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A Cup of Comfort.
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A Cup of Comfort
A Cup of Comfort for
Friends
A Cup of Comfort for
Women
A Cup of Comfort for
Mothers & Daughters
A Cup of Comfort for
Inspiration
A Cup of Comfort for
Christmas
A Cup of Comfort for
Courage
A Cup of Comfort for
Teachers
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Call for Submissions
A Cup of Comfort is a bestselling anthology (book) series featuring uplifting true stories about the experiences and relationships that inspire and enrich our lives. These slice-of-life stories are written by people from all walks of life and provide unique personal insights into powerful universal truths.
We are now seeking submissions for the following volumes:
A Cup of Comfort for New Mothers
Few experiences bring forth as many anxieties, blessings, challenges, wonders, and changes as having a baby-whether it's your first child or fifth, your birth child or adopted child. And nothing is as miraculous as giving birth to or witnessing the birth of your baby. This heartwarming anthology will be filled with birth stories and newborn homecoming stories as well as a wide range of stories about the various experiences, emotions, and concerns involved in adding a new baby to one's life and family. Potential topics include but are not limited to: nursing (or not), caring for a newborn, bonding/falling in love with infant, lack of sleep, relationship with spouse, how siblings respond, returning to work, balancing responsibilities, post-partum depression, self transformation, unexpected joys, life lessons, small miracles, etc. The majority of the stories will be about birth children, but the book will likely include a couple adoptive stories as well. Likewise, most of the stories will be written from the new mother's perspective, but we are open to including a few stories written from the spouse's or a very close family member's perspective. All stories will be uplifting and positive, no matter how difficult the situation portrayed in the story might be. We do not want stories that simply recount misfortunes and sorrows and that do not clearly reveal a positive outcome or redeeming result (silver lining).
Submission Deadline: 5/15/2008
See Writer's Guidelines, below, for additional details.
A Cup of Comfort for Adoptive Families
The primary purpose of this book is to celebrate adoptive families and to recognize the extraordinary and challenging experiences unique to "chosen children" and their adoptive families. We are most interested in stories written by adult adopted children and their adoptive parents and siblings, but the book will likely include some stories written by members of the extended adoptive family (i.e. grandparent) and birth family members. Virtually any topic relevant to adopted children and their adoptive parents is acceptable-as long as it is authentic, positive, insightful, and uplifting or inspiring. We do not want heartbreaking stories about adoptive or birth families that regret the adoption. All of the stories in this collection must reveal a positive aspect of adoption and must bring comfort, joy, or inspiration to those who have been adopted and/or to the families who adopted them-no matter how difficult the experience and emotions portrayed in the story might be.
Submission Deadline: 6/15/2008
See Writer's Guidelines, below, for additional details.
A Cup of Comfort for Fathers
The connection between father and child can be as deep as the ocean, as strong as a mountain, and as uplifting as fresh air. For all its rewards, though, fatherhood is not without its challenges. And for all the gifts dads bring to their kids' lives, dads sometimes falter and fumble. Yet, the father-child bond forms, holds, and grows. A Cup of Comfort for Fathers will feature inspiring and insight true stories about the life-defining and life-enriching relationships and experiences shared by fathers and their children. These personal essays will be of varying topics and tones (heartwarming, humorous, poignant, provocative, etc.); about fathers and children of all ages and varying circumstances; and written by fathers, daughters, and sons.
Submission Deadline: 8/1/2008
See Writer's Guidelines, below, for additional details.
A Cup of Comfort for Parents of Children with Special Needs
For this very special collection, we seek uplifting true stories about the ins and outs, ups and downs, blessing and challenges of parenting children with special needs. The stories will cover children of all ages (birth to adult) and a wide range of developmental, physical, and mental delays/disabilities. No matter how difficult the experiences/emotions conveyed in a story might be (we want them to be authentic, after all), the story must reveal a positive aspect, resolution, or outcome and must be of comfort to parents of children with special needs. Stories may be serious, humorous, insightful, heartwarming, or inspiring. The majority of the stories will be written by parents of children with special needs; we will also consider stories written by adult children with special needs. (No articles or commentaries by clinicians, please.)
Submission Deadline: 8/15/2008
See Writer's Guidelines, below, for additional details.
A Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers II
Oh, how we humans love our canine companions -- for so many reasons and in so many ways that one Cup of Comfort collection of uplifting dog stories just wasn't enough. So we're giving all you dog-loving writers another opportunity to share your personal stories of canine comfort with a growing legion of dog-loving readers. This volume will feature both serious and humorous anecdotal stories covering a wide range of topics and perspectives and varying breeds of dogs. We do NOT want sad stories about a dog's illness, injury, or death, though we will consider stories that weave a beloved pet's illness or death into an otherwise positive story. The story should focus on the dog's remarkable attributes and/or actions as well as on the special relationship between the dog and his/her human(s).
Submission Deadline: 12/15/2008
See Writer's Guidelines, below, for additional details.
A Cup of Comfort for the Grieving Heart
When a loved one passes away, comfort is often fleeting and hard to come by. Yet, even a small comfort, like a personal story of how someone has faced a similar loss, does help to ease the sorrow. This volume will feature uplifting personal stories that reveal the special relationships and extraordinary experiences shared by the deceased and his/her loved one(s) immediately before, during, and after the loved one's passing; it will also includes stories about the internal and external processes by which one deals with and heals from the loss of a loved one. The stories will vary with regard to subject matter, circumstances of death, and the relationship of the author to the individual who has passed away. The book will not include eulogies, profiles/memoirs of people who have passed away, or clinical depictions of death and dying.
Submission Deadline: 2/1/2009
See Writer's Guidelines, below, for additional details.
Writer's Guidelines
How to Create a Savory Cup of Comfort Story
A Cup of Comfort stories weave powerful life lessons into vividly told tales. They are nonfiction stories that read like fiction but always ring true. They are real-life tales that reveal the positive aspects of humanity; that inspire, entertain, and enlighten readers; and that bring tears of compassion and joy to our eyes, hope to our hearts, and comfort to our souls. Cup of Comfort stories are original, creative, slice-of-life depictions of the most important and influential experiences and relationships in our lives.
Each Cup of Comfort anthology includes a balanced mix of stories of varied themes, such as:
- Extraordinary achievements and experiences of "ordinary" people
- Life-changing, life-affirming, or life-defining experiences and relationships
- Epiphany, synchronicity, serendipity
- Finding/giving comfort in difficult times
- Triumph over tragedy; overcoming adversity or challenges
- Life's blessings and miracles, big and small
- Finding the silver lining in a dark cloud; turning lemons into lemonade
- Relationships and experiences that bring hope, understanding, healing
- Catalysts for and examples of positive change; acts of kindness and compassion
Tips for Writing a Winning Cup of Comfort Story
• Create an anecdotal story about an event or series of event(s) that had a profound and positive impact on you or on the person(s) you are writing about.
• Write a personal story that embodies a universal truth.
• Show, don't tell. Color your story with action, imagery, dialog, and/or dramatic scenes. Minimize use of adjectives and adverbs. Make the reader experience the events and emotions portrayed.
• Write from the heart. Tell your story honestly, fully, and succinctly. Make each scene as real for the readers as it was for the person who lived or witnessed it.
• Begin with a strong lead that hooks the reader and that clearly and creatively introduces the main character(s), establishes the central theme of the story (plot), and sets the scene.
• Create a rich middle that depicts compelling life experiences and human emotions—in other words, dramatic action. The mid-section should include at least one compelling plot point (pivotal moment) as well as transitional scenes or other transitional devices that continually move the story forward and toward the conclusion.
• End with a satisfying conclusion that resolves the conflict/challenge in a positive way, leaves readers with an Aha! or Wow! or Yes! moment.
• Build your story around a distinctive, compelling, and believable premise that weaves together the story and drives the plot forward.
• Use lively, descriptive language that is appropriate for the time, place, and people depicted in the story as well as for A Cup of Comfort readers (mainstream adult).
• Read your story out loud and then revise it to remove anything that is not essential to the story. Make sure that every word counts and that the story flows together seamlessly .
• One of the best ways to discover the nature and flavor of Cup of Comfort stories is to read them. A Cup of Comfort books can be purchased at booksellers everywhere. A few sample stories are also posted on the Cup of Comfort web site.
Terms & Conditions
Note that these Terms & Conditions do not apply to submissions for A Cup of Comfort for Breast Cancer Survivors. For more information, click here.
• Payment: $500 Grand Prize awarded to one story per volume; $100 (each) all other stories published in book plus complimentary copy of book on publication.
• Story Length: 1,000-2,000 words
• Point of View: First-person or third-person (no second person)
• Style: Narrative nonfiction, creative nonfiction, literary nonfiction. But it must be a story.
We do not publish articles, fiction, poetry, prose, profiles, eulogies, sermons, testimonials, letters, commentary, expository essays, persuasive essays, diatribes, academic papers, confessionals, erotica, pornography, or experimental literature. Only the Christian-themed volumes of A Cup of Comfort contain stories with religious themes or references.
• Tone: Stories must be uplifting and can be poignant, heartwarming, and/or humorous.
• Stories must be original, true, uplifting, and in English.
• Some previously published material is acceptable. We do not publish reprints of material that has been or will be published in a glossy magazine with a large circulation or in a book (with the exception of books comprised solely of the author's original works).
• A publishing agreement will be mailed to the Author of each story selected as a finalist.
• Due to the large volume of submissions received, we cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions nor report on the status of individual submissions (with the exception of finalists, who are notified in writing). The grand-prize winning story and the list of contributors for each volume are posted on the website upon the book's publication.
• Manuscripts are not returned.
• Authors may submit multiple stories for any volume of Cup of Comfort .
•
How to Submit Your Story
Electronic (emailed) submissions are preferred; mailed submissions are acceptable.
Typed submissions are preferred; neatly handwritten submissions are acceptable.
Each submission must include the following:
• Your full name
• Your mailing address
• Your phone number
• Your email address, if applicable
• Story word count
• Story title
Choose one of these submission methods:
Email: In the subject line, cite the Cup of Comfort volume (for example, "Single Mothers"). Copy and paste (or type) the story into the body of the email; no attachments. One submission per email.
Send to:cupofcomfort@adamsmedia.com or to wordsinger@aol.com.
Mail: You can send more than one story per envelope. Include one self-addressed, postage-paid envelope for each submission. Send only the paper copy of the story; do not send computer disks or CDs. Mail to:
Cup of Comfort,
Adams Media
57 Littlefield St .
Avon, Massachusetts 02322 , USA
Please direct questions and suggestions to: cupofcomfort@adamsmedia.com or to wordsinger@aol.com.
We cannot accept phone calls.