CALLING ALL ASPIRING WRITERS!

Are you a young adult with a story to tell? Peer Magazine invites you to submit your original work to our 2026 Writing Contest.  

We’re looking for feature articles — between 800 and 1200 words — that explore themes of faith, community, and culture. Whether you write non-fiction or fiction, we want to see how you engage with the world around you and reflect on what matters most.  

We’re looking for authentic voices with fresh perspectives, creative storytelling that inspires, challenges, or uplifts, and articles that explore spiritual journeys, local heroes, cultural movements, or personal growth. Topics can range anywhere between the following, but certainly not limited to:  

• Faith:  
  • Personal testimonies  
  • Navigating faith in college or workplace  
  • Interfaith friendships  
  • Wrestling with doubt and finding hope  
  • How young adults are reimagining church and worship  
  • Faith and mental health (and finding peace in the struggle)  
• Community: 
  • Volunteering stories  
  • Building community in unexpected places (online, forms, coffee shops) 
  • How faith communities respond to social issues  
  • Stories of reconciliation, forgiveness, and healing  
  • The power of mentorship and intergenerational relationships  
  • Creative ways young adults are serving their neighborhoods  
• Culture:  
  • Navigating identity in a multicultural world, faith and pop culture (music, movies, and media)  
  • Social media’s impact on self-worth and connection  
  • How young adults are shaping conversations around justice  
  • Reflections on trends, fashion, or art through a spiritual lens  
    • Fictional stories that explore cultural tensions or unity  
    • The intersection of faith and activism  

Who can enter:  

• Young adults aged 18-28  
• Writers of all experience levels  

Prizes and publication:  

• Winning entries will be published in Peer Magazine and receive the regular freelance writer’s rate of $0.35/word.  
• Winners will receive exclusive Peer merchandise.   

Deadline to submit:  

• Submission deadline: June 8  
• Winners will be contacted in mid-July and announced in the September 2026 issue.  

How to submit:  

• Submit via the Submission form below and include the following:  
• Name, Age, Email, Profile Photo, Submission Title and Article, with a short, 100-word summary of your submission.  
• By submitting to Peer, you agree to the Submission Terms and Conditions.