Chicken Soup call-out: “Say Goodbye to Stress” stories

I just got this email (another call for submissions):

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Say Goodbye to Stress!
Manage Your Problems, Big and Small, Every Day

Chicken Soup for the Soul is teaming with Dr. Jeff Brown of Harvard Medical School to create a wonderful new book, full of inspirational stories and useful medical information, to help people manage their stress, no matter where their stress comes from.

Everyone feels stressed out at some point in their lives. Many people have trouble getting their stress under control and are looking for help. We’re seeking stories about people who have felt or feel stressed out, found a way to resolve their stress, learned to rethink their stress, improved their lives by handling stress, etc. We are interested in normal Chicken Soup for the Soul stories on this issue. Your stories will provide the inspiration and comfort to those who are stressed out, and Dr. Brown will provide the hard medical facts.

Here are some possible story topics, just to get your creative juices flowing:

• How you managed the stress of a new baby
• How you got through a divorce
• How you held it together while planning an elaborate wedding with 300 guests
• What advice would you give to someone who has a difficult work situation
• What got you through tough financial times without falling apart
• How you learned to let go of anxiety and worry
• How you turned stress around and made it work for you
• Learning meditation helped you feel calmer and more focused on the important stuff
• Silver linings
• And any other topic you think would be helpful to someone else who wants to get their stress level under control

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 free copies of your book. You will retain the copyright for your story and you will retain the right to resell it.

Please remember, we do not like “as told to” stories. Please write in the first person about yourself or someone close to you. Do not ghostwrite a story for someone else. 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. If the story was published in a past Chicken Soup for the Soul book, please do not submit it.

SUBMISSIONS GO TO http://chickensoup.com
Select the Submit Your Story link on the left tool bar and follow the directions.

The book is scheduled for publication in May 2012. Submission deadline is August 7th, 2011.

Chicken Soup seeking submissions for “Family Matters”

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Family Matters

101 Unforgettable Stories about Our Nutty but Lovable Families

Payment is $200 and 10 free copies of your book; Feb. 28, 2010 deadline

Info and submissions here: www.chickensoup.com

Question for Ask Wendy

Q: “What happens when a publisher with a submission guideline of’query only’ receives a query letter that accompanies a manuscript? I would think that way if they’re interested in reading the ms. it’s right there, and if not they can chuck it. Is it viewed as such an affront such that there are audible gasps in the room when the envelope is opened or is the envelope not even opened, based on its weight? Or could it just be that too many mss. clutter the office? Seems after reading countless times that editors just want a good manuscript, that it’s anathema to this perspective that a query letter that doesn’t dazzle can’t keep them from reading a book that does. And by not accepting mss. they are hurting the economy due to the lower cost of postage. Thanks – G”

A: From everything I’ve read, the agent’s guidelines (such as “query only”) are in place for a reason: it’s just too time-consuming to read manuscripts. I do not recommend sending a complete manuscript (or for that matter, a synopsis or proposal) if the guidelines specifically say “query only.” If anything, it will likely make the agent think that either A) you didn’t bother to read their guidelines before submitting or B) you read their guidelines and completely ignored them. If you read articles on agents’ biggest ‘pet peeves,’ almost all mention “writers not following our guidelines for submission.” My suggestion is to write a great query letter that makes them WANT to request the full manuscript. Thanks for the question!

High PAYING market for stories, essays and poems!

Stories and essays pay $1,000; $500 for “short short” fiction; pay $100 per poem

(read timeline about when to send prose)

http://www.english.ufl.edu/subtropics/submit.html

New author segment!

Are you an author or do you know someone who is? I’m starting a new segment called “10 Questions for….” in which I ask authors the 10 questions and allow them to talk about their book, list their Web site, etc. The questions are designed to get the authors talking about their process, how they got started in writing, what they’re creative space looks like (“I sit on my roof to write under the stars”) and their advice for new writers.

So, have your author friends email me at WendyBurt@aol.com and I’ll send them the 10 questions.

It’ll be fun!