DOWNLOAD Story Guidelines (PDF)

PC Users (Internet Explorer): To download PDF file, Right Click on the blue file link above and select Save As/Save Target As. The download time might take a while depending on the type of internet connection you have. Please be patient.

Dear Friend of Why We Serve®,

We owe most of our success to writers like you for the wonderful contributions of hope,inspiration, overcoming life’s challenges, war, deployments and realized dreams.

We hope that this letter finds you well and sitting atop a plethora of stories that you just don’t know what to do with. We welcome stories from all contributors to include the family of military members.

Recipe for A Winning Why We Serve® Story

A Why We Serve® story is an inspirational, true story about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. It is a story that opens the heart and rekindles the spirit. It is a simple, inter-denominational, living art piece that touches the heart and soul of the readers and helps them discover basic principles they can use in their own lives. They are personal and often filled with emotion and drama. They are filled with vivid images created by using the five senses. In some stories, the readers feel that they are actually in the scene with the people.

Why We Serve stories have a beginning, middle and an ending that often closes with a punch, creating emotion rather than simply talking about it. Why We Serve® stories have heart, but also something extra…an element that makes us all feel more hopeful, more connected, more thankful, more passionate and better about life in general. It tells a story of Why You Serve in your given calling or profession.  We are launching with the military as your sacrifice is tremendous to our United States.  A story that causes tears, laughter, goosebumps or any combination of these. A good story covers the range of human emotions.

The most powerful stories are about people extending themselves, or performing an act of love, service or courage for another person.

Guidelines for a Why We Serve® Story

1. Tell an exciting, sad or funny story about something that has happened to you or someone you know. Make sure that you introduce the character(s).

2. Tell your story in a way that will make the reader cry, laugh or get goose bumps (the good kind!) Don’t leave anything out — how did you feel?

3. The story should start with action; it should include a problem, issue or situation. It should include dialogue and the character should express their feelings though the conflict or situation. It should end in a result, such as a lesson learned, a positive change or pay-off.

4. Above all, let it come from your HEART! Your story is important!

What a Why We Serve® story IS NOT:

1. A sermon, an essay or eulogy.

2. A term paper, thesis, letter or journal entry.

3. A “My Grandma Just Died, and Let Me Tell You What A Wonderful Person She Was” or “Let Me Tell You About My Disease or Operation” or “I Gave a Bum Some Money, Aren’t I Incredible?” or “Why My Mother Is the Best Mother” or a personal testimony that may mean nothing to the reader.

Story Specifications

1. It is preferred that all submissions are sent via our website at www.whyweserve.com. If you don’t have access to the Internet, please submit your stories preferably typed on plain white 8 1/2” x 11” paper, in 12-point Times New Roman font.

2. Please be sure to type the author’s name and contact information on the first page of each and every story.

3. Stories should be non-fiction, ranging in length between 300-1200 words.

4. Mail your submissions in a flat, 9x12 envelope if possible.

5. No anonymous or author unknown submissions please.

6. Send only one copy of each submission.

7. We do not return submissions, so please don’t send the original.

Chapters

Every book is divided into topic chapters with the following as a guideline for typical chapters:

1) On Love For What You Do: This chapter contains stories that describe acts of love and kindness; the healing power of love; acts of sacrifice,tenderness and compassion; acts of generosity; and events that transcend racism, sexism, ageism and nationalism.

2) On Parenting: This chapter contains stories that demonstrate love and caring in the act of parenting and grand parenting. Particularly parenting when you are physically removed from your home environment.

3) On Teaching and Learning: This chapter contains stories that demonstrate caring, compassion and creativity in the art of teaching—both in the classroom and outside the classroom.

4) Overcoming Obstacles: This chapter contains stories that demonstrate how we have triumphed over our own personal obstacles or supported one over theirs, and how individually each should be celebrated.

5) A Matter of Perspective: This chapter contains stories that demonstrate how our experience of all events is effected by our point of view, that there is more than one way to see and interpret the same event, and that as we change our point of view, we actually change our experience. These stories may be humorous.

6) A Matter of Attitude: This chapter, like the previous one, will contain stories that demonstrate how our attitudes and beliefs control our perception of reality and our behavior.

7) On Death and Dying: This chapter will contain stories about the power of the human spirit to confront the loss of loved ones through spiritual understanding, healing acts of love and kindness, and through humor.

8) On Living Your Dream: This chapter will contain stories that demonstrate the power of believing in your dream, the power of goal setting, the wisdom of trusting and following your heart, the power of giving encouragement and the importance of asking for and being open to receiving assistance from both other people and God.

9) Eclectic Wisdom: This chapter contains stories that don’t fit into any other chapters. The stories are what about any aspect of life that is emotionally moving, touching, inspiring and insightful.

If the story you wrote is published, you will be paid upon publication of the story. Payment amount will be determined at that time.

Please note that our policy has changed. We will no longer be mailing acknowledgment cards after receiving your story if it arrives via postal mail or fax. The only way to receive an acknowledgment of your submission at this time is by submitting through our website, http://www.whyweserve.com. By submitting through the website, you will be taken to an acknowledgment screen on our website directly after hitting “send”. This screen will inform you that the story has been accepted into our submission process. We strongly encourage you to submit stories online as it is both the fastest and easiest way to process and review your submission. If you do not have Internet access at home, you can always visit a local library.

It can take up to three or four years for Why We Serve® books to develop. Please be patient, as this is an important, yet time-consuming process. If your story is chosen for a future edition of Why We Serve® or any other projects, you will be notified by mail and your permission to print it will be requested. However, if your story is not chosen, you will not receive a letter due to the fact that there are future books for which it may be considered for.

Feel free to submit more than one story if you’d like. If you do not have a personal story of your own, but have a pre-published favorite or a story written by someone else, these stories are welcomed as well. Don’t forget to include who the author is, source, etc.

You can submit your story three different ways:

Internet: www.whyweserve.com

Mail: Why We Serve / Riverwalk Publishing LLC
Attn: Story Submissions
PO Box 35
Universal City, TX 78148

Fax:

Phone: 210-214-3355

Respectfully,

Riverwalk Publishing LLC. dba Why We Serve