Story Submission Guidelines

We’re honored that you’re considering sharing your story with the NeuroMoms Collective community. Our goal is to create a space where caregivers and survivors can be seen, heard, and supported. Stories are published on our website to create a space where your story has a home. 

Please review the following guidelines before submitting your essay.

1. About Your Story

Please share your story in your own words. We’d love to hold space for you and your family. The prompts below are meant to help guide your writing, but you are welcome to share only what feels comfortable. If there’s something you’d prefer not to discuss, that’s perfectly okay.

Consider including some of the following:

  • Your survivor’s first name (last name optional)

  • Date and cause of brain injury

  • Description of injuries

  • Survivor’s age at the time of injury

  • Your relationship to the survivor 

  • Who you were at the time of brain injury (athlete, professional, volunteer…) 

  • Current limitations, needs, or supports

  • Prognosis for recovery or future goals

  • Your hometown or home state (optional)

  • Most importantly, tell us how you feel. 

    • Share how this journey has impacted your life — the pain, the joy, the small victories, the hard days. 

    • This is your truth, and we honor whatever that looks like for you.

2. Essay Format

  • Essays should be 500–1,000 words (about 1–2 typed pages).

  • Please submit as a Word document, Google Doc, or in the body of an email.
    Unfortunately, we can’t accept handwritten or PDF submissions at this time.

3. Photos (Optional)

You’re welcome to include up to three photos with your story. Many families choose to share a before photo, one from acute recovery, and one recent photo—but you may include any that feel right to you. Please ensure that anyone shown in the photos has given their consent to be included. Acceptable formats: JPG, PNG, or photos forwarded directly from your phone.

Submissions that include photos will also be highlighted on our social media pages. 

4. Additional Information

You may also include:

  • Links to any organizations or programs that have supported your family

  • Links to your personal website or social media page related to your story

  • How you’d like your name to appear: first name only, or first and last name

5. Permissions & Consent

By submitting your essay and photos you are consenting to them being shared on the NeuroMoms Collective website and social media platforms. We may also discuss your story during a podcast or advocacy event. We promise to hold your story with honor, respect, and care. You may withdraw your consent by emailing us at stories@neuromomscollective.org and we will remove your story from our platforms within one week. 

By submitting your essay, you confirm that:

  • The information is true and accurate to the best of your knowledge.

  • Everyone depicted in your photos has given permission for their image to be used in this project.

6. Submission

Please email your essay and photos to stories@neuromomscollective.org.
We will confirm having received your submission within three days. We will notify you within two weeks with a scheduled publication date. 

There is no money exchanged for this project; it is free to submit your story. We do not pay for your submission. We do not take ownership of your story. We simply provide it a place to live. 

7. Editorial Note

We review all submissions with care. Please note that we may use our discretion in selecting and editing essays and images for publication.

8. What’s next? 

Would you be interested in being considered as a guest on a future NeuroMoms Collective podcast to share your story? Message us!

Be sure to follow us on Instagram at NeuroMomsCollective!