Writing Opportunities

...about writing for publication, motorcycling, and faith.

Visit my blog at www.ButtsAboutIt.blogspot.com

www.ButtsAboutIt.com

New Opportunities from

Chicken Soup for the Soul

and

A Cup of Comfort

!!!

Details below:

Chicken Soup for the Soul

New: More opportunities from Chicken Soup:

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk High School: Deadline: 5/31/2008

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Middle School: Deadline: 5/31/2008

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Getting in to College: Deadline: 5/31/2008

MORE INFO:

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk High School to be published Fall 2008 
 
We are looking for true stories and poems about your high school years. 
We prefer stories written in the first person and no more than 1200
words. We would like to include stories and poems on the following
topics, among others:
 
• Regrets (lessons learned from making bad choices)
• Sports (making the team, or not. Winning the game, or not. 
Social aspects of sports).
• Clubs
• Music
• Religion and faith – its place in your life
• Dating and sex
• Embarrassing moments
• Humorous moments
• Issues, good and bad, with instant messaging, Facebook, texting,

cell phones, emails, the web in general
• Self image, self acceptance – would include coming out, eating
disorders, different body types
• College applications
• Grades, SATs, ACTs
• Military decision, trade school, or other non-college plans for
after high school
  Family relationships – siblings, parents, other family members
• Puberty – early, late, being a short boy, being a tall girl,
etc.
• Friends – best friends, losing friends, cliques, support of
friends
• Tough issues – divorce, cancer, suicide of friend, death, drunk
driving death, pregnancy
• Failures and rising above them
If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will
be printed in the book. You will also receive a check for $200 and ten
free copies of your book, worth more than $100. 
 
If your story is published by us, we will copyright it in your name and
you will retain your rights to resell the story to another publication.
 
SUBMISSIONS GO TO
http://chickensoupforthesoul.com/form.asp?cid=submit_story. 
DEADLINE IS MAY 31, 2008 although we may accept stories after that date
if we have room.

__________

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Middle School to be published Fall 2008
 
We are looking for true stories and poems about your middle school years.
We prefer stories written in the first person and no more than 1200
words. We would like to include stories and poems on the following
topics, among others:
• Regrets (lessons learned from making bad choices)
• Sports 
• Discovering the opposite sex
• Embarrassing moments
• Humorous moments
• Religion and faith – its place in your life
• Issues, good and bad, with cell phones, email, texting, instant
messaging, the web
• Self image, self acceptance – including eating disorders,
different body types, different rates of growth, short boys, tall girls,
early puberty, late puberty
• Homework – being responsible for it, having a lot of it
• Cliques/popular kids
• Family relationships – siblings, parents, other family members
• Friends – best, losing friends, cliques, support of friends
• Tough issues – divorce, cancer, death
• Failures and rising above them
• Getting new privileges and responsibilities – jobs, cell phones,
grades
 
If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will
be printed in the book. You will also receive a check for $200 and ten
free copies of your book, worth more than $100. 
 
If your story is published by us, we will copyright it in your name and
you will retain your rights to resell the story to another publication.
 
SUBMISSIONS GO TO
http://chickensoupforthesoul.com/form.asp?cid=submit_story. 
DEADLINE IS MAY 31, 2008 although we may accept stories after

__________

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Getting In…to College to be published Fall 2008
 
We are in the middle of a peak in the number of graduating high school
seniors. Colleges are deluged with applications and the college
application process has become one of the most traumatic, if not the most
traumatic thing that most of theses students and their parents have ever
experienced. There are many books published on how to get into college. 
Our book will be one of the only ones out there that provides emotional,
not tactical, support.
 
We are looking for true stories and poems written by high school and
college students on their own experiences getting into college. Stories
should be written in the first person and not exceed 1200 words. Any
stories about getting into college are welcomed, including on the
following topics:
• Do I Want to Go to College?
• Parental pressure 
• Self Image
• Competing with friends and peer pressure
• Regrets over Past Grades/Performance
• SATs and ACTs – living through them
• Sports and Coaches
• Great college essays
• Waiting
• Waitlisted or Deferred
• Disappointments
• Gap years
• Preparing to leave home, parents, friends
 
If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will
be printed in the book. You will also receive a check for $200 and ten
free copies of your book, worth more than $100. 
 
If your story is published by us, we will copyright it in your name and
you will retain your rights to resell the story to another publication.
 
SUBMISSIONS GO TO
http://chickensoupforthesoul.com/form.asp?cid=submit_story. 
DEADLINE IS MAY 31, 2008 although we may accept stories after that date
if we have room.
__________

More opportunities from Chicken Soup for the Soul www.chickensoup.com :

NOTE: SOME OF THESE MAY BE THE SAME PROJECT AS THOSE ABOVE. CHECK THEIR WEB SITE FOR ANY UPDATES IF YOU WANT TO SUBMIT. THE INFORMATION ABOVE IS MORE RECENT:

Cat Lover's Soul: Raining Cats! Deadline December 31, 2008

Celebrating Life's Most Embarrassing Moments: Deadline December 31, 2008

Christmas Collection: No deadline

Dog Lover's Soul: Unleashed! Deadline December 31, 2008

Extraordinary Teen's Soul: Deadline December 31, 2008

Football Lover's Soul: Deadline December 31, 2008

Getting In...To College: Deadine June 30, 2008 (SAME AS ABOVE? DIFFERENT DEADLINE.)

High School Graduates: Deadline December 31, 2008

High School Student's Soul: Deadline April 30, 2008 (SAME AS ABOVE? DIFFERENT DEADLINE.)

Life Lessons for Expectant Mothers: Deadline December 31, 2008

Life Lessons for Leaders: Deadline June 30, 2008

Middle School Student's Soul: Deadline April 30, 2008 (SAME AS ABOVE? DIFFERENT DEADLINE.)

Resolution Stories: Deadline August 31, 2008

Stay at Home Mom's Soul: Deadline December 31, 2008

Are you a twin? Or a parent or grandparent of twins? Susan Heim is looking for stories for Chicken Soup for the Soul of Twins. Submit to susan@susanheim.com Deadline: December 31, 2008.

Specific information for the Chicken Soup for the Soul: Resolution Stories 

Chicken Soup for the Soul is looking for stories from people about their
past New Year’s resolutions and how they worked out – their failures and
successes, what they learned. 
 
Tentative chapter topics include:
 
• Trying to lose weight
• Getting fit (The weight loss and getting fit stories could tie
into our self-esteem, accept-who-you-are theme for girls and women)
• Getting more organized
• Making more money
• Giving away money
• Restoring a relationship with someone
• Changing one’s behavior
• Stopping bad habits such as smoking, biting fingernails
• Going green
• Eating healthy
• Serious stuff such as substance abuse withdrawal, seeking
treatment for mental health issues
• Self acceptance – realizing the resolution wasn’t necessary and
you are great the way you are

Stories must be true (non-fiction), written in first person, and 1,000
words or less. Stories should make readers laugh, cry or sigh, and be
positive, universal and non-controversial. Also, the "point" or
"message" should be evident without preaching. No essays, commentaries,
tributes, philosophical or biographical pieces will be accepted. Please
refer to other Chicken Soup books to better understand our story-telling
style.
 
You may submit more than one story. For each story selected, a 50-word
biography will be included about the contributor and a permission fee of
$200 per story will be paid within 30 days upon publication
 
Please submit stories through our website at www.chickensoup.com . The
tentative submission deadline is August 31, 2008, please note that this
deadline may adjust, so the sooner, the better!

***

New Opportunities from:

A Cup of Comfort

A CUP OF COMFORT FOR NEW MOTHERS

Few experiences bring forth as many anxieties, blessings, challenges, wonders, and changes as having a baby—whether it’s your first child or fifth, your birth child or adopted child. And nothing is as miraculous as giving birth to or witnessing the birth of your baby. This heartwarming anthology will be filled with birth stories and newborn homecoming stories as well as a wide range of stories about the various experiences, emotions, and concerns involved in adding a new baby to one’s life and family. Potential topics include but are not limited to: nursing (or not), caring for a newborn, bonding/falling in love with infant, lack of sleep, relationship with spouse, how siblings respond, returning to work, balancing responsibilities, post-partum depression, self transformation, unexpected joys, life lessons, small miracles, etc. The majority of the stories will be about birth children, but the book will likely include a couple adoptive stories as well. Likewise, most of the stories will be written from the new mother’s perspective, but we are open to including a few stories written from the spouse’s or a very close family member’s perspective. All stories will be uplifting and positive, no matter how difficult the situation portrayed in the story might be. We do not want stories that simply recount misfortunes and sorrows and that do not clearly reveal a positive outcome or redeeming result (silver lining).

Submission deadline: May 15, 2008 (last call)

A CUP OF COMFORT FOR ADOPTIVE FAMILIES

The primary purpose of this book is to celebrate adoptive families and to recognize the extraordinary and challenging experiences unique to “chosen children” and their adoptive families. We are most interested in stories written by adult adopted children and their adoptive parents and siblings, but the book will likely include some stories written by members of the extended adoptive family (i.e. grandparent) and birth family members. Virtually any topic relevant to adopted children and their adoptive parents is acceptable—as long as it is authentic, positive, insightful, and uplifting or inspiring. We do not want heartbreaking stories about adoptive or birth families that regret the adoption. All of the stories in this collection must reveal a positive aspect of adoption and must bring comfort, joy, or inspiration to those who have been adopted and/or to the families who adopted them—no matter how difficult the experience and emotions portrayed in the story might be.

  Submission deadline: June 15, 2008

A CUP OF COMFORT FOR FATHERS

The connection between father and child can be as deep as the ocean, as strong as a mountain, and as uplifting as fresh air. For all its rewards, though, fatherhood is not without its challenges. And for all the gifts dads bring to their kids' lives, dads sometimes falter and fumble. Yet, the father-child bond forms, holds, and grows. A Cup of Comfort for Fathers will feature inspiring and insight true stories about the life-defining and life-enriching relationships and experiences shared by fathers and their children. These personal essays will be of varying topics and tones (heartwarming, humorous, poignant, provocative, etc.); about fathers and children of all ages and varying circumstances; and written by fathers, daughters, and sons.

   Submission deadline: August 1, 2008

A CUP OF COMFORT FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

For this very special collection, we seek uplifting true stories about the ins and outs, ups and downs, blessing and challenges of parenting children with special needs. The stories will cover children of all ages (birth to adult) and a wide range of developmental, physical, and mental delays/disabilities. No matter how difficult the experiences/emotions conveyed in a story might be (we want them to be authentic, after all), the story must reveal a positive aspect, resolution, or outcome and must be of comfort to parents of children with special needs. Stories may be serious, humorous, insightful, heartwarming, or inspiring. The majority of the stories will be written by parents of children with special needs; we will also consider stories written by adult children with special needs. (No articles or commentaries by clinicians, please.)

   Submission deadline: September 15, 2008

A SECOND CUP OF COMFORT FOR DOG LOVERS

Oh, how we humans love our canine companions -- for so many reasons and in so many ways that one Cup of Comfort collection of uplifting dog stories just wasn’t enough. So we’re giving all you dog-loving writers another opportunity to share your personal stories of canine comfort with a growing legion of dog-loving readers. This volume will feature both serious and humorous anecdotal stories covering a wide range of topics and perspectives and varying breeds of dogs. We do NOT want sad stories about a dog’s illness, injury, or death, though we will consider stories that weave a beloved pet’s illness or death into an otherwise positive story. The story should focus on the dog’s remarkable attributes and/or actions as well as on the special relationship between the dog and his/her human(s).

  Submission deadline: December 15, 2008

A CUP OF COMFORT FOR THE GRIEVING HEART

When a loved one passes away, comfort is often fleeting and hard to come by. Yet, even a small comfort, like a personal story of how someone has faced a similar loss, does help to ease the sorrow. This volume will feature uplifting personal stories that reveal the special relationships and extraordinary experiences shared by the deceased and his/her loved one(s) immediately before, during, and after the loved one’s passing; it will also includes stories about the internal and external processes by which one deals with and heals from the loss of a loved one. The stories will vary with regard to subject matter, circumstances of death, and the relationship of the author to the individual who has passed away. The book will not include eulogies, profiles/memoirs of people who have passed away, or clinical depictions of death and dying.

Submission deadline: February 1, 2009

Please note that deadlines are sometimes extended by one to four weeks.

BASIC GUIDELINES

All Cup of Comfort stories must be original; true; appropriate for mainstream Americans (adult, primarily women); inspiring, comforting, and/or uplifting; and 1,000 to 2,000 words.

Creative nonfiction and narrative essays preferred (that is, incorporating such fictive elements as scene, dialogue, character/plot development, imagery, and literary word usage). Whether serious or humorous, the story should be authentic and engaging.

Electronic submissions preferred. One submission per email. Copy and paste (or type) into body of email. No formatting (no indents, centering, doublespace, bold, underline, etc.). To: wordsinger@aol.com.

Mailed submissions are acceptable. Standard typed manuscript (double-spaced, indents). Send as many submissions per envelope as you’d like, but include one SASE per submission. To: Colleen Sell, 71563 London Rd., Cottage Grove, Oregon, 97424, USA.

Each submission must include: author’s full name, mailing address, email address, phone number, story title, story wordcount, and theme of volume for which it is being submitted (i.e., Grieving Hearts).

For more detailed writers guidelines: http://www.cupofcomfort.com/share.htm <http://www.cupofcomfort.com/share.htm> .

A Cup of Comfort for New Mothers: Deadline NOW: 5/15/2008 (Last call)

Few experiences bring forth as many anxieties, blessings, challenges, wonders, and changes as having a baby—whether it’s your first child or fifth, your birth child or adopted child. And nothing is as miraculous as giving birth to or witnessing the birth of your baby. This heartwarming anthology will be filled with birth stories and newborn homecoming stories as well as a wide range of stories about the various experiences, emotions, and concerns involved in adding a new baby to one’s life and family. Potential topics include but are not limited to: nursing (or not), caring for a newborn, bonding/falling in love with infant, lack of sleep, relationship with spouse, how siblings respond, returning to work, balancing responsibilities, post-partum depression, self transformation, unexpected joys, life lessons, small miracles, etc. The majority of the stories will be about birth children, but the book will likely include a couple adoptive stories as well. Likewise, most of the stories will be written from the new mother’s perspective, but we are open to including a few stories written from the spouse’s or a very close family member’s perspective. All stories will be uplifting and positive, no matter how difficult the situation portrayed in the story might be. We do not want stories that simply recount misfortunes and sorrows and that do not clearly reveal a positive outcome or redeeming result (silver lining).
Submission deadline: April 1, 2008
$500 grand prize; $100 each, all other published stories; plus copy of book

A Cup of Comfort for Adoptive Families: Deadline 6/15/2008

The primary purpose of this book is to celebrate adoptive families and to recognize the extraordinary and challenging experiences that are unique to “chosen children” and their families. We are most interested in stories written by adult adoptive children and their adoptive parents and siblings, but the book will also likely include some stories written by members of the extended adoptive family (grandparent, aunt/uncle, cousin), close friends of the adoptive family (i.e. godparent), and birth family members. Virtually any topic relevant to adopted children and their adoptive parents is acceptable—as long as it is authentic, positive, insightful, and uplifting or inspiring. We do not want heartbreaking stories about adoptive parents or birth families that regret the adoption; there is a place for stories of that ilk, but this book is not that place. All of the stories in this collection must show a positive aspect of adoption and must bring comfort or joy or inspiration to those who have been adopted and/or to the families who adopted them—no matter how difficult the experience and emotions portrayed in the story might be.
Submission deadline: June 15, 2008
$500 grand prize; $100 each, all other published stories; plus copy of book

More info at: www.cupofcomfort.com

***

Humor for the Baby Boomer's Heart

New Opportunity: I heard Snapdragon Group is accepting stories for Howard Publishing for a new book, Humor for the Baby Boomer's Heart. (I haven't yet been able to verify this one.) 800 words. $50-100. Author retains all rights. Byline and bio. Submit to Snapdragongroup@ao.com

***

1/18/08: Good Morning Christian Writer

I'm unsure of the status of this project. Last I heard:

Deadline extended to September 30, 2007. Contribute to this devotional for Christian writers by Crystal A. Murray. Information at http://morningwriterbook.blogspot.com (which hasn't been updated since August 4, 2007). Contact her at morningwriter @ gmail.com (delete the spaces*).

***

Train Up a Child
Devotional Thoughts for Parents

Compiled and edited by Marlene Bagnull

1/18/08: I don't know if anything is happening with this. Here's her information page:

http://www.writehisanswer.com/writing_opportunities.htm

As our nation slides down the slippery slope of no moral absolutes, it is vitally important that Christian parents teach their children, by word and example, to follow God’s absolutes given to us in the Ten Commandments. Train Up a Child, a devotional book written by parents, for parents of children of all ages, will be divided into ten sections for each of the Ten Commandments. Its purpose is to encourage parents to train up their child in God’s way.

In preparing a devotional for consideration (poems of less than 24 lines are also welcome) please keep the following guidelines in mind:

• Begin your devotional with a Scripture verse (please note translation or paraphrase used) and close with a short prayer.

• Share a story from your life experience that other parents will be able to relate to. Use show-don’t-tell techniques, including dialogue whenever possible. Humor is welcome!

• Provide a nugget of truth that the readers will be able to apply to their own lives. Remember your goal in devotional writing is to inspire—not to teach or preach.

• Create reader identification by being open, honest, real, vulnerable. Allow the readers to see the struggles you have faced as a parent—the times you have failed and have had to ask the Lord and your child (or children) to forgive you. Point readers to the power of Jesus Christ that is at work in your life and in your family.

• Make certain your title, opening Scripture, the body of your devotion, and your closing prayer all tie together.

• Limit your total word length (including opening Scripture and closing prayer) to 400 - 500 words.

• Focus your devotional or poem around one of the Ten Commandments.

• Paste your manuscript into an email, single spaced, with each paragraph indented. Please do NOT send your manuscript in an attached file. In your subject line include your name, title of manuscript, and the number of the commandment you are writing about. All submissions must be received via email. Be sure to include your full name, address, day and night phone numbers, fax number, email address, and a bio of approximately 75-100 words. You are welcome to submit multiple manuscripts but please submit only one devotional in each email.

• Previously published manuscripts are welcome as long as you own the rights.

Because of the volume of submissions I expect to receive, I will be unable to acknowledge receipt of your submission and will respond only if your manuscript is selected for publication. You are free to submit your manuscript elsewhere (both before and after acceptance/publication) as long as you do not offer anyone all or first rights. Although I do not yet have a publisher, several have shown strong interest in the idea. As soon as I have a publisher, I will post this information on my web site. Please pray with me that God will open the right door at the right time.

PAYMENT - Since I am hoping to again have over 100 contributors as in My Turn to Care - Encouragement for Caregivers of Aging Parents (Thomas Nelson, 1994 and Ampelos Press, 1999) and For Better, For Worse - Devotional Thoughts for Married Couples (Christian Publications, 2004) I am not able to offer payment for accepted manuscripts but expect to negotiate one free book and the opportunity to purchase additional copies at a reduced price for gifts or resale (other than to a bookstore) in exchange for non-exclusive book rights. Your byline, of course, will be included as well as a short bio.

For more information on this opportunity, go to www.WriteHisAnswer.com.

E-mail Marlene at MBagnull @ aol.com. (delete the spaces*)

***

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* I'm beginning to put spaces in e-mail addresses to protect the addresses from crawlers that search for e-mail addresses in order to send spam. You will need to delete the spaces when you e-mail the address.

This page last updated Thursday April 24, 2008