We are now seeking submissions for RELIT, volume 2.
This new book will provide more practical advice and inspiring stories on the topic of compassion fatigue. It’s strongly recommended that you read RELIT: How to Rekindle Yourself in the Darkness of Compassion Fatigue before submitting your pitch for volume 2.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for people who are in care-based professions or who have a caregiving story about their own experience with compassion fatigue. We encourage both experienced authors and unpublished experts to submit a pitch.
We are looking for a variety of cultural experiences, professional backgrounds, and demographics. Compassion fatigue is a universally human condition, and lessons on building resilience and overcoming burnout can come from anyone, anywhere.
If you are selected to contribute to this book, you will provide a single chapter of approximately 3,000 words sharing your personal lived experience as well as specific advice on how others may build resilience and avoid or overcome compassion fatigue.
What are we looking for?
Submit your proposal by email to admin@graybearpublications.com. For your initial proposal, we want only the following:
- A paragraph about you, your expertise, and your writing/publishing experience. We want to know a bit about who you are, and we want to know that we’ll be excited to work with you.
- A few sentences (one short paragraph) about your experience with compassion fatigue or caregiver burnout. We’re looking for a diversity of inspiring stories. Let us know what the “so what” is in yours—why will people want to read it?
- A brief note about what being published in this book would mean to you. We want to know what motivates you to be a part of this. There are wrong answers!
In addition, note the following:
- Do not submit your full chapter. Complete chapters will be deleted unread.
- Do not include attachments. Emails with attachments will be deleted unread.
- Do not plan to use AI for any part of the creation process. We insist that all the writing be your own words, assembled by you. We are a human-first enterprise.
When do we want it?
Although we want all submissions in by May 1, 2025, we will close submissions once we get a slate of contributors we are excited about. It’s best to get yours in right now. We are not asking for a lot in this first pitch; don’t overwork it or belabor it. Get it in sooner rather than later.
We will review pitches as they come in, on a rolling basis. The two editors, Peter and Antoinette, will jointly review each pitch and determine the final mix of authors, stories, and expertise that will make this book the best value to society that we can make it.
About Gray Bear’s approach
This is not a pay-to-play anthology. We are dedicated to producing a high quality product with a substantial value to society. Our goal is that every contributor will be as proud to be included as we are to publish it.
Contributors get author credit, receive a paperback contributor copy, get a professionally designed ebook of their own chapter, are able to get copies at cost, and retain ownership of their words. We are happy to share our boilerplate author agreement on request.
About the editors
Peter Dudley is an award-winning author, editor, and certified life and leadership coach with over 25 years experience in publishing as well as expertise in marketing, nonprofit leadership, corporate philanthropy, employee engagement, and software development.
Antoinette LeCouteur is photographer, consultant, philanthropy expert, social impact expert, volunteer, former actor, unpaid family caregiver, and vocal advocate for better support of caregivers and those who work in the care economy.