Frequently Asked Questions

Inspiring, funny, and heartwarming stories between 800 and 1200 words and poems that are story-like in construction.

Not at all. While we welcome stories from emerging writers and accomplished authors, we are very interested in less experienced or unpublished writers with compelling stories about choral music’s impact on their life. We especially welcome stories from people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, and overlooked voices. 

Are you accepting submissions from international writers?
Absolutely! In fact, we seek to publish stories of global interest to the choral community. If you have an amazing story that will touch the lives of others, we want to hear from you.

A resounding yes! Our performances would not be complete without the support and encouragement of our exceptional audiences. If you have an incredible story we should know about from your perspective as an audience member, we definitely want to receive it for consideration.

May I submit a story and a poem?
Yes. You may submit a story and a poem, but you must submit them separately. We will consider only one submission of a story and/or a poem from any author.

Are translations considered?
Absolutely. We consider works written in English or translated into English if permission has been granted. Include the name of the person making the submission, the name of the translator, and who owns the rights to both the story and the translation on the first page of your submission.

May I ghost-write a story for someone?
Yes, but only that person’s name will be listed as the author. You may be acknowledged in the author’s bio. However, we much prefer to hear your own story.

May I quote text from my favorite choral work in my story or poem?
Yes, if the text is in the public domain. Copyright extends to 70 years after the death of the author unless it has been extended by the copyright holder.

Do you accept previously published material?
No. Works submitted must be previously unpublished, either in print or online. 

No. Send us your most incredible story.

All submissions must be made through the online submission form. Please do not email stories directly to us; they will be deleted unread.

Is there a fee for submitting my story or poem?
No. There is no submission fee.

Yes. We pay $100 per story accepted for publication and $50 for each poem accepted for publication. Payment is sent 30 days after the release date. Authors are also provided with a copy of the book.

If your story or poem is selected for publication, you will sign a standard agreement that allows us to publish your story or poem and to publish it again in any future title or product. A one-year period of exclusivity is requested, however, copyright is retained by the author at all times.

We accept .doc or .docx files only. Please do not send your file as a PDF or link to Google Docs. The text needs to be sent as plain prose, in black ink, and without photos or other illustrations.

How soon can I expect to hear about my submission?
We are unable to respond to each story or poem submitted, but we will make every attempt to respond to those not selected for publication. If you have not heard from us within three months of the submission closing date, it is unlikely that your work was chosen for publication.

Can I email to check the status of my submission?
Once you’ve submitted the document, you will receive a confirmation email. Please do not email inquiries asking for the status of your story or poem. We will contact you with any questions we might have.

Will you send me comments on my story?
No. Due to a large number of submissions, we are unable to comment on individual stories or offer writing advice.

No. Send the final version.

If my story or poem is selected, will I have an opportunity to review it before publication?
Writers will be consulted on all significant editing done on their articles and will have the opportunity to proofread the final edited version for minor errors such as typos. Significant changes to the text cannot be made, except at the editor’s discretion.