In times like these, everyone can use
A Cup of Comfort.
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Traditionally, whether by choice or by design, women tend to be comfort givers. Of course, even comforters need comforting sometimes. But just how, where, and when - from what and from whom - do women find comfort?
A Cup of Comfort for Women is your chance to share true stories about the people, experiences, and things that bring meaning, comfort, and joy to women. Because comfort often is as comfort does, we'll also consider your stories about extraordinary "ordinary" women who've found personal comfort by comforting or helping others, particularly other women.
Story Length: 1000 to 2000 words
Submission Deadline: April 30, 2002
No experience necessary. Aspiring and published writers welcome.
Acceptable Themes
Stories should focus on the relationships, experiences, issues, challenges, achievements, and blessings that are particularly or uniquely important to women. These stories should both inspire and celebrate women. A few of the many acceptable subjects and storylines (as they apply specifically to women) include:
Acceptable Styles: First-person or third-person. Narrative essay, humor, literary nonfiction, creative nonfiction. You can write about your own experiences or about the experiences of others. You can even write about strangers, as long as you have their written permission to do so.
Please, no news articles, journalistic features, profiles, poems, commentaries, academic papers, biographies, film or play scripts, dogmatic treatises, erotica, book chapters, or alternative nonfiction. You can adapt a story originally developed for inclusion in a book or other medium, but it must follow a standard short nonfiction story format. Though creativity is strongly encouraged and welcomed, please remember that the audience is mainstream, so please refrain from topics, writing styles, and language that are inappropriate for that audience.
Writing Tips
Story must be true and verifiable (based on real people and actual experiences).
Submission must be original (created by Author; not derived from another work).
Submissions must be written in English.
Unpublished material preferred, but previously published material for which Author owns rights is acceptable. We are not interested in stories that have been or will be published in another book; exceptions are sometimes made for self-published, out-of-print, and some electronic books.
Author must be 18 years or older.
Authors may submit multiple stories for each volume.
Authors may submit stories to multiple volumes of A Cup of Comfort.
Simultaneous submissions are acceptable. If the story is subsequently selected as a Cup of Comfort finalist, the Author must at that time disclose any other prior or pending publication of the story.
Computer-generated or typewritten submissions are preferred. Handwritten manuscripts and audio tapes are acceptable.
Each submission must include the following author identification data on a cover page or on the top of the first page of the story:
If the story has been or will be published elsewhere, please provide the title of the story as published, the name of the publication, the publisher, the publication date, and the type of publication (i.e., print book, ezine, literary journal, etc.).
Stories may be submitted by email or mail.
Email: Copy and paste or type the submission into the body of the email. Please, no formatted text, no colored type or backgrounds, and no attachments. One story per email. Type A Cup of Comfort for Women in the subject line. Email to:
cupofcomfort@adamsmedia.com
Mail: Include both a printed copy and an electronic file (text only) on a 3x5" computer diskette. You may include multiple stories on a single diskette. Indicate which volume each story is being submitted for (Friends, Sisters, Women, or another theme). Manuscripts prepared on a typewriter are acceptable. Do not include an SASE; manuscripts will not be returned. Send by postal or package service to:
A Cup of Comfort
Adams Media Corporation
57 Littlefield St., 2nd Floor
Avon, MA 02322
No faxed submissions, please.
Author should retain a dated copy of each submission.
Publishing contracts will be issued to all finalists.
No story will be published without the knowledge and consent of the Author, as indicated by return of a fully executed (signed and dated) publishing contract.
Manuscripts will not be returned.
No phone calls, please.
Publisher reserves the right to fact-check, modify, abridge, edit, rewrite, and re-title any material for which it has purchased rights.
A grand prize of $500 will be issued to the Author of the story selected to lead each volume. All other Contributors will receive $100 for each story published in A Cup of Comfort.
Contributor receives byline in book and on website.
Contributor receives one complimentary copy of each book in which his/her story is published.
They've shared secrets and colds, toys and sweaters, dreams and disappointments. They know one another's flaws and foibles, fears and hopes, gifts and strengths. They are rivals and comrades, different and alike, separate yet infinitely connected. They provide a bridge to the past, an anchor in the present, and a light for the future. They are sisters.
Please join us in celebrating the unique and powerful bond of sisters by submitting your stories for publication in A Cup of Comfort for Sisters.
No experience necessary. Aspiring and published writers welcome.
Story Length: 1000 to 2000 words
Submission Deadline: June 15, 2002
Selection Deadline: July 1, 2002
Acceptable Themes
Stories can be about two or more sisters or about a sister/brother relationship - and might focus on:
Acceptable Styles: First-person or third-person. Narrative essay, humor, literary nonfiction, creative nonfiction. You can write about your own experiences or about the experiences of others. You can even write about strangers, as long as you have their written permission to do so.
Please, no news articles, journalistic features, profiles, poems, commentaries, academic papers, biographies, film or play scripts, dogmatic treatises, erotica, book chapters, or alternative nonfiction. You can adapt a story originally developed for inclusion in a book or other medium, but it must follow a standard short nonfiction story format. Though creativity is strongly encouraged and welcomed, please remember that the audience is mainstream, so please refrain from topics, writing styles, and language that are inappropriate for that audience.
Writing Tips
Story must be true and verifiable (based on real people and actual experiences).
Submission must be original (created by Author; not derived from another work).
Submissions must be written in English.
Unpublished material preferred, but previously published material for which Author owns rights is acceptable. We are not interested in stories that have been or will be published in another book; exceptions are sometimes made for self-published, out-of-print, and some electronic books.
Author must be 18 years or older.
Authors may submit multiple stories for each volume.
Authors may submit stories to multiple volumes of A Cup of Comfort.
Simultaneous submissions are acceptable. If the story is subsequently selected as a Cup of Comfort finalist, the Author must at that time disclose any other prior or pending publication of the story.
Computer-generated or typewritten submissions are preferred. Handwritten manuscripts and audio tapes are acceptable.
Each submission must include the following author identification data on a cover page or on the top of the first page of the story:
Stories may be submitted by email or mail.
Email: Copy and paste or type the submission into the body of the email. Please, no formatted text, no colored type or backgrounds, and no attachments. One story per email. Type A Cup of Comfort for Sisters in the subject line. Email to:
cupofcomfort@adamsmedia.com
Mail: Include both a printed copy and an electronic file (text only) on a 3x5" computer diskette. You may include multiple stories on a single diskette. Indicate which volume each story is being submitted for (Friends, Sisters, Women, or other theme). Manuscripts prepared on a typewriter are acceptable. Do not include an SASE; manuscripts will not be returned. Send by postal or package service to:
A Cup of Comfort
Adams Media Corporation
57 Littlefield St., 2nd Floor
Avon, MA 02322
No faxed submissions, please.
Author should retain a dated copy of each submission.
Publishing contracts will be issued to all finalists.
No story will be published without the knowledge and consent of the Author, as indicated by return of a fully executed (signed and dated) publishing contract.
Manuscripts will not be returned.
No phone calls, please.
Publisher reserves the right to fact-check, modify, abridge, edit, rewrite, and re-title any material for which it has purchased rights.
A grand prize of $500 will be issued to the Author of the story selected to lead each volume. All other Contributors (Authors whose stories are published in A Cup of Comfort) will receive $100 for each story published in A Cup of Comfort.
Contributor receives byline in book and on website.
Contributor receives one complimentary copy of each book in which his/her story(ies) is published.
Copyright 2004, Adams Media Corporation