The Way Back to Ourselves Literary Journal

The Way Back to Ourselves Literary Journal is from www.TheWayBack2Ourselves.com.

WE ARE FOR SEEKERS, BELIEVERS, WANDERERS, AND CREATIVES.

Here, at The Way Back to Ourselves, we are committed to making a community where our members can slow down, take a deep breath, and find the way back to who they were always meant to be. And in that self-discovery, be it spiritual or otherwise, we become better people, parents, leaders, and creatives who impact our homes and communities toward a gentler, healthier, and more beautiful tomorrow. We hope our content points others toward cultivating a quieter, more creative life that is rooted in a creator-God who loves us and reveals himself through the divine beauty evident in our relationships, artistic expressions, natural surroundings, existential quandaries, and diverse experiences.

Tanner Olson is an author, poet, and speaker. He is the creator of Written to Speak, a spoken word and writing project that seeks to share hope and announce love. He is the author of 'I'm All Over the Place', 'As You Go: Words for the Unknown', 'Walk A Little Slower: A Collection of Poems and Other Words', 'Continue: Poems and Prayers of Hope', and has released several spoken word albums under the name Written to Speak. For the past decade, Tanner has spoken at multiple conferences, universities, organizations, camps, classrooms, and churches, sharing poetry, teaching writing classes, and speaking. Tanner loves the Orlando Magic, coffee, and dogs. Tanner currently resides in Nashville, TN with his wife, Sarah and their dog, Pancake. Visit writtentospeak.com to learn more. Follow Tanner on Instagram at @writtentospeak

Kimberly Phinney is an English professor, editor, writer, and counselor. She's been published in Christianity Today, Ekstasis, Fathom, The Dewdrop, and many more. She's won multiple awards for her poetry and is a Pushcart Prize-nominated poet. Kimberly is a doctoral candidate in Community Care and Counseling and holds her M.Ed. in English. She was featured on Good Morning America and ABC News for winning a national educator award with the Nobel Prize family and teaching her students through her critical illness in 2023. Kimberly's debut poetry collection, Of Wings and Dirt, was a bestseller in 2024 and chronicles her illness and survival story. Exalted Ground was published in 2025. Her literary community, The Way Back to Ourselves, features a literary journal, podcast, and blog, as well as editing, publishing, and creative services. She lives in Florida with her husband, daughter, and old dog, Harper Lee. She visits the Blue Ridge Mountains as often as she can.

Sarah is a poet and lifelong teacher. These days, that looks like leading her four lively redheads in their Michigan homeschool and engaging with students of all ages in poetry workshops, watercolor classes, nature study, and neighborhood book clubs. She thrives on community that goes deep and is grounded on biblical truths. You can find Sarah's poems in many publications, including The Way Back to Ourselves where she is an editor. She has published two alphabet books with her illustrator husband (yes, also a redhead) and has just published a poetry memoir about boundary-less living, codependency, debilitating anxiety, and the life-changing effect of a gentle counselor.