Story Circle

by, for, and about women

Publications

Sharing Our Stories

“I’d always known storytelling was important to me, but I’ve finally realized that it’s central to who I am—it’s how I understand myself and the world, how I learn, how I pass on what I know. I feel that I know myself in a new and deeper way—that I have knowledge I can use to bring deeper meaning to the various parts of my life.”

— Sherry Wachter

Currently or Soon Open for Submissions

Members only.

Story Circle Network offers many opportunities for members (join here) to submit their work for publication.
Members, find the link to submit on your My Membership page. 

Quarterly in the Journal

Annually in the Real Women Write anthology

Three times per year in various writing contests

Anytime to one of our blogs

Special opportunities at various times

Read Our Blogs

One Woman’s Day

Read about the ordinarily extraordinary lives of real women, recorded by Story Circle members.

Read More

Telling HerStories: The Broad View

Authors and teachers share their knowledge and passion for helping women tell the stories of their lives.

Read More

Read Our Quarterly Journal

The Story Circle Journal is a quarterly members-only newsletter, published in March, June, September, and December. It is written by and for women with stories to tell and designed to encourage readers to become writers, guide women to set down their true stories, support women’s creativity, and make possible the sharing of women’s lives. Each issue of the Journal includes ideas for writing chapters of your life’s story, reviews of helpful books, readers’ writings, news about SCN activities, and a calendar of coming events. Read a sample issue.

Read Our Newsletter

The Flash, our monthly newsletter, is filled with breaking SCN news and the latest scoop on Story Circle events meant to inspire your creative side. Best of all, it’s free to the public and our members. 

Read Our Anthology

Real Women Write is an annual anthology by SCN members showcasing the talent and creativity of our own writing women. SCN values every woman’s story, and in Real Women Write we publish writing about both the individual life in all its uniqueness, and a woman’s life as it is understood by all women.

Mothers and Mentors: The Art of Nurturing is the 2023 edition of  RWW. It includes 85 pieces of prose and poetry offering reflections on an essential human activity—the many and varied ways we guide and care for the development and growth of life. The collection also considers what it means to want for care, to lack  support, even to be harmed by those meant to nurture you.

Read Our Books

Our Other Books

Our Editors

  • Susan Schoch
    Susan Schoch
    President
  • Jo Virgil
    Jo Virgil
  • Robin Wittig
    Robin Wittig
  • Paula Stallings Yost
    Paula Stallings Yost
    Periodicals Editor
Susan Schoch
President

A member since 2002, Susan has edited books and periodicals for SCN since 2014. A member of the Board since 2016, she edits the annual Real Women Write anthology, as well as special books such as Kitchen Table Stories 2022. Susan coordinates all SCN book publications. She is also a frequent reviewer at Story Circle Book Reviews. She has been a freelance writer and editor for over 30 years, specializing in personal history and biography. Her work for the American Museum of Ceramic History is currently available – The Clay Connection: Jim and Nan McKinnell. Susan shares SCN’s commitment to women’s growth through the empowering focus of writing and recognizing women’s stories.

Jo Virgil

Jo Virgil has been a Story Circle Network member for many years and now serves as editor for True Words and as a SCN Board Member (Publication and Program member). Jo has a Master's Degree in Journalism and has worked as a reporter, as a writing workshop teacher, as Community Relations Manager for Barnes & Noble, and as Community Outreach Coordinator for the Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities. One of her favorite messages was from one of her journalism professors who said, "Stories are what make us matter."

Robin Wittig

Robin is the editor of the SCN Journal and Senior Director of Community Programs at Pikes Peak YMCA. She lives in Woodland Park, CO. In addition to her work with the Journal, Robin does the layout for the annual anthology, Real Women Write, and creates the print program for "Stories From the Heart."

Paula Stallings Yost
Periodicals Editor

Paula is a former and current board member. She has presented at conferences and Writing From Life events; taught in the online class program; served as co-editor of a couple of Story Circle anthologies; and volunteers as the coordinator of the Sarton Award Program. She also is a personal historian who helps families and individuals write and publish their life stories. Visit her website.