Thursday, September 14, 2017

Writing Opportunity


Chicken Soup for the Soul:
The Best Advice I Ever Heard

Have you ever read a Chicken Soup for the Soul story that had a wonderful piece of advice in it that made a difference in your life? Have you ever watched a movie or read an article that really had an impact on you that you haven't been able to forget? Do you have a friend or family member who gave you some advice that you didn't necessarily want to hear but really needed to hear that stuck with you and directed you to make positive changes in your life?
We are looking for stories that contain a great piece of advice that you were given or advice that you gave to someone else. Whether the advice is about a little thing that improved your everyday life, or major epiphanies that can change a life completely, we want to hear about them and how they made a difference.
Here are some topics we can suggest but there are many more that we know you can think of:
  • Career choices or changes
  • Personal relationships — family or friends
  • Parenting
  • School
  • Travel
  • Moving to a new place
  • Buying or selling your house
  • Setting priorities
  • Health and fitness
  • Finances
  • Taking chances
  • Co-dependence and tough love
  • Following your passion
  • Taking risks
  • Trying new things
  • Simplifying your life
  • Using gratitude
  • Forgiving someone... or yourself
Please remember we no longer publish "as told to" stories. Write your story in the first person. Do not ghostwrite a story for someone else unless you list that person as the author. If a story was previously published, we will probably not use it unless it ran in a small circulation venue. Let us know where the story was previously published in the "Comments" section of the submission form.
All stories should be true — we do not publish fiction — and should be no longer than 1,200 words. If your story was already published in a past Chicken Soup for the Soul book, please do not submit it. We will not publish it again. If you submitted your story for one of our previous books and we did not publish it, please feel free to submit it to this book if you think it will fit. That way we will be sure it is considered for this new edition.
If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will be printed in the book if you so choose. You will also receive a check for $200 and 10 complimentary copies of your book. You retain the copyright for your story and you retain the rights to resell it or self-publish it.
You have a better chance of your story being accepted if you submit early. Later submissions often duplicate earlier ones that have already won high grades from our readers. So please remember, the early bird gets the worm!
The deadline date for story and poem submissions is FEBRUARY 28, 2018.

Monday, September 04, 2017

Meeting this Saturday

September's focus: 

Determining the why - of our current project and/or blog -
will motivate us and affect our pitches and proposals.

September 9, 10 a.m. - noon

 Cornerstone Christian Church, Wyckoff,
in the Barn (red building on the right when you enter) 

NOTE: We will meet on the second floor this month - 
enter the door closest to the main parking lot.

Whether an experienced writer or a novice, you will find encouragement and camaraderie at our meetings. Visit us and see if NJCWG is a fit for you. 

Members, come prepared to share your summer progress (or discouragements) and fall goals. If you bring pages for critique, please review the guidelines on our website. 

Hope to see you Saturday,
Barbara