Do you have a great personal story or anecdote to share? Then you’ll be interested to learn about personal essay markets. Personal essays give a “slice of life” and are sometimes funny, or poignant, or even have a more profound message.

Keep in mind there are other, terrific places to look for personal essay markets that may be right under your nose. Consider local and regional magazines, which sometimes save the last page in their publication for a personal essay. Some local parenting magazines also have a personal essay. You may stumble across markets simply by reading your favorite magazine, newspaper or blogs!

Chicken Soup for the Soul 

Chicken Soup for the Soul books feature personal essays often on themed topics, of about 1K to 1500 words. At their website, you will find a section of “possible book topics” so you can submit for upcoming books they will publish soon.

Payment: $200 and 10 copies of the book

Details: http://www.chickensoup.com/

Christian Science Monitor - The Home Forum 

Their Home Forum is seeking upbeat personal essays of 400 to 800 words. Short poems are also welcomed.

Payment: information not provided

Details: https://www.csmonitor.com/About/Contributor-guidelines/Contributor-Guidelines-The-Home-Forum

FATE 

They want your perspective and stories about unique experiences - from ghost hunting, UFO sightings and more.

Payment: $50 an article

Details: http://www.fatemag.com/

Good Old Days 

This is a magazine about "the good old days" from about 1935 to 1960, so they want your stories in a variety of topics in this time period. It is especially ideal if you have photos to go with the stories that you share. Stories are 600 to 1K in length.

Payment: they do offer payment, it varies, depending on what type of rights to the story you are selling.

Details: https://www.goodolddaysmagazine.com/

Dame Magazine 

On their website they state "We cover politics, reproductive rights, policy, civil rights, race, sex, class, gender, LGBTQ, disability, class, media, law, cultural trends, and more." They are seeking personal, first-person essays, as well as other types of features.

Payment: information is not provided.

Details: https://www.damemagazine.com/about/#submission-guidelines

Modern Love - The New York Times 

The New York Times is looking for personal essays about love and romance, from different perspectives. Essays should be about 1500 to 1700 in length.

Payment: information is not provided

Details: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/21/fashion/howtosubmit_modernlove.html

Do you have a home office? If so, you're certainly not alone!

According to the 2017 State of Telecommuting, 3.9 million U.S.A. employees work from home, about half of their work week. This is a 115% increase from 2005.

And if you have a home office, certainly you want to feel comfortable there. So you can do your best work and be 100% focused on getting things done. Savvy telecommuters know that getting things such as an ergonomic office chair or setting up your workspace "just right" can make a huge difference.

That's why you should also look at Feng Shui too. What's that? Feng Shui is a long-held belief that the placement of objects and elements in your home or workspace will affect you - both positively and negatively.

If you've ever walked into a home or office and instantly felt comfortable, then Feng Shui could be working quite nicely there. The same is true for the opposite reaction - if there is a place where you just never quite feel like yourself, the Feng Shui might need some improvement.

What I think is the most interesting about Feng Shui is that you quite likely don't have to change everything to start seeing great results. So if you start reading Feng Shui and realize your office door is in the wrong location, there is a "cure" for this that you can do - not simply calling your carpenter or contractor and writing a huge check!

Here are some terrific tips for Feng Shui, especially for your office. With these you can get started - let Feng Shui help you to attract success, prosperity and wealth!

Want to know where to put your desk? Watch this video to learn the classic Feng Shui rules about where to put it, whether in a home or traditional office setting.

Trying to figure out the best location for your home office? Here is a terrific video to watch, to get some helpful Feng Shui tips to decide where in your home an office could be placed. 

Did you know the placement of objects on your desk also counts as Feng Shui? Learn all about this with this video. Ken Lauher, Feng Shui expert advises us to "see the opportunities that come to you & take advantage of them." One of his best tips is: don't keep things under your desk because it keeps you from being efficient. 

Want to know 10 Feng Shui Tips to Boost Your Luck, especially for Office & Career?

Watch this video! One of our favorite tips: adding plants to your office!

Today I’m honored to interview a lovely person and extraordinarily talented author: Donna L. Martin. Donna has had a story accepted by Chicken Soup for the Soul and she shares with us her sage advice – some might say the “ingredients” you’ll need to craft a story to send to this popular personal story anthology series.



Donna’s story appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Angels Among Us: 101 Inspirational Stories of Miracles, Faith, and Answered Prayers   Her story is "Shortcut to Peace."

Donna L. Martin is an internationally best-selling award-winning author. She has been writing since she was eight years old. Donna is a 4th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna is a BOOK NOOK REVIEWS host providing the latest book reviews on all genres of children’s books, and the host of WRITERLY WISDOM, a resource series for writers. Donna is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. She is a lover of dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection.

Here are some ways you can connect with Donna L. Martin and learn more about her latest writing projects:

Goodreads: Donna L Martin

Email: donasdays @ gmail dot com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/donasdays

Twitter: www.twitter.com/donasdays

LinkedIn: Donna L Martin/StoryCatcher Publishing

Abigail: You've written for Chicken Soup for the Soul, a book about Angel experiences. What inspired your story?

Donna L. Martin: My story is based on an angel encounter when I was 14 years old and contemplating suicide. I have always been a spiritual person and believe in angels. Fortunately, on that particular dark day, my guardian angel believed in me as well and prevented a tragic event from happening.

Abigail: What do you like most about writing for Chicken Soup for the Soul?

Donna L. Martin: Chicken Soup for the Soul books allow strangers across the universe to reach out and touch each other’s souls in some way. Whether through funny stories, heart wrenching ones, or inspirational ones…this book series connects us all in a way most other books can’t. I was able to take one very lonely moment in my adolescent life and through my pain, reach out to others who somehow felt a connection. It helped remind me that NO ONE on this planet is truly alone.

Abigail: How quickly did you hear that your story was accepted? Can you tell us a bit about that process, from when your story was submitted to getting it accepted?

Donna L. Martin: The acquisitions department of Chicken Soup for the Soul is like any other larger publishing company. I imagine they receive hundreds, if not thousands of submissions for each topic they create. It was months before I received an email from them stating they were interested in publishing my story. Sometimes they ask for revisions before they add it to their latest release. I was fortunate because they changed nothing in my story before publishing it.

 Abigail: The pay rate for writing for Chicken Soup for the Soul is $200 for a personal story and 10 complimentary copies of your book. Who did you give complimentary copies of your book to?

Donna L. Martin: Some went to family & friends while others were given away at book fairs. I was also able to purchase more at a great discount, so I continue to share the book with people who might find it inspirational.

Abigail: Chicken Soup for the Soul is a competitive writing market, a lot of writers submit to them. What is your advice to send them a great story?

Donna L. Martin: Pay close attention to the THEME of their topic. For my story, they wanted angel encounters so if that wasn’t woven into the entire story, it wouldn’t have captured their interest. Make sure your story then follows the theme of your story title. My own story theme was how an angel prevented my own suicide attempt so any backstory or random discussion about my life in general would just be fluff and distracts the reader from the true story I was trying to tell. Edit your finished story to tighten the overall plot and make the publisher’s job easier to accept your submission.

Abigail: Have you thought about writing another Chicken Soup for the Soul story?

Donna L. Martin: I submitted another story for their EMPOWERED WOMAN topic. I’m crossing my fingers that it is a proper fit for what they are looking for in this book.

Abigail: What has been a fun experience as the result of writing for Chicken Soup for the Soul? Have you done a book signing or a speaking event?

Donna L. Martin: I wouldn’t exactly call it a “fun” experience writing for Chicken Soup for the Soul, but it was my stepping off piece to start my publishing journey. And the emails I have received from different people who felt some level of connection to me through that story has touched my heart more than they will ever know.

Abigail: Writers are always writing. Can we ask what you are working on now?

Donna L. Martin: My last book, Are YOU The Missing Piece?, was released last October by Expert Insights Publishing and went on to become a #1 International best-seller. I’m now exploring the world of indie publishing and preparing to release my young adult novel, Lunadar: Homeward Bound, in the spring of 2019. There is so much to learn about the publishing side of
things, but I am taking my time to create the best quality book that I can.

Abigail: What is next for your career as an author?

Donna L. Martin: To help support my journey into indie publishing, I have set up my own publishing company called STORY CATCHER PUBLISHING. You can find out more at the following link, including links to my book. I’ve also started a new blog series called “An
Indie Author’s Journey” which comes out every Monday where I talk about all the
steps involved to create a quality book as well as all the tips, tricks, and
costs along the way. If your readers decide to follow me on my blog, they will
get a chance early next year to read the first few chapters for free before
LUNADAR’s formal release.

Psst! Did you know that I love coffee? 

Well, if you've read this blog, you're going to soon realize that I'm quite passionate about coffee. My good ol' coffeemaker did not have a lot of fancy gadgetry, but finally wanted to retire from its coffee making duties. So I replaced it, with a brand new, shiny coffeemaker. But I was not expecting it to cause complete kitchen countertop havoc.

My new coffeemaker was nearly 3 inches wider than the original. When I got it onto the countertop and realized this, my first thought was "Terrific, more coffee!" But this also caused me to re-organize my countertop just a bit. You see, the coffeemaker was next to a set of coffee mugs right by the sink. Those teeny 3 inches meant that not all of the coffee mugs now fit by the sink neatly.

What I'm going to share with you today, is some "hacks" to easily organize your kitchen countertop - and also how to keep it pretty. Because when your kitchen countertop is efficient, meal preparation is going to go so much more quickly at any time of day. Your kitchen will also look much nicer.



Tip #1: Which appliances and items do you use the most? 

Do take the time to actually think about what these could be. Because these are the ones you'll want to put on your countertop. Today there are tons of kitchen gadgets and appliances. Did you know there is even an iced coffee maker - which as far as I can tell, you simply pour hot coffee into the pitcher and then add ice so it cools down? If you were to go out and buy an appliance or gadget for every kitchen task you do, why, you actually would need an entire full room simply for these items!

Tip #2: Make things easy to reach

Now this is how you wind up breaking coffee cups in the morning: you wedge them next to other appliances, trying to make them fit and then some of them go crashing to the floor! Everything needs a spot where it easily fits and nothing should be jammed in there. Make the effort so this does happen.

Tip #3: Keep all of your appliances, gadgets & countertop items clean 

While this sounds like a very simple tip, you might be amazed at how long it probably has been since you've cleaned your coffeemaker. For most of us, this is not a task that we think about doing. To make your coffeemaker sparkle and have the coffee always taste fresh, "run" it through with a small bottle of apple cider vinegar, just as if you were making a batch of coffee. Once it is cooled then run tap water through the coffee maker and let it cool. Now you can make coffee once more.



Tip #4: Give your kitchen counters that extra TLC! 

One of the biggest challenges most homeowners have with their kitchen counters is that they become stained, often with food or beverages. We recommend that you ask the installer or contractor how to keep stains at a minimum, ask what type of sealant protects the counter you have had installed and have this applied on the manufacturer's advised schedule so it looks it’s very best.

Visit PremierSurfaces, Buffalo NY to see some of the latest styles in kitchen countertops.  Click on the company name to see them!
Here are some of the things that stain the most & the colors you will see for the stain:

Red - red wine, red food coloring.

Reddish Brown - chili powders, hot peppers, soy sauce, BBQ sauce

Brown - coffee, espresso, cloves

Yellow - turmeric

Orange - paprika

Don't simply count on the sealant to do its job, you need to do your part too! Everyone in the family should wipe stains up quickly with a wet sponge and simple, basic kitchen cleaner - even white vinegar will work if you prefer natural cleaners.

You may also have problems with either scratches or scorch marks occasionally. For the most part, these are easy to manage.

To avoid scratches - never slide your small appliances, baking dishes or heavy pots on the counter. Only pick them up and put them down, on a breadboard or a protected mat for heat. You'll also want to be sure you have plenty of electrical outlets on the walls and backboards, sometimes people move items around to try to plug them in.

For scorch marks or burns - you can avoid these by never putting a pot right off the burner onto the counter, only if you've put a breadboard or protected mat underneath. If you have a new small appliance, put it on a small cutting board the first time you use it, and gently touch the bottom afterwards to see if it has "hot spots."

Remember: you’ve invested a lot of time, effort & money into your kitchen so it looks great. Protect this with regular cleaning and follow the manufacturer’s schedule for sealant. Everyone will ask you what your secret is, you can just smile and they’ll admire your kitchen!

If you work from home, then what your office looks like is quite often very much in your hands. Sometimes it is a combination of what you have to work with and also what you would love to create there. But certainly, compared to lots of people working in those basic, grey cubicles, you have plenty of options.

The folks at CSI Wall Panels came to me and offered me the opportunity to review some beautiful silk flowers. I quickly said "yes!" realizing just how great they would look in this home office space. But I'll admit at first I wasn't sure what to pick.

What really caught my eye was a set of African Violet arrangements. Now, my uncle grows these envy-producing African Violets with soft, plump and colorful petals. They sit happily in his front living room window, soaking up the sunshine. I have tried to grow them several times and either have under-watered or over-watered. Well, whatever has happened, it has been a miserable death for the plants and a failure for me as well.

That's why opening the box to see these beauties was such a lovely surprise. They come in wood boxes, which make them look quite realistic as if someone has lovingly grown them from seed.

The set of 2 has a purple plant.


There is also a white plant.


There are a couple of things I really like about these plants. First, the simple fact that the petals are not all the same size. This, right at first glance makes the African Violets look more realistic. I also like the way you receive 2 different colors. Why? Because most people who grow these adorable little plants, they tend to like 1 of each color. African Violets are available in vivid purple, white and a soft pink. So they've chosen the most popular colors.

The African Violets take up the perfect amount of space on my desk. They don't crowd my printer/scanner. I can still easily reach my cellphone or calculator (yes, I still use one "old school!"). The size of the plants is 10" x 9" x 8", so they are ideal for a desk, bookcase or anywhere you'd love to see African Violets in your home.



Thank you to the folks at CSI Wall Panels for providing these beautiful silk flowers for this review!