Share your story

You decide what gets told, and how much of it

There is no right way to have been ill, and no right way to write about it. Send us a paragraph or ten pages, a voice note or a phone call. We will help with the rest.

How it works

You reach out

Fill in the form, or just email us. Tell us as little as you like at this stage, a sentence is enough to start.

We talk it through

A student editor replies within about a week. You can write it yourself, or we can interview you and write the first draft for you.

You approve every word

Nothing is published until you have read the final version and confirmed in writing that you are happy with it.

It goes live in its month

Your story runs during the campaign for that condition, alongside facts and resources. You can ask for it to be removed at any point afterwards.

Good to know

You can be named, use a first name only, use a pseudonym, or stay fully anonymous.
You do not have to be a good writer. That is the editor's job, not yours.
You can stop at any stage, including after publication.
We do not publish other people's medical details, so please write about your own experience, or get their permission first.
We are students, not doctors. Stories are personal experience, not medical advice.

Start a submission

Everything here stays between you and our editorial team.

Your name

What is your story about?

How would you like to be credited?

Tell us as much or as little as you want

Prefer to talk instead of write? Say so here and we will set up a call.

I understand that nothing will be published until I have read and approved the final version.

Or email us directly at stories@strandsoflife.org

Questions people ask

Before you send

Do I have to use my real name?

No. You can publish under a pseudonym or completely anonymously, and that decision is yours to change right up until the piece goes live.

What if my condition is not on the calendar?

Send it anyway. The calendar sets our main campaigns, but we publish stories outside it too, and a submission is often what makes us add a month.

Can I write about someone I lost?

Yes, and many people do. We will ask that you are comfortable with the details being public, and we will handle the draft gently.

Will you edit what I wrote?

We edit for clarity, length, and typos. We do not change the meaning of your experience, and you see and approve every edit before publication.

Can I take my story down later?

At any time, for any reason, without explaining yourself. Email us and it comes down.