THE WIND PHONE
Submissions Information and Boost Nomination Pilot Program
Loss, death, transitions, burial plans, types of grief — we are looking for any topic related to these issues
UPDATED 10 MARCH 2024. We are a Boost Pilot Nomination Program pub, and we have a Boost Nominator dedicated to The Wind Phone.
Welcome to The Wind Phone!
This is a publication dedicated to those who wish to write about loss, death, transitions, and life changes.
We accept email applications at [email protected] with subject line WINDmPHONE. Send a draft link to an unpublished story to apply. Read the guidelines in entirety, please.
We publish stories and essays of those who are grieving, but also, we publish stories, essays, and poems of those who wish to write about issues related to loss, death, cremation, burial, or any of the mysteries related to death, dying, transition, and loss — personal stories, however. We’re creating a space for all those hard topics. The graveyard? The urn? Disenfranchised grief? What have you got?
Note: informative essays are less likely to work here, but we will look and let you know. We are also not interested in True Crime stories.
We prefer personal essays, and if we turn your story down, please be gracious. We rarely do.
NO AI.
Again, this is the space for ponderings, worries, grief, a recent loss, a long-ago loss, a transition, hospice, burial sites. All that.
We have only removed a few writers from our pubs — usually when a promising writer isn’t able to make changes to correct issues. We want to know you and support your work, to build a longterm relationship! If you are discourteous to editors, you risk being removed from the publication.
If you use language that is — in 2024 — considered derogatory to others and then argue it with editors, you will be removed.
If you engage in reading ‘clubs’ and make veiled references in your CTA’s or comments on stories, you will be removed.
We prefer to be polite, always. We hope you do too.
If you submit inauthentic ‘stories’ that even hint of AI, you will be removed from the pub. We’re not here for churned content. You have been warned.
We are also not interested in self-help.
This is a space for personal work. Your issues, and how you’re dealing with them.
Dear readers — any, some, or all of these stories are about loss
Loss can be upsetting. This is a writer’s haven to write intimately about issues. Please know that before you read here. We are now using a content warning, however, as our essays are circulated on platform. It can look like this.
cw: death
or
cw: suicide
This will be helpful to those who find your essays in various categories. Thank you.
I recognize that experiences of loss and grief are unique and different to every individual.
My friend Sally died in 2016, and a few months later, my ex died in a tragic accident. How I navigated their losses became intermingled, and 2016 has become a year I’ll always remember.
You could say I’m experienced at grief and loss. My parents are both gone. I’ve written a lot in this platform about them. My family losses — of them, my brother, many aunts and uncles and grandparents — are close to me. I hold my people close. I write their obituaries. I’m that person in the family who cleans graves. I’m the ‘last man standing,’ so to speak. It’s an honor.
For your submissions: recognizing that you may feel the need to write about the same person many, many times, please submit knowing we may accept the first few, then ask you to self-publish. We aren’t a place for every three days. This should be a sacred space for that special essay.
Of course, we are happy for you to return on a special anniversary. Hope that makes sense.
Why a grief pub?
I love the humor and stories across our platform on Medium. We need to be able to tell a different story sometimes, though. A more intimate story. Like a handful of wild flowers, picked carefully and placed in an old-fashioned mason jar.
There are many ways you may want to write in this publication. Here are a few.
- Who was the most significant person in your life that you have lost? What did you learn from them?
- Are you in early stages of grieving? How are you taking care of yourself? Have there been any unexpected surprises with your process?
- What would you say to your person? How can you keep them in your heart?
- Can you help others who are in this process right alongside you? Almost all of us?
- What have you noticed about your culture’s way of dealing with loss?
- Have you ever found humor / humour in grief and loss? Can you explain?
- Loss encompasses many situations — the loss of youth, of a beloved pet, the loss of a job, and the loss of appearance as we age. Feel free to write about any experience of loss.
- Write a letter to your person you are missing. What would you like them to know? Would you like to tell them about what’s up in your life?
- These are but a few suggestions. You are welcome to be as creative, brief, or long as you like. No more than fifteen minutes or so, but you are welcome to send me a note if you’d like to do longer.
Email your draft to us at [email protected]
Use subject WINDPHONE APPLICATION.
Draft link only. Unpublished work only. NO AI. No how-to. No informative essays. If you have any questions, we’ll email you back. Include your ‘at’ name on platform.
What to expect from us? We will edit your piece lightly, taking care of topics, minor punctuation issues, or spelling. We will honour British conventions. Leave us a private note if you feel we may miss that.
Please do not submit previously-published work. Write your essay, and submit the draft to the pub. We will work with you to ensure your piece is ready for the world. Please edit carefully before submitting.
We will submit your work quickly. Expect a 24–48 hour turnaround.
Please follow Medium guidelines.
No racist, homophobic, or mean comments. If you leave a mean or belittling comment on another person’s post, you will be removed as a writer.
Also, we will not publish work that’s full of basic errors. While we want to honor your grief, if it’s not edited, we hope you’ll self-publish.
Your writing may take the form of the following:
- book excerpts
- essays
- memoir
- short anecdotes
- photos of loved one with a brief note to them
- A letter to the loved one
Length: please, no shorter than two minutes and no longer than twelve. Exceptions may be made on occasion.
We are glad to welcome you to the Wind Phone. Leave your name below to be added!
Format
Landscape photo only, please. No verticals (portrait). Add ALT text for those listening to stories, please. Use a photo citation. URL compressed is best, with a hyperlink.
At top, headline, next subtitle, next photo. Photo cited. We will add the kicker (The Wind Phone).
Go light on text features — -bolds, italics, quotation format.
We’ll check on things and let you know if you need an adjustment.
All the best to you and yours,
Debra Groves Harman, MEd publisher & editor-in-chief
Christine Schoenwald editor
Kit Desjacques editor
Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles editor
Ellen Eastwood editor
Caveat: we are not medical professionals. This is a writing platform and a site for creative expressions.
If you need more immediate help, please contact your doctor. I’m attaching a website with some possible resources. Take good care of yourself.
