Submissions are open now for our FALL COLLECTION 2026, from Sept. 1-Oct. 1.
The theme for The Way Back to Ourselves Literary Journalโs Fall Collection 2026 is ROOTED, which is a continuation of the powerful summer retreat we just hosted in historic downtown Greenville, SC. Our fall theme is based on Jeremiah 17:7-8. Click below to learn about all of the details and resources we curated.
The Fall Collection: TO THE MOUNTAINS
MASTHEAD
Sarah Steele, senior editor
Ashley Whittemore, editor
Kimberly Kralovic, editor
Heather Lobe Johnson, editor
Kimberly Phinney, editor-in-chief
Listen to the poets of The Way Back to Ourselves Literary Journal perform their work with our podcast, The Poetry Corner, a spin-off from The Way Back Podcast, hosted by Edward Holmes and Deidre Braley.
To the Mountains: A Letter from the Editor
Start here, with founder and editor-in-chief Kimberly Phinney, as she welcomes all TO THE MOUNTAINS with her letter to you and The Way Back to Ourselves Community.
Storytellers Poetry Contest Winner: When Water Climbed a Mountain (1st Place)
As our first-place winner of the Storytellers Poetry Contest, Jessie Flowers shares โWhen Water Climbed a Mountain.โ This piece was written in honor of the victims of Hurricane Helene and helps us find our own sense of resilience and community in the face of suffering.
Storytellers Poetry Contest Winner: Behold! He Who Was, Long Before Us (2nd Place)
Journey around the world and throughout time with poet Jessica Jolley in โBehold! He Who Was, Long Before Us.โ
Storytellers Poetry Contest Winner: As Pilgrims (3rd Place)
In her poem, โAs Pilgrims,โ Kristine Amundrud embarks on a profound spiritual journey following her grief.
Storytellers Poetry Contest Winner: Dear Lord, Only You: A Prayer of Surrender (3rd Place)
In her poem, โDear Lord, Only You: A Prayer of Surrender,โ Deborah Rutherford shares her journey from bitterness to faithfulness and grace.
BOOK YOUR CALENDARS: The Cultivate Retreat is coming to Greenville, SC, June 19-21, 2026.
The Way Back to Ourselves is proud to announce that CULTIVATE 2026 is back in person and is coming to Greenville, South Carolina, June 19-21. Come learn all about it and grab your early bird ticket now. Seats are limited.
Coffee at the Campsite
Sit around a morning campfire and take in the surroundings with Edward Holmes as your guide in โCoffee at the Campsite.โ
Here in the Land of the Living
In her essay โHere in the Land of the Living,โ Caitlin Lore takes us from the mountaintop to the valley, doing the difficult work of trusting God through it all.
Three Mountains
Journey with Noah Bartley to significant mountains in the Bible in his poem โThree Mountains.โ
Lowly, at the Panorama and Other Poems
In her poems, โLowly, at the Panorama,โ โHow to Conquer a Mountain,โ and โSquinting through Cumulonimbus,โ Courtney Moody discovers awe in the mountains.
BOOKS FOR YOU from The Way Back Books and TWBTO Community
We are highlighting the poetry collections and books from many of our community members here at The Way Back to Ourselves, as well as our NEW offerings from The Way Back Books, our publishing imprint. This is a great opportunity to support an emerging poet and some of your favorite writers!
Peak Experience
A. A. Kostas inverts our perspective of the mountaintop experience, both in the deep, reflective content of his poem, โPeak Experience,โ and in the poemโs unique form.
Soul Grows Quiet
Find the place where your โSoul Grows Quietโ in this meditative poem by Tanner Olson.
God of the Mountain, Lord of My Cave
In her poem โGod of the Mountain, Lord of My Cave,โ Kayleon Dortch-Elliott shares of the God who isnโt afraid to step into our shame or our hiding.
At the Edge of a Mountain Lake and Photography
Lauren Madsenโs poem โAt the Edge of a Mountain Lakeโ invites us into a metaphorical moment of connection between mother and daughter. Her photos provoke wonder and draw the eye into the beauty of creation.
Eyes Up
With masterful attention to the form of the sonnet and the condition of humankind, Matthew White calls us to stand at the base of the mountain with him in โEyes Up.โ
The Mount of Olives
Jessica Hanke brings us to the foot of the cross in her moving poem, โThe Mount of Olives.โ
Waking Thoughts and Other Poems
In her poems โWaking Thoughtsโ and โTestament,โ Chelsea Fraser reflects on glimpses of hope, knowing thereโs more as magic and faith unfold.
Mount Zion
In Amy Hallโs poem, โMount Zion,โ she draws us to see parallels between Greek mythology, Christโs journey to Golgotha, our own pilgrimages, and the eventual hope we find in Christโs future return.
You Met Me in the Blue Mountains
Andy Beth Miller invites us on her healing journey through the sacred spaces of nature, silence, and renewed faith in her essay, โYou Met Me in the Blue Mountains.โ
Start your journey.
It starts todayโ in the small steps you take, the hands you hold, the prayers you say, the art you make, and the hard things you conquerโฆ The way back isnโt as far as you think.
Get involved. Write for us. Attend our workshops and retreats. Hire us for creative counseling, editing, or speaking engagements.
