Adult Submissions

Nana Jean with Rosa Parks statue at the LTD Bus Station in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Arun Toké)

NEW: We invite you to send your writings: stories, essays, art and photo essays for our consideration. Please note that we are now accepting submissions both for publication on our website and in print issues. However, since 2021, we have been publishing contributions by adults mostly on our website (as we are publishing only two print issues a year). Art and photos can now be published in full color. Our 2023 Awards issue (featuring our book awards as well as the youth honor awards) is now available. We prefer submissions by email. Attachments of .doc or .docx are preferred for writing; but we will accept submissions as .pdf files and text of your email. Photos and art/illustrations can be sent as .jpg or .tiff files.

Adult Guidelines for Submissions:

Our readers, ages 7 to 17, hail from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. We want to make their reading of Skipping Stones an active experience, relevant to issues confronting them locally and globally. Writing and artwork by adults should challenge readers to think, learn, cooperate and create.

We encourage adults to submit creative informational stories rather than pure fiction. We prefer submissions focusing on your own culture or experiences. No adult poetry, please.

The Details: Compositions should be typed, double-spaced, on 8.5″ x 11″ sheets and less than 1,000 words long. Include your name on each page. Artwork and photos should each have the artist’s name and address on the back.

Include a short bio and a complete address in your cover letter. We’re especially interested in hearing about your cultural background and the experiences that led to the creation of your work. You may wish to send a photo of yourself or the subjects of your submission.

Skipping Stones is a nonprofit, educational and charitable organization. It is a labor of love. Your work is recognized as a contribution to the global effort toward social change. If your work is published you will receive one to four complimentary copies of the issue (plus a 25% discount on additional copies) and a $10 discount on your first subscription. Contributors of longer pieces (e.g., a two-page article) receive four complimentary copies.

We may edit your work for space or clarity. We will try to contact you with revisions if time permits. If you would like a reply from us, or your work returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Submissions that do not include SASE’s will be recycled if we do not publish them. Allow at least four months for our reply. We are not responsible for unsolicited submissions. If you move, please let us know your new contact info.

Skipping Stones holds first serial rights. Once accepted, you can only publish your work elsewhere after it is published in our magazine. We also keep non-exclusive reprint rights for all material published in Skipping Stones. We may reprint or allow others to reprint or excerpt (with your byline, of course!) pieces published in the magazine, including by electronic means.

Ideas for Submissions:

  • Cultural or Regional Celebrations: First-hand descriptions (with photos or illustrations)
  • Writings accompanied by children’s artwork
  • Bilingual submissions or writings introducing (using words/phrases from) other languages
  • Folktales, hospitality customs, recipes, music, folk art and architecture from around the world
  • Living Abroad and Immigration: Your memorable experiences
  • Cross-Cultural Communications: Ways we express ourselves through language, proverbs, tales, songs, body language, symbols, etc.
  • International Humor: Jokes, funny stories, riddles, games, cross-cultural mix-ups, etc.
  • Photo Essays on a country or region
  • Families and Community: Getting along, unique gatherings or projects, intergenerational experiences, multilingual families
  • Creative Problem Solving and Peace-Making
  • Cooperative Games, Quizzes, Riddles, Puzzles
  • Life as a Minority: Challenges and successes
  • Living with and Understanding Disabilities
  • Unforgettable Moments: Times of transformation or revelation.
  • Inspirations or Role Models in your life
  • Right Livelihood: Earning a living while helping the world.
  • Technology: Its impacts on the planet.
  • Sustainable Living: Our Mission, Purpose and Challenges. How can we care for the Earth and all its inhabitants?
  • Nature: Unique ecology, resource conservation, endangered species, fighting pollution
  • Taking Action: Reports of or suggestions for children’s involvement in community, ecology or social justice; actions to improve the world
  • Raising Caring Kids: What tools do we use? Improving self-awareness and self-esteem; encouraging creativity, non-violence and tolerance; being a role model
  • Parent/Teacher Guide: Lesson plans, ideas, activities, experiences and suggestions.
  • Any other multicultural, social, international or nature awareness theme that you wish to write about!

You can send us your submissions by snail mail or via E-mail with Word/pdf attachments and graphics/photos as .jpeg or .tiff files.

Please send all submissions to:

Managing Editor
Skipping Stones
166 W. 12th Avenue
Eugene OR 97401 USA