Welcome to “JOliver’s Twist” — Submission Guidelines
Where the pen is tethered to the heart…
Dear Medium Family,
It seems like only yesterday that I was writing a thank you note to all of you whose generous readership and kind comments were instrumental in my being selected as a “Top Poet” on Medium. That was a humbling moment, one that encouraged me to keep on writing — even when the words were often difficult to find.
Words have continued to flow since then, both mine, and from so many talented writers like yourselves. In my new pub, JOliver’s Twist, I want those words to have a home, a place where community is built from the chunks of heart and pieces of soul that all of you so generously share on this platform.
As a mason, I’ve built many homes, but this is my first attempt at providing lodging for your precious stories, essays, poems, and memoirs. I consider this opportunity an honor and a privilege because home is important to me, and frankly, it hasn’t always been lovely. I’ve spent over 23 years in the brick and mortar prisons of North Carolina, and many decades in the proverbial prisons of addiction, depression, foster care, and more.
As you might imagine, that journey has left me with a wellspring of stories to tell. I want JOliver’s Twist to be a home where your stories and mine can resonate with others whose lives and decisions have been less than perfect. When I write, I try to keep my pen tethered to my heart because it seems to be the deepest well to drink from. Opening this pub is my way of inviting you in to share a drink. Cheers!
Want to write for us? Here’s what you need to know:
- We are looking for well written and well edited work.
- We do not accept any AI generated stories.
- We accept poems, essays, stories, and memoir.
- Please include photo/picture credits where applicable.
- Please share the work of at least one other writer in your submission.
- At JOliver’s Twist, we clap and comment on each other’s work — gestures that we believe are important in fostering a sense of community among our readers and writers.
- It will be essential for you to use one (or more) of these tags: * Self Improvement * Healing * Humor * Prison * Poetry
- If you would like to apply to be a writer, here’s what happens next: * Follow me * Follow this pub * Let me know in the comments * Tell me your Medium ID * I’ll take a peek at your work and see if we are a good fit