Submit Stories to The Grannie Annie

Students in U.S. grades 4 through 8, and homeschooled or international students 9 through 14 years old: You are invited to submit a story to The Grannie Annie!

Please follow The Grannie Annie Official Guidelines and submit a story from your family's history — a story from before your birth. Stories can be humorous, tragic, or inspirational; they can be stories of courage, adventure, or anything you find interesting about your family’s past. You may also submit an illustration to accompany your story.

Submission Categories

Stories and illustrations will be considered in two categories: U.S. grades 4–5 and 6–8. Stories and illustrations submitted by homeschooled or international students 9–14 years of age will be considered in the category that corresponds with the student's age.

Submission Fee

There is no fee for submitting your work.

Deadline

The Grannie Annie annual submission deadline is February 1. Mailed submissions must be postmarked on or before this date. E-mailed submissions must be sent on or before this date. Illustrations must be mailed rather than e-mailed.

Guidelines for Submission

Be sure to follow The Grannie Annie Official Guidelines so that your story can be considered for publication.

Submission Form

The Grannie Annie Submission Form must accompany your story and/or illustration.

Note to Teachers Outside of the United States

Please note the additional options available for international submissions.

Submission Information for Teachers

Teachers who are submitting their students' work must complete and enclose one copy of The Grannie Annie Teacher Submission Form in addition to their students' Submission Forms. The information provided on this form will facilitate communication regarding students' submissions and recognition.

Honoring the Authors and Artists

Taking part in The Grannie Annie Family Story Celebration brings many rewards: You’ll learn something new about your family's history, develop a stronger connection with the earlier generations of your family, and hone your writing skills. In addition, you’ll produce an important story that preserves a piece of your family’s history — a story that you can share with your family, your school, and your community.

In the spirit of celebration, each year some of the stories and illustrations submitted to The Grannie Annie are selected for publication. Authors of stories published in the paperback and PDF books receive two complimentary copies of the paperback book that includes their work. All selected stories are published on this website along with the authors' names. Artists whose illustrations are selected for publication are credited in the books and on this website. Published artists who are not also published authors receive one complimentary copy of the paperback book.

Announcement of Selections

The stories and illustrations that are selected for publication are announced on this website in early to mid-April, along with the authors' and artists' names. In addition, the authors and artists of selected works are notified via e-mail.

Writing Assistance

There are many resources available to help you write the best story you can write. You may find it helpful to read the stories that have already been published by The Grannie Annie. The stories are available on this website and in book form. In addition, at the bottom of this page you will find links to several "Resources for Writing" to help you with writing your Grannie Annie story.

While your story must be written by you, you are encouraged to ask your friends to read and comment on your work. You may ask teachers or parents to do the same. Then decide what changes, if any, you want to make.

Grannie Annie stories written in a language other than English may be translated by someone other than the author.

Resources: The Grannie Annie in the Classroom and Beyond

We offer a variety of resources to enhance your Grannie Annie writing experience and complement your curriculum. Click below to open, or find out more about each resource on the Resources page.