Issues
Please note: Commonplace is meant to be shared! We encourage readers to print out copies and leave them in local libraries, bookstores, coffee shops, etc.
About
Commonplace is a volunteer-run journal published by Catherine Project readers and friends. Its purpose is twofold:
- To serve the Catherine Project community as an organ of communication and means of sharing writing informed or inspired by the Project’s core activity of reading and discussing great books.
- To serve as a means of advertising the existence and activities of the Catherine Project and inviting readers who are unfamiliar with the the Project to join our community of learning.
The journal is titled Commonplace because that’s what it is: a place or space we have in common. The word commonplace might also be used to describe the activity of our community: what we’re doing is rare these days, but it’s not original. Human beings throughout history have gathered informally to read, think, and learn together. We think learning for learning’s sake should be ordinary and shared among people of different ages, occupations, and educational backgrounds.
We aim to publish Commonplace once a year, depending on volunteer availability. We consistently have need of volunteers to serve in the following capacities:
- Editorial board – review submissions, work with authors, and assist the editor in chief in preparing the issue for publication
- Copy editing team – work with members of the editorial board and authors to bring a polished submission to publication
- Visual design and layout – assist the editorial board in crafting a visually engaging and beautiful issue
If you would like to join the team of volunteers that publishes the journal, please write to: commonplace@catherineproject.org
Submissions
Commonplace is currently soliciting for its third issue, which will revolve around the theme of “Firsts.”
Many readers encounter texts for the first time through the Catherine Project. Our community believes that readers who are new to a book and those who have read it many times can benefit from learning side by side. “Firsts” also recalls the emphasis we place on encountering books firsthand rather than through summaries or received opinions.
For this reason, we are excited to solicit essays, poems, and visual art broadly inspired by our theme—whether that means reflections on reading for the first time, memories of first experiences with the Catherine Project, or fresh ideas gleaned from familiar texts. First encounters, first impressions—we encourage broad and creative interpretations of our theme, so long as our core principles, including seriousness, zeal, and hospitality, are kept in mind. In particular, writing should be welcoming and accessible to all readers, including those unfamiliar with the subjects or texts being discussed. Footnotes other than citations should be kept to a minimum.
The submission deadline is Friday, May 8, 2026. Written work—essays or poetry—should be sent as a .docx and should be no more than 2,000 words in length. Visual art should be sent as a .png file, and DPI should not be lower than 300 for quality control.
Submissions, inquiries, and pitches should be addressed to commonplace@catherineproject.org.