Send your story

Guidelines have been updated in 2026. This year’s date to receive stories closes on September 30, 2026.  

Suggested written length: From one paragraph to one or two pages; one double-spaced page is typically 250-300 words. Some stories require longer length; we ask for a maximum of 800 words. Some stories of only one paragraph can be equally as impactful as longer ones. You may send in more than one story. Please also submit an author’s short biography of up to 100 words.

Copyright: All copyrights for the story remain with the author. Previously published works may be submitted if permission is granted by the copyright owner. 

Nature of the story: We focus on personal stories in the voices of those so inspired to tell the story. We find the contributor’s writing style most truly conveys their personal feeling, so we treasure stories told in their own words. If you need assistance to write the story, we ask for at least a rough draft and can work with you from there.

You do not have to have known the helper individual(s), or have been a recipient of a family story passed down. If you are inspired to write a helper story based on what you have heard or read, please mention in the story how the story came to you and your motivation for sharing it. We have enjoyed hearing from a wide variety of people.
Often, helper stories are found within other stories or books, or within oral histories. If you are moved to submit these, please make sure all copyright permissions are obtained for substantial portions that are used (e.g., large amounts of quoted material, transcripts and images). This is the responsibility of the contributor; we may be able to offer suggestions.
We have accepted works in the genre of creative non-fiction, in which the person(s) and events were real, with dialogue and limited details added to facilitate the telling of the story. We cannot accept excerpts of historical fiction already published and labeled as such unless the submitted story is re-written as an account of the true people and events.
We aim to be inclusive, but reserve the right to not use a story. 

Accompanying Images: A copy of a photograph, artwork, or other document that aids the narrative is welcome, preferably as a .jpg or .png file with medium to high resolution, and you may send more than one for our choosing which to use. We may need to crop and resize them. Please submit only images and graphics that you own, have the copyright to, or have already secured permission to use, and indicate the attribution. You are responsible for the publication of photos and for any required permissions to use them. We do not accept AI-generated images.

Editing: In aiming to preserve the voice of the contributor, we generally edit very minimally. When we do so, it is principally for clarity, and when recognized, for historical accuracy. We will discuss suggested edits with you in confirming your permission to use the story and associated images and graphics before publication. We may include pre-story and/or post-story notes of related historical information. We support professional artists, writers, academics and other related sites. We are glad to highlight your work related to the interests of the Our Debt of Gratitude Project and its readers, but we do not directly facilitate the sale of any product.