The Journal of Ordinary Thought (JOT) is published quarterly by the Neighborhood Writing Alliance (NWA) and features selected writing from participants in our weekly writing workshops. JOT was founded in 1991 on the propositions that Every Person Is a Philosopher and expressing one's thoughts fosters creativity and change.

Each participant in the writing workshops is published at least once a year, usually more often. Publishing provides a way for the writers to share their stories with a broader audience, and extends those conversations to a broader community.

Two of the four issues of JOT published per year are devoted to a specific theme, with coordinating programming. The remaining issues feature a combination of work from the libraries and agencies. The themes for JOT grow out of topics JOT writers are already discussing and writing about, and have included topics such as criminal justice, individual and community health, housing, work and labor, and formal and informal education.

JOT, which is printed in quantities between 2,000 and 4,000 per issue, is distributed for free throughout the community and is sent to a mailing list of 750, including all neighborhood branches of the Chicago Public Library, political decision-makers, and subscribers. JOT is distributed at readings, events, cultural organizations, and community-based organizations. JOT is archived at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Memorial Library in their Little Magazine Collection.

The Journal of Ordinary Thought has been awarded two Illinois Arts Council Literary Awards. JOT and contributor Henry Hardee were recognized in 2000 for Henry's piece Mama's Big Boy, which was published in the February 1999 issue, Road Maps. In 2002, JOT and Pennie Holmes received the award for her piece Casey's Story, which was published in the March 2001 issue, Just Passin' Through.