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Get involved · Share your story

Share your story

Grapevine and La Viña are written by AA members like you. Your story could be what another alcoholic needs.

Send to Grapevine (opens a new tab) Send to La Viña (opens a new tab)

Next deadline

All deadlines

due in 19 days

Annual Prison Issue

For the July 2027 issue · Grapevine · stories in English

Your story matters

Why write?

You don't need to be a writer. All it takes is a little willingness and a desire to share.

It carries the message

Somewhere, a newcomer will read your words at exactly the right moment. A story in print keeps working long after you've written it.

It helps you grow

Putting your experience on paper is a lot like a good inventory — it brings clarity, gratitude and fresh insight into your own recovery.

Every voice matters

Newcomers and old-timers, big cities and small towns, English and Spanish — the magazines are richer when they sound like all of us.

Published from our Area

See who from our Area got published

Members from Northeast Texas are being published in Grapevine and La Viña. Your story could be next.

Last 60 days

Area 65 writers
3
writers from all of Texas
7

Newest from our Area

  • Ray M.· Hurst (Grapevine)
  • Norma L.· Dallas (La Viña)
  • W. N.· Wichita Falls (Grapevine)

Stories, letters & more

What you can send

Stories are the heart of both magazines, but there are many ways to take part.

Your story

Your experience, strength and hope: how you found AA, a Step that changed you, a slip and a comeback, a service commitment that kept you sober. Stories about the Steps and Traditions are always needed.

  • Emotional sobriety
  • Sponsorship
  • Newcomers
  • Young & sober
  • Old-timers
  • Home group
  • Steps & Traditions
  • Service

Writing on a monthly theme? Check the deadlines below — theme stories are needed months ahead.

Letters & opinions

React to a story you read, or say what's on your mind about meetings, sponsorship or anything AA. Grapevine's “Dear Grapevine” and “What's On Your Mind?” pages come from members' letters.

Humor

Laughter is part of recovery. Send your clean AA jokes, funny sober moments and cartoons — Grapevine's “At Wit's End” page is full of them.

Photos & art

Drawings, cartoons, paintings and photographs that reflect the joy of sober living. Grapevine also holds an annual photo contest.

Annual photo contest (opens a new tab)

Your meeting place in “If Walls Could Talk”

Grapevine's “If Walls Could Talk” section shows AA meeting places. Send a photo with no people or faces in it and no names on boards or anniversary lists, and give your group's name and city (no street address needed).

A phone photo can keep the place where it was taken. To leave it out, look for a location option when you share the photo, or in your camera's settings.

Grapevine's guidelines (opens a new tab) Send it on Grapevine's site (opens a new tab)

La Viña also welcomes photos of meeting places: share on La Viña's site (opens a new tab)

Record your story

Rather talk than write? Both magazines collect recorded stories from members: Grapevine through its Audio Project, La Viña through “Graba tu historia.” Record yours right on this page, or by phone.

How to record your story

Online, e-mail or mail

How to submit

Writing in English? Send it to Grapevine. Writing in Spanish? Send it to La Viña. Online is fastest, but email and postal mail work too.

Stories in English

Send to Grapevine

Submit online (opens a new tab)
Email

Email

gveditorial@aagrapevine.org
Postal mail

Postal mail

Grapevine, Editorial Dept., 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115
Submission guidelines
Submission guidelines (opens a new tab) Editorial calendar (opens a new tab)

Stories in Spanish

Send to La Viña

Submit online (opens a new tab)
Email

Email

manuscritoslv@aagrapevine.org
Postal mail

Postal mail

La Viña, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115
Submission guidelines
Submission guidelines (opens a new tab) Editorial calendar (opens a new tab)

Audio stories

Record your story

Record it right here in your browser, call a magazine's story line, or record on your phone and email it.

Record here · in your browser

Record your story here

Use your phone's or computer's microphone. Record as many takes as you like, listen to each one, keep the one you like best, and send it as an MP3 or WAV file, the formats both magazines accept.

You're in an app's built-in browser, which may not allow the microphone. Open this page in Safari or Chrome to record. Recordings made here may not be kept, and they won't be in Safari or Chrome.

How to open it in your browser

Record for

Length: 6–8 minutes.

Length: up to 7 minutes.

Auto-translated

It goes into your email and the file's name. Each magazine chooses which stories it publishes. Grapevine's themes are listed only as ideas to get you started.

Recording time: 0:00

6–8 minutes Keep going: Grapevine asks for at least 6 minutes. Almost at the limit of 8 minutes. Over the limit: Grapevine takes up to 8 minutes. You can trim it afterwards. Good length. Up to 7 minutes Keep going: La Viña asks for at least {min} minutes. Almost at the limit of 7 minutes. Over the limit: La Viña takes up to 7 minutes. You can trim it afterwards. Up to 7 minutes

Level: We can't hear anything A bit quiet: move closer Good level Too loud: move back a little

Throw this recording away?

The microphone is blocked for this site.

No microphone was found. Plug one in, or use your phone.

Another app or tab is using the microphone. Close it and try again.

This microphone couldn't start. Choose another one and try again.

The microphone couldn't start. Reload the page and try again.

Recording needs the secure (https) address of this page.

This browser can't record. Try a recent Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari, or use one of the ways below.

This browser can't record. Try a recent Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari, or use one of the ways below.

On iPhone or iPad: in Safari, open the page menu beside the address, choose Website Settings and set Microphone to Allow. Then reload this page.

On Android: tap the icon left of the address, then Permissions › Microphone › Allow. Then reload this page.

In Chrome: click the icon left of the address, turn Microphone on, then reload. Also check that your computer lets the browser use the microphone (Windows or Mac privacy settings).

In Edge: click the lock left of the address, then Permissions for this site › Microphone › Allow, then reload. Also check Windows privacy settings for the microphone.

In Firefox: click the microphone or permissions icon in the address bar, clear the block, then reload this page.

In Safari on a Mac: Safari › Settings › Websites › Microphone, set this site to Allow, then reload.

Allow the microphone for this site in your browser's settings, then reload this page.

Other ways: call a story line, or record with your phone's voice recorder (see below).

We can't hear you. Check that the right microphone is chosen and isn't muted.

Recording paused: the sound stopped (a call, the screen locked, or another app took the microphone). Tap “Continue recording” to go on.

A recording was cut off, and we kept what was recorded: see “Recovered” below.

The MP3 can't be made yet: it needs an internet connection the first time. The WAV is ready, and the MP3 will be made when you're back online.

Tap “Continue” to turn the sound on.

Only in a noisy place: it can make a voice sound flat. Try one take with it and one without.

Keep this page open with the screen on. A call, a locked screen or another app pauses the recording: tap “Continue recording” to go on.

What to say first

  1. 1. Your full name and phone number, so Grapevine can reach you if your story is chosen.
  2. 2. Where you are, for example: I'm in Dallas, Texas.
  3. 3. That you give AA Grapevine permission to use your story: I give AA Grapevine permission to use my story.
  4. 4. Then begin as you would in a meeting: My name is Jane, and I'm an alcoholic.

Grapevine's instructions ask for your name, phone number and where you are at the start. The permission sentence is our suggestion: on the phone line you give it with a key.

  1. 1. Begin as you would in a meeting: Me llamo José y soy alcohólico
  2. 2. Clearly and slowly, say your full name and your phone number.
  3. 3. Then read this sentence word for word:
    “Otorgo a La Viña los derechos de autor de la grabación para ser editada y publicada en el caso de que la grabación sea seleccionada; transmitir mi historia personal a través de la página Internet o de un tercero, en medios escritos, de audio y de distintos métodos de distribución.”

La Viña asks for this at the start of every recorded story.

Before you record
  • Have one topic in mind: one experience, with a beginning, a middle and an end.
  • Share it the way you would in a meeting. Your own story only, not a recording of a speaker at an AA meeting or event.
  • Length: 6–8 minutes.
  • Length: up to 7 minutes.
  • Some Grapevine pages say up to 7 minutes, so 6 to 7 is safest.
  • Tell it in Spanish, and avoid swear words.
  • Find a quiet room: no TV, music or fans, windows closed. Turn on Do Not Disturb so calls and alerts don't interrupt you.
  • Keep the microphone (your phone, or your computer's) about a hand's width from your mouth, and keep your fingers off it.
  • Make a short test take and listen to it first.
  • Protect others: no last names of sponsors, family or friends. Leave out anything you'd rather not share.
  • Using a screen reader? Wear headphones: what it says while you record goes into the take.
  • Send it once, by email or on the magazine's website, not both, and keep your own copy.

Your takes

This browser won't let this page keep recordings on this device (website data is blocked in its settings, or Lockdown Mode is on). Your takes last only while this page is open: download or send the one you want before you leave.

This page can't reach the recordings saved on this device right now. Tap “Try again”, or reload the page; first download or send any take that isn't saved.

This device is out of room for recordings, so a take isn't saved on it yet. Delete takes you don't need (or free up space on the device), then tap “Try again”. Until then it's only in this page.

A take isn't saved on this device yet. We keep trying, but until then it's only in this page: stay here, or download or send it first. If this device is almost full, delete takes you don't need or free up space, then tap “Try again”.

This looks like a private window: your takes are kept at most until you close it. Download or send the one you want as soon as you're happy with it.

This looks like a private tab: your takes are kept at most until you close it, and Safari may lose them sooner if you switch to another app. Save the one you want to Files, or send it, as soon as you're happy with it.

Your takes will appear here. Record a few and keep the one you like best.

Already recorded it?

Add a recording from your phone or computer, for example an iPhone Voice Memos (.m4a) file, and it becomes an MP3 or WAV the magazines accept. You can trim it too.

That file is too big (more than 80 MB).

That recording is longer than 20 minutes.

This browser couldn't open that file. Try an MP3, WAV or M4A file.

Your recordings stay on this device

Nothing is uploaded to this website. Your takes are kept in this browser, on this device, so a closed page or a dropped call doesn't lose them. In a private tab or window, your takes are kept at most until you close it. Your browser has agreed to keep them until you delete them. Safari may remove them after 7 days of using Safari without tapping anything on this site, so keep a copy of the take you want: save it to Files or send it. This browser may remove them after 7 days of using it without tapping anything on this site, so keep a copy of the take you want: save it to Files or send it. Safari may remove them after 7 days of using Safari without clicking anything on this site, so keep a copy of the take you want: download it or send it. They're kept until you delete them (in a private or Incognito window, only until you close it), but your browser may still remove them if the device runs short of space, so keep a copy of the take you want. On a shared computer, delete your takes when you're done. On iPhone and iPad, Safari and the app on your Home Screen keep separate recordings: a take made in one doesn't show in the other. On iPhone and iPad, this browser and the app on your Home Screen keep separate recordings: a take made in one doesn't show in the other.

Off: takes last only while this page is open.

Remove your saved takes from this device? They'll last only while this page is open, so download or send the one you want first.

Delete every take on this device?

Having trouble? Check this device

A short report of what this phone or computer, and its browser, can do for the recorder, and how many recordings it holds. It never includes their names, topics or sound. Copy it, or email it to the committee: nothing is sent unless you send it.

Checking this device…


      

        
         Email it to the committee
        
      

      
Your email app opens with the report, addressed to grapevine@neta65.org: it goes only when you send it.

    

  




Recording here needs JavaScript. You can still record with your phone's voice recorder and email the file: see “Or record it yourself” below.

  



  
Grapevine · in English

  
Audio Project

6–8 minutes  

  
Share as you would in a meeting. Pick one topic, such as making amends or finding your first sponsor.

  
    
    Call the story line (559) 726-1216
  


    

      
Step by step

      
    
          
  1. 1. Call the story line above.
    2. 

          
  2. 2. Press 1 to hear helpful tips, then record your story after the tone.
    3. 

          
  3. 3. When you finish, press #, then press 1 to save your story.
    4. 

          
  4. 4. Press 2 to give AA Grapevine permission to use your story.
    5. 

      

    

    
    

      
Or record it yourself

      
Use your smartphone or a digital recorder (WAV or MP3 files) and email the recording to:

      

        webcoord@aagrapevine.org
        
      
Or record it here, in your browser 
    


    
    

  • Grapevine doesn't take recordings of speakers at AA meetings.
    •       
  • What happens next: If the AA Grapevine editorial staff accepts your story, it's published on the AA Grapevine YouTube channel.
    • 
    

    

    
    

      
Listen to members' stories

      Visit the official page  (opens a new tab)
    

  





  
La Viña · in Spanish

  
Graba tu historia

Up to 7 minutes  

  
Your own story of recovery in AA, told in your own voice, as you would share it in a meeting.

  
    
    Call the story line (559) 670-1601
  

Long-distance charges may apply.

    

      
Step by step

      
    
          
  1. 1. Call the story line above and listen closely to the welcome message.
    2. 

          
  2. 2. When the system asks you to, press 1 to record your story.
    3. 
          
  3. 3. Start in Spanish, as you would in a meeting (Me llamo José y soy alcohólico). Clearly say your full name, your phone number and this sentence:
    “Otorgo a La Viña los derechos de autor de la grabación para ser editada y publicada en el caso de que la grabación sea seleccionada; transmitir mi historia personal a través de la página Internet o de un tercero, en medios escritos, de audio y de distintos métodos de distribución.”
    4. 

          
  4. 4. Hang up. That's it: you've shared your story with La Viña.
    5. 

      

    

    
    

      
Or record it yourself

      
Use your smartphone or a digital recorder (WAV or MP3 files) and email the recording to:

      

        manuscritoslv@aagrapevine.org
        
      
Or record it here, in your browser 
    


    
    

  • La Viña doesn't take recordings of speakers at AA events.
    •       
  • What happens next: Like the stories in the magazine, recordings go through an editorial process. If yours is accepted, La Viña publishes it online and/or transcribes it for the magazine or the website.
    • 
    

    

    
    

      
Before you call

      
      Visit the official page  (opens a new tab)
    

  



  



  



  
    
Editorial calendar

    
Upcoming themes & deadlines
We keep these themes and deadlines updated regularly from the official editorial calendars. Themes are optional — a good story on any AA topic is always welcome.
  
  
Updated 
  





  

    

      
      Grapevine
    

    

 Calendar (document) (opens a new tab)      Full calendar  (opens a new tab)
    

  

  

      

        
Next deadline

        

          

            19
            days
          

          

            
Annual Prison Issue


For the July 2027 issue
            
 · due in 19 days

          

        


Did you find AA in prison? What is sobriety like inside? What are meeting like? Are you involved in correspondence service or prison sponsorship? We are especially looking for stories by women in long-term custody.

   Add to my calendar: Annual Prison Issue 
  

     Google Calendar (opens a new tab)
     Outlook.com (opens a new tab)
    
    
The .ics file comes with a reminder at 9 AM the day before. Google Calendar skips it and uses your own notification settings.

  



      





  
Jan1
  
  

    
Sober Seniors

    
For the August 2027 issue · due in 50 days

   Add to my calendar: Sober Seniors 
  

     Google Calendar (opens a new tab)
     Outlook.com (opens a new tab)
    
    
The .ics file comes with a reminder at 9 AM the day before. Google Calendar skips it and uses your own notification settings.

  



  





  
Feb1
  
  

    
Young & Sober

    
For the September 2027 issue · due in 81 days

   Add to my calendar: Young & Sober 
  

     Google Calendar (opens a new tab)
     Outlook.com (opens a new tab)
    
    
The .ics file comes with a reminder at 9 AM the day before. Google Calendar skips it and uses your own notification settings.

  



  





  
Mar1
  
  

    
AA in the Military

    
For the October 2027 issue · due in 109 days

   Add to my calendar: AA in the Military 
  

     Google Calendar (opens a new tab)
     Outlook.com (opens a new tab)
    
    
The .ics file comes with a reminder at 9 AM the day before. Google Calendar skips it and uses your own notification settings.

  



  





  
May1
  
  

    
Sober Holidays!

    
For the December 2027 issue · due in 170 days

   Add to my calendar: Sober Holidays! 
  

     Google Calendar (opens a new tab)
     Outlook.com (opens a new tab)
    
    
The .ics file comes with a reminder at 9 AM the day before. Google Calendar skips it and uses your own notification settings.

  



  





  
May1
  
  

    
Remote Communities

    
For the December 2027 issue · due in 170 days

   Add to my calendar: Remote Communities 
  

     Google Calendar (opens a new tab)
     Outlook.com (opens a new tab)
    
    
The .ics file comes with a reminder at 9 AM the day before. Google Calendar skips it and uses your own notification settings.

  



  



    

    

      
        Show all 6 deadlines
        
      
      



  
May1
  
  

    
Sober Holidays!

    
For the December 2027 issue · due in 170 days

   Add to my calendar: Sober Holidays! 
  

     Google Calendar (opens a new tab)
     Outlook.com (opens a new tab)
    
    
The .ics file comes with a reminder at 9 AM the day before. Google Calendar skips it and uses your own notification settings.

  



  





  
May1
  
  

    
Remote Communities

    
For the December 2027 issue · due in 170 days

   Add to my calendar: Remote Communities 
  

     Google Calendar (opens a new tab)
     Outlook.com (opens a new tab)
    
    
The .ics file comes with a reminder at 9 AM the day before. Google Calendar skips it and uses your own notification settings.

  



  



      

    




      
Suggested topics — send any time

      
No deadline: Grapevine welcomes stories on these topics all year long.

      
    

  • 
  
  
    Every Tradition
Always needed
  

    • 

  • 
  
  
    Steps 4–12
Always needed
  

    • 

  • 
  
  
    Emotional Sobriety
In every issue
  

    • 

  • 
  
  
    Home Group
In every issue
  

    • 

  • 
  
  
    Newcomers
In every issue
  

    • 

  • 
  
  
    Old-Timers
In every issue
  

    • 

  • 
  
  
    Sponsorship
In every issue
  

    • 

  • 
  
  
    Youth Enjoying Sobriety
In every issue
  

    • 
      

    



    

       Recently closed 3
      

        

          Emotional Sobriety
          
        

        

          Fun in Sobriety
          
        

        

          Making Amends
          
        

      

    

  
Grapevine plans its theme issues many months ahead — send your story by the deadline shown for that issue. Its suggested topics have no deadline, and stories on any other AA topic are always welcome too.





  

    

      
      La Viña
    

    

 Topics (document) (opens a new tab)      Official list  (opens a new tab)
    

  

  

      

        
Next deadline

        

          

            33
            days
          

          

            
Prisons


Prisiones
For the July–August 2027 issue
            
 · due in 33 days

          

        



   Add to my calendar: Prisons 
  

     Google Calendar (opens a new tab)
     Outlook.com (opens a new tab)
    
    
The .ics file comes with a reminder at 9 AM the day before. Google Calendar skips it and uses your own notification settings.

  



      





  
Feb2
  
  

    
Hispanic Veterans in AA


Hispanos Veteranos en AA
    
For the September–October 2027 issue · due in 82 days

   Add to my calendar: Hispanic Veterans in AA 
  

     Google Calendar (opens a new tab)
     Outlook.com (opens a new tab)
    
    
The .ics file comes with a reminder at 9 AM the day before. Google Calendar skips it and uses your own notification settings.

  



  





  
Apr3
  
  

    
Celebrating in Sobriety


Celebrando en sobriedad
    
For the November–December 2027 issue · due in 142 days

   Add to my calendar: Celebrating in Sobriety 
  

     Google Calendar (opens a new tab)
     Outlook.com (opens a new tab)
    
    
The .ics file comes with a reminder at 9 AM the day before. Google Calendar skips it and uses your own notification settings.

  



  



    




      
Suggested topics — send any time

      
No deadline: La Viña welcomes stories on these topics all year long.

      
      

        
          Show all 19 topics
          
        
        
      

    



    

       Recently closed 3
      

        

          Relapses
          
        

        

          Sponsorship
          
        

        

          Newcomers
          
        

      

    

  
La Viña plans each issue's theme months ahead — send your story by the deadline shown for that issue. Its suggested topics have no deadline, and stories on any other AA topic are always welcome too.



    

    

      Printable flyer:      Grapevine Editorial - Share your story - Fun in Sobriety and Emotional Sobriety (opens a new tab)    

    



  



  

    

      

  
    
Before you write

    
Tips for writing your story
A few simple ideas to get you started.
  


      
    
        
  1. 
          
          
    1. Write the way you talk
    Imagine you're sharing at your home group. Your natural voice is your best voice.
    
        
    2. 
        
  2. 
          
          
    2. One story, one message
    Pick a single experience or turning point and tell it well, instead of your whole life story.
    
        
    3. 
        
  3. 
          
          
    3. Share, don't preach
    Tell what happened, what you did and how it changed you. Experience carries the message; advice rarely does.
    
        
    4. 
        
  4. 
          
          
    4. Be specific
    A real detail — a coffee pot, a late-night phone call, your first chip — makes readers feel they were there.
    
        
    5. 
        
  5. 
          
          
    5. Keep it focused
    Shorter stories are easier to publish. Check the guidelines for the current length suggestions.
    
        
    6. 
        
  6. 
          
          
    6. Original and your own
    Send something you wrote yourself that hasn't been published anywhere else.
    
        
    7. 
        
  7. 
          
          
    7. Write in your own language
    Spanish to La Viña, English to Grapevine. Don't worry about perfect grammar — stories are edited before they're published.
    
        
    8. 
        
  8. 
          
          
    8. Ask someone to read it
    A sponsor, sponsee or program friend can tell you if it rings true. Then hit send!
    
        
    9. 
      

    

      

        
Protecting anonymity

        
Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions — and both magazines take it seriously.

        
    
          
  • The norm is your first name and last initial, plus your city and state.
    • 
          
  • Want more privacy? You can ask to be published as “Anonymous.”
    • 
          
  • Protect others too: use first names only — or none — for sponsors, family and friends in your story.
    • 
          
  • Photos: avoid pictures in which AA members can be recognized.
    • 
        

        

          
How a byline usually looks

          
Maria G., Tyler, Texas

        

      

    

  



  

    
    

      

        
Bring it to your group

        
Host a writing workshop

        
A writing workshop is a warm, simple way to help members put their stories on paper — and send them in together. Our committee is happy to help your group or district plan one.

        

           See upcoming workshops
           Ask at our committee meeting
        

      

      

        
Official guides for writers

        
      

    
    

      
Next workshops

      
    

  



  

  
    
Questions

    
Common questions
Quick answers before you send your story.
  


  

    

      
        Do I need to be a good writer?
        
      
      
Not at all. Honesty matters more than style, and stories are edited for length and clarity before they're published.

    

    

      
        Which magazine should I send my story to?
        
      
      
Writing in English? Grapevine. Writing in Spanish? La Viña. Both welcome stories from members anywhere in the world.

    

    

      
        Does my story have to match a theme?
        
      
      
No. Themes help the editors plan special issues, but stories about any part of life in AA are always welcome.

    

    

      
        Will my full name be printed?
        
      
      
No. Bylines use your first name and last initial with your location — or “Anonymous,” if you prefer.

    

    

      
        Can our group write together?
        
      
      
Yes! That's exactly what a writing workshop is for. Each member still sends in their own story.

    

    

      
        Can I send a recording instead?
        
      
      
Yes. Both magazines take recorded stories: record it on this page and send the MP3, call Grapevine's or La Viña's story line, or record on your phone and email the file.


How to record your story 
    

  



  

    
Ready when you are

    
Ready to share your story?

    
Send it online in a few minutes — or by e-mail or mail. Grapevine takes stories in English, La Viña in Spanish.

    

       Send to Grapevine (opens a new tab)
       Send to La Viña (opens a new tab)