Writers and Anthologies

 

Many of you know that I have multiple stories in the Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies. I still check their website for the books that need stories. Right now, they have calls for eleven books. Eleven! Check the Possible Book Topics page to see what they are.

Chicken Soup is one of the best known anthologies, but there are many more, but it's up to you, the writer, to find them. That takes a bit of work, but it's well worth the effort if you find a few that fit your kind of writing. 

Facebook has a group that is a boon for writers. They have calls for anthologies but also other publications. The page is Call for Submissions. Find it by searching on your home page for the group. Other writing group pages on Facebook sometimes have calls for submissions to both anthologies and other types of publications, too. 

If writing for anthologies is your aim, do a search on your favorite search engine. Then try a different search engine, where you may find some duplicates, but also some different places where you can submit. There are many to choose from. Some of the top ones are:

Google

Bing

Duck, Duck Go

Yahoo

Baidu

Yandex

Ask.com

When you search, you may be surprised by the number of anthologies and also how specialized some of them are. Some want only horror or dark stories, while others might seek holiday stories, and still others are looking for mystery stories. There are poetry anthologies and anthologies that feature stories about cooking. Guideposts puts out lovely anthology books. Theirs is one of the nicest quality, I think. I once had a story in an anthology that used reading as the theme.

Some of the former anthologies have come and gone. A Cup of Comfort was quite popular for a while, and then it vanished. Another was Not Your Mothers... But it had a short duration. Why? Maybe the quality of the stories was not up to par. Maybe the editor didn't put enough time and effort into advertising. Or perhaps the editor moved on to other things. 

Be sure when you are searching for anthologies to check the date the calls were put out. I noted one recently that sounded interesting, but it was from 2008. A waste of your time. When you put your keywords in a search engine, it might not hurt to add 2022.

Why bother to write for anthologies? They pay, some better than others. Chicken Soup for the Soul is the highest that I am aware of. You'll get a check for $200 and 10 free copies of the book in which your story appears. Others pay $50 or $25 or maybe with a copy of the book. A second reason is that it is a good addition to your list of publications. A third is that some are easier to bring a successful submission than some other publications. Not all, but some of the smaller ones are not as choosy. Chicken Soup for the Soul, being the Queen Bee, has rigid guidelines and great competition. 

If you want to write for anthologies, find some of those lesser ones to start with. Move on up when you feel confident about the stories you're writing for the various anthologies. 

One of the most important things you should do is to study the guidelines. You will find books that have minimal guidelines all the way up to Chicken Soup for the Soul which has lengthy and rigid ones. Pay attention, no matter which anthology where you want to submit your work. 

Last, but not least, read a variety of anthologies to help you get an idea of the kind of story or poems they publish. It helps you get a feel for what you should keep in mind when writing and submitting your own stories or poems. 

Writing For Chicken Soup--An Interview

 NOTE:  When I get my copy of these posts sent via Mailchimp, a yellow warning box pops up. I click on Looks Safe, because it is. I'm not sure why gmail can't get that it is ok. Wondering if other servers are showing the same kind of message. Once Google drops sending the posts, we may see a change--sometime this month)

Today I have an interview to share with you. It's a little different than the usual as I will ask and answer the questions about my first story in a Chicken Soup for the Soul book and more on that anthology. 

Interviewer Nancy:  Tell me about the subject you selected for the first story you submitted to Chicken Soup for the Soul books.

Interviewee Nancy:  I saw a call for submissions for a Father and Daughter themed book from Chicken Soup for the Soul publishers. That triggered a memory of a Valentine box my dad created for me to take to school. All the boxes would be lined up on a wide windowsill, and classmates would drop valentines into the slot on top of the box. Having my dad make the box for me turned out to be the first time I realized how much he loved me. Thus the title--"Love in a Box"

Interviewer Nancy:  Tell me how you remembered the incident so clearly when you were only seven years old.

Interviewee Nancy:  I believe that the things that impressed us greatly stay in our memory bank and can be pulled out when needed. The making of that valentine box on a Sunday evening in our tiny apartment kitchen is as clear to me as if it happened yesterday. I could not tell you what else happened the same week, only that experience.

Interviewer Nancy:  Tell me why the story was so important to you.

Interviewee Nancy:  As I mentioned earlier, the incident impressed me a great deal. My dad worked hard all week, a part-time job on Saturdays, and took care of household things to help my mother on weekends. He seldom did things that involved only me and him. That, in itself, felt very important to me, and I knew my daddy loved me a lot if he spent his evening making a treasured valentine box for me. I also loved that I had his complete attention.   

Interviewer Nancy:  Tell me how you felt when you learned "Love in a Box" would be published in a Chicken Soup for the Soul book.

Interviewee Nancy:  Of course, I was ecstatic at the thought of being published in this extremely popular anthology series. I was also inspired to continue writing for this publication. I have sent many stories to them over the years. Not all were accepted which is not unusual. As of next month, I have been in 24 of the Chicken Soup books. 

Interviewer Nancy:  Has your story ever been published in other countries and/or translated into another language?

Interviewee Nancy:  Yes, it has, via the Chicken Soup for the Soul publishers. Once again, I was inspired to keep writing and submitting stories to the anthology.

Interviewer Nancy:  Tell me about any advice you might have for others who would like to be published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies.

Interviewee Nancy:  First, read several of the books they publish to get a feel for the type of story they like. Go to the website (www.chickensoup.com) and scroll down to the bottom. Click on Submit a Story. Here you will find 3 pages that tell you what books still need submissions, their guidelines, and the form for submissions. If you want to be published by this anthology series, they are 3 very important pages that you should read and study carefully. Following the guidelines cannot be stressed enough. Those guidelines will give you the bones, and you must write a story to add the flesh. Don't be afraid to submit even though the competition is great. 

I have never been accused of talking to myself, but perhaps this interview will draw some comments about Nancy talking to Nancy. I'm not losing it yet, but felt this was one new way to get some information across about writing for Chicken Soup for the Soul.

5 Tips for Success in Chicken Soup for the Soul Anthologies

Note: The first part of today's post is a repeat, but I feel it worthwhile to offer it again since the editors have added some new titles to books they hope to publish. The second part of the post will have the book titles. 

I have been published twenty-three times in Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Is there a magic formula for getting your story selected? No, but there are some things to pay close attention to that will make the odds of being selected tip in your favor.

1. Read their books. The more you read, the better understanding you will have of what the editors are seeking. You’ll get a feel for what the editors want as you read numerous Chicken Soup stories and you’ll be entertained, as well.

2. Send only true stories that are humorous, inspirational or illustrate a life lesson. There should be something for the reader to take away. Make sure they are actual stories with a beginning, middle and end. An essay or a sermon will not make the cut.

3. Study the Guidelines. Note the word ‘study’ because scanning quickly through the lengthy page of Guidelines is not going to help you at all. Go to www.chickensoup.com and scroll down to the bottom of the page. On the far right column of the section titled More Chicken Soup for the Soul, click on ‘Submit Your Story.’ You will find three titles at the top of that page—Possible Book Topics, Story Guidelines and Submit Your Story. Check out the Possible Book Topics, then study the Guidelines and finally, submit your story via the online submission form. When the Guidelines say 1200 words, they mean 1200 or less, not anymore. The editors are quite serious about every one of the Guidelines so you should be, too.

4. Start your story with action, not a long explanation of what you are going to write about. Jump right into the story and hook your reader. Make them want to continue reading.

5. Use dialogue, sensory details and emotion. If you have none, your story becomes a dull report. Keep in mind that too much of any of these overpowers the message of your story. Humor is great but don’t let it take over your story. Finding a happy medium is key.

If you do all of the above, the odds of being accepted will be in your favor. Even though I’ve been published in this well-known anthology many times, I’ve also submitted numerous stories that were not accepted. Keep the submission Ferris wheel going and see what happens.

Note: If you have not heard from the editors two months after the story deadline date, you can consider it a rejection. They do not send rejection letters which is my one and only complaint of this fine series.

I recently checked the Possible Book Topics page on the Chicken Soup website. There are seven titles listed. They are:  Angels, Cats, Counting Your Blessings, Eldercare, Making Me Time, Miracles and Divine Intervention, and Tough Times. Seven titles, seven different topics. Do you have a story for one? Maybe you have a story idea that would fit one of the topics. Read the topics carefully to see if you have a fit. Then, check the Story Guidelines page--read it, then study it.

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.

Submitting To Anthologies

If you write short pieces, as opposed to full-length books, anthologies are markets to explore for your work. The two book covers above are anthologies in which I have been published. A publisher decides to put together a group of stories by different authors, usually around a specific theme. 

The one I first submitted to and where I've had good success is Chicken Soup for the Soul. Their books are always filled with stories geared to a particular theme. They stay with a specified number of stories in each book--101. The stories they seek are heartwarming, humorous, heart-tugging true tales. No horror or erotica here. (Go to the bottom of the page where three columns are shown in blue ink. At the top of the third column, you will see Submit Your Stories. Click on this to go to the page that gives you all the information you need to submit. 

The Moments series of anthologies does not pay the authors. All royalties for the books go to an international charitable organization called Samaritan's Purse. You can read more about this series here. Submitting here, and being accepted, gives you a publication to add to your list and offers an opportunity to help others in our world.

Bards Against Hunger is another no-pay series of poetry anthologies. Royalties for the books go to fight hunger around the world. Again, it's one more publication if you are accepted. 

If you subscribe to writing newsletters, you can be on the lookout for anthologies that need submissions. You'll find lists of calls for submissions, anthologies being only one type. 

Do a search on your favorite search engine. I tried that just recently. I was surprised at the number of horror anthologies listed. There are also a lot of sci-fi and erotica books that are looking for stories. For people who write in these genres, it looked like a fertile field. 

As always, read the guidelines carefully. Read samples of the anthology if possible to give you an idea for what they like to publish. 

Here are a few links to anthologies looking for submissions:

• Crack the Spine--theme is The Year
• Heroines
• The Fiction Desk 
• Once Upon An Enchanted Forest--witchcraft stories
• Untitled Time Anthology--theme is Time
• Horror Anthology
• Travel Tales  (some dates are past, some still open)

My Newest Chicken Soup for the Soul Book

Yesterday, Chicken Soup for the Soul, released a new book titled Messages from Heaven and Other Miracles. I have a story in the book about a message I received from my mother the night she passed away. The 101 stories in the book are uplifting and can be a help to the renewal of one's faith. 

A page near the end of the book mentions that the editors were overwhelmed by the thousands of stories submitted for this book. That little fact is certainly uplifting to the 101 writers whose stories were selected to be included. 

The Chicken Soup anthologies started 25 years ago. A passing fancy? Surprisingly, no. Readers enjoy being able to read a story or two, put the book down and return later for more stories. The editors select only the best submissions so that the result is a quality anthology. The themes chosen for the books are ones that appeal to readers. Some themes, such as mothers, angels, dogs, and cats, have had multiple books. There have books to honor teachers, getting in shape, teens, sports and more. To see a list of the 250 different books published, check here. Note that you can move from page to page at the bottom right of the first page. 

Many of the stories in these books can be considered short memoir pieces or family stories. The stories must be true and they need to be a full story with a beginning, middle and ending. Stories that are selected are usually ones that amuse or elicit emotion of some kind from the reader. The guidelines are explicit in what the editors are seeking. Follow them to the letter and your chances of getting accepted are greatly increased. 

If you're interested in submitting, read some of the books to get a feel for the type of story chosen for publication. So often, magazine guidelines state that the writer should read a copy or two of the magazine before submitting. It's worthwhile for a writer to follow that advice. It would also benefit you to check out the facts and figures and other parts of the anthology website.

It pleases me a great deal that I have been published in this anthology series 22 times. If I can do it, you can, too. Maybe the first, second or third story you submit won't make it, but be persistent and it might pay off. 

The book can be purchased at Amazon or found in bookstores.

My Newest Anthology Stories and a Tip For Writers

I received a new anthology in yesterday's mail.  Yvonne Lehman compiled and edited the book, which is another one that donates all royalties to The Samaritan's Purse. This International disaster and relief organization helps worldwide. Right now, they are aiding the victims of the volcano eruption in Guatemala. 

Samaritan's Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization. They have a page in the book thanking the publisher for the continued donation of royalties from this book and nine previous anthologies. Yvonne Lehman is the woman responsible for this book and several previous ones. 

I submitted two stories for this fun little book and both of them were accepted. Turkey in the Raw is a story about a turkey disaster I had one Thanksgiving when I was trying to be a good hostess to my husband's family. Love On A Plate is a memoir piece about Muffin Days when my grandmother came to visit. It includes the recipe for these much-loved goodies I still make today. 

You can purchase the book at Amazon for $12.99.  If you enjoy cooking, you'll want to read the good, bad and humorous stories in this book. Might be a fun addition to a bridal shower gift or other gift-giving occasions. 

There is no pay for the authors in the anthologies that Ms. Lehman compiles and edits. For her, it's a labor of love and a way to help a worthy organization. Each author receives one copy of the book. 

Anthologies became popular years ago and the trend has continued with more and more of them for readers but also for writers to submit to. Check your favorite search engine for calls for submissions. I found one source that listed a great many looking for both fiction and nonfiction in several categories. Check this one out. Then keep looking on your own. Note that there is more than one page and you can click to go to the next one. 

Cup of Comfort was one of the first along with Chicken Soup for the Soul. The first one lasted only a few years but the second is going strong and still has calls out for stories for several upcoming books. Do check their submissions page regularly.  Remember that the more popular the anthology is, the more competitive for writers. Try for some of the lesser known ones first to give you better odds. Start small and work your way up. Or go for the big one and hope for the best. 

Twice The Joy

Our doorbell rang yesterday afternoon. Ken answered and found a box that had been left on our porch. "It's for you." he said. "What did you order?" I didn't remember ordering anything and then it dawned on me. The box was full of Chicken Soup for the Soul books.

Sure enough, when we opened it, there were 20 copies of My Amazing Mom published by Chicken Soup for the Soul nestled together. I loved the pretty spring-like cover. Usually, authors of the stories in these anthologies receive 10 free copies and a check in payment. This is the first book in which I have two stories featured, counting them as #'s 19 and 20 for Chicken Soup books. It felt pretty exciting to have two stories accepted out of the huge numbers of submissions they receive, so color me Happy. 

The stories in this book honor both mothers and grandmothers. My story, A Bowl of Raspberries is about something that took place when I was 9 years old. My grandfather was dying of cancer and had asked to see me. He and Grandma had been separated for many years but she came to be his caregiver in those end weeks. All that happened and what I learned impressed me, even at that young age. My other story in the book is called Mirror Magic. This one's about me, my mom and a mirror. 

The book goes on sale March 20, 2018 but it can be pre-ordered for Kindle or Paperback readers now at Amazon.

I taught a workshop a few years ago titled Writing For Anthologies. Several in the class said they'd sent a story to Chicken Soup but never heard a thing. Strange as it may sound, the publisher and editors at this anthology do not send rejection letters because they don't want to be negative in any way. That sounds nice, but those of us who are waiting would rather get a rejection letter and know our status than never hear from them.I told the group that the best way to get your foot in the door at Chicken Soup is to keep submitting. Yes, I have been blessed to have 20 stories accepted but there were a whole lot more that didn't make it. The more stories you submit, the better your chances. 

Another point I made with these hopeful authors is very important. The anthology has very definite Guidelines to tell you what a story they want is and what it is not. I cannot emphasize enough how crucial it is to read those Guidelines every time you submit. Read your story again and do a checklist to see if it fits what this publisher wants. Here's the page that gives you the information. If you're looking for the page later, go to the website and scroll to the bottom of the Home Page. Click on Submit a Story and you'll find three sections to help you. One is the books they need stories for, then the Guidelines and finally, the Submission page.

New Call For Submissions From Chicken Soup for the Soul

Chicken Soup for the Soul has probably been the best market for my stories over the years. It's a good thing they keep coming out with new titles so that I can come up with stories that might fit the theme.

It pays to check the possible books page on the Chicken Soup webiste now and then. There are new books added off and on. I checked the page yesterday and found four new ones. Go to the page to read what the editors are looking for in the new book titles listed here:

1. Angels and Miracles (yes, one more angel book--they must be very popular)

2. Military Families

3. Random Acts of Kindness

4. The Spirit of America

For #2, they are looking for stories written by soldiers and their families. That includes spouses, children, parents, siblings. So, this topic is a little more limiting than the other three.

Note the deadlines for submitting. I've been told that the earlier you submit the better. But then we hear stories about people who submitted on the final day and got in. I tend to think the earlier the better because those last minute subs that accepted are probably in the 'very few' category.

Before you start writing a story to send to this anthology, study the guidlines page. Note that I said 'study' not 'read' because the guidelines given are lengthy and pretty explicit. Check them out here.
When you finish writing and editing your story, go back to the guidelines and do a check to see if you have followed the requirements.

If you go to the home page of the Chicken Soup website to find the guidelines and book topics and submission form, scroll down to the list at the bottom of the page and click on Submit Your Story.
You'll find the possible book topics, the guidelines and the submission form on this page.

Writers tell me that they have submitted stories to Chicken Soup and all were rejected. Remember that this is a very competitive market--thousands of stories received for each title--but you'll never get in unless you keep writing and keep submitting.

As for me, I've already thought of a story I can write for #3 on the list above. I've let it swirl in my mind for a couple of days now so it's time to get the first draft written this afternoon.

Another Story for Chicken Soup Books

I'm always reminding people who submit stories to the Chicken Soup for the Soul books that they must expect a very long waiting time between submission and final acceptance. I submitted a story for the Reboot Your Life book on September 29, 2013. That's nine months that the story was out of circulation. 

This past Friday, I received notice that my story was in the final selection list and was asked to sign and return the Permission Release form attached to the message. Then came the warning that not all the stories that had made it to this point would be included in the book. I knew it would be another waiting period before I'd know whether I'd been slashed or made it. 

On Monday, the good news arrived. My Dad, A Dream and A Red Shirt" would be included in the book which is to be published September 16, 2014.This has to be the fastest ever! The edited version was attached and I was asked to read it, make any corrections I felt needed, or send a message permitting the publisher to use my story as is. The first thing that hit me was that they'd changed the title to Forgiveness and Freedom. I had no problem with the new title. In fact, I liked it a lot. The original one had been a working title and I never came up with anything I liked better. The rest of the story was not changed so I happily sent my permission to publish message to the editor. 

Because of the very long wait from last September, I had submitted the same story to another book to be published later, one on the topic of forgiveness. I felt that the story would be perfect for that book. But it went to the first one. My next step was to inform the editor that the story had also been submitted for another book and needed to be withdrawn. She was most gracious and said it would be taken care of. If you are ever in that situation, be sure to let the editor/publisher know that the story is no longer available. 

I set a goal to have stories in at least an even dozen of the Chicken Soup books. This one is number 15 and that pleases me greatly. My friend, Harriet Cooper, far surpasses me in numbers in this anthology series. She has had two stories in more than a few books, not just one like the rest of us. I call her The Queen of Chicken Soup. Harriet did a guest post for me in 2010 about writing for anthologies that you might like to read. Since then, she's had more stories published in Chicken Soup. Yep, she's the queen!

Preparing To Teach A Writing Workshop

My online critique group conference is the last week of this month. About twenty of us will gather in a beautiful state park just outside Washington DC. Nicely furnished cabins all have decks that look out onto the Potomac River. The cabins are nestled among the wooded area of the park, and deer wander in and out among the trees. An ideal spot for writers to write, to mingle with other writers, to learn more about their craft and to enjoy nature at its best.

This will be the fourth conference our group has had but the third one for me. I had major problems while trying to make a connecting flight at the time of the first conference. Ended up stranded in Chicago for two days and missed the conference. OK, I wasn't exactly stranded as we have family in Chicago who took me in while I waited for a flight home. With no luggage which I finally found waiting for me in Kansas City. I still grieve over that first conference that I missed. One reason was that the women who went raved over the presentations as well as the great bonds they'd formed.

So, now here we are getting ready for our "Fourth and Final" conference. I've been asked to talk about writing for anthologies. Harriet Cooper, another member of the group, is the anthology queen. She has had 36 stories in Chicken Soup books, whilc I can only claim  12. I'd love it if we could do this conference presentation together, but Harriet is staying home in Toronto, so I'm on my own.

I've been pondering the subject, have a list of articles to read for some additional background and have selected one or two stories to use for examples. But I'd like some help from you, too. What would
you like to know about writing for anthologies? Send me your  questions via the comment section below, and I'll do my best to answer and include it in my talk.

I'd like to give the writers who will be listening some inspiration to try writing in this field. It took center stage with the explosive success of Chicken Soup books, but a good many more have burst onto the scene as well. Some have died quickly and others are still going and hoping to catch up with Chicken Soup.

Some of the things I will cover are:

History of today's anthologies
Guidelines
Marketing
Submitting process
Kind of stories needed
List of anthologies needing submissions
Who reads these anthologies
New anthology possibilities
Importance of emotion in these stories

Can you come up with anything else? Do you have a specific question? Send them to me soon

Anthology Week

Besides a nice Thanksgiving, last week was Anthology Week for me.I received a contract from one, sent a story to another, and found a copy of another with my work in it waiting for me in the mailbox.

The contract came from Silver Boomer Books. My story, "My Path To Books," will be included in their latest anthology book, Flashlight Memories. The book's theme is reading in our growing-up years. It should have some interesting tales. The original title of my story was "How I Learned To Love Books" but the publishers changed it. I had no problem with what they chose, so it wasn't an issue. What is an issue is the small amount they pay authors in comparison to other anthologies. I shouldn't have a problem with it since I knew when I submitted my story what they were going to pay. I knew, and I accept it, but it still irritates me as I spent as much time and effort for this story as I do on ones that land in much higher paying books. As long as writers are willing to submit to low-paying publishers, it will not change.

I submitted a story to a Holiday Memories Contest sponsored by Cup of Comfort, one of the better known anthologies. You can enter, too, at http://www.cupofcomfort.com/story-submission/call-for-submissions

The anthology in my mailbox was one called Thin Threads with a subtitle of more real stories of life-changing moments. "College Isn't For Girls" is a story that definitely fits that theme. This is the first time I've had anything in a Thin Threads book. It's a nicely done large paperback with a glossy cover.

Have you got any stories to send to anthologies? If so, they won't get published unless you submit them. Be prepared for a long wait, but you might have a good anthology week just like I did.

Anthologies Are Good Markets

I had good news Friday. My story "The Right Prayer" will be in the newest Guideposts anthology book in the Incredible Prayers series. I'd received a notice from them several weeks ago saying they needed more stories for this latest book, so I sent in a story I'd written for our Kansas Authors state contest. It received a second place in the Inspirational category in the contest and will now soon be published. Made for a very nice Friday afternoon.

Anthologies are good markets for those who write creative nonfiction, although there are anthologies that publish fiction, as well. Most, however, compile dozens of true stories which are about life and all if offers us. They're stories the readers can empathize with or sympathize or just plain nod their head in agreement. They can relate!

Chicken Soup for the Soul is one of the best known anthology markets, but there are many others. Thin Threads, Patchwork, and Guideposts are only a few others. Google keywords like anthologies seeking submissions or anthologies accepting submissions to find a list. Use other keywords of your own choosing and see what you come up with.

Go through your files and see which stories fit a particular anthology. Most important of all, read the writers guidelines and read them again. Follow the guidelines carefully, just as you would contest rules. One misstep and your masterpiece hits the cyber wastebasket.

Meet My Guest Blogger

Meet Harriet Cooper, a friend of mine who lives in Toronto, Ontario Canada. Harriet is a writer and a teacher. If you read anthologies like Chicken Soup for the Soul and Cup of Comfort, her name may seem familiar, as she's had many stories published in both. Who better to tell us how to write for this market? Harriet is my guest blogger today. A great way to begin this new week. You'll enjoy her subtle wit as well as some good advice in her words below.

Cracking the Anthology Market


In 2003, I decided to crack the anthology market. When I found out that Cup of Comfort was calling for submissions aimed at teachers, I figured I was a shoo-in. In addition to being a writer, I'm also a teacher.

Knowing that anthologies want stories, not essays, I thought of the most heart-rending tale I could think of. John, a 16-year-old boy who struggled to read at a grade-five level, immediately came to mind. I wrote about the two months I taught him – a tale of fear, pain and ultimate failure.

When Colleen Sell, the editor, rejected the story, I was dumbfounded. More than that, I was angry. Sure, she fobbed me off with words "powerful" and "well written," but she still rejected it.

A few days later, a friend of mine pointed out what should have been obvious. That series is about comfort, not pain and suffering – hence the title Cup of Comfort.

Once I stopped hitting myself over the head, I vowed to read all instructions carefully, and to beg, borrow or steal – possibly even buy – copies of anthologies I wanted to write for to get better understanding of their needs.

Since then, I've submitted over 125 pieces to various anthologies including biggies like Chicken Soup, Cup of Comfort and HCI – The Ultimate Series, the newest kid on the block. I've also sent to one-time anthologies on special topics like breast cancer or migraines.

I've spent a lot of time polishing my work, using techniques like scene and dialog from fiction-writing to make my creative non-fiction pieces more immediate and alive. I regularly check the publishers' websites for calls out and deadlines.

The result? I've published 4 pieces in Cup of Comfort, 25 in Chicken Soup, and another 4 in other anthologies. I've even been interviewed on radio for my stories in Chicken Soup. I have at least a dozen stories in the mail and have ear-marked another 15 or so to work on for upcoming titles.

I'm also on a first-name basis with Colleen, Teri, D'Ette, Lisa and other editors who work for various anthology publishers. I may not be the Queen of Anthologies, but I'm definitely one of her ladies-in-waiting.

For more information about writing for Chicken Soup, see my article "How to Get Published in Chicken Soup for the Soul Books" at http://creative-non-fiction-writing.suite101.com/article.cfm/how-to-get-published-in-chicken-soup-for-the-soul-books.

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Harriet Cooper is a freelance writer who writes creative nonfiction as well as articles on cats, health, nutrition and eco-friendly products. She has also edited creative nonfiction, short stories and children's books. She can be reached at coopereditorial@live.ca

A Gem In The Junk

I check my spam box on a daily basis, and it's a good thing I do. Sitting amongst a lot of junk today was a gem. A message from the Thin Threads anthology publishers had slipped into the spam. I recognized the name, so quickly sent it flying to my inbox. An e-mail subject that says "Congratulations! You are a Thin Threads finalist." grabs your attention. Unlike the one yesterday telling me I'd won a lottery in London, and all I had to do was click on the attachment to find out how to claim my prize. That one I deleted in a hurry.

My story "College Isn't For Girls" tells about the hard road I traversed in convincing my parents I should go to college. No one in my immediate or extended family had ever gone beyond high school. The story qualified for the anthology as the editor defines the type of stories wanted as "thin thread" moments that have the power to change your life"

The editor worte that there were more than 1500 submissions for the book, and 100 finalists were selected. My good friend, Kathe Campbell, has three stories in that list. From the list of 100, four will be given prizes beyond regular payment and inclusion in the book. Some pretty nice prizes, too, but the odds of winning are fairly slim. Those winners will be announced August 15th.

For now, I'm pleased to have made it into an anthology series I've not been in before. I'ts a nice way to begin a new week. Be sure to check your spam box on a regular basis. You never know when that gem will appear. I put the address in my approved list.

If you'd like to check the Thin Threads websites go to:   http://www.kiwipublishing.com/index.php  and http://www.thinthreads.com/ 

Writer Granny's World

I'm starting a new adventure, becoming a blogger. At age 70, I'm not about to let the world pass me by. I intend for this blog to be concerned with the writing world and also my personal world, now and then. Maybe others can learn something here, find a subject that they can relate to, or just enjoy getting away for a short visit.

Writing For Anthologies:
Much of my writing ends up in anthologies like Chicken Soup for the Soul. I'm proud to claim a spot in nine of those as well as a couple of Guideposts anthologies and the Ultimate series. It takes patience to submit to these places, for speed is not their strong point. It can be months, even more than a year, before there is a response from an editor. And those responses arrive only if a story makes the finals. That still doesn't guarantee publication. More waiting. More wondering. If the story makes the final cut, a congratulations notice and contract/permission release agreement is sent. If not, you never hear a word. That's the part I really, really hate. Hey, I can take rejection, so send me a message saying something like "So sorry, but your fine story didn't make the final cut." That way, I know and can move on. But please, please, please tell me!