Announcing The #NoMoreShame Project

In January 2014 bestselling author Rachel Thompson and therapist Bobbi Parish started a Twitter Chat for survivors of sexual abuse called #SexAbuseChat. As survivors themselves, Rachel and Bobbi wanted to create a forum for all survivors to share their story, support one another and learn about the process of recovery. #SexAbuseChat was immediately successful! Survivors from around the world logged onto the chat to provide each other with compassion, understanding, and encouragement. Life Coach and survivor Athena Moberg came alongside Bobbi and Rachel, bringing her compassionate heart to the role of back up co-host and peer advocate. The chat became a way for survivors to unite with one another, rather than living in the isolation of shame that our abuse created. The chat’s motto quickly became #NoMoreShame.

As time progressed the community of survivors participating in the chat became more powerful. Sharing our stories with one another decreased our shame. With that came healing. As each of us took a step forward we reached behind to another survivor to help them take a step forward as well.

Witnessing the power of sharing our stories over this year has been amazing. We want to expand that healing power to a wider audience. To do that Rachel, Athena and I are launching The #NoMoreShame Project, a collection of anthologies carrying survivors stories out into the greater world community.

On July 1, 2014 we will begin receiving poems and prose written by survivors of sexual assault. Using either format we want survivors to tell their stories. They can focus on any aspect of their story that they feel would be helpful to share with readers. We are purposefully placing few limitations on the subject matter for this first anthology. Our only requirement in that respect is that it be easily identified as part of their journey as a survivor of sexual abuse.

For some examples of the kinds of poems and essays we’re seeking we are providing you with a few links to review:

• The Quiet Child by Rachel Thompson
• Fly Away Girl by Bobbi Parish
• Writing is Love by Loren Kleinman

In exchange for allowing us to publish their work, each selected author will receive five free paperback copies of the book as well as the opportunity to promote their website/blog, social media accounts and any books they have written.

Here are the details of what we’re seeking and how you can submit an entry:

• Submission/Publication Schedule
• Entry Period: July 1st through August 31st
• Selection Announcements: September 1st
• Editing Period: October 1st through October 31st
• Publication Date: Monday, November 17th

Entry Guidelines:

• The author must be a survivor of sexual assault to submit an entry
• Entry should be poetry or non-fiction essay
• Length of entry is not restricted, focus is on quality not quantity
• Entry shall not have been published elsewhere
• Author of entry shall relinquish rights to the piece, with the exception of 10% which they may retain to promote their work on their blog or social media accounts. The author shall specify which 10% they wish to retain on their entry form. If they do not specify a particular 10% then it shall default to the first 10% of their entered poem or essay.
• The entry shall not contain any references to explicit sexual activity
• An author can submit as many pieces as they like. Each requires a separate entry email
• Authors may specify a pen name to be used in publication of the piece. However, full legal name must be specified on the entry form for legal reasons
• Authors may specify a blog, personal website and social media accounts that they wish to accompany their published entry.
• The editors we have the right to edit any entry. We will make all reasonable attempts to work with the author on these edits but the final decision rests with the editors, not the author.
• All entries should be submitted to [email protected] by midnight, August 31st to be considered for publication

Entry Process

• Each entry should be submitted as a Microsoft Word compatible file attached to an email sent to [email protected].
• You may enter as many pieces as you wish. However, each entry should be submitted separately.
• In the subject line of the email please type: The #NoMoreShame Project
• In the body of your email please provide the following information:
  • Full Legal Name
  • Pen Name
  • Title of Piece
  • Blog URL
  • Website URL
  • Social Media Accounts URL’s (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.)
  • Titles and links to books previously published
  • Ten percent of piece that author wishes to retain copyright to (If the author does not select a specific 10% their rights will default to the first ten percent of the piece entered)
• Finally, the author MUST place the following, word for word, in the body of their entry email. You can simply cut and paste the following:
  By entering this written work I certify that the following statements are true:
  I am a survivor of sexual assault
  I am the author of this submitted entry
  This entry has not been previously published
  I understand that if my entry is selected that I am relinquishing copyright of the work to the Editors of the #NoMoreShame Project with the exception of the 10% specified above
  I understand that if my entry is selected for publication the Editors of The #NoMoreShame Project will make reasonable attempts to work with me on any edits they suggest. I acknowledge that the Editors of The #NoMoreShame Project retain the final decision making rights regarding editing of my entry

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