Call for Stories By Younger Writers

 

Here we are in a new month again. They slip by awfully fast, but perhaps that is a good thing so we are closer to a vaccine for the covid-19 virus. 

I checked the Chicken Soup for the Soul website recently and found a call for stories and poems for two books that are a little different than most. One is stories about pre-teens, and the other will be about teenagers. They want stories from writers aged 35 and under. That lets out a whole lot of us, but it also speaks to another group of writers or those who would like to write. 

Go to https://www.chickensoup.com/ and then scroll down to the bottom of the page where you will find a column on the right headed Submit Your Story. Click on that to reach a page with Possible Book Topics. Scroll down to the Pre-teen and Teen books. Read what the editors are looking for and then go to the Guidelines page (click on it at the top of the Possible Book Topics page). Read and study the guidelines before writing and submitting your story. 

It's a wonderful opportunity for young writers. Even if their story is not selected for one of the two books, they will benefit from the experience of writing a story and following guidelines, then going through the submission process. 

Maybe teachers can make an assignment for students to write a possible story for one of these two books. Again, it's a good experience to write to a theme. The deadline to submit is December 15, 2020. 

There is a list of suggested topics for stories for these books. 

While you're there, check out the other books still needing stories. You'll find topics like Angels, Eldercare, Counting Your Blessings, Cats, Christmas Stories, and Tough Times.

You might have a son or daughter, or a grandchild who could send a story or poem for the Preteen and Teenagers books. 

TIP:  I have seen very few poems in the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. My guess is that they would welcome receiving some narrative poems that tell a full story. Like the stories, they should have a beginning, middle, and ending. 

(NOTE:  I am posting this on Sunday, a day earlier than usual. The next post will be on Tuesday.