CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

On June 21st, 2025, the one-month submissions window for my forthcoming book, WE BEGAN AGAIN: Collected Essays on Second Chances.

Jun 05, 2025

A mockup of the book. Is it a sunrise? A sunset? Let’s agree that it’s both.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS!

We Began Again:
Collected Essays on Second Chances

Edited by Christine Wolf & Eric Ronne

We’re thrilled to officially announce our very first collaborative book project as co-editors (and soon-to-be newlyweds!).

Submit Your Essay thru 7/21/25

This collection will feature personal essays from writers around the world—true stories of transformation, resilience, and hope when life took an unexpected turn — who chose to begin again.

As a real-life second-chance couple, we’re so excited to begin our new chapter as wife and husband (see what I did there?). We invite you to share in our joy by sharing your story (or stories!) of reinvention.

Submission Window

Opens: June 21, 2025 at 9:00am CST (our wedding day!)
Closes: July 21, 2025 at 11:59pm CST

Learn More

✍️ What We’re Looking For

We’re accepting personal essays (up to 750 words) on how a second chance impacted your life. A few examples:

A second chance at love after heartbreak or loss
A career pivot or unexpected professional reinvention
Starting over in a new place—a town, a country, or even just a new mindset
Returning to sobriety, or beginning a journey of recovery
Rebuilding trust with a friend, partner, or family member
Reinventing yourself after failure, burnout, illness, grief, or regret
Or any other moment where life gave you another shot—and you took it

If you’ve ever had to rebuild, reimagine, or begin again, we want to hear your story.

Submission Fee

$10 per essay

This fee helps us cover the cost of reading and reviewing each submission, plus the design, printing, and production of the finished book. We’re funding this project with a combination of submission fees and our own savings.

Submit Now

Submit for FREE as a Paid Subscriber to this Substack

If you're a paid subscriber to this Substack, your submission fee is waived—no matter how many essays you submit.

Monthly paid subscription: $10
Annual paid subscription: $50 — a 58% savings over monthly
Cancel anytime. Seriously. Submit and dip if you want—we won’t be offended.
Upgrade to Paid Now

Writers’ Haven by Christine Wolf: Paid Subscriber Perks

If you upgrade to a paid subscription, you’ll receive:

Free submissions to We Began Again
Access to Christine’s video archive, including memoir classes, exclusive expressive writing workshops, and live interviews with publishing industry professionals
Sneak peeks of Christine’s memoir-in-progress, Training Grounds
Your name listed on the Supporters’ Page when Christine’s memoir is published

Submissions Window Closes 7/21/25

FAQs

1. Will contributors be paid?

Not financially—but here’s what you will receive:

A digital copy of the finished book
A chance to be published in a one-of-a-kind collection launched during a real-life love story
Interviews with us once the book is published
Our deepest gratitude for helping us build something meaningful, lasting, and real