Submissions
While we welcome submissions from diverse sources, not everything can be published. And, since Curtana: Sword of Mercy is distributed freely, there is no financial compensation for authors. The reward for writers comes via the intrinsic value of contributing to the journal's mission . . . and the prospect of seeing one's name in print.
Authors and Artists retain the copyright to their creation, although Curtana reserves the limited right to republish them in a collection format at some future date.
There are several venues for contributors to consider. If you are interested in any of the following opportunities, feel free to request more information. Contributors are wise to query the editor prior to investing significant effort in preparing a manuscript.
Authors:
Ministry in Context Articles
Describing chaplaincy activities about which we possess first-hand knowledge.
Theological Reflection Articles
Addressing issues of significance to chaplains.
Chaplain Biographical Articles
Providing an in-depth examination of a chaplain's life and work.
Poetry
Martial poetry which possesses a message of interest to people of faith.
Book Reviews
Illuminating volumes of interest to those concerned with the chaplaincy.
Artists:
Individual Illustrations
Saying in a single picture what the rest of us expend thousands of words to communicate.
Editorial Cartoons
Applying a keen wit to say more with a picture than with a thousand words.
Comics
Using humor to remind us God created his children with the capacity to laugh.
[Note: When it comes to art, the Editor has rather high and admittedly traditional tastes. High school quality work is not what we are seeking. Despite that caveat, it doesn't hurt to send something for our consideration.]
Researchers:
The internet has made countless formerly inaccessible publications and primary source materials available for contemporary research. Many of these include references to military chaplains. We hope to recover, gather, and disseminate this precious information. In order to accomplish this, we invite everyone with a similar interest to unearth these accounts and forward them to us for publication.
Length of Manuscripts
Word counts are flexible. (That is one benefit of an ejournal's digital medium.) Use as many words as required to tell the story. Length is a subjective call; the editor believes that maintaining the unique "voices" of a chorus of different contributors is more satisfying than striving for an abstract "tone." Write concisely, but don't be timid about savoring the richness of the English language. The subjects of biographical articles must have served as a military chaplain, chaplain assistant, or as a military combatant whose life is of particular import to the chaplaincy. The individual must also be deceased.
The brief biographical notes provided by researchers must come from a public domain or government source (i.e. not be restricted by copyright). When submitted, the researcher must (1) include an accurate digital text in a standard word processing format, and (2) include a PDF, scanned image file, or internet link to verify the original source and text of the article. The more obscure the original source, the better.
Digital Copies, Please
Queries, submissions and suggestions should be sent to: 