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How do I add my story to the My Texas database?
When you click on "tell a
story," you'll
be asked to identify yourself as either a new user or a registered user (that
is, someone who's already submitted a story to My Texas).
If you're a new user, you'll be taken to a page where you can begin to tell your
story. If you're a registered user, you'll be asked to sign in with your user
name and password before adding another story.
In either case, you can type your story directly into the form on the page. (Please
note: there is a 1,000-word limit per story.) You'll also be asked to enter a
title and choose your story's general subject category from a list.
Please note that the TSHA reserves the right to edit or reject any story submitted
to My Texas. 
How long should my story be?
There is no "ideal" length for My Texas stories. Due to space limitations, however, we must limit the length of individual stories to no more than 1,000 words, or roughly two pages of single-spaced text in 12-point type. (A word count feature is available on the story entry page.) If you exceed the maximum number of words, you will be prompted to edit your story to fit the requirements.
Why am I asked for my name, location, and e-mail?
Your name and location (city and state or country) will appear with your story,
but we will never publish or share your e-mail address. We need it to contact
you with your password so you can "verify" your submission and check
on stories you've submitted, and also in case we have questions about a submitted
story.
Once you have submitted a story for the first time, you will be a registered
My Texas user and will have your own My Texas account. If you change your name,
location, or e-mail address after submitting your first story, please update
your personal information so we'll know how to contact you if we need to. (If
you change your name and/or location, the new information will appear with ALL
your stories, even ones you submitted using the old information.)
What's the best way for me to tell my story?
There is no one way to tell a story, but the following tips may help get your creative juices flowing.
- Be sure you state clearly WHEN and WHERE your story takes place, but don't
get too caught up in "setting the scene" before you get to the "real" story.
- Your story should be your own or your family's, not something written in
a book or newspaper by someone else.
- Some people find that thinking of a catchy title before they start writing
can help get them started; others find it easier just to start telling the
story and worry about a title later. In any case, try to choose a title that
will make clear to someone else what your story is about.
- Remember that your story will be available to everyone with access to the
Internet. Try to decide whether you'd be comfortable with total strangers,
family members, even the other people in your story (or their families) reading
what you write, and proceed accordingly. You might want to avoid identifying
people by name if your story involves potentially hurtful or embarrassing situations,
and you should avoid obscene or improper language.
- Don't worry about making your story sound "fancy" or "scholarly" or "official"-that's
not what My Texas is for! Relax, be yourself; pretend you're telling your story
to a friend or relative.
- Don't worry if your story doesn't seem "important" enough. Part of what
we hope My Texas will do is add a human, "ordinary" dimension to Texas history.
Sometimes the most "unimportant" events or situations can make "important" themes
come alive.
- Don't worry too much about whether the category you've chosen
applies precisely to your story. The My Texas editors will review your submission
and help put it where it fits best.
- Remember that the TSHA reserves the right to edit or delete all My Texas
submissions.
How do I find out whether my story is accepted?
After you submit a story for the first time, you should receive an e-mail containing a password and a link to the My Texas login page. The first time you log in, you'll be asked to verify that the information you submitted is correct. After that, you can use your password at any time to log in. (You can also get to the login page via the "my stories" link in the left-hand navigation bar.)
When you go to the "my stories" page, you'll see a list of all the stories you've submitted to My Texas, with a status for each. While a story's status is shown as "under review," the My Texas editorial staff is looking it over to make sure it's suitable for publication. If we determine that it is, the status will change to "published" once it appears on the My Texas site.
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