Submissions and Publication Questions
Managing Your Subscription
Technical Troubleshooting
Submission and Publication Questions
What ages is Stone Soup intended for?
In general, Stone Soup is for 8- to 13-year-olds. Good readers under age 8 might also enjoy it. Some readers continue to enjoy it after they turn 14. Our writers and artists are all ages 8 to 14 (submissions are accepted by those still in U.S. eighth grade or its equivalent).
How can I send my work to Stone Soup?
Read our Contributors’ Guidelines for a detailed answer to this question.
What are my chances of getting published?
We receive 200 to 300 submissions a month. We really enjoy seeing everyone’s work, but, unfortunately, we are able to publish only a small percentage of the work we receive in Stone Soup.
Stone Soup accepts work by students through US eighth grade and its international equivalent. Where can I send my work after I start high school?
We do not have a publication of our own for older writers, but we do know of some other outlets for teen writers and artists. Where you go will depend on what kind of work you are producing, and we have made a list of some of the publications by and for teens that we know about, with links so you can explore them for yourself. You might also try your own Google search, or ask the librarian at your high school or public library to help you find resources. Please do stay in touch with us and let us know what you are working on after Stone Soup, and tell us what other resources we should add to our page. Good luck!
Is the print version of Stone Soup still available?
Yes, it is! We offer home delivery print subscriptions to readers all over the world (press the Subscribe button above to get the full details), and we sell one off copies and back issues (as well as the Stone Soup Annual and our collection of thematic anthologies, the Stone Soup Books of…) at our online store, Stonesoupstore.com. Digital-only subscribers who want a paper copy can download a PDF version of each issue and print it at home.
How can I access Stone Soup online?
Enjoy Stone Soup online in brilliant color on computer, tablet, or smart phone, or get the Stone Soup app. Explore the current issue online, as well as 20 years of back issues in the Stone Soup Archives. Our online issues have all the same great writing and art readers have loved for decades in the print issues, in a digital format. Bonus materials, all by kids, include book reviews, blog posts, music performances and compositions, videos, photographs, and spoken word.
Where does the name Stone Soup come from?
Stone Soup is the name of a folktale that is told in many countries, including Russia, Sweden, and parts of Africa. Most of the versions tell how a pot of water and a stone can turn into a great soup when everyone contributes a little something — a potato, a carrot, some chicken. In Stone Soup Magazine, all our writers contribute a little something to make each issue rich and tasty. Click here to read more about the Stone Soup folktale.
What rights does Stone Soup purchase for the work it publishes?
When we select a piece for publication, we send a permission contract to the author’s parents. Normally, we purchase all rights, but we are happy to make other arrangements when asked.
Do you publish any other magazines besides Stone Soup?
No, our company, the Children’s Art Foundation, publishes only one magazine: Stone Soup. However, we also publish books by young authors as well as anthologies that collect stories from past issues into books that focus on different themes. You can purchase these from the Stone Soup Store.
Do you publish any work at all by adults? Book reviews? Artwork?
No, everything we publish is by young writers and artists. Our age limit is 13, or through US eighth grade.
We do welcome some adult bloggers to write for our website, especially educators or authors who wish to share writing tips, or have ideas for writing or art activities based on Stone Soup material that could help other educators. Please contact us if this is something that interests you.
Do you have any job openings or internships?
You can read more about our internship programs here. For job queries we are always open to inquiries from qualified people who want to help us with our projects. Send your cover letter and resume to William Rubel.
Managing Your Subscription
Can I cancel auto-renew?
Yes. On the Stone Soup homepage, click on the “My Account” link on the top right hand corner of the page. If you’re not currently logged in, you’ll be prompted to do so. Once you’ve logged in, you’ll be redirected to a page titled “My Account.” Click on “Subscriptions”. If you have one subscription, you will be directed straight to a page where you may use a slider to switch auto-renew on and off. If you have more than one subscription, click on “Subscriptions,” then select the relevant subscription from the list and then use the slider as outlined above.
Can I change credit cards associated with my Stone Soup Account?
Yes. On the Stone Soup homepage, click on the “My Account” link on the top right hand corner of the page. If you’re not currently logged in, you’ll be prompted to do so. Once you’ve logged in, you’ll be redirected to a page titled “My Account.” Click on “Payment Methods” to view, edit or delete your current payment methods.
Do you store credit card information?
No. Stone Soup does not store any credit card information and our staff do not have access to your credit card details. Your credit card information is securely stored by Authorize.net, a division of Visa.
Can I switch my subscription from Digital Only to Print and Digital?
Yes. The simplest way to do so at the moment would be to cancel your current Digital Subscription and re-subscribe with the Print and Digital option. We are currently working on a method to make this process easier.
I’d like to be refunded for my subscription.
If you subscribe by the month, then login to your account and turn off auto renew. If you want to cancel an annual subscription or any subscription that includes print then please write to subscriptions@stonesoup.com. Please include your name and the name and city of the child who receives the magazine. We will respond to your request within 48 hours.
I subscribed but I haven’t received any issues.
If you ordered between the 1st and 13th of the month your first issue will be shipped on the 15th. If you ordered between the 14th and the end of the month your first issue will ship on the 1st of the following month. Magazines take one to three weeks to arrive within the United States and Canada. All other destinations should estimate two to three weeks for your first issue to arrive.
Before contacting us with a complaint (via subscriptions@stonesoup.com), please log in to your account and check the mailing address of the recipient. Please correct it if there is an error. Thank you.
How do I buy just one issue of Stone Soup?
You have the option to buy single issues of Stone Soup in our online store. Yuu may also purchase a single month of digital access by pressing the “Subscribe” button on our website and selecting the relevant option.
Can I subscribe to print edition of Stone Soup if I don’t live in the United States? What are the additional mailing costs?
Yes! We offer print subscriptions internationally. For most regions, the mailing cost is included in the subscription price: the subscription price is the same for the USA, Canada and the UK. Some countries incur additional mailing costs, which vary according to the location. These costs are calculated at checkout (based on the address of the recipient of the magazine) and displayed to you for your agreement before your purchase is completed.
Can I subscribe to the digital edition of Stone Soup if I don’t live in the United States?
Yes! Individual and IP based subscriptions for schools and libraries are available internationally charged in US Dollars at the same rates worldwide.
Technical Troubleshooting
How do I log in?
To log in and access online Stone Soup content and your account, click on the “My Account” link on the top right corner of the page. Most Stone Soup logins are email addresses.
Why can’t I access the content I want to read?
Casual visitors to our website can read a few items for free, but to access the full range of Stone Soup content you must be logged in to your account. Follow the steps in the first question in this FAQ to make sure you have logged in. If you are logged in but still unable to access any content, please visit “My Account” and check the status of your subscription. If your subscription is up-to-date and you still cannot access your content, please take a screenshot showing the page you tried to access and the error message that was displayed, and email it to us at subscriptions@stonesoup.com. Please include a brief description of your issue and the name(s) and address(es) associated with your subscription.
I don’t know my login details. How do I find them?
Your login details should be included in the confirmation email received from us when your subscription began. If you no longer have that confirmation, you may still be able to log in: most Stone Soup account logins are the email address you or the person who gave you your subscription gave us when they signed up. We suggest that you try that first. If you are still unable to login using your email address, please contact us at subscriptions@stonesoup.com including the name(s), email address(es) and address(es) associated with your account. We will check the details and respond to you within 48 hours.
I’d like to be removed from the mailing list.
To comply with European Union regulations (GDPR), we must ask you to remove yourself from our mailing list. Our staff can no longer do this for you. All mailings that we send have an ‘Unsubscribe’ link in the footer. Simply scroll down to the end of an email you’ve received from Stone Soup and click on the “Unsubscribe From This List” option in the footer. If you ever wish to re-subscribe, you can fill out the “Sign Up for Our Newsletter” form on our homepage.
I’m having a problem with Submittable.
Unfortunately, Submittable is a different service, and we cannot help you with your Submittable questions. Please direct your questions to support@submittable.com or visit their Help Center.
Is your question not answered above? Email us at subscriptions@stonesoup.com for further help.