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 our Substack

Special opportunities at various times

SPECIAL SICILY JOURNAL! CLICK HERE.

Read Our Blogs on Substack

True Words from Real Women

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

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StoryCraft: Writers Write About Writing

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

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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.

The Power of Friendship is the 2024 edition of SCN’s Real Women Write member anthology. It includes prose and poetry offering reflections on the importance of friendship in women’s lives. What defines a friendship? The answer is as varied as the number of women responding to that question.

Read Our Books

Our Other Books

Our Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence

As our focus and mission are on amplifying the voices of real women, Story Circle Network does not accept or print any work written in whole or in part using Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated text. We do, however, use generative AI and other innovative tools selectively and responsibly in research and other ways which can advance our goals without compromising the value of human writing. We want to hear your voice!

Our Editors

  • Shelley Johnson Carey
    Shelley Johnson Carey
    Secretary; Publications Coordinator
  • Jo Virgil
    Jo Virgil
  • Robin Wittig
    Robin Wittig
  • Paula Stallings Yost
    Paula Stallings Yost
    Periodicals Editor
Shelley Johnson Carey
Secretary; Publications Coordinator

Shelley Johnson Carey is the author of numerous articles, short stories, and poems, and of the nonfiction book, Thin Mint Memories: Scouting for Empowerment through the Girl Scout Cookie Program. She recently retired from her nearly 40-year editorial career, where she worked on several award-winning magazines and journals. Most recently, she served as the editor of Peer Review, a higher education journal, where she worked with hundreds of authors to polish their writing. Shelley has an BA from Hampshire Colleges and an MFA in nonfiction writing from Goucher College. She has facilitated several writing workshops for teens and adults. She is currently revising a novel about a group of friends, which is based on her own lifetime friendships. www.shelleyjohnsoncarey.com

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.