submissions OPEN APRIL 2,2024
Please read all guidelines carefully. Any submissions that DO NOT follow the guidelines will be declined automatically.
Are you a young writer?
You have your very own guidelines!
General Guidelines:
We will consider submissions from anyone, with a particular emphasis on uplifting the voices of young writers. What does this mean? Writers in grades K-12 will be automatically accepted for publication. Those beyond these grade levels will have work subject to acceptance per the editorial team.
This print publication will feature the adventures of cats and dogs from The City of Buffalo Animal Shelter.
You may only submit once.
We understand cover letters can seem overwhelming. Feel free to tell us a little about yourself, or simply let your writing speak for itself. We would like the following questions answered at the top of the email:
Name: This can be your legal name, pen name, pseudonym, or anonymous; whichever you would like displayed upon publication.
Title: Be sure to include your title exactly as you would like it published.
Animal Name: Be sure to choose an animal to inspire your submission and let us know their name.
Social Media: If you would like to be tagged on social media, please include your handles. This is not required, especially if you would like to keep your submission anonymous. If this is the case, simply put N/A.
Pronouns: Please provide your preferred pronouns.
Previously Published: If the work you are submitting has been previously published, please let us know where so we can include that information upon publication.
Bio: Please provide a third person bio to be included with your writing upon publication.
Please attach your submission as .docx files. Work submitted in PDF or other file formats will be declined without review.
We accept previously published pieces. Work that has appeared on your social media or blog is okay as well.
Simultaneous submissions are permitted. We know it’s tough out there in the literary world! We will send you nothing but excitement and congratulations if your work is accepted elsewhere.
If your submission is accepted elsewhere, please be sure to notify us at shelterstorysubmissions@gmail.com with the subject line: WITHDRAWN - Author Name as soon as possible.
If for any reason your work must be pulled after it has been accepted, please notify us immediately by email. The last day to withdraw work is September 16, 2024.
What we accept:
No matter the form: flash fiction, short stories, monologue, play, poem, etc. all submissions should be a minimum of 100 words and no more than 2,000 words.
Editors may make special exceptions / accommodations, and they will be more than happy to work with you on your submission.
As this book will be for all ages, please be mindful of language and content within your submission.
What we DO NOT accept:
Any work that is racist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, sexist, or directs hate/promotes violence.
Content that is not your original creative work.
We do not accept any writing created—partially or entirely—with AI software.
Our publication is meant to feature human creativity only.
Awaiting Adventures
We have many animals awaiting adventures beyond the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter.
Payment:
In lieu of payment, 80% of earnings from the print collective will be donated to the Friends of the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter. The other 20% will be used to fund publication costs.
contributor copies:
As this is a labor of love for both of our editors with no financial backing, we are unable to send print copies of the collective to contributors. However, a completed PDF will be sent prior to publication.
Rights:
Your work will always belong to you. We ask for one-time non-exclusive rights to publish your work in print, after which all rights revert back to you. Should you publish the work elsewhere after it is published, we’d love for you to credit Second Chances: Adventures Beyond the Shelter as the original publisher.
Promotion:
By submitting to us, you grant Second Chances permission to use your words for marketing and promotional materials to be used online. We will always give proper credit!
Disclaimer:
Second Chances reserves the right to pull contributor’s work with written notice to the contributor. Hopefully this will not happen, but in the case of any threatening, illegal, or unprofessional behavior, we will do what is best for our editors, contributors, and collective.
Response Time:
We aim to respond to every submission within 3 weeks. We’re just as impatient as you! Please don't query until after that time. All submissions will receive a response by September 10, 2024.
editing:
Minor edits may be suggested following acceptance of your letter. Our editors prioritize a collaborative style to ensure published work is the best version possible and that every contributor is thrilled with the final version.
Submission End Date:
Submissions will close August 27, 2024 at 11:59PM EST.
Submit:
To submit to the print collective, please send an email to shelterstorysubmissions@gmail.com using the subject line: Second Chances - Your Name
