Do you have a unique perspective or story to tell? We want to hear it! We're looking for personal stories about lived experiences in the Chicago region. They can be about any topic that matters to you, big or small – life lessons, health, aging, politics and government, public safety, equity, education, environment, immigration, work, money, sports, arts and culture, beauty, fun, community issues or more – but must be rooted in a personal experience and include a takeaway that would be useful to other community members.

We're now accepting submissions for guest columns that will be featured in the paper and online throughout the year.

And you don't have to be a writer to apply! We want to hear from a variety of voices across the Chicago region on a wide range of topics and issues that are important to you, whether or not we already cover them today.

Here’s how it works:

Submit an original, unpublished 550-600 word writing sample* now through May 31.
A panel of Sun-Times staff will choose guest columnists to feature.
Winners will work with Sun-Times editors to publish their columns in the paper and online.

Submit your writing

*Note: writing samples will be used to determine contest winners, but winners will have the opportunity to write a different column once selected.

We can’t wait to read your submissions!

Check out our 2023 Voices winners and their columns here!

Official Rules: FINDING CHICAGO’S NEXT VOICES (APRIL 8 - MAY 31, 2024)

NO PURCHASE, DONATION, OR PLEDGE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN; A PURCHASE, DONATION, OR PLEDGE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

ELIGIBILITY: You must be a legal U.S. resident 16 years of age or older physically residing in the 50 United States (includes DC) to enter or win. Residents of New York or Florida are not eligible to enter or win. Employees and their immediate family members (spouse, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, and siblings and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and those residing in the same household (regardless of whether they are related) of Chicago Sun-Times Media, Inc. (“Sun-Times”), and of its parents, subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates, prize suppliers, distributors, advertising agencies, promotional agencies, and judging agencies (collectively, the “Contest Parties”) and their respective officers, directors, shareholders, members, employees, agents, assigns, and all others associated with the development and execution of this Sweepstakes are not eligible to participate or win. This Sweepstakes is intended for viewing in the United States only and will be construed and evaluated only according to United States law. Do not enter this Sweepstake if you are not located in the United States. Void in New York, Florida, and where prohibited by law.

HOW TO ENTER:

The “Finding Chicago’s Next Voices” contest is being organized by Chicago Sun-Times Media, Inc. (“Sun-Times”). People are encouraged to enter the contest by submitting an original piece of written work at the web site located at suntimes.com/chicagovoices and completely filling out the required information. Submissions should be 550-600 words. Submissions should be focused on opinions for culture, lifestyle or community issues (e.g. dating, gentrification, cuisine) in an imaginative column based on the theme “Tell Chicago your story” that offers a perspective on themes related to the Chicago region and its residents. All submissions must be an entrant’s original work, created solely by the entrant and not previously published. All required fields on the online entry form must be complete and accompanied by a valid email address. If entrant is under 18, all required fields on the online entry form must be complete and accompanied by a valid email address for the entrant’s parent or legal guardian.

For questions on submissions, please contact marketing@suntimes.com.

See below for information on Entry Periods. Sun-Times is not responsible for lost, late, illegible, corrupted, or misdirected entries. The information you provide will be used consistent with Chicago Sun-Times Privacy Policy, accessible at https://chicago.suntimes.com/legal/privacy-notice.

ENTRY PERIODS, ENTRY DEADLINES, AND WINNER SELECTION FOR PRIZES: The contest will take place between 12:01 a.m. on Monday, April 8, 2024 and 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Friday, May 31, 2024. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. on May 31, 2024. Only one entry per entrant.

PRIZES AND APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUES:

There will be six (6) total prizes awarded based on entries. Each prize includes a $250 stipend and the publication of your name and work in a print and/or digital edition of the Chicago Sun-Times on a date chosen by the Sun-Times over the course of one year. Winners may be granted an opportunity to submit for publication a previously unpublished original piece other than that submitted for the contest. If such new piece is submitted, and accepted by the Sun-Times in its sole discretion, winner will not be entitled to any renumeration and will further grant Sun-Times the full license provided for under these rules to the piece. The approximate retail value (ARV) of each prize is $250.

Odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. Taxes on prize are the sole responsibility of the winner. Any and all guarantees and warranties for merchandise prizes are subject to the manufacturer’s and/or service providers terms and conditions, and winners agree to look solely to such manufacturers and/or service providers for any warranty or guarantee claim. Prizes are non-transferable and no substitution or cash equivalent is allowed except in Sun-Times’ sole discretion. Sun-Times reserves the right to substitute prizes of the same approximate retail value. For prizes $600 or more in value, winner’s social security number or taxpayer identification number will be required in order to issue a Form 1099-MISC showing prize ARV as income to winner. Prize consists only of items specifically listed as part of the prize. All costs and expenses not specified herein, related to any prize, including but not limited to delivery, installation, service activation fees and other expenses incurred by accepting the prize, are the sole responsibility of the winner. Limit one (1) prize per winner. The stipend portion of the prize will be fulfilled one to four weeks after the publication of the column.

LICENSE: ALL ENTRANTS GRANT SUN-TIMES A WORLDWIDE, NON-EXCLUSIVE, ROYALTY-FREE, SUB-LICENSABLE AND TRANSFERABLE LICENSE TO USE, REPRODUCE, DISTRIBUTE, PREPARE DERIVATIVE WORKS OF, AND/OR DISPLAY THEIR SUBMISSION IN ANY MEDIA FORMATS AND THROUGH ANY MEDIA CHANNELS IN PERPETUITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE ACTIVITIES AND OPERATIONS OF THE CONTEST, INCLUDING PRINT AND/OR DIGITAL EDITION OF THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES AND ASSOCIATED SOCIAL MEDIA. ALL ENTRANTS FURTHER REPRESENT THAT THEIR SUBMISSION DOES NOT INVOLVE COPYRIGHT-INFRINGING ACTIVITIES OR INFRINGE UPON ANY THIRD-PARTY’S INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS.

SELECTION OF THE WINNERS:

During the Contest Period, Sun-Times or its designated judges (whose decisions are final) will determine six (6) Prize winners based on the originality and clarity of content, and artistic merit, all as judged by the Sun-Times in its sole discretion.

Sun-Times’ decisions on all matters related to the contest are binding and final. Winners will be notified by e-mail at the e-mail address provided on or about July 15, 2024, and will be required to respond within five (5) days, or the prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner will be chosen. Affidavit of eligibility, prize acceptance form, tax information, publicity release, and/or mutually acceptable liability releases may be required and, if so, must be returned within reasonable specified time or prize will be forfeited and alternate winner chosen.

For a list of winners, check Chicago Sun-Times website at suntimes.com/chicagovoices between July 15, 2024 to August 15, 2024.

PARTICIPATION AND USE OF PRIZE: By entering this contest and accepting a prize, each winner agrees to maintain his or her behavior in accordance with all applicable laws and generally accepted social practices in connection with participation in any contest activity, including use of a prize. Winner understands and agrees that Sun-Times has the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify and remove any winner from use of a prize at any time for any reason or no reason, including but not limited to if a winner’s behavior at any point is disruptive or may or does cause damage to person, property or the reputation of Sun-Times or otherwise violates the policies of a prize provider.

PUBLICITY RELEASE: Except where prohibited, acceptance of a prize constitutes winner’s consent that his or her name, likeness, voice and/or biographical data may be used for advertising and promotional purposes without limitation and without additional notice, compensation, or consent. Tennessee residents need not so consent.

RELEASE: BY ENTERING, PARTICIPANT AGREES TO ACCEPT AND ABIDE BY THE RULES OF THIS CONTEST AND AGREES THAT ANY DISPUTE WITH REGARD TO THE CONDUCT OF THIS CONTEST, RULE INTERPRETATION, OR AWARD OF PRIZE SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO SUN-TIMES, WHOSE DECISION SHALL BE BINDING AND FINAL. BY PARTICIPATING, PARTICIPANT AGREES TO RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS THE CONTEST PARTIES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM ANY INJURY, LOSS OR DAMAGE TO PERSON, INCLUDING DEATH, OR PROPERTY DUE IN-WHOLE OR IN-PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, TO THE ACCEPTANCE OR USE/MISUSE OF A PRIZE, PARTICIPATION IN ANY CONTEST-RELATED ACTIVITY, OR PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST. BY ENTERING, ENTRANT AGREES TO FULLY RELEASE FACEBOOK AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE PROMOTION IS IN NO WAY SPONSORED, ENDORSED OR ADMINISTERED BY OR ASSOCIATED WITH FACEBOOK OR INSTAGRAM.

Sun-Times is not responsible for any typographical or other error in the printing of these Official Rules, administration of the contest or in the announcement of prizes, including erroneous appearance of qualification for a prize, and under no circumstances will more than the stated number of prizes be awarded. If for any reason Sun-Times is prevented from continuing with this contest, or the integrity and/or feasibility of the contest is severely undermined by any event including but not limited to fire, flood, explosion, labor dispute or strike, act of God or public enemy, satellite or equipment failure, or any federal, state or local government law, order or regulation, order of any court or jurisdiction, Sun-Times shall have the right, in their sole discretion, to abbreviate, modify, suspend, cancel or terminate the contest without further obligation. If Sun-Times in their discretion elect to so abbreviate the contest, Sun-Times reserves the right, but not the obligation, to award the prize from among all eligible entries received to date. All entries are the property of Sun-Times and are not returnable.

This contest is intended for viewing in the United States only and shall be construed and evaluated only according to United States law. Do not enter this contest if you are not located in the United States. The use of any automated devices in connection with this contest is prohibited. Sun-Times assumes no responsibility for computer system, hardware, software or program malfunctions or other errors, failures, delayed computer transactions or network connections, whether human, technical or otherwise in nature. Sun-Times reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel or suspend this contest should virus, bugs or other causes beyond their control corrupt the administration, security or proper play of this contest. Sun-Times is not responsible for any injury or damage to any person’s computer or related equipment resulting from or relating to participation in this contest or downloading any material related to this contest. Entries will be deemed made by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at the time of entry. In the event of a dispute, the potential winner may be required to provide proof that they are the authorized holder of the identified e-mail account. If entrant is under the age of 18, the potential winner may be required to provide proof that his or her parent or legal guardian is the authorized holder of the identified e-mail account.

DISPUTES/CHOICE OF LAW: Except where prohibited, each participant agrees that: (1) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this contest or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by state or federal courts situated in Chicago, Illinois, (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, but in no event attorneys' fees; and (3) no punitive, incidental, special, consequential or other damages, including without limitation, lost profits, may be awarded (collectively, “Special Damages”), and (4) entrant hereby waives all rights to claim Special Damages and all rights to have such damages multiplied or increased. Illinois law, without reference to choice of law rules, governs the contest and all aspects related thereto.

PRIVACY: Personally identifiable information that is submitted by entrants will be used to administer the contest, select prize winner, and fulfill prize, and will be treated in accordance with Chicago Sun-Times Privacy Notice, accessible at https://chicago.suntimes.com/legal/privacy-notice.

SPONSORS: Sponsored by Chicago Sun-Times Media, Inc., Navy Pier 848 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611.