Thank you for your interest in learning how to write and publish a teen anthology of short stories. The ultimate goal . . . learning how to give voice to stories that matter!

Guidelines and Details

1. The class is focused on writing and publishing fictional short stories. The theme of the anthology will be decided during the group coaching session. Creativity encouraged!

2. All stories must be original, written by the teen author. No part of the creative stories should be taken from any other written or spoken source.

3. All stories must be "clean"—without profanity, the use of God's name in vain, or graphic violence. Think "G" or "PG" ratings, please.

3. Final stories must be between 5,000 and 7,500 words.

4. We will request an author headshot for the interior of the book, but this is not mandatory. Parents/guadians will need to sign a release for us to publish the teens' names, images, and short bios.

5. The first twelve (12) authors to submit this form will be offered a slot. If needed, we will maintain a waitlist in the event an author backs out or does not submit their final short story by June 1, 2023. We require a minimum of six (6) writers to publish.

6. The fee is $499, due at the time of registration. An email will be sent with an invoice once you register. The course fee is fully refundable by March 5, 2023 should a writer withdraw from the course by then. There is a 50% refund available should an author withdraw from the course by March 25, 2023 and there are still at least six (6) writers remaining. Otherwise, there is a 25% refund.

What the Teen Writers (Soon Authors!) will Receive

1. One (1) group coaching session with Cortney Donelson, editor and best-selling ghostwriter.

2. Two (2) individual coaching sessions with Cortney Donelson.

3. Full editing services for their short story.

4. Information about publishing.

5. Two (2) author copies of the final, published anthology*.

Projected Timeline**

The submission window is open from January 15, 2023 to March 1, 2023.

The group coaching session will be scheduled for early March. Individual coaching sessions will be scheduled as teen writers submit their drafts (these coaching sessions will be available from mid-March to early May). The earlier the teens submit their first drafts, the more coaching options will be available to fit their schedules.

Final stories and headshots/bios will be due from the teen writers by May 31, 2023.

Editing/proofeading will be completed by September 1, 2023.

Approvals from teen writers/parents on final drafts will be due by September 15, 2023.

The book will be in design/production in October 2023.

Release Day (projected) is November 7, 2023 (just in time to buy as holiday gifts!).

 

*If less than six writers finish the course, vocem LLC will determine if a final, published anthology is feasible at that time. If not, a $25 refund will be provided to the writers since no final book will be distributed. 

**This timeline may change at any time.

The Fine Print

All teen writers must turn in their work by the deadlines outlined at the beginning of the course to ensure the anthology is published on schedule. The final anthology is a group project, and teamwork will be required. There will be a $100 late fee for any missed deadlines.

Parents/Guardians will be asked to sign a separate, individual release, allowing vocem LLC to use the teen authors' names and photos inside the anthology and for social media marketing. Teen authors can also provide a short author bio if they choose.

The authors retain copyright and intellectual property for their individual stories, and they may share and use only their individual stories elsewhere (e.g., college applications, etc.). We ask that you kindly cite the anthology as the first place of publication. vocem LLC will be the "independent publishing entity." The cost and procurement of the ISBNs and registration for the complete anthology (ebook and paperback) rests with vocem LLC. All final decisions related to book size, cover design, and interior layout will be made by vocem LLC (with input from the teen writers during the six-month course as part of their learning).

vocem LLC will write the introduction and any other sections of the front and back matter of the book and set the price of the anthology on Amazon (ebook and print versions). vocem LLC will retain royalties up to $500 to cover book design, social media marketing, and other administrative costs. Any royalty income above $500 during the first six months after publication will be donated to The Sandbox charity in Charlotte, North Carolina.