We Welcome Your Stories and Poems!

We have many Chicken Soup for the Soul books in development and we frequently add new titles. If you have a great story or poem you want to submit but it doesn’t fit with any of the topics below, please do not submit it now. Keep it in your files and check this page again in the future to see if we have added a topic that’s a better match.

If you have a story or poem that you think fits two of the topics below, you may submit it to both. Then let us know in the Comments section that you’ve done so. Also, you may submit more than one piece for each book.

We are always looking for new talent. So whether you are a regular contributor or new to our family, please share your story or poem with us. If this is your first time, please visit our Story Guidelines page, which will answer many of your questions about subject matter, length, and style.

Please scroll through the topics listed below to see what we're working on! Then click on the Submit Your Story link and you will be taken to our submission form.

We do not pay for submissions. We only pay for stories if we publish them in one of our books. 

DO NOT USE AI. We do not accept AI-generated or AI assisted submissions. We have observed that even running your story through Grammarly or any other AI tool after you have written it does not make it better. It makes it worse. Please do not use AI to generate or “improve” your story. DO NOT USE AI AT ALL.
 

***SELECT YOUR TOPIC***

Star Wars 50th anniversary book

The deadline for submissions is AUGUST 15, 2026.

Star Wars is turning 50 next year! And we’re looking for your stories, for a Chicken Soup for the Soul book to be released in April 2027.

“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” 

Do you know those words? The first Star Wars movie came out May 25,1977 and all the movies since then have been exciting. So, whether you’re a teenager who loves Star Wars, a parent who has taught your own kids about Star Wars, a baby boomer who saw the first movie when you were in college, a great-grandparent who still watches the films, or a fan of any other age, we want to hear your own story.

How has Star Wars affected you? And not just the movies. The brand has expanded to books, video games, TV shows, theme parks, toys, clothes, board games and more. There are prequels and sequels but the original still holds a magical place in the hearts of many people.

Do any of these bring back memories? The Force. This is the way. Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. Han Solo and Chewbacca. C-3PO and R2-D2. Darth Vader. The Jedis. Boba Fett. Jabba the Hutt. Lightsabers. And Yoda! Who doesn’t love Yoda and Baby Yoda?

Please pass this request for stories on to any Star Wars fans you know.

Here are some ideas to get your mind working but we know you can think of many more:

• How has Star Wars been a part of your life and your family’s life?
• What are your favorite memories of seeing the films, the TV shows, reading the books, playing with the toys?
• What have you learned from the Star Wars films?
• Did you ever take a class where a teacher used Star Wars for lessons?
• Do you or someone you know have a Star Wars obsession, a collection, a fan club?
• Who’s your favorite Star Wars character?
• How often do you quote Star Wars dialogue? These are not the droids you’re looking for? May the force be with you? This is the way? Luke, I am your father? You know what we mean!
• What memories come back when you hear that so recognizable Star Wars musical theme?
• Have you seen all the Star Wars films? The TV shows? Have you watched the films multiple times?
• Did you introduce your own children or grandchildren to Star Wars?

Count your blessings

The deadline for submissions has been extended to JUNE 30, 2026.

One of the most important keys to contentment and happiness is the ability to count your blessings. Even during the toughest times, if we can find gratitude and count our blessings we feel better. Each day holds something to be thankful for and it could be just as simple as having the sun shine or having food on the table.

There is always a silver lining if you look for it.

We are looking for stories about how you count your blessings. Stories can be serious or funny but definitely should be inspirational and heartwarming. Attitude adjustments, finding contentment and gratitude, a new way of handling your daily life, and other great ideas to inspire readers to find their own paths to happiness and to remember to count their blessings every day are what we are looking for.

Here are a few suggested topics:

- How do you count your blessings? 
- How do you express your gratitude for your blessings? 
- How does doing good for others become a blessing in your own life? 
- What made you realize that your life is good and that you are grateful for it? 
- Silver linings in the midst of challenging events 
- The joy of simple pleasures 
- Triumph over tragedy 
- Turning negative into positive and the lessons learned from the change 
- Adjusting your attitude and seeing aspects of your life in a new way 
- Learning to be grateful 
- Experiencing contentment with things just the way they are 
- Handling the challenge of grieving 
- Family challenges including divorce, death, substance abuse, mental illness, eldercare, disabilities 
- Gratitude journals and other methods for training your brain to be grateful 
- Volunteering and charity work 
- Approaching each day with a positive attitude 

Humorous Stories

The deadline for submissions is AUGUST 31, 2026.

We love to publish your funny stories and from the feedback we have received, it's obvious that people really do love stories that make them laugh and feel good. As a bonus, our editors have a great time working on the topic, too! We've enjoyed great success with all of our humor book titles so we're doing it again!! We're working on a new book of 101 funny stories which is scheduled to be released in 2027.

We are looking for true stories about something that happened to you in your life - in your relationship with a partner or spouse, a parent or child, a family member or friend, a pet, at work or at home - that made you and the people around you laugh out loud. Did you mean for it to be funny? Maybe not. Sometimes the funniest things were not meant to be funny at all! Did someone make you laugh? Did that other person mean to make you laugh? Did a situation just get out of control? Did a misunderstanding snowball into a comedy of errors? We can't wait to hear your true stories. We want them to be silly, outrageous, and hilarious. They absolutely must brighten our day and make us laugh!!

Here are some suggested topics but we know you can think of many more:

-Stop laughing. That's not funny! 
-Good intentions gone wrong 
-A slip of the tongue - Oh no, I didn't mean to say that! 
-I thought I heard you say... but you really said...! 
-Annoying habits - if you don't stop doing that I'm going to scream! 
-Pranks that worked - Gotcha! 
-Pranks that backfired - Yikes! 
-Laughing at "inappropriate" times 
-Making fun of yourself 
-Obsessions and Compulsions 
-Wedding woes or Funeral foul-ups 
-Kitchen/dinner party disasters 
-Family foibles - it's all relative 
-Zany vacations 
-Mistaken identity 
-Senior moments 
-Dating disasters 

Married/couples stories

The deadline for submissions has been extended to SEPTEMBER 30, 2026.

Married? In a long-term relationship? We know you have stories! Share the ups and downs, the funniest moments, the most romantic moments, and all your tips and advice for other couples. We want to know how you got together and how you stay together!

Whether you're just starting out as a couple, or you're celebrating your golden anniversary, our readers will be interested in what you have to say.

Here are some story ideas but we know you can think of many more:

-For richer or poorer 
-Compromise, compromise, compromise 
-Blending traditions 
-Secrets to a long-lasting relationship 
-Overcoming obstacles 
-Communication: verbal and non-verbal 
-Patience and trust and support 
-Humor... you have to laugh 
-Starting out as friends and th... 
-Second marriages - your house or mine? 
-Blending families 
-Keeping it fresh 
-How it got started 
-Best advice you ever got for marriage/coupledom 
-Best advice you ever gave for marriage/coupledom 
-Pushing the reset button on your relationship 
-How your spouse/partner makes you a better person and vice versa 
-Children and grandchildren as part of the relationship 
-In-laws and out-laws! 

Random acts of kindness

The deadline for submissions has been extended to SEPTEMBER 30, 2026.

Small gestures can make a big difference in someone's day, even in someone's life. In our fast-paced world many people tend to only pay attention to what is important to them.

Many times a person who receives an act of kindness is a total stranger, someone who will not be able to repay your kindness. Has someone performed a random act of kindness for you? Did you pay it forward and do something kind for someone else? How did it feel to receive that kindness? And how did it feel to perform a kindness for someone else?

We are looking for true stories about random acts of kindness that have happened to you or stories about a kindness that you performed for someone else. Stories can be serious or funny but they should definitely inspire our readers to look for ways in which they can perform kind acts.

Here are some ideas but we know you can think of many more:

- How an act of kindness you received changed your life or changed you as a person 
- Performing an act of kindness for a family member 
- Performing an act of kindness for a total stranger 
- Paying it forward 
- The unexpected benefits of doing something kind for someone 
- The unexpected benefits you got from something kind someone did for you 
- Changing your life by doing one random act of kindness each day 
- Turning negative into positive 
- Having someone go above and beyond for you 
- How a total stranger did something kind for you 
- Having your eyes opened, your preconceptions changed, by an act of kindness from a stranger 
- Holiday kindnesses, at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Easter, etc. 

Stories about using positive thinking

The deadline for submissions has been extended to SEPTEMBER 30, 2026.

Your mind and thoughts are very powerful. So much more is possible if you use positive thinking. Staying upbeat and using positive thinking doesn't mean you ignore the seriousness of a situation. But expecting things to go well rather than expecting the worst does make a difference. Change is possible if you change your thinking from negative to positive.

We are looking for stories of optimism, faith and strength to encourage our readers to use positive thinking. These inspirational stories will remind readers to use positive thinking, focus on hope and show them that each day holds something to be grateful for.

Here are some suggestions to get you to start thinking:

- Attitude! It does make a difference 
- The unexpected benefits of challenges 
- Putting things in perspective 
- Turning negative into positive 
- How do you spread the message of positive thinking to others 
- Lighten up and laugh! 
- What made you realize that your life is good and that you are grateful for it 
- Silver linings that you have discovered 
- Appreciating the simple pleasures 
- The mental benefits to a positive mindset 
- Focusing on what you have rather than what is lacking 
- How positive thinking helped you forgive and put the past in the past 
- Pursuing your passion 
- How you used the "fake it till you make it" strategy 
- The best advice you received about how to use positive thinking 
- The best advice you gave to help someone use positive thinking

Thank you!