My Story Is Out: High School Years

Posted on April 19, 2011 by LyndseyD

This groundbreaking anthology is intended to be a collection of personal real-life stories about surviving high school as an LGBT teen and coming out on the other side.

We are looking for humorous, heart-warming, wistful, and inspiring stories  written by straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals 25 years old and younger.

Yes, we are looking for “wistful and heart-warming” stories. But an inspiring story could be one that turns tragedy into triumph, or one that you learned a great deal from in spite of the struggles you may have endured. If you have a story to tell about your personal experience that is sure to touch the hearts, lives and souls of LGBT teens all over the world, then we would love to read it and consider it for publication.

(For a video explanation about the anthology series, click here.)

Please follow the submission guidelines listed below:

1. Your story must be a true account of something that has happened to you or someone you know. It should be written in the first person. (See “Story Do’s and Don’ts” Page for examples and other helpful tips.)
2. The story must have taken place in high school, and the author (you) must be 25 years old or younger at the time of submission.
3. Your story should not be less than 500 words or more than 1200 words.
4. Do not submit your story more than once. However, you are allowed to submit more than one story if it pertains to different categories.
5. Please do not submit anonymous stories, stories written under pennames or false names, or as-told-to stories.
6. Your story should fall within one of the following chapter categories:

School Daze — something that happened during the course of a high school day
Gender Education — transgender stories
Out Numbered — bullying stories
Coming Out to Friends
Students of Color — stories regarding different cultures/races
We Are Family — stories of support from family members
Sitting on the Bench — sports team stories
Outstanding Teachers — stories of support from teachers
Any Questions? — stories of questioning
Feelings of Pride — stories about making a difference in your high school
After Graduation — stories about leaving high school and looking ahead

7. Keep a copy of the story you submit to us for your own personal records.
8. We will only accept story submissions that have not been previously published.
9. If your story is accepted for publication, you must sign a permission release form. All individuals subsequently referenced in your story must also sign a release form. It will be your responsibility to obtain those signatures. Tentative acceptance of your story is dependent on these forms being completed.
10. We do not accept full manuscripts. Please do not send them.
11. We do not accept poetry submissions at this time.
12. We do not accept stories with inappropriate language or subject matters. They will be deleted immediately.

All story submissions must be submitted electronically to: mystory@mystoryisout.com. Please enclose your story in the body of the e-mail. Include your name, age, address, e-mail, chapter category, the title of your story and the word count at the top of the e-mail. We will not accept any e-mail attachments.

Please do not send any additional e-mails asking if your story has been accepted for publication. The story evaluation process may take months. However, if your story is accepted for publication, you will receive an e-mail notification directly from us.  From that point, we will set up a line of communication with you which may include helping you edit your story to clarify your message or make your story stronger.

As a contributing author to My Story Is Out: High School Years, you will receive:

1. One (1) copy of the book.

2. A T-shirt featuring the My Story Is Out: High School Years logo and the wording “I’m a published author!”

3. A share of the book royalties for one year starting on the publication date. More details will be posted soon.

As of February 2012, the story submission deadline is open until we get enough stories. Get your story in today!

Tentative publication is Fall 2012 by Publishing Syndicate.

Thank you and good luck!

 

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