Accepting Blog Submissions - October-December 2026
The Religious Trauma Network is pleased to announce our next guest blog series for October-December, 2026. We invite thoughtful, compassionate submissions that explore the themes outlined below. As always, we welcome a wide range of perspectives, religious backgrounds, and lived experiences.
Please note: Submissions that self‑promote (books, blogs, businesses, podcasts, etc.) will not be considered.
October: The Things We Are Too Scared To Say Out Loud
Many survivors carry stories they’ve never spoken - questions they weren’t allowed to ask, truths that still feel risky to name. This month invites reflections on the quiet things we hold, the moments we swallowed to stay safe and the ways fear and belonging shaped our voice. We welcome pieces that explore what silence cost you, what you’re learning to say now and how naming your experience has shifted your healing.
Guiding Question: If you gave yourself full permission to speak without fear of consequences, what truth would finally have room to exist and how might that support your healing?
Possible topics include:
The questions you were never allowed to ask
Moments when silence felt safer than honesty
How fear shaped your world, voice, choices or identity
What you’ve learned about speaking up or setting boundaries
The tension between belonging and truth
What you’re finally able to name in this season of healing
What helped you overcome and ask or say the scary things out loud
November: Family, in All Its Complications
Family can be grounding, complicated, painful or something we’re still trying to define. This month invites honest reflections on the families we come from, the ones we’ve lost, the ones we’re building and the ones we’re still navigating. You might explore the tension, the tenderness, the grief, the hope or the reclamation that comes with rethinking family after religious trauma.
Guiding Question: When you think about the family you come from, the family you’ve lost or the family you’re building, what story or tension feels most present for you right now?
Possible topics include:
How your family shaped your beliefs, identity or sense of safety
What changed in your family relationships as your beliefs shifted
Navigating holidays, expectations or boundaries
The grief of losing family connection or closeness
Building chosen family or redefining what family means
What you’re discovering about yourself through family dynamics
December: Reclaiming Calm, Reclaiming Bright
For many survivors, this season carries mixed emotions - memories of pressure, performance or spiritual messaging that once felt heavy. This month offers space to explore what it means to reclaim calm, find light, redefine meaning and build traditions that feel safe. We welcome reflections on how you’re reshaping this season in ways that honor your healing.
Guiding Question: As you move through this season, what are you reclaiming - a tradition, a feeling, a boundary, a moment of calm - and how is that reshaping what “bright” means for you now?
Possible topics include:
How religious messaging shaped your experience of the holiday season
What feels different now that you’re reclaiming your own meaning
Creating new traditions that feel grounding or safe
The tension between nostalgia, grief and hope
Moments when calm or joy felt possible again
What “bright” looks like for you now
Submission Guidelines
Word count: 800–1,500 words
Include: A brief author bio (under 100 words without self-promotion) and any relevant credentials; a headshot may also be submitted if comfortable
Deadlines: Submissions are due two weeks before the start of each month (with October being the exception this quarter)
Submit via: RTN Blog Submission Form
Editing: RTN reserves the right to suggest edits
Social media: Quotes from published pieces may be developed into graphics/posts
We encourage a range of perspectives, religious backgrounds, and voices. All submissions should be sensitive to the experiences of others and avoid language that could be triggering or dismissive of trauma or personal choices.
Our goal is to empower readers, promote progress in healing, maintain ethical standards when discussing sensitive topics, and foster respect for all experiences. We look forward to your thoughtful and compassionate contributions.