How Do I Join CWG?
We're glad you asked! In short, you can join CWG by contributing written content to our site. CWG Online welcomes submissions of essays, stories, news updates, and the like. If one of your submissions is accepted for publication, you will become an official "CWG Contributor" with a customized profile.
If you are an illustrator who would also like to write for CWG, you are also welcome to submit selections of your artwork for our Gallery after you become a Contributor. If you would just like to have your artwork featured on our site, feel free to send us some of your work through Instagram! Our account is @childrenswritersguild. We post six new pieces of art every single day!
For contributions other than stories (or manuscripts for editing, as discussed below), email your first submission to: submissions@childrenswritersguild.com. Files should be sent in Microsoft Word format. In addition to providing your submission, tell us a bit about yourself! CWG is especially interested in the personal stories of illustrators, educators and writers–blog posts and feature articles that discuss your creative process, how you have overcome challenges, and formative experiences crucial to your artistic, personal or professional development. We will notify you if your submission is accepted for publication.
Specific Instructions for Stories and Manuscripts
The following sections have instructions for submitting stories and poems (to our Stories & Verse section) and manuscripts for early editing (to our Editor's Corner section).
Stories & Verse
Would you like to submit one or more stories or poems for publication in CWG's Story & Verse section? We would love to share your work with our readers! Follow these guidelines:
Authors whose work is featured in CWG's Story & Verse section become CWG "Contributors" with their own personalized Profile pages! If you are submitting your story or poem for publication at CWG Online for the first time, begin by writing up a short bio (100-300 words) and selecting a profile picture (the higher the resolution, the better; tiny, blurry pictures won't work). Include both of these with your piece when you submit. If you have a Twitter page, Instagram account, Facebook page, email address, or personal web site that you would like us to display, you should include all of these details with your submission as well.
For each story or poem:
- Save your piece in Microsoft Word format (either a *.doc or *.docx file), or plain text.
- Written works may be of any length; however, pieces in excess of 6000 words will be serialized in a multi-part format (CWG's staff will be happy to discuss the release schedule with you).
- Provide a title for your work.
- Write a description of what inspired you to create your work! (50-300 words for stories; 25-300 for poems)
- Submit all of your information and materials by email to submissions@childrenswritersguild.com, with the subject: "Story (or Poem) Submission"
If your work is chosen for publication, we will notify you at the email address you used to send your submission.
A submitter to our Stories & Verse section grants CWG the nonexclusive right to display their submission on our web site, until such time as the submitter requests his or her submission's removal; the submitter retains all other rights.
Early Manuscript Drafts for Editing
If you would like to improve your writing, you can submit an early draft or draft portion of a longer manuscript for critique on our site's Editor's Corner. Here's how...
- Save your piece in Microsoft Word format (either a *.doc or *.docx file), or plain text.
- Your manuscript may be up to 3000 words in length.
- Choose a Pen Name for yourself, and a "Working Title" for your text!
- Tell us a bit about yourself and what inspired you to write your story or poem (50-300 words total).
- Submit all of your information and materials by email to submissions@childrenswritersguild.com, with the subject: "Manuscript for Editor's Corner"
If your manuscript is chosen for editing, we will notify you at the email address you used to send your submission.
A submitter to our Editor's Corner section grants CWG the nonexclusive right to display their submission on our web site, until such time as the submitter requests his or her submission's removal; the submitter retains all other rights
