which is inconsistent with the established style. The most we typically do is correct spelling errors in prose or bios.

Not yet. We're looking into it.