Unless you’ve been living on another planet during the past few years, you’ve probably heard of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series. Here’s good news for everyone in adoption land: A new “Chicken Soup” is coming – Chicken Soup for the Adopted Soul.

This fall, I had a lengthy face-to-face chat with LeAnn Thieman, a delightful woman (and adoptive mom) who is editing “Adopted Soul.” LeAnn, who lives in Colorado, shared the process she goes through to write and edit the Chicken Soup books (she’s edited eight of them):

• LeAnn collects around 2,000 stories (per book), reads them all and selects the top 200 or so.



• She has a stable of 40 volunteer readers who read those 200 stories and score them 8, 9, or 10, which helps her narrow the field to the top 100 stories.


• 
  LeAnn then “soups” up each story, recrafting them to fit the style and tone of the Chicken Soup books. Eighty stories appear in each book.



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Chicken Soup for the Adopted Soul will contain stories from all representatives of the adoption triad: birth/first parents, adopted people, and adoptive parents.

During our conversation LeAnn mentioned that several stories about adoption from Vietnam have already been submitted. But if you have a connection to Vietnam adoption, don’t let that stop you from submitting. Just be aware that LeAnn is looking for a variety of stories that represent many different types of experiences.

I’ll add one piece of advice for those who are considering submitting: Check out a copy of a Chicken Soup book from the library or purchase one at a (used) bookstore. Read 10-20 of the stories to get a good feel for the style, tone, and length the editors are looking for. Educating yourself about the books will put you ahead of 90 percent of the people who submit.

Here are the submission guidelines LeAnn sent. Put on your thinking cap, and start writing!

Chicken Soup for the Adopted Soul is collecting true stories sharing the love, laughter, longing, and life events of adopted families. We are eager to read stories written by kids, parents, extended families and friends, recounting tales of becoming a family, growing up, special occasions, reunions, etc. Please share your heart-warming, insightful, humorous and powerfully moving stories that will make readers laugh, cry, or sigh.

Here are some tips for writing it Chicken Soup-style:

Stories must be true, inspirational, 1,000 words or less. They should be positive, universal, and non-controversial. No essays, commentaries, tributes, philosophical or biographical pieces accepted.

Include action and dialogue with the characters expressing their feelings throughout the conflict or situation. It should end in a result, such as a lesson learned, a positive change or pay-off.

Above all, let it come from your heart.

The submission deadline is March 1, 2007, for release in March, 2008. Submit stories on line at www.ChickenSoup.com., Submit a Story.

For sample stories or more information, see my website at www.LeAnnThieman.com. For each story selected, a 50-word biography will be included about the author and a permission fee of $200 will be paid. Due to the volume of stories we receive, only finalists will be notified prior to publication.

Thank you for joining us in touching the hearts of millions of adoptive families everywhere. I can’t wait to read your stories!

LeAnn Thieman
Jack Canfield
Mark Victor Hansen