Call For Submissions For An Anthology

Chicken Soup for the Soul has extended the Call for Submissions on a new anthology that has the theme of forgiveness. The new deadline is June 30, 2019. The title of the book has also been changed. It's now The Forgiveness Fix. 

This is not the first book this popular anthology series has published on forgiveness. I have a story in another one published a few years ago. 

Forgiveness is powerful and allows us to mend broken relationships, find peace within and move on from a troubling situation. There's even self-forgiveness which can be as difficult to accomplish as forgiving someone else. 

I've been mulling some ideas for a story to submit for this new book. It took me quite some time to decide on what I would write. I've got the first draft finished, have submitted it to my online writing group for their opinion and suggestions. While waiting for that, I've had more thoughts about what might be added or omitted. Writing one 1200 words or less personal essay is not a swift process. The writer who dashes off a first draft and submits it immediately is not going to be sending what we term 'best work,' at least it's not going to happen except in a very few cases. 

Here is a list of suggested topics that the publishers have given to help you come up with an idea: 

 • Making the decision to forgive
  • Setting yourself free by forgiving
  • Apologizing if you were the one who caused the hurt
  • Letting go of anger and resentment
  • Adjusting your attitude
  • Healing and compassion
  • That first step — reestablishing contact
  • Working it out
  • Helping someone else forgive — how you did it
  • Forgiving yourself
  • Understanding the motivation and the issues behind the hurtful actions of others
  • Learning not to take things personally
  • Forgiving parents and grandparents
  • Forgiving children
  • Forgiving siblings and in-laws
  • Forgiving spouses or partners
  • Moving past crime through the power of forgiveness
  • Lessons from strangers about forgiveness
  • Role models who helped you access the power of forgiveness for yourself

Remember to study the guidelines section on the Submit Your Story page. I sense that the reason the publishers extend a deadline is that they are not getting the quality of stories they want to see, or perhaps the quantity either. You have well over a month to write, edit and revise a story to send. If your story is accepted, you will receive 10 copies of the book and a check for $200.

From my own experience, I have learned that Chicken Soup for the Soul editors like humor, dialogue, and stories that are heartwarming and inspiring. They like emotion by the writer that brings emotion from the reader.

While you're on the Submit Your Story page, check the Possible Book Topics as there are other books that need your stories, too.