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[Deadline extended] Stories about tough times / the pandemic wanted | $200 per piece

Added 2020-12-30 16:35:35 +0000 UTC

COMPANY/PUBLICATION: CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL

Deadline: 31 March 2021

Please note that the deadline for story and poem submissions has been extended to MARCH 31, 2021.

The world has been going through an upheaval unlike anything we have experienced in our lifetimes. Because of the pandemic, our way of life has completely changed. Things we used to take for granted are no longer available to us. We have had to overcome obstacles and adversities we never dreamed of having to do. Many people have lost their lives, their jobs, their homes, or at least are having to make drastic changes and cutbacks.

Tough times won’t last but tough people will. We are looking for stories about how you have been affected and how you and your loved ones are handling the changes in your life. We’re looking for the ups and downs, so share the tough times but also the silver linings, the unexpected blessings, and resilience and gratitude that you have discovered in yourself and the people close to you.

We’re also looking for stories about tough times unrelated to the pandemic. Are you going through other challenges that have nothing to do with the pandemic, such as health crises, loss of loved ones, personal challenges, family issues, job loss and economic upheaval? When we published a book in 2009 called Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tough Times, Tough People we ended up with about half the stories being directly related to the impact of the recession that was occurring at that time. The other stories were about tough times in general. It was a great mix of advice and comfort for our readers.

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

Dealing with Covid-19
Economic troubles/loss of a business or a job
Death, grieving and healing
Chronic disease and serious illnesses
Accepting the new norms and living with them
Stay-at-home self-quarantine changes to the usual routine
Zoom schooling and home-schooling challenges and perks
Finding pleasures in simple things
The value of family and friends
The silver linings during tough times
The power of positive thinking
Changes in vacation and travel plans
Taking and making time for the simpler things
Working from home instead of going to the office
Counting your blessings
Returning to old values and pastimes
How did your children or grandchildren change and grow as a result of this?
What lessons from the pandemic can you apply to other parts of your life?
What other issues were you dealing with at the same time as the pandemic and did that give you perspective?
Did you improve as a person? How and why?
Did you have family issues with some people wanting to practice social distancing and others not? How did you handle that?
Celebrating milestone events such as birthdays, weddings and graduations during the pandemic