Help to carry the message by contributing your story and experience to Grapevine!

Each month, Grapevine publishes stories on special topics as well as for departments such as Emotional Sobriety, Sponsorship, Newcomers, Youth Enjoying Sobriety, Old-Timers and Home Group. Each issue also includes a story on the Traditions and the Steps. But you are not confined to these topics. The editors are always looking for innovative material, as long as it relates to AA experience and reflects an awareness of AA's singleness of purpose. Click here to submit your story.

Important: Since it takes considerable time to select and edit and produce each issue, if you are writing about a particular month's theme, we will need your stories no later than 5 months before that issue comes out. Read the submission guidelines here.

NOTE: We are always in need of stories of your experience on Steps 4—12 and on every Tradition. Thanks!

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Grapevine Editorial Calendar 2025

  • JANUARY
    Spiritual Awakenings (stories due June 15, 2024)
    Share your personal journey with Step Two. How did you find your Higher Power? Did you struggle with Step Two? What helped you? Tell us about your experience.
     
  • FEBRUARY
    Long-time Members! (stories due July 15, 2024)
    Let’s hear from our long-timers! What was AA like when you came in? What have you learned over the years? What have been your greatest challenges and joys? Share your stories.
     
  • MARCH
    Sober & Out (LGBTQ+ AA Stories) (stories due Aug. 15, 2024)
    Are you a lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, or transgender AA member? Share your story about your journey in AA. What were your challenges and joys? What things have helped you get sober? Share some stories about your meetings, sponsorship, service, and fellowship.
     
  • APRIL
    Making Amends (stories due Sept. 15, 2024)
    Did you have an interesting Ninth Step experience to share? How did it go? Were there any surprises? Share your experience. Also, Living Sober Turns 50! Share a story about how this remarkable AA book helped you.
     
  • MAY
    Young & Sober (stories due Oct. 15, 2024)
    Did you come into AA at an early age? What was that like? What were the challenges? Do you go to Young People’s AA (YPAA) meetings, dances, or conferences? How have they helped you?
     
  • JUNE
    Annual Prison Issue (stories due Nov. 15, 2024)
    Did you find AA in prison? What is sobriety like inside? What are meetings like? Are you involved in correspondence service or prison sponsorship? We are especially looking for stories by women in long-term custody.
     
  • JULY
    AA Around the World (Special International Convention Issue) (stories due Dec. 15, 2024)
    The International Convention is upon us! We want to know what AA is like in other cities and countries around the globe. How is it different? How is it the same? Do you attend AA outside of the U.S. and Canada? Have you helped AA get started somewhere? Let’s hear from you!
     
  • AUGUST
    Atheistic/Agnostic AA members’ Stories (stories due Jan 15, 2025)
    Do you have experience staying sober in AA as an atheist or agnostic? What have been your joys and challenges? We are looking for a variety of experiences. Please send us your stories.
     
  • SEPTEMBER
    Gratitude (to celebrate new book) (stories due Feb 15, 2025)
    What were you like before AA, compared to what you’re like today? How do you stay grateful now each day? Share some stories that illustrate your journey with gratitude now that you’re sober.
     
  • OCTOBER
    Technology & AA (stories due March 15, 2025)
    Online meetings, hybrid meetings, smartphones, texting, meeting apps, social media…and yes, good old-fashioned phone calls. How has technology helped your sobriety and changed the way you connect with your sponsor, sponsees, and fellows?
     
  • NOVEMBER
    Classic Grapevine
    Our favorite stories from the AA Grapevine Story Archive.
     
  • DECEMBER
    Remote Communities (stories due May 15, 2025)
    Are you involved in Remote Community service? Do you live far from AA meetings? Are you a loner? Stationed far away? Do you have a language or cultural barrier? Are you homebound? Do you use online meetings? Is it difficult to find AA meetings where you live? Tell us how you stay sober. Sober Holidays! (stories due May 15, 2025) December is a great time of year to reach out to alcoholics and help others. What are the ways you stay sane and grateful during the holidays and New Year’s? How do you navigate holiday parties and family gatherings? Share your best sober holiday stories!

 

Grapevine Editorial Calendar 2024

  • JANUARY
    Emotional Sobriety (stories due July 15, 2023)
    Over time, how have you learned to use the tools of AA to gain serenity and peace? How has your life changed? Share some examples of emotional sobriety in your life today.
     
  • FEBRUARY
    Getting Through Tough Times (stories due Aug 15, 2023)
    A serious illness, divorce, the death of a loved one, a house fire, loss of a job, bankruptcy…How have you stayed sober through adversity? Tell us how the program and fellowship helped you.
     
  • MARCH
    Spanish-Speaking AA Members (stories due Sept. 15, 2023)
    This month we celebrate our Spanish-speaking AA members by translating and sharing some of the very best La Vina stories! We’re also looking for stories of those doing service to reach out to our Spanish-speaking members in meetings, districts, areas or at events.
     
  • APRIL
    Favorite Big Book Stories (stories due Oct. 15, 2023)
    Grapevine celebrates 85 wonderful years of our beloved Big Book! What are your favorite Big Book stories or memories? What are your favorite chapters or passages and why? How did it help you as a newcomer? Feel free to include a photo of your well-worn Big Book!
     
  • MAY
    How the Steps Change My Life (stories due Nov. 15, 2023)
    Tell us how the Steps have changed your life and enriched your sobriety. Give some examples. What is your favorite Step? Which one surprised you most? Share your stories.
     
  • JUNE
    Happy Birthday, Grapevine! (80 Wonderful Years!) (stories due Dec. 15, 2023) 
    This June, Grapevine turns the big 80! Help us celebrate by sharing your very best memories with Grapevine. Why do you love Grapevine? Was there a story that once helped you? How did being a GV Rep help your sobriety? What did you learn? Share your best Grapevine memories!
     
  • JULY
    Annual Prison Issue (stories due Jan. 15, 2024)
    Looking for stories of hope about AA in prisons and jails by incarcerated members and by those who bring meetings to them. Did you find AA in prison? What is sobriety like inside? Are you involved in correspondence service or prison sponsorship? We would love to hear your stories.
     
  • AUGUST
    Dating & Relationships (stories due Feb. 15, 2024)
    Share your experiences learning to date in sobriety. How did it go? What were the challenges? Any sober tips? (Believe me, we all want to know!). Share what you’ve learned about having sober relationships. How is your marriage different in sobriety than when you were drinking?
     
  • SEPTEMBER
    Young & Sober (Release of the New GV & LV Apps!) (stories due March 15, 2024)
    Did you come into AA at an early age? What was that like? What were the challenges? Do you go to Young People’s AA (YPAA) meetings, dances or conferences? How have they helped you?
     
  • OCTOBER
    Cooperation with the Professional Community (CPC) (stories due April 15, 2024) 
    Have you participated in CPC service (providing doctors, therapists, clergy, lawyers, teachers, parole officers, and other professionals information about AA)? Did a professional help you find your way to AA because of CPC service work? Are you a professional who found out about AA from members doing CPC work?
     
  • NOVEMBER
    Classic Grapevine
    Our favorite stories from the AA Grapevine Story Archive.
     
  • DECEMBER
    Remote Communities (stories due June 15, 2024)
    Do you live far from AA meetings? Are you a loner? Stationed far away? Do you have a language or cultural barrier? Are you homebound? Do you use online meetings? Is it difficult to find AA meetings where you live? Tell us how you stay sober. Are you involved in Remote Community service? Sober Holidays! (stories due June 15, 2024) December is a great time of year to reach out to alcoholics and help others. What are the ways you stay sane and grateful during the holidays and New Year’s? How do you navigate holiday parties and family gatherings? Share your best sober holiday stories!