A workshop for ideas on their way somewhere
Telos is an open space for young adults interested in Mormon studies to practice serious writing, receive generous editing, and publish work they are proud to stand behind.
No enrollment required
You do not need to be a student. You do not need an academic affiliation, a religious-studies major, or a previous publication.
You need a question worth pursuing and the willingness to keep working when the first draft is not yet enough.
Why we exist
Good scholarly writing is learned by doing it: drafting, being misunderstood, revising, and trying again. Telos makes room for that to happen in public, before the stakes get higher.
- Write something real. Move an idea out of your notes and into an argument another person can read, question, and remember.
- Learn revision. Work with an editor, sharpen the claim, strengthen the evidence, and find out what the piece is trying to become.
- Prepare for the next room. Build the habits and confidence to approach more established journals when your work is ready for them.
One publication, two speeds
The Journal is for the argument you are ready to finish. Themed issues of essays, research articles, translations, and reviews, with longer editorial work, formal citations, and a stable publication you can share.
The Forum is for the idea you need to try out loud. Shorter reflections, responses, and questions between issues. Still edited and thoughtful, but quicker, more conversational, and open to experiment.
The longer view
Telos is not the finish line. We hope it is a useful first editorial room: a place to develop the craft and confidence that can eventually carry your work toward established venues such as the Journal of Mormon History, BYU Studies, or broader journals in religious studies and history.
Those publications are examples. They are not partners or promised outcomes. The point is to become a better writer before you knock on the next door.
A few honest answers
Do I have to be a student?
No. Telos is for young adults and emerging writers, whether you are enrolled, recently graduated, working outside the academy, or finding your own route into Mormon studies.
Do I need to already sound academic?
Not at all. Bring a serious question, honest curiosity, and a willingness to revise. We care more about helping you think clearly than whether you already know every convention.
Should I send this to the Journal or the Forum?
The Journal is for developed arguments, research, translations, and reviews gathered into themed issues. The Forum is for shorter reflections, responses, and ideas you want to test in public.
Is Telos peer reviewed?
Telos is edited, but it is not a formal peer-reviewed or institutionally sponsored journal. That is on purpose. It is a serious workshop and publication space where newer writers can practice the editorial process before higher-stakes venues.
Can this help me publish somewhere else later?
That is one of our hopes. We can help you develop your craft, but every journal has its own prior-publication rules. If you have a future venue in mind, tell us early so we can consider whether Telos should publish the piece, a shorter precursor, or something different.
Come write with us
You do not have to arrive polished. Bring the question, the draft, and enough humility to revise.