Lifeline Accepts Submissions in All Languages

Our Contributor Guidelines for ‘Lifeline: Stories of Recovery’ Blog   have been revised to clarify that Lifeline now accepts OA members’ stories of recovery in all languages. Further changes will help ensure that non-English submissions will be published in a way that preserves the “color” of the language in which the story is written.

Previously, the Guidelines stated that OA members had to send their non-English submissions to their service body for a Traditions review and any editing necessary to prepare a story for publication. However, now the OA board’s Internal Information Committee, which is responsible for review and approval of all published Lifeline stories, will itself facilitate the review process for all non-English submissions by contacting a trusted servant who is fluent in the language of the submission. The Guidelines now state:

To best represent members worldwide, non-English submissions will be reviewed and edited by a trusted servant who is fluent in the language submitted with the goal of preserving the essence of the language and member’s expression.

In addition, non-English stories will be published in the original language to best preserve the writer’s voice, and a second version, published in English, will be published alongside the original. The English version will be the basis for all other automatic translations.

We wish to thank the trustee liaisons for Region Eight and Region Nine for advocating for this change on behalf of the members in their regions and for our trustees persistence in finding a solution.

All OA members are encouraged to share their story with Lifeline using our  online submission form.