Windhover is dedicated to promoting poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and discussions of craft that consider Christian perspectives and engages spiritual themes. In the spring of odd-numbered years, select authors have the opportunity to read their own work, attend award-winning authors' presentations, and attend workshops on campus at the biennial Windhover Writers' Festival, which returns February 19-21, 2025.
In 2025, the Windhover Writers' Festival will include panels on the relationship between Christianity and the public artist’s vocation. We invite artists, scholars, teachers, and graduate students to submit 300 word abstracts for paper presentations on the role of faith in the artist's life or work, critiques of contemporary faith-inspired artists, craft talks, or other relevant topics.
If submitting only to present and not for potential publication in the journal, use the “2025 Windhover Writers' Festival” form on the Submittable page. All publication submissions will be automatically considered for presentation.
Due Date: Please send your proposals for Windhover by between August 1st and October 15, 2024. Invitations to present will be sent by early-December, while acceptance letters for publication will be sent by mid-December. If submitting to the Writers' Festival, these are due by November 15.
Issues are released each August and each February. Submission periods for each issue are as follows:
February 1 to April 15: August issue
August 1 to October 15: February issue
When submitting your work, please follow these specifications:
- Send one prose piece or no more than five poems submitted in one document. (Works longer than 4,000 words are not considered.) Craft essays should be 2400-3000 words.
- Include a brief cover letter with your name, address, email, the title of your submission(s), and a third-person bio of fewer than 75 words.
- Include your name and email address on each page of your submission(s).
- All works for consideration must be submitted via our online submission manager.
- We do not consider previously published work.
- We do not consider e-mailed or postal submissions.
- Simultaneous submissions are acceptable provided that you let us if your work has been accepted elsewhere. (Please contact us via email and withdraw your submission from our online submission manager.)
From the editor, Toby F. Coley: “Send us your best. We are looking for writing that avoids the didactic, the melodramatic, the trite, the obvious. Eschew tricks and gimmicks. We want writing that invites rereading.”
The Windhover homepage: https://umhb.edu/windhover
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Dear Fellow Writers and Thinkers,
We are thrilled to announce the return of the Windhover Writers' Festival, taking place February 19-21, 2025, after a five-year hiatus. This year's festival promises to be a vibrant gathering that explores the profound intersection of faith and creativity, with a central theme of The Vocation of Christian Literary Arts.
The Windhover Writers' Festival has long been a cherished space for writers, scholars, and readers to connect, share their work, and delve into the power of words. We invite you to be a part of this exciting event by submitting a proposal for an individual or a panel discussion.
Proposals:
We are seeking proposals for engaging and thought-provoking discussions that explore the festival theme. Here are some potential areas of focus:
- Craft talks on specific elements of the writing process and the ways in which the practice of our faith guides our work
- The role of the Christian writer in a secular world.
- How faith informs and shapes the creative process.
- The ethical considerations of Christian storytelling.
- The unique challenges and rewards of writing for a Christian audience.
- The intersection of faith and specific genres (e.g., fantasy, mystery, poetry).
- Examining the legacy of Christian literary giants.
- The evolving role of Christian publishing.
- Fostering a vibrant Christian literary community.
- Community involvement projects and discussions
- Creative Panels/Papers are invitation only since we invite contributors from the most recent Windhover issue to read at the festival.
- We also welcome proposals that explore the theme in new and innovative ways.
Submission Guidelines:
- Proposals should be no more than 300 words and should include:
- A clear and concise title for your panel/individual proposal.
- If a panel proposal, the names and brief biographies (less than 75 words) of all panelists (including yourself).
- If an individual proposal, your name and a brief bio (less than 75 words).
- A description of the panel/individual topic and its relevance to the festival theme.
- Format of the panel/individual presentation (e.g., lecture, Q&A, creative writing exercise).
Please submit your proposal by December 20, 2024.
We look forward to receiving your proposals and to welcoming you to the 2025 Windhover Writers' Festival. For more information and updates, please visit our festival page.
Proposals will receive a 10% discount off festival registration.
Accepted presenters will receive a 15% discount off festival registration. Discount codes will be sent the first week of December.
Sincerely,
Toby F. Coley, PhD
Director, Windhover Writers' Festival
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor