Some experiences are difficult to explain in a sentence. Others begin with a small moment: a conversation, an unexpected change, or a kindness you still remember. If you would like to share a true story with Averstance, we would be glad to read it.
Reader Stories is a separate feature from A Healing Series. You can read the series without submitting anything, and sending a story does not add you to the newsletter.
Tell us about an experience that matters to you, in your own words. It does not have to be polished or have a perfect ending. Please send only work you wrote or have the right to share. Avoid someone else’s private information or identifying details unless you have the necessary permission.
What happens after you submit
An editor will review submissions in private. A submission does not guarantee publication or a response and will not be published automatically. We may contact you with queries. We will not publish your email address. If a story is selected, we will discuss your display name preference with you and will check any material edits with you before publication.
You keep ownership of your story. With your permission, Averstance may review it and contact you about it. If selected and you approve the edited version, Averstance may publish the agreed story on its website and share an excerpt in Averstance emails or social posts. The website and emails may include advertising or other commercial content. We would ask for a separate agreement before using it in advertisements, paid collections, or licensing it to another publisher. We do not promise payment unless we agree otherwise.
You can ask us to withdraw an unpublished submission or to remove a published story from our website via the contact page. We will look at your request and take reasonable steps in respect of material that we control. We cannot recall the delivered emails, and we cannot guarantee that copies and shares that are controlled by others will be removed.
Privacy and younger readers
Please see our Privacy Policy. We only accept submissions from adults 18 and over. Anyone under 18 should talk to a trusted adult and must not send any personal information via this form.
This form cannot provide emergency assistance or counseling. If you face immediate danger, call the emergency number for your location. You may also ask a nearby person to help you get urgent care.