CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Short Stories and Personal Essays

TAKE ACTION! Publishing is seeking writers to submit short stories and/or personal essays on any of the following themes/topics:

(1) Overcoming an Addiction/Bad Habit
(2) Overcoming Domestic Violence/Abuse
(3) Overcoming Low Self-Esteem/Depression
(4) Overcoming Personal Challenges/Barriers
(5) Overcoming Racism and/or Hatred
(6) Overcoming Grief and Loss
(7) Overcoming Divorce
(8) Overcoming Anger and Bitterness
(9) Overcoming Eating Disorders and/or Weight Anxieties
(10) Overcoming a Health Crisis and/or Disease

TAKE ACTION! Publishing welcomes aspiring or seasoned writers to submit original and/or unpublished short stories (fiction) and/or personal essays (non-fiction) describing how they or someone they know tackled one of the themes/topics listed above. Short stories and/or personal essays can range from 4,000 - 10,000 words and will be considered for inclusion in a series of anthologies to be published in 2009.

Submissions should include a cover page with the following information:

(1) the title of the story and/or personal essay;
(2) your name, pen name (if applicable);
(3) your email address;
(4) your telephone number;
(5) your mailing address; and
(6) the theme/topic your short story and/or personal essay addresses.

The first page of your manuscript should start directly with your short story and/or personal essay. Do not include the title on the first manuscript page. Put page numbers on your manuscript starting with page one on the first page of the story or personal essay. (Do not count your cover page as page one). The manuscript should be doubled spaced and 12 point, black font.

TAKE ACTION! Publishing DOES NOT OFFER monetary payment for accepted submissions. However, individuals whose short stories and/or personal essays are selected for inclusion in our publications will be invited to join our Authors' Network. The fee for joining the Authors' Network is $100 per year. Membership includes the following:

(1) inclusion of at least one short story and/or personal essay in at least one of our publications;

(2) inclusion of a bio/picture/contact page in publications that include your short story and/or personal essay;

(3) co-author status in publications that include your short story and/or personal essay;

(4) half-price discounts on publications that include your short story and/or personal essays;

(5) permission to earn profits off of publications that include your short short story and/or personal essay;*

(6) invitation to participate in a media event to announce the national launch of the publication that includes your short story and/or personal essay;

(7) copies of press kit templates; and

(8) access to a monthly online newsletter.

Short Stories and personal essays included in our publications are NOT considered to be property of TAKE ACTION! Publishing. Members can request that their short stories and/or personal essays be removed from reprints of our publications. However, membership fees for the Authors' Network are NON-REFUNDABLE.

All submissions must be emailed to Click here by 5 p.m. on June 2, 2008.

*TAKE ACTION! Publishing sets a maximum sale price for all of its publications. Members who are granted permission to resell our publications can lower the price of the publications they resell, but may not raise the price beyond the sale price established by TAKE ACTION! Publishing.