WE BEGAN AGAIN
Collected Essays on Second Chances
Edited by Christine Wolf & Eric Ronne
Submissions Window Open thru 9/30/25
Mockup of our book’s cover
In the spirit of second chances—and the beauty of what happens when we say yes again—Eric and I are thrilled to announce the launch of our first collaborative book project: We Began Again: Collected Essays on Second Chances.
A Call For Submissions
We’re now accepting submissions of personal essays (750 words max) exploring second chances in love, life, identity, and anything in between. Tell us your story. Make us laugh, cry, and nod in recognition. The deadline is September 30th, 2025.
Scroll down to learn more, or submit your essay here.
Thank you for being part of this evolving and magnificent journey.
With so much gratitude,
Christine
Memoir coach Christine Wolf & Designer Eric Ronne — newlyweds and a real life second-chance couple — will edit WE BEGAN AGAIN: Collected Essays on Second Chances (Photo by Chantal Pryor)
We Began Again:
Collected Essays on Second Chances
Edited by Christine Wolf & Eric Ronne
We’re thrilled to officially announce our very first collaborative book project as co-editors (and newlyweds)!
This collection will feature personal essays from writers around the world—true stories of transformation, resilience, and hope when life took an unexpected turn — by writers who chose to begin again.
As a real-life second-chance couple, we’re so excited to begin our new chapter as wife and husband (see what I did there?). We invite you to share in our joy by sharing your story (or stories!) of reinvention.
Submission Window
Opens: June 21, 2025 at 9:00am CST (our wedding day!)
Closes: September 30th, 2025 at 11:59pm CST
✍️ What We’re Looking For
We’re accepting personal essays (up to 750 words) on how a second chance impacted your life. A few examples:
A second chance at love after heartbreak or loss
A career pivot or unexpected professional reinvention
Starting over in a new place—a town, a country, or even just a new mindset
Returning to sobriety, or beginning a journey of recovery
Rebuilding trust with a friend, partner, or family member
Reinventing yourself after failure, burnout, illness, grief, or regret
Or any other moment where life gave you another shot—and you took it
ANY true experiences with second chances
If you’ve ever had to rebuild, reimagine, or begin again, we want to hear your story.
Submission Fee
$10 per essay
This fee helps us cover the cost of reading and reviewing each submission, plus the design, printing, and production costs of the finished book. We’re funding this project with a combination of submission fees and our own savings.
Paid Subscribers to Writers’ Haven by christine Wolf on Substack Submit for FREE
If you're a paid subscriber to Christine’s Substack, your submission fee is waived—no matter how many essays you submit.
Monthly paid subscription: $10
Annual paid subscription: $50 — a 58% savings over monthly
Cancel anytime. Seriously. Submit and then cancel if you want—I won’t be offended.
Check out Writers’ Haven by Christine Wolf before subscribing
Writers’ Haven by Christine Wolf: Paid Subscriber Perks
If you upgrade to a paid subscription, you’ll receive:
Unlimited free submissions to We Began Again
Access to my video archive, including memoir classes, exclusive expressive writing workshops, and live interviews with publishing industry professionals
Sneak peeks of my memoir-in-progress, Training Grounds
Your name listed on the Supporters’ Page when my memoir is published
And much, much more…
CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO WRITERS’ HAVEN BY CHRISTINE WOLF ON SUBSTACK
FAQs
1. Will contributors be compensated if published?
Not financially, but here’s what you WILL receive:
A digital copy of the finished book
A chance for you and your writing to be featured in a one-of-a-kind collection launched during a real-life love story
Interviews with us once the book is published
Our deepest gratitude for helping us build something meaningful, lasting, and real
2. Can I submit more than one essay?
Yes!
3. Can I submit previously published work?
Yes, as long as you have the rights to the content.
4. Will I retain the rights to the work I submit?
Yes!
5. Can I publish under a pen name?
Yes!
6. Are you looking for uplifting stories? Vulnerable stories? Unresolved stories?
Yes. Yes. And yes.
7. How do I submit?
If you’re a paid subscriber, click here to submit your essay(s) FREE!
If you’re not a paid subscriber, click here to pay your submission fee and upload each essay.
More details and FAQs to come. For now, feel free to drop your questions in the comments.
Do You Know Someone With A Good Second Chance Story?
Please share this post with them and encourage them to submit an essay!
We can’t wait to read your second-chance stories—big or small, joyful or complicated, typical or miraculous. They all matter.
With love and excitement,
Christine & Eric
Christine Wolf is a memoir coach, developmental editor, and author of Politics, Partnerships, & Power. She teaches workshops in Expressive Writing for Emotional Healing at Northwestern University and is the founder and principal of Writers’ Haven Evanston, a workspace for writers near Chicago. christinewolf.com
Eric Ronne is the founder and principal of Lumen Design (no, not “that” LUMON), specializing in web3 branding, web design, event design, custom illustration, and more.
They met on a dating site.
Memoir coach Christine Wolf and Designer Eric Ronne