Do you have a story? 

We want to hear your personal Journey Story.  

We have published many journey stories and we would like to publish yours. Please see the below submission guidelines and send your story to Ezine@FtSociety.org.

Submission Guidelines:

• All articles submitted must be the author’s original work and not previously published, giving FS full first-time publication rights.
• Authors of articles submitted for publication have “veto power” over most editorial changes that are made to their article. While there is no obligation that any edited version of articles are shared with the author prior to publication, the editorial team leader may review edits with the author prior to printing to guarantee complete satisfaction.
• Authors are requested to submit a word count of their articles. The editorial team is suggesting a maximum of 5,000 words. Special consideration for a more lengthy article will be given for excellent subject matters and interesting articles found worthy of extended space allotments.
• Authors must send a short bio and photo of themselves. Bios and photos will not necessarily be published, and are subject to editing/cropping at the discretion of the editorial team. Head and shoulder photographs are appreciated. All photos must be high resolution and good lighting is a must.
• Authors are encouraged to submit photos with “journey stories” and may suggest clip art. The editorial team leader retains the authority to add clip art or other illustrations/photos to any article.
• Please title your article. Title assistance is available through the editorial team.
• Authors are encouraged to use a Times New Roman 11 point font. Please only use one space between sentences.

About Sharing Your Story

Journey stories are important because the written word enables us to connect emotionally to others. We can present hundreds of logical arguments and facts concerning why people should not be attached to religious and superstitious beliefs, but religious belief is more emotional than rational. Nontheists can debate the validity of scripture or argue the existence of God, but we cannot deny a person’s personal religious experiences. When a religious person tells their story about how God has worked some kind of perceived miracle or how God somehow blessed, transformed, lifted and encouraged them, we can’t argue against that. It’s their story.   

Telling a journey story either in person or on paper is a way to build a better level of understanding. Your story can be told in many different ways — a poem, a song, or just in a 1-minute elevator speech. Thinking about and creating a story regarding your experiences and what has influenced your life can be the perfect exercise to relate to friends, family, and even strangers you meet on an airplane flight. Everyone has experienced something special, different, and exceptional.   

Writing about yourself is never an easy task. Start by asking yourself the right questions and brainstorming. Then, move on to writing and revising.              

Think about writing or just talking about a journey story — a story that can capture how using reason, logic, and critical thinking became an important value in life. Ask yourself what is special, unique, exceptional, and/or impressive about you? What details of your life (personal or family, history, people, or events have shaped or influenced you? When did you become interested in the nontheist community and what has motivated your interest?              

If you want your journey story published and read, you must bring to light some personal experiences. Think about any unusual obstacles you had to overcome. For example, you may have experienced economic hardships or you may have had family or physical difficulties. After thinking and remembering, you must make a commitment to be honest with your readers. Honesty is very important for a good connection to readers.

We humans have malleable memories, so I always advise writers to fact-check with a little research before publishing. Facts such as dates are very important. The year of an incident must be credible. If the writer gets the date wrong when recalling a historical event, the reader will lose confidence in the writer. You can fact-check online and you can double check your memories by asking questions of family and friends who knew you around the time of your story.

What personal characteristics (such as integrity, com-passion, or persistence) do you possess that would inspire and motivate readers? Remember that when you are creating your story, each one of you will have a unique way of expressing yourself. Your story is important because it is original and nobody can tell it like you can.

One way to get started is to find a comfortable place to talk to a friend or family member. Let your mind search for special thoughts and memories. When you feel ready, please submit your story to The Freethought Society News!

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