Submission Guidelines
General Guidelines
All submissions must be made through the online submission form.
Your story must be 100% true. We will not accept works of fiction.
Stories should be between 800 and 1200 words in length. Poems should be no longer than 3 pages.
You may submit a story and a poem. However, you must submit them separately. We will consider only one submission of a story and/or a poem from any author. Multiple submissions in either category will not be accepted.
Please include your name, email, and page number on the top of each page.
Prepare your submission in letter-sized (8-1/2” x 11”) or A4 format, double-spaced, and in either 11 or 12-point type using a standard serif font such as Times New Roman (preferred) or Palatino, with only a single space after punctuation. Please use minimal document and font styling in your submission. Send your text in black ink only and do not include illustrations or photographs.
Works submitted must be previously unpublished, either in print or online.
The story may be about you or someone you know.
We accept .doc or .docx files only for story submissions. Please do not send your file as a PDF or link to Google Docs.
You may use a pen name (pseudonym).
Please include a short bio of 100-150 words max. Humor is appreciated but keep it professional.
Carefully review the writing guidelines and FAQs before beginning work on your story or poem.
Go through the final checklist before submitting your materials.
Use a free program such as Grammarly to catch obvious mistakes before you submit. Do not use the program to such a degree that it changes your unique voice, however.
- Proofread and have others (particularly those you do not know well) read and comment on your story before you submit the final version.
Writing Guidelines: Stories
Send us your most moving original story.
Create a title that will instantly grab the attention of the reader.
Offer the reader something sincerely and uniquely yours, a story that we will reread several times and that will linger in our consciousness long after. We want to feel your pride and excitement about sharing your story. Your story must be 100% true. We will not accept works of fiction.
Your story, much like a beautiful choral sound, should evoke joy, tears, awe, and cause the reader to experience the goosebumps we do as performers and audience members during rapturous performances.
Show your most vulnerable self. You might experience this as a healing experience. Readers mostly want to feel and they enjoy characters and stories they can relate to.
Your story should have a beginning, middle, and end.
Beginning: Write a compelling opener. Begin your story with action. First lines are usually either surprising, funny, dramatic, or philosophical. The opening sentences set the story in motion through imagery and emotion. Use narratives that strive toward something profound or emotionally resonant. Filter every sentence through the eyes of the reader first. Humor is most welcome!
Middle: Take your readers on a journey, using language that surprises and excites them and offers a message of hope during challenging times. Rather than merely talking to us, show us your story to draw the reader into your world. Create a sensory experience that will immerse the reader in the scene.
End: Write a resounding ending that will leave us wanting more! Do not rush it or settle for second best.
Writing Guidelines: Poetry
We are interested in prose and narrative poetry. Experiments, plunges, incisions, compressions, dilations, metrical specificities, and historical analyses or lyric challenges are encouraged. We are looking for poems that consider or play with what the reader thinks are choral elements. Some terms and concepts in both choral music and poetry are shared, such as sounds, tones, beat, silence, and the musicality of voice.
Submissions should consist of one poem (3 pages max).
Poetry can be either single-spaced or double-spaced, with additional space between stanzas or sections of the poem.
- We do not accept previously published works.