Instructed Tongue is an online magazine that offers fresh perspectives and practical advice on the issues that matter most - from building a Christ-centered home and career to mastering the art of self-care and finances.
As a magazine, we reserve the right to select which submissions are published.
Our goal is to ensure your voice remains authentic. We provide basic editing for grammar and punctuation so your work sounds like you. In the rare instances where substantive wording changes are necessary, we will strive to preserve the original meaning and intent of your piece.
Below are some guidelines to help you contribute your work in a responsible manner...
When submitting your piece, please do the following:
Ask yourself: “What is the purpose of this piece?”, “Why do I want to share this with the world?”
Perhaps you want to share a sample of your literary work, to shine a light on a topic of great importance, to discuss something you've learned, to let others know they’re not alone in a way of thinking, etc.
Please use respectful language.
There is a difference between being critical and being insulting or abusive.
Non-fiction which contains crude language (i.e. swear words) will not be published. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis for poetry or fiction.
Unless they are public figures, think about & preserve the privacy of people mentioned in your piece.
If you cannot get their permission to include their names, change them - and remove as much identifying information as possible.
Tell your story through your own perspective.
Provide sources for any facts stated, or any quotes that are not your words.
Connect with us if you’re concerned about how your piece will be perceived.
Use your real name, or if you wish to preserve your privacy, your official pen (writing) name.
Use of your pen name must be consistent any time you submit work. Please do not simply use initials to replace your last name. Create an authentic-sounding pen name instead.
All submitted content must comply with our Terms of Use.
Most importantly,
We have a zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism. All submitted content is passed through a plagiarism checker. We also allow readers to report plagiarized content.
At this time, Instructed Tongue is only available in select languages. If your work contains languages not offered by the magazine, please offer an English translation.
In situations where the majority of your work is in English with just a few words or sentences in another language, please provide a translation of the word, phrase or sentence in parenthesis.
Text submissions must meet a minimum word count of 100 (for prose), and 60 (for poetry). Audiovisual (audio or video) submissions must be at least 30 seconds long.
Checklist
Is my work ready for the public? Edit your work for correct grammar, punctuation, and style. You don’t have to be perfect; however, please ensure that your work is readable (can be read and understood by others) - have a friend read over it if you are unsure. It should be ready for eyes everywhere!
Is it in the right file format? We accept only .doc, .docx, .txt, or .pdf for text submissions, and only .mp3 and .wav for audio submissions.
Do I have a cover image? Use a photo that you captured yourself (your property) or get one from online databases such as RawPixel, Unsplash, or Pexels.
[AUDIO or VIDEO ONLY} Are there any noises in the background? Record your audio or video in distraction-free environments and make sure voices are audible.