Social Distancing Diaries

An opportunity for aspiring writers to see their work in print whilst supporting social enterprise and community-based charities

Submission guidelines

Submissions by e-mail to booksatone@gmail.com

Send your work as an email attachment in .doc or .docx format using SDD as a subject heading.
Include in the body of the email:
- Full name
- Postal address
- Phone number
- Age (if under 18)
- A short explanation (50 words) of how your work relates to the COVID 19 situation e.g. does it refer to social distancing, isolation and loneliness in general, have current restrictions on social gatherings given you the opportunity to write, does your work express hope or despair?

Stories and essays no minimum word count but must not exceed 5000 words.

Poems max 40 lines

Illustrations and photos:

Black and white only and in a standard format, such as JPG.
Images should be sent as separate files. They should be in jpeg format and a minimum of 1 megabyte each. Please do not manipulate, clean up, colour correct, retouch, or crop the images. Please send the original images straight out of the camera. Please also supply captions.

If necessary, you may be required to reformat your submission document prior to publication.

All entries must be the entrant’s own original unpublished work. Copyright of each entry remains with the author and

Books At One reserves the unrestricted right to print works in the anthology and any relevant promotional materials. International entries are welcome, with translations included for work that is not in English or Irish.

There is no charge for submissions and no payment will be made to successful entrants.

The anthology will be printed on our Espresso Book Machine® in Books At One, Louisburgh and offered for sale in the shop and online. If there are sufficient successful entries a separate collection of children’s work may be printed.

All profits to the Order of Malta and Meals on Wheels, two local charities normally working with the elderly and isolated and providing especially essential services to the community at this time.

Those whose work is included in the anthology will be invited to a launch, date to be decided.

Deadline for submissions is 17:00 31st May 2020

Download Submission Guidelines