How I Made Thousands Writing for Chicken Soup for the Soul
It’s true. I’ve been published in 16 Chicken Soup for the Soul books. At $200 a story, I’m no millionaire, but I’m proud of my success. Here are five easy steps to conquering this market:
1. Know the Genre: An inspirational essay is a first person true story that reads like fiction. It’s factually correct and emotionally honest with an uplifting, “feel good”, glass-half-full message. (Suggested reading: The Art of the Personal Essay, by Phillip Lopate, Write From the Heart, by Hal Zina Bennett, the Cup of Comfort series, and the Chicken Soup for the Soul books.)
2. Know What the Genre Is NOT: A sure way to get rejected is to write a sermon or eulogy. (“Grandma died, so let me tell you what a great person she was.”) Other no-nos: A list of events, a story about someone’s entire life, or a scholarly piece that reads like a report or dissertation.
3. Write Like A Pro:
- Start Strong: Start your story with a quote, describe the setting, or tell about a challenge to overcome.
- Stay Focused: Tell about one heartwarming event, like the Saturday afternoon you spent baking cookies with your kids. Resist the temptation to tell about everything that happened that Saturday.
- Action, Action: Readers like fast-paced stories. Don’t meander. Check your word count. (Usually around 800 words)
- Details Matter: Include a clear story structure, natural-sounding dialogue, descriptive setting, metaphors and similes, a musing voice, and a definitive theme.
- Wrap it Up: End your story by showing positive change, an uplifting message, or a lesson learned. Leave the reader smiling and feeling good about life.
4. Revise: Read your story aloud. Tighten extraneous words. Replace weak verbs. Vary sentence structure. Ask a critique partner to read your story to ensure it has universal appeal, is emotionally honest, and isn’t overly dramatic.
5. Submit: Double-check the submission guidelines. Know your rights in terms of payment, reprints, and multiple submissions.
