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 2027

  • JANUARY
    Spiritual Awakenings   (stories due June 1, 2026)
    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 your experience.
     
  • FEBRUARY
    Longtime Members! (stories due July 1, 2026)
    Let’s hear from our longtimers! 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
    What’s on Your Mind? (stories due Aug. 1, 2026)
    Have thoughtful ideas about meetings, sponsorship, sobriety, Traditions or anything AA? Tell us how you really feel. “What’s On Your mind?” is one of our most popular columns. This is your chance to share exactly what’s on your mind. We want to know. 
     
  • APRIL
    Making Amends (stories due Sept. 1, 2026)
    Did you have an interesting Ninth Step experience to share? How did it go? Were there any surprises? Share your experience about making amends.   
     
  • MAY
    Fun in Sobriety  (stories due Oct. 1, 2026)
    We’re not a glum lot. Been on any fun sober trips? How about camping, skiing, skydiving, dancing, collecting, acting, reading, cooking, volunteering? What about service events, new hobbies, game nights, sober vacations? Share your sober adventures! Let’s hear from you!  
     
  • JUNE
    Emotional Sobriety (stories due Nov. 1, 2026)
    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.
     
  • JULY
    Annual Prison Issue  (stories due Dec. 1, 2026)
    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. 
     
  • AUGUST
    Sober Seniors (stories due Jan 1, 2027)
    What are some challenges you have getting older in AA? Are you in assisted living? How do you get to AA meetings? How do you stay connected to the Fellowship? Did you get sober later in life? Do you do service reaching out to senior members? Share your experiences
     
  • SEPTEMBER
    Young & Sober (stories due Feb 1, 2027)
    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
    AA in the Military (stories due March 1, 2027)
    Did you ever serve in the military sober? Were you ever stationed overseas or on a ship while trying to stay sober? What were AA meetings like in the military? What were some of the challenges? Did you find AA while serving? Tell us about being in AA while serving your country. 
     
  • NOVEMBER
    Classic Grapevine
    Our favorite stories from the AA Grapevine Story Archive.
     
  • DECEMBER
    Remote Communities (stories due May 1, 2027)
    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? Are you involved in Remote Community service? Tell us how you stay sober. 
    Sober Holidays! (stories due May 1, 2027) 
    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? Share your best sober holiday stories!

 

Grapevine Editorial Calendar 2026

  • JANUARY
    Stories for Day Counters  (stories due June 15, 2025)
    What are the things that helped you most when you were very new to AA? How did you find a sponsor? How did they help you? What parts in the literature helped you most? Which suggestions or slogans or service positions helped you? Share your newcomer stories!
     
  • FEBRUARY
    Getting Through Tough Times (stories due July 1, 2025)
    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
    Families and AA  (stories due Aug. 1, 2025)
    Are any other members of your family alcoholic? Are any of them in AA? Did you find out about the program through a family member? Do you go to meetings together? Are your children heavy drinkers? How do you cope? Share your family recovery stories.
     
  • APRIL
    Getting into General Service (stories due Sept. 1, 2025)
    Ever been a GSR?...a DCM?...a delegate? Have you worked on area committees? Share the joys of doing this kind of service. It just might inspire others! (plus preview of brand new GV Book on “Gratitude”)
     
  • MAY
    How the Steps Changed My Life (stories due Oct. 1, 2025)
    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
    Young & Sober  (stories due Nov 1, 2025)
    Did you come into AA at an early age? What was that like? Do you go to Young People’s AA (YPAA) meetings, dances and Conferences? How have they helped you? Share your experience!
     
  • JULY
    Annual Prison Issue  (stories due Dec. 1, 2025)
    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.
     
  • AUGUST
    Sober Travel (stories due Jan 1, 2026)
    How do you stay sober while traveling on trains, planes and in faraway places? Vacations, business trips or moving away to another town. How did you find AA meetings? Tell us about them. Have you had any close calls? Share the tools that helped you stay sober on the road.
     
  • SEPTEMBER
    Sponsorship   (stories due Feb 1, 2026)
    Share your experiences of sponsoring others or of being sponsored. What are some of the things you learned? What things do you now pass on? Share your story.
     
  • OCTOBER
    Dealing with Loneliness   (stories due March 1, 2026)
    Members don’t often share about loneliness. How do you deal with it in sobriety? What was your experience with loneliness when you were still drinking? What’s it like now? What are the tools you use to combat loneliness and to reach out for help and fellowship.
     
  • NOVEMBER
    Classic Grapevine
    Our favorite stories from the AA Grapevine Story Archive.
     
  • DECEMBER
    Remote Communities (stories due May 1, 2026)
    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 1, 2026) 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!