If you’re a gifted storyteller with an inspiring or heartwarming tale to share, submitting your words to Chicken Soup for the Soul may be the perfect opportunity for you. As a well-known and beloved book series that has touched millions of lives around the world, Chicken Soup for the Soul is always on the lookout for uplifting and inspirational stories to publish.
In this blog post, we will guide you through the process of submitting your own personal story or poem to Chicken Soup for the Soul. We’ll provide you with the ingredients of a winning submission, as well as the guidelines for crafting a powerful and emotional story that will resonate with readers. So let’s dive right in!
What is Chicken Soup for the Soul?
Chicken Soup for the Soul is a popular book series that features a collection of heartwarming, inspiring, and uplifting true stories. The series was first published in 1993 and has since become a cultural phenomenon, with over 250 titles in the series and over 500 million books sold worldwide.
The stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul are contributed by ordinary people who have had extraordinary experiences. These stories aim to touch the reader’s heart and soul, rekindle their spirit, and offer them valuable life lessons that they can apply in their own lives. The stories are often personal, emotional, and dramatic, and they are written in the first person with a beginning, middle, and end.
What sets Chicken Soup for the Soul apart from other inspirational books is the fact that the stories are written by everyday people. These stories offer a glimpse into the lives of others and provide a unique perspective on the human experience. The stories are relatable and provide readers with a sense of connection and hope.
Chicken Soup for the Soul has published stories on a variety of topics, including love, parenting, friendship, faith, grief, and overcoming obstacles. The series has also expanded to include books for specific audiences, such as teenagers, veterans, and pet lovers.
In addition to its book series, Chicken Soup for the Soul has also branched out into other media, including television shows, podcasts, and online content. The brand’s mission is to provide “comfort, inspiration, and hope” to people around the world.
Submitting a story to Chicken Soup for the Soul is a unique opportunity for aspiring writers to share their personal experiences with a wide audience. The submission guidelines are specific, with a focus on true, personal stories that evoke emotion and provide valuable life lessons. While there is no guarantee that a submission will be selected for publication, the chance to contribute to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series is a rewarding experience in itself.
Chicken Soup for the Soul is a beloved book series that has touched the lives of millions of readers around the world. Its stories offer a message of hope and inspiration, and the series has become a cultural touchstone for those seeking comfort, connection, and wisdom.
What is Chicken Soup for the Soul looking for?
Chicken Soup for the Soul is looking for personal stories that inspire and uplift readers. The stories should be true, non-fiction accounts of experiences that people have had, and should focus on topics that are relatable and meaningful to a wide range of readers.
The company is interested in stories that explore a variety of themes, such as love, relationships, parenting, grief, self-discovery, and spirituality, among others. These stories can be humorous, heartwarming, thought-provoking, or any combination of these.
Chicken Soup for the Soul wants stories that are well-written, engaging, and that convey a positive message. They are particularly interested in stories that offer practical advice, guidance, or wisdom that readers can apply to their own lives.
In addition to the stories themselves, Chicken Soup for the Soul is also looking for authors who are passionate about sharing their stories and who are willing to promote their work through social media, book signings, and other means.
If you have a personal story that you think would be a good fit for Chicken Soup for the Soul, take some time to carefully craft your story and submit it for consideration.
What is Chicken Soup for the Soul NOT looking for?
When submitting a story or poem to Chicken Soup for the Soul, there are some things to keep in mind that they are NOT looking for. Firstly, they are not interested in receiving any fiction or creative writing. All stories and poems must be true and based on personal experiences or those of someone close to you. Additionally, Chicken Soup for the Soul is not interested in receiving any sermons, essays, or eulogies. They also do not accept term papers, theses, letters, or journal entries.
Furthermore, they do not publish stories or poems about politics or controversial issues. They are also not looking for biographies or testimonials, or journalistic articles about third parties that read like a newspaper article.
It’s essential to remember that Chicken Soup for the Soul is looking for stories and poems that are heartwarming, exciting, or funny. They want stories that evoke emotion in their readers, so they are not interested in pieces that lack a personal touch. Additionally, they do not publish poems that seem overly focused on rhyming and read more like greeting cards.
Who can write for Chicken Soup for the Soul?
Chicken Soup for the Soul is open to anyone who has a true, personal story to share that fits within their guidelines. This means that both experienced writers and those who have never written before are welcome to submit their stories. In fact, Chicken Soup for the Soul is known for publishing stories from first-time writers who have never been published before. As long as the story is authentic and engaging, anyone has the opportunity to be featured in one of their books. They encourage writers to submit their stories using their online submission form on their website.
How much can I earn writing?
If your story or poem is selected to be published in a Chicken Soup for the Soul book, you will receive $250 one month after the book’s publication. In addition to the payment, you will also receive ten free copies of the book your work appears in. This can be a great way to share your work with friends and family, as well as to potentially gain new readers.
Being published in a Chicken Soup for the Soul book also comes with some additional benefits. As a published author, you will become part of the Chicken Soup for the Soul family and will be entitled to purchase cases of your books from the company at half price. You will also receive the company’s monthly newsletter, which is sent exclusively to published writers. This newsletter includes advance notice of new books, contests to win Chicken Soup for the Soul merchandise, and writing tips.
Why should I write for Chicken Soup for the Soul?
If you are a writer looking to share your personal stories or poetry with a wide audience, there are several reasons why you should consider writing for Chicken Soup for the Soul.
Firstly, Chicken Soup for the Soul is a well-known and reputable brand that has been around for over 25 years, with more than 250 titles in their collection. Having your work published in one of their books can give you valuable exposure and help you reach a wider audience.
Secondly, writing for Chicken Soup for the Soul can be a cathartic and rewarding experience. Sharing your personal stories or poetry can be a way to connect with others and offer inspiration or comfort to those going through similar experiences.
Thirdly, if your story or poem is selected for publication, you will receive compensation as well as ten free copies of the book. Additionally, you will become part of the Chicken Soup for the Soul community, with access to exclusive writing tips and contests.
Finally, being published in a Chicken Soup for the Soul book can be a valuable addition to your writing portfolio, and can help you build your reputation as a writer. So, if you have a personal story or poem that you think would fit with Chicken Soup for the Soul’s guidelines, it may be worth submitting for consideration.
How do I submit my story?
To submit a story or poem to Chicken Soup for the Soul, you need to follow the guidelines for a winning Chicken Soup for the Soul submission. Your story or poem should be an inspirational, true story about ordinary people having extraordinary experiences, written in the first person and with a beginning, middle, and end. Your story should be personal and often filled with emotion and drama, and should have heart and an extra element that makes readers feel more hopeful, connected, passionate, and better about life in general.
To submit your story or poem, you need to visit the Chicken Soup for the Soul website and fill out the submission form. You can only submit your story or poem via the website, and the form will require you to provide your contact information, story title, and the story itself. You can use a pen name if you do not want to use your real name. Your story or poem should be 1,200 words or less, and it must be true. Chicken Soup for the Soul does not accept fiction or creative writing.
After submitting your story or poem, wait for the next screen to come up with a message that says, “Thank you! Your information has been received.” This is your confirmation that your story or poem has been entered into the database. You will not receive any other confirmation or rejection letters. If you have not heard from Chicken Soup for the Soul 60 days before the book’s on-sale date, it probably means they have decided not to use your story or poem.
It’s important to note that Chicken Soup for the Soul does not pay for submissions. They only pay for stories if they publish them in one of their books, typically 6 months to 2 years after submission. They receive thousands of submissions for each book, but can only select 101 stories for inclusion.
