Submissions for the 2026 edition of Tell Your Story Walking are now closed. Thanks to all who shared their work! The staff is now reviewing submissions and will be in touch with authors soon.
General FAQ
What do you do?
Tell Your Story Walking features creative work by Syracuse University Honors students and Honors program alumni.
What do I get if I submit?
You can earn civic engagement hours: one hour for submitting, and up to ten hours if your work is published. (Ten hours is the maximum for the project, regardless of how many pieces are selected.)
For requesting credit, use this form. The supervisor is Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers, jprodger@syr.edu.
What type of submissions are you looking for?
We are seeking:
- Writing (nonfiction stories and poetry)
- Visual art (including a cover image)
- Multimedia (audio and video stories, music/songs)
Submission Guidelines
What should I write about?
We are looking for original work based on personal experiences. The story might be a childhood memory, family portrait, character sketch, conversation, travelogue, scene from your hometown — any sort of story that shares a slice of your life and point of view.
If you want to write something but are not sure where to start, you can find some creative nonfiction ideas here.
Can I submit old work from classes or high school?
Yes! You may submit stories created for the Tell Your Story Walking writing course or for other courses, as well as other work.
Who can submit?
We encourage submissions from those with nontraditional writing backgrounds, as well as experienced writers. We aim to include diverse voices and perspectives in this collection.
What type of submissions are you looking for?
You can submit up to three stories in the following categories:
- Snapshots. Share a vivid, personal, meaningful moment, past or present. Drop us right into your experience, preferably writing in present tense, and keep it short: under 200 words.
- First-person creative nonfiction stories on any topic. Submissions can be prose, poetry, or hybrid forms, and any length up to (roughly) 1,200 words.
- Graphic stories. Comics and other types of stories combining visual art and text are welcome.
- Visual art. This could include photography, painting, drawing, collage, and mixed media—individual images as well as short series.
- Multimedia. Audio or video stories, music, songs, and more.
Can I submit anonymously?
If you’d prefer to publish your story anonymously or under a pseudonym, just be sure to note that in the questions/comments field of the submission form, which is embedded below and also available at this link.
How can we contact you?
Email: tellyourstorysyr@gmail.com
Connect on Instagram: @tellyourstorysyr
Join the email list if you’d like to receive updates.