I’ve Been In 16 Chicken Soup Collections. If You Want to Break In, Here’s My Advice

When they learn that I’ve been in 16 Chicken Soup for the Soul collections, writers often ask me for advice about how they can get into 16 Chicken Soup for the Soul collections. Here’s what I tell them:

Shorter is Better

The official word limit is 1,200 words. None of my submissions were over 800 words, and the CSFTS editors trimmed almost all of them. Do not submit your 5K word masterpiece.

Stay on Topic

The Possible Topics Page lists (and describes) the topics of upcoming books. If the editors want essays about cats, don’t send them an essay about your dog. “But my essay also has a cat in it!” you protest. “And it’s a really good essay!” It may well be — but not for this book. The editors receive hundreds of essays that are on topic. Don’t waste their time by sending them work that isn’t.

Get the Tone Right

Chicken Soup is not the place for your darkest, edgiest work. Your story can be thought-provoking, sad or serious, but it also has to be an enjoyable read. It’s okay to bring tears to a reader’s eyes — it’s not okay to make them want to jump off the roof. If your story is a downer, it doesn’t belong here. The right tone? Upbeat. Warm. Inspirational. (Humor is good too.)

Get the Voice Right

Conversational, not informational. Be a friend telling a good story, not a lecturer at a podium.

You Need A Narrative Arc

Your story should have a beginning, a middle and an end. Don’t just grab a topic and riff on it. A terrific title helps too. (Although the editors will probably change it. Editors usually do.)

Avoid Politics, Controversy and Off-Putting Scenes or Topics

These books must appeal to a mainstream audience. Don’t submit work that might anger a reader, or that contains scenes or language that will make them squirm. Which means? No profanity. No explicit sex. Ask yourself “Would I be comfortable reading this story to my grandma?” Engage the reader, don’t outrage the reader.

It’s Okay to Tweak

Your story must be true. But when you’re telling that true story, can you punch up the dialog? Leave out the boring parts? Rearrange things a bit? Absolutely! It’s a story, not a deposition.

Give an Old Story new Life

Chicken Soup uses previously-published work, as long as it hasn’t run in a mass market venue. (Most of the essays of mine they ran were first published elsewhere.) And they are happy to accept work that has been published on Medium! If something you’ve already published is right on topic, update and submit it.

Submit it and Forget It

Submit your story here.

Once you submit a story, you probably won’t hear from the editors for months. (And if they can’t use it, you’ll never hear from them.) If they like your story, you’ll eventually get an email telling you it’s made the first cut. A while after that, they’ll let you know if you’ve made the final cut. If so, you’ll get a contract and an edited copy of your story. (Can you make the first cut but not make it into the final book? Yup. It’s happened to me. It’s never a sure thing until the day you get that email telling you that the book, with your story in it, is on its way to the printer.)

Trust the Editors

If you hate a change, they’re open to working with you. But it’s their book. Please trust them to know what works and what doesn’t.

Rejection Doesn’t Mean Your Story Sucks

I’ve edited a dozen anthologies myself and I know that sometimes editors have to reject terrific work because it just doesn’t fit into a book as it is shaping up. They’ve received too many similar stories. Or the tone or topic doesn’t work for this collection. Not getting into this book means nothing except that you didn’t get into this particular book. Keep trying!

Can you submit the story to other places while you’re waiting?

Absolutely! Worst case scenario? The New York Times accepts your piece and you have to inform Chicken Soup that it is no longer available. (Nice problem to have!) And since Chicken Soup only purchases one-time non-exclusive rights, you are free to publish your story in a smaller venue while you’re waiting to hear from them without jeopardizing your chances that they’ll run it.

Have Questions? Post them in the Comments Section and I’ll Respond. (I am not affiliated with or in any way speaking for the Chicken Soup organization. That being said, I am a writing coach and editor-for-hire who has helped many writers get their work into Chicken Soup collections. Want to be one of those writers? Get in touch.)

Good luck! Here’s hoping that we both make it into the next collection.

Writing Coach Roz Warren, who writes for everyone from the Funny Times to the New York Times, can help you improve and publish your work. Drop her a line at [email protected]. (That’s Ros with an “s,” not a “z.”)