This call for submissions has a deadline of November 15, 2005. A Cup of Comfort seeks honest, original stories from parents and family members of children on the Autism Spectrum. This includes Asperger's Syndrome, Rett's Syndrome, Pervasive Development and Disintegrative Disorder.

They review submissions throughout the timeline. They do list some possible themes of interest, but are not limiting submissions to just these stories - effective treatments; reasons for hope; adult children with autism, breakthroughs; impact on other family members.

A Cup of Comfort will also consider stories submitted by professionals with intimate knowledge of the child and parents in question. There will not be an acknowledgement or receipt of your submission due to the number of responses they receive. It is also noted that manuscripts are not returned. Submissions can be mailed, faxed or emailed, which is the preferred mode of submission. There is no cost incurred for submitting your story. You must cut and paste the story into the email, do not send any attachments. The site gives clear instructions on what to include in your submission and what to state in the subject line.

The story must contain between 1,000-2,000 words and be written in the first or third person. " For this inspirational volume, we seek personal anecdotal stories (not prescriptive articles) about the unique aspects of parenting a child with autism and related disorders." The stories need to be uplifting and in English. It is also mentioned on the site that some previously published material is acceptable. You are free to submit more than one story for any publication.

"A Cup of Comfort is a bestselling anthology series featuring compelling true stories about the experiences and relationships that inspire and enrich our lives. These engaging personal essays — written by people from all walks of life — are carefully selected for inclusion in A Cup of Comfort based on originality, creativity, emotional impact, and substance."

If your story is selected as a finalist you will be mailed a publishing agreement. The website - www.cupofcomfort.com will post a list of the contributors for A Cup of Comfort for Parents of Children with Autism on the site and the grand-prize wining story. This winner also receives $500 on publication and a complimentary copy of the book. All other stories in the book will receive $100.00 each and a copy of the book as well.

I am very excited to learn about this book and plan on submitting a story or two myself. I encourage all parents and especially those with adult children to start composing your true stories sharing the tales of raising your child to help benefit other parents and professionals.

The site also has samples from other A Cup of Comfort books to help get a feel for what stories they accept. Books cost $9.95 at the site and can be ordered over the phone.

Good Luck to all who take part in this endeavor and submit their story.

A Cup of Comfort Writer's Guidelines


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