Write Jobs PLUS+

Stories wanted for 'preteen' edition | $200 per piece

Added 2020-11-02 23:06:09 +0000 UTC

COMPANY/PUBLICATION: CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL

Deadline: 15 December 2020

Callout for writers under age 35

We are excited to announce the 20th anniversary of the release of the Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul book. What an amazing 20 years it has been! This book title has sold millions of copies and is still relevant today. In honor of the 20th anniversary, we are rereleasing the original Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul, and we are adding 20 new stories!

Chicken Soup for the Soul has always provided support to preteens from all over the world. We’re collecting up-to-date stories written by preteens, teens, and men and women under age 35. We want these stories to represent how the world is today for preteens, and we’re hoping for stories about the pandemic, technology, social media, and other modern-day concerns.

We’re looking for everything, from serious to silly. What was your experience like as a preteen? Did you fit in with the popular crowd, or were you left behind to eat your peanut butter and jelly in the library? What kind of humorous or embarrassing things happened to you when you were that age?

Your stories and poems should be written in the first person about something that happened to you or someone close to you. Your stories must be true. Do not change any facts. If you want to change someone’s name or use a pen name, that’s fine, but you need to tell us exactly what you changed. Please try to keep your stories under 1200 words.

Please remember you must be under 35 to have your story considered for this 20th anniversary edition of Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul.

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

Dealing with the pandemic - how COVID changed your life
Zoom schooling or home schooling
Lack of contact with friends because of COVID
Dealing with tough stuff – being teased or bullied or confronting the bully
Acts of kindness
Teachers, parents, coaches, and friends who gave you guidance
Embarrassing moments and funny stories
Changing schools and being the new kid
First crushes
How technology influences your life -- texting, FaceTime, social media, and emailing
Sibling relationships
Learning to be comfortable in your own skin
Doing the right thing even though it was the difficult thing
Divorce and remarriage – blended families and fitting in
Best friends and changing best friends
Body image and eating disorders
Being an immigrant
Going through puberty
Sports and teams
Having a disability or being different