Submission Guidelines

Vision

All flights have a destination. Mindflights' journeys are speculative—science fiction, fantasy—and our ultimate destination is truth.

We believe some truths are universal. Some truths are there for all persons to find through observation and pondering, with inquiry or with introspection, with stillness or with debate. Other truths must be sought, hunted, and they are more difficult to capture. Both can inspire stories and poems.

Here at MindFlights, many of us believe the ultimate truth resides in the person of Jesus Christ, who as Savior embraces us with eternal life, and as Lord asks that we give ourselves over to service, to love, to purity, and to a greater purpose. Our faith is a thing that asks us to fly beyond earth and take others with us as we journey upwards. As such, we will actively seek and happily offer stories and poems that display this world view, whether overtly or subtly or someplace in between.

But we are not isolationists. We don't bar the door to the skeptic, or the seeker who hasn't found, or the one who has an allegiance to a different set of doctrines. Our faith says the door should be open for all who want to befriend us. Hospitality is an early and enduring virtue in Christendom. Therefore, we want to offer broader visions of truth. While contributors need not be Christian, familiarity with compatible values will increase the likelihood that your submission will fit.

We do not shy away from obviously Christian or moral themes, ideas, or language. We do not, however, want to be preached at. We don't seek to publish works that appear to function mainly as a Sunday School lesson or modified sermon. We are not averse to Bible verses and gospel imagery in stories, but by no means do we expect every story to include such. We are put off by the beating drum of a moral point that drowns out the beauty and artistry of a work. Telling a great story well and effectively developing a strong theme that is congruent with Christian principles and traditional values is the best assurance of earning the editors' approval.

Our stargazing, soulskimming vessels here at MindFlights have room for those who do not hold to Christian doctrines. As long as what is submitted to us doesn't offend or mock or contradict Christian principles, we will happily consider your artistic visions. You don't have to mention God or Christ or the Bible. We believe all truth speaks of God silently, and that suffices to light a candle in the dark.

What we want to offer is a space where both those who call themselves Christians and those who do not can journey to new worlds grounded in shared ideals. We believe there is a better way for humans to interact, to care, to nurture, to live, to build communities, to resist foes, and to create great things. We don't ask you to share our religion; we merely ask that you respect it.

We are ecumenical in nature, and though grounded in Christian principles and traditional values, we do not set out to promote the practices or beliefs of any particular denomination. Within our pages, readers will find, besides works with specific Christian content, works that honor the values and tenets of a wide variety of faith traditions.

Whether you are of the faith or not, we invite you to share our excitement at exploring new speculative worlds while holding up common truths.

What common truths?

It is better to hope than despair.
It is better to build than destroy.
It is better to love than to hate.
It is better to care than to be indifferent.
It is better to share than to hoard.
It is better to illuminate than to darken.
It is better to honor life than to exploit it.
It is better to raise someone's head than knock it down.
It is better to dream and grow than to lie vacant and enervated.
It is better to strive than to wallow.
It is better to heal than harm.
It is better to try to understand than to hold onto prejudices.
It is better to add joy to the cosmos than to add lamentations.
It is better to be faithful and honest than to be disloyal and false.
It is better to look up and search our hearts and souls and the universe for answers and for meaning and for what endures, than to be satisfied with what is fleeting and pointless, because we are more than molecules. We are dreamers of astounding dreams.

If you yearn for something finer and higher and deeper and full of awe, then we hope your minds can come and soar with ours.

We aim to be a light in the darkness, a speculative city of faith on an internet hill, offering stories and poems that speak to your spirit and thrill your mind and dance into your heart. We want God to be pleased with everything we do and all that we publish. And we yearn for your prayers and support, spiritual and material. Come, engage in discussion with us. Create wonder with us.

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