Submissions FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Submissions

This FAQ is specifically for submissions questions. Have more questions about Chicken Soup for the Soul? See our general FAQ.

Are you accepting submissions for stories for Chicken Soup for the Soul books?

We are always looking for new stories and poems and we would love to consider yours for one of our upcoming books. Take a look at the list of our future book topics. If you see a topic that would be a good fit for your story or poem, please submit it to us.

If you have a story or poem you want to submit but it doesn’t fit with any of the topics listed, please save it and check that page again in the future to see if we have added a topic that’s a better match.

WE DO NOT PAY FOR SUBMISSIONS. WE ONLY PAY FOR STORIES IF WE PUBLISH THEM IN ONE OF OUR BOOKS, TYPICALLY 6 MONTHS TO 2 YEARS AFTER SUBMISSION. WE RECEIVE THOUSANDS OF SUBMISSIONS FOR EACH BOOK BUT CAN ONLY SELECT 101 STORIES FOR INCLUSION.

How do I submit a story or poem?

The only way to submit stories or poems for consideration to be published in our books is through our website. Please visit the “Submit Your Story” link in the upper menu - or click on this direct link - and follow the instructions. After you hit the submit button, a message will appear on the following screen saying that we have received your story or poem. The message says, “SUBMISSION SUCCESSFUL! We have your work in our system. Thank you!” This is the only confirmation you will receive and this message means that your story has been delivered and accepted into our submission process. You will not receive any other confirmation or e-mail confirmation.

Don’t worry if your story loses some of its formatting when you submit it. Our editors are primarily interested in content during the early stages of the selection process. If we publish your story or poem, our editors will work with you on the formatting.

If you have any difficulties submitting your story or poem, please contact our webmaster at: [email protected].

We prefer that you submit your stories only once, but if you believe your story fits in more than one book topic, please indicate which other topics you have submitted it for in the comments section of the submission form. We recommend a maximum of 1200 words for stories and poems. We rarely accept longer pieces. If you send in a very long piece, we will probably not read it. There is no minimum word count.

Please do not send us any book manuscripts, except through a literary agent, as these will be automatically discarded.

Before submitting a story or poem, be sure to view the Story Guidelines for information about what a Chicken Soup for the Soul story is and is not.

Can I submit more than one story to the same book title?

There is no limit to the number of stories you may submit to a given title, but please do not submit the same story to a title more than once. Also you may submit stories and poems to as many different titles as you wish. There is no limit.

Is there a deadline for submitting stories for Chicken Soup for the Soul books?

There are submission deadlines posted for all books. To find deadlines for books we’re currently working on, visit the Possible Book Topics page. Please note that sometimes we change or extend a deadline and thedeadlines posted on other sites may be incorrect. Always check our site and only use the deadlines posted there.

Can I submit my story to another publication if I don't yet know if it has been chosen for a Chicken Soup for the Soul book?

Yes, but please let us know either by telling us that it is a simultaneous submission in the comments section of the submission form or, if you have already submitted your story, by e-mailing us at: [email protected].

How will I know if my story or poem is selected for a book?

We receive an average of 100 stories per day. It can take years to fully develop a Chicken Soup for the Soul book before it is published. The selection process is very long.

Once you have submitted your story or poem please do not contact us for information about it. The selection process has many steps and we are unable to provide updates on a particular submission’s progress.

If your submission is selected for a future Chicken Soup for the Soul book, you will be notified via e-mail and we will request your permission to print the story. We never publish anything without written permission from the author.

Please keep a copy of your submission in your files. We are unable to send your story or poem back to you. If your submission is not chosen you will not receive a rejection letter.

I don’t live in the United States. Can I still submit a story or poem for one of your books?

We publish stories, written in English, submitted by people from all around the world. If you do not live in the United States we would be happy to consider your work. Please fill in the parts of the submission form that pertain to where you live.

I have a title or topic suggestion for a Chicken Soup for the Soul book, television show, film or other production. How can I submit my idea?

We do not take title or topic ideas from the public. Please do not send them. Thank you.

My contact information has changed since I submitted a story or poem. How do I update my contact information?

If you have submitted a story to us and your contact information has changed please e-mail us at [email protected]. Include your first name, last name and your new contact information. Please include the e-mail address that you used with us before, as that is the only way we can find you in our system. If you have had a story published in one of our books, please give us the name of the story and the name of the book in which it appeared. If we have published more than one of your stories, please tell us the most recent one.

How do I change my email address or unsubscribe from book contributor mailings?

To change your email address, please see “My contact information has changed since I submitted a story or poem. How do I update my contact information?” above.

To unsubscribe from book contributor emails, such as the Story Call Out or Contributor Communique mailings, click on the “Unsubscribe” link at the bottom of the email message. If you encounter an error while attempting to unsubscribe, please e-mail us directly at [email protected], with subject line “E-mail Unsubscribe Error”, and if possible, forward a copy of a full newsletter with your request.

Note: If you opt-out of contributor list emails, we may continue to contact you via email with service-related communications about your stories.

How do I subscribe to or unsubscribe from the free Chicken Soup for the Soul story emails?

Please see this information in our general FAQ.