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The Alive with Chronic Illness Anthology

For nearly two years our podcast has captured the lived experience of disabled people around the world. Our Anthology seeks to do the same, capturing in written word, what it means to live with and not in spite of chronic illness and disability.

Submissions for our first Anthology are now open, read below for further details and to submit.

What we are looking for:

We are looking for literature that fits the theme of living with and not ‘in spite of’ chronic illness or disability. We seek to capture moments of joy, triumph, and growth, highlighting the resilience of the disabled community whilst acknowledging the struggles and challenges that come with living with chronic illness and disability.

We are looking for short pieces of literature, such as prose, poetry, and short stories (maximum 2,500 words), fiction or non-fiction.

Letters to Today's Disabled Youth

As part of our anthology we are including a letters to today's disabled youth subsection. We are looking for short reflections (around 250 words), on what you would tell your younger self or a disabled child or young person. We recognise that many of us walked hallways filled with peers who didn’t understand what it was like to live with a disability or health condition, not knowing what our future would look like. Children and young people are still walking those same hallways we once did, and this is our contribution to the next generation. So if you have a moment and a few words to spare, consider writing a letter to your childhood self and to the children and young people of the future.

You need to be 18 or over to take part, and we welcome submissions in English, from anywhere in the world.

There is no submission fee, and you are welcome to make multiple entries.

Submissions may be edited for formating, spelling and grammar.

The author retains the worldwide copyright of their entry. Granting Elizabeth Curtis, as part of Alive with Chronic Illness the unrestricted, non-exclusive, royalty free rights to publish the selected entries in the anthology, and in any relevant promotional material.

How to submit:

You can submit by email to hello@alivewithchronicillness.com. Please ensure you have read and are happy with the terms and conditions as set out on this webpage. Submission will be classed as acceptance of these terms.

Submission guidelines:

Please ensure you include the title of your submission.
Your name or name you wish to be published as.
Include a short author biography (no more than two sentences), and a link to your website (if applicable).
Please submit in a clear font and size such as Arial size 12.
You can submit your work either in the body of an email or as an attached PDF or word file.

If your entry is successful we will notify you via email.

Submissions close at midnight on May 31st 2026.

What happens next?

We will notify you if your work has been selected for inclusion. We plan for the completed anthology to be available both digitally and in print format.

FAQ's

Why are you launching an anthology?

For nearly two years we have had the please of sharing the lived experience of disabled people around the world through our podcast. We believe in the power of words, both spoken and written. This anthology will continue our mission of sharing what it's like to live with chronic illness and , whilst giving even more people the opportunity to contribute. Alive with Chronic Illness is a not-for-profit project, all profits from the anthology will be reinvested back into the project.

Do I need to be chronically ill or disabled to take part?

Our project captures the lived experience of chronically ill and disabled people, however we also recognise that friends, family and carers have a significant role in our lives. As long as your work fits the theme, you are welcome to submit.

When do you plan to publish the anthology?

We aim to publish the anthology both digitally and in-print in Autumn 2026.

Where will the anthology be available?

The anthology will be available digitally, in ebook format, and in paperback through Amazon. We hope to make the collection as widely available as possible, and to donate copies to UK schools.

Terms and Conditions

The author retains the copyright of their entry. Granting Alive with Chronic Illness the unrestricted, non-exclusive, royalty free rights to publish the selected entries in the anthology, and in any relevant promotional material.

Fees:

There are no submission fees. You will not receive payment for your submission.

Eligibility:

You must be 18 or over to submit your work for inclusion. Submissions must be in English.