Father - Daughter Relationship Essays

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS for an anthology of essays by new, diverse writers on father-daughter relationships

I am seeking original, non-fiction essays between 2,500 - 4,000 words on father-daughter relationships, for inclusion in an anthology.

Daughters’ relationships with - or without - our fathers affect us for better and for worse. Often, these relationships are too complex, difficult, and private to discuss, so these essays should be explorations of how we keep what we need and let go of what we don’t to become who we want to be. 

• These essays should be thoughtful, deeply personal stories that reflect the learning the writer has acquired over time, with a clear message for readers who need to see and hear from people like themselves.
• The goal is to amplify the stories of women writers of color in Michigan (and potentially more broadly geographically) who haven’t yet or aren’t likely to publish on their own, so they can find an audience and a path to publication. However, anyone who writes an original non-fiction essay on their father-daughter relationship is welcome to respond. 
• My role is to collaborate with the authors on finalizing the essays, provide an introductory chapter, and find sponsors for funding the publishing service of the anthology. 
• Net proceeds from the sales of the book will go to a non-profit or charity collectively decided upon by the contributors and sponsors, and in lieu of royalties, authors will receive a one-time payment of $100 for essays upon publication.

Why this project? I was twenty when my father died 26 years ago, and I did not see anyone like myself in resources to help me understand the loss, help me grieve, and help me move on. Now that I’m about the age at which my father died I have a new perspective, and I want to create the resource I wish I had when I needed it, to help others grow, heal and feel less alone. 

Submission deadlines, specifications, and other information:

• Sunday, August 16, 11:59pm: Call for submissions ends
• Tuesday, September 8: Notification of acceptance and revision requests sent to contributors 
• Sunday, September 28: Final essays due for manuscript completion and publication (estimated June 2021 to coincide with Father’s Day)
• We offer $100 for essays accepted for publication in the anthology (upon publication)
• Multiple submissions by one author will be accepted, but only one per entry form
• No simultaneous submissions (your essay can’t be sent to other publications at the same time as this one)
• We are looking for original, unpublished work only. Previously published work will not be accepted 
• Contributors will retain the rights to their work and will be able to share their own content with attribution. All contributors will be invited to promote, market, and advertise the book and their contribution independently and collectively
• Net proceeds from the sales of the book will go to a non-profit or charity collectively agreed upon by the contributors and sponsors (to be decided upon manuscript completion)
• Essays could address (but are not limited to) one or some of the following topics, and should be thoughtful, deeply personal stories that reflect the learning one has acquired over time, with a clear message for those who need to see and hear from people like themselves

1. Formation of identity/arrested development
2. Caretaking/loss of childhood
3. Relationships with other men
4. Milestones
5. Surpassing the age of the father
6. Parenting / parenting yourself
7. Being able to ask for what you need

• Submit all files as a Word .doc or .docx file. The file name should contain the title of the piece only. Example: A Simple Favor might be submitted as asimplefavor.doc or a_simple_favor.docx 
• Format: double spaced, 1" margins, 12-point Times New Roman font
• Length: 2,500 - 4,000 words
• All decisions regarding inclusion are final
• The selected contributors must sign an author agreement form (will be provided upon acceptance of submission) 
• Further questions? Email amy@amygoldmacher.com
• Additional details 7/29/20 - this is how I will evaluate the submissions:

1. Word count: I'm looking for essays that are 2500-4000 words, which is around 10-16 double-spaced pages. 

2. Does it have a point/What is the point of the story?/Why is this story important?: I want the readers of this anthology to be able to take away a point or a message from each essay. Can you weave that in so that the reader will have learned something from your experience? One way of getting to the point of your story is to write WHY this story is important to you. The WHY will come out when you write about what you have learned through reflection as an adult on why this experience was so impactful on you (see #4 below).

3. Fleshed out "characters": Readers need to get to know you, the protagonist. And more of the other "characters" in the story - we need to see your father as you saw him at the time of the story. You have to paint that picture for readers. You have to help us feel the emotions you had about your father: you loved him because he was your father, but you also feared him or were repulsed by him or whatever... Let us in to your emotional world. Let us feel what it is like to be in your skin, in your story.

4. Reflection/what is different now that time has gone by?: This point is related to #2 above: you have the unique vantage point of age and experience to have a new perspective on the story you are telling. What do you know now that you didn't know then? And what does that mean for you? Do you have empathy for your father? Can you never forgive him for his failings? Now you have to let us in to your emotions as an adult. Readers want to know what the experience meant to you at the time and what, if anything, is different from your perspective now. 

Here are some wonderful examples of powerful essays to inspire you:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/19/style/modern-love-coronavirus-missing-father.html?smid=em-share

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/201509/my-secret-father?eml

https://www.kveller.com/im-now-older-than-my-father-was-when-he-died/

https://lithub.com/how-dead-letters-brought-my-family-to-life/