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Literature

Submit your own writing

The WA-WSO Literature Committee is now compiling a daily, 366-meditation, sequel to the Book of Serenity. We seek a wide range of voices and experiences of WA recovery and welcome all submissions. Consider writing a personal meditation to submit, and please encourage your groups to have dedicated meetings (see meeting format) to write contributions for both the Meditation Book and other WA publications, such as the fellowship’s quarterly e-publication, Storyline, which publishes WA-related experience, strength, and hope in any format, up to 800 words.

Meditations, following the format examples below, may be submitted both to the Meditation Book project and, at the same time, for earlier publication, to Storyline; some may eventually appear in both. The Literature Committee may also recommend submissions originally submitted as meditations to be published in Storyline and vice-versa.

WA Storyline and Daily Meditation Online Submission Forms

Use the form below to submit both writing to be submitted to Storyline and meditations to be considered for the WA Daily Meditation book. Submit as many writings as you want; but please keep each to a single topic and use a separate form for each one.

Literature submission form

Guidance on submitting to Storyline

Free-format manuscript

Please upload your text, including a title if you wish, using the the submission form and then fill in the “Contact Information and Right to Publish” at the end of the submission form. This is required. The information will remain totally confidential. You can choose  on the form how you would like your authorship acknowledged.

Guidance on submitting to the Meditation Book project and/or Storyline

Meditation format manuscript

In final edited form, each published meditation will have four parts:

1) Title or Topic

2) Inspirational Quotation from WA literature

3) Meditation

4) Affirmation

Only the Meditation (3) is required for submission, but you may also include some or all of the other three parts. The editorial team will supply anything missing. The following samples are a guide for format and focus. (The submission form headings are included here for clarity. They will not appear in the final publication, which also may be edited for length and other considerations.)

Please remember also to complete the “Contact Information and Right to Publish” section at the bottom of the form. This is required. The information will remain totally confidential. All meditations will be published completely anonymously.

Attribution:

WA-WSO will never use a full last name for any Author, but may use an abbreviated identification. In the event WA-WSO attributes the manuscript, or any version thereof to me, the name and/or signature to be used is (please choose from the options below):

Right to Publish:

I warrant that I am the Author of this work and I hereby grant and assign to Workaholics Anonymous World Service Organization, Inc. (WA-WSO) and its authorized agents and contractors, my right to the ownership and use of all of the contents of the written document submitted in this form, to use exclusively, publish and display at and with its sole discretion. I agree that WA-WSO may utilize the manuscript for advertising and display and publication purposes anywhere in the world and in any media now known or hereafter discovered, including but not limited to the publication of the manuscript, or any portion of it, in a book, flyer, brochure, cover, electronic or digital media, derivative media, or any other form. I understand that WA-WSO is NOT undertaking any obligation to obtain or maintain any intellectual property protection of or for the manuscript on my behalf, and in fact at its sole discretion may protect the intellectual property rights granted hereby for WA-WSO. WA-WSO is hereby assigned the exclusive right to use, publish, alter and copyright the manuscript. I further give WA-WSO my permission to edit or modify the manuscript by changing or altering its content and appearance or by superimposing words, artwork, or other symbols on or with it. I understand that I will not be able to inspect or approve the original or altered manuscript prior to its publication or use. I represent and warrant that the manuscript and its entire contents and appearance are all original parts, prepared and presented solely by my own creativity; and that no part of the manuscript is duplicated, presented or extracted from any other source of materials other than my own creativity. I further represent and warrant that I have not previously taken or authorized any act to copyright or trademark all or any part of the manuscript, nor have I previously granted my permission to anyone else or any other entity any rights for its copyright, use or publication. I understand that the manuscript is granted and assigned to WA-WSO without payment to me and I waive entirely and forever any right to any compensation arising from or related to its use. I am submitting the manuscript with the hope that it may contribute to the balance in life and recovery of others who suffer. I hereby release WA-WSO from all claims that I may have relating to the use of the manuscript as set forth above. By agreeing below, I certify that I have read this Assignment, Warranty and Release and I understand the contents, meaning, and impact of this document.

All materials submitted are assumed to be intended for publication, and are subject to editing to adhere to The Twelve Traditions of WA and for other reasons. They become the property of WA World Service Organization, which reserves the right to publish them in any format in any Workaholics Anonymous literature.


By checking this box and submitting this form, I give WA the right to publish my work in any format.

Sample meditations

Sample Meditation 1

Title or Topic (optional):

Pacing

Inspirational Quotation (optional):

We rest before we get tired. [Book of Recovery, ed. 2, p. 30]

Meditation:

When I first heard these words about the recovery tool of rest, it baffled me. How would I know when I was going to get tired before it actually happened? What if I ended up resting nearly all the time, just in case? I’d never know if it had been necessary, or how near I had been to getting tired. And surely I didn’t deserve to rest until I had finished everything there was to do.

After some time of practicing this tool, I have become much more in tune with my body and my energy levels. The rhythm of activity and rest, followed by more activity and rest, has become a natural one to me, as natural as breathing in and out, in and out.

Thanks to my Higher Power, I live by a tool that I could not understand with my own reasoning.

Affirmation or Encouraging Statement (optional):

I am grateful for the promises coming true in my life.

Sample Meditation 2

Title or Topic (optional):

Loving Acceptance

Inspirational Quotation (optional):

I do not try to grow. I accept myself as I am, and I grow automatically. [Book of Recovery, ed. 2, p. 214, Affirmation no. 24]

Meditation:

Again and again I get into workaholic conditions. Of course – I am a workaholic! But often I don’t want to admit it. I also have the illusion that the Program will make me recover overnight. I condemn myself for my “failure.” I want my recovery to be perfect.

My sponsor told me I could understand sobriety in workaholism as the capacity to perceive when I am acting in a workaholic mode and then stop doing so.

Just for today I want to treat myself lovingly. When my inner child stumbles and falls, I will comfort and encourage this innocent, learning side of myself to stand up and try again.

Affirmation or encouraging statement (optional):

Falling is not failure if I pick myself up.