Our Stories – Our Strength
A Collection of Stories from the Chronic GI Community
Created by StephUp LLC · Sponsored by the Short Bowel Syndrome Foundation
| Submit Interest → | Timeline |
Express interest in Our Stories – Our Strength, a StephUp LLC Book Project created in partnership with the Short Bowel Syndrome Foundation community. Share art, short stories, or literature reviews rooted in lived experience with SBS and chronic GI conditions. Submissions for review are due by the end of February, with a publish target of July 2027 for Disability Awareness Month. A planning team member will follow up to explain the project and answer questions.
StephUp LLC leads the project, including review and publication. The Short Bowel Syndrome Foundation is a project sponsor and helps connect community members to the work.
Between disease, changed anatomy, and lifelong symptoms, many people lose access to activities they once enjoyed. Several in our community have turned to reading, writing, and art — and this project creates space to share those pieces with a wider audience.
Chronic GI conditions are often invisible. People can wait years for a diagnosis. Flare-ups come and go. Creative work is one way to build awareness and show that life with SBS and related conditions still holds meaning, skill, and voice.
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Review Deadline |
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Publish Target |
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Formats |
This is a fast project from start to completion. If it is successful, the team hopes to do it again.
Pencil Phase
2026 – January 2027
Time for individuals to write and create. Market research for printing and publication also happens in this phase.
Red Pen Phase
December 2026 – February 2027
Time to edit works. The team engages with and confirms a printing and publishing service. Submissions for review are due by the end of February.
Inking Phase
February 2027 – May 2027
Art and literature are submitted to the printer. Contributors and the planning team review the print preview and submit any needed changes.
Narration Phase
June 2027 and beyond
Publication, presenting, sharing, and selling the book. Celebration and presentation of a small gift to artists and writers.
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Art Painting, drawing, photography, watercolor, digital, sculpture (photo of 3D work), and more. |
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Short Story About 1,500–4,500 words. Fiction or lived-experience narrative. |
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Literature Review Reflective or researched writing on SBS, chronic GI life, or related themes. |
Use these as a guide when you describe your work on the interest form. You do not need to pick only one.
Memoir · Autobiography · Biography · Mental Health / Medical · Health / Nutrition · Essay · Literature Review · Poetry · Philosophy · Self-Help · Travel · True Crime
Literary Fiction · Contemporary Fiction · Realistic Fiction · Coming of Age · Drama · Family Saga · Inspirational Fiction · Magical Realism · Mystery · Romance · Science Fiction · Speculative Fiction · Historical / Period · Humor / Satire · Flash Fiction
Adventure · Fantasy · Horror · Thriller · Suspense · Dystopian · Utopian · Mythic · Folktale · Graphic Novel · Multicultural Fiction · Women’s Fiction · Young / New Adult · and related forms
Type: Painting · Drawing · Photography · Printmaking · Sculpture · Ceramics · Fiber & Textile · Digital / Graphic · Craft
Drawing: Graphite · Charcoal · Pastels · Ink & Pen · Colored Pencil
Paint: Acrylic · Watercolor · Oil · Gouache · Encaustic
3D / other: Clay · Metal · Plaster · Stone · Wood · Photography (color or black & white). For 3D work, a photo may be submitted.
If under 18, a parent or guardian must provide permission. Multiple submissions are okay — please limit to under 5. Not every piece may be published in this first round. This project is led by StephUp LLC. The Short Bowel Syndrome Foundation is a sponsor and community partner.
Fill out the form below. Someone from the StephUp LLC planning team will follow up to explain the project and answer questions.
Our Stories – Our Strength is a StephUp LLC Book Project. Leadership, submission review, and publication are managed by StephUp LLC.
The Short Bowel Syndrome Foundation is a project sponsor and contributed $500 to support this community book. SBSF also helps connect patients, caregivers, and community members to the project.
Contact information will not be sold or shared outside project use. Consent for publication and optional spotlight details is confirmed later with the planning team before anything goes public.