What is the connection?The Connectiontheconnection_Feb08

Published and distributed monthly, theconnection is the international journal of Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous. Written, edited, designed, and illustrated by FA members, the magazine is a lifeline connecting food addicts in recovery all over the world.

theconnection's purpose is to communicate the experience, strength, and hope to be found in living the FA way of life. Its writings reflect the broad spectrum of current FA experience, and focus on recovery and unity.

 

 

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Please use online ordering

And. where possible, direct all inquiries and requests to the office by e-mail. click here)

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How can I subscribe to theconnection?

Just go online to order a full year's worth of stories about members' experience with food addiction and how they apply the Twelve Steps and the tools of the program in their daily lives. A subscription to the magazine is $20 (shipping within the US included).

Also available are copies of our anthologies, theconnection Collection, which are a full year of past issues of the magazine bound into one volume. These are $16 each, plus postage.

To protect your anonymity, theconnection is delivered by U.S. Post Office to you in a plain envelope.

Order your subscription now

How can I write or submit art for to theconnection?

Write your story
Write your story! Write your story

Don't worry about how well you write--we have editors who will help polish your piece. If you have 90 days of continuous FA recovery and would like to write for the magazine, here are some topics that might help get you started:

  • A "No Matter What" situation you experienced...how you got through it abstinently.
  • A Tool...how you use a particular tool to strengthen your recovery.
  • A funny situation...for our "Lighten Up" section, we feature short anecdotes or observations about life in recovery that have a humorous side.
  • A Step...how a particular step has furthered your recovery.
  • A Qualification...write your story, just as you might tell it.
  • "The First 90 Days"--what it was like for you in early recovery and how you got through it.
  • A motto or slogan and how you use it in your daily life--or how you used it in a particular situation.

Feel free to submit more than one article...but please, one article at a time!Don't take it personally if your piece doesn't show up. All stories are archived and considered as issues are developed. Keep writing! And thanks for your service, willingness, and creativity!


See the magazine's writing guidelines and how to submit your article....

When you write, we do have some recommendations...

  • Tell a story. People can relate to specific experiences more than they can to vague generalizations. If you're writing on a topic, ask yourself what one experience or event best illustrates it, and let that anecdote serve as the hub of your article. We ask that your writing be as vivid and concrete as possible, with lots of specific examples of experience, strength, and hope.
  • Use plain language. Remember that many of our readers are newcomers. Filling your piece with a lot of FA jargon may puzzle them and turn them off.
  • Be honest. Write what is true for you, even if you fear it shows your weakness. If it's true for you, it's probably true for dozens of other food addicts out there as well. An honest description of a struggle may be more helpful to someone than a vague upbeat tale of smooth sailing.
  • Write from the heart. Write on the topics that interest you or that you relate to most. You don't have to impress anyone Keep it simple and honest.
  • Be specific, but not about food! Please refrain from mentioning specific foods and avoid fantasy-style descriptions of food. Try to use generic terms such as "binge food," "sweets," "dessert," "flour and sugar product," "snack," etc. Adjectives are okay, such as "greasy," "fatty," "salty," "sweet."

Ask for help. If you're still shaky on your submission, email your draft to us along with a request for specific feedback from the editors. Make sure to include your email and phone number so we can reach you (it may take us a few weeks to respond).

Email your submission in an attached Word document or in the body of the email to: connectionchair@yahoo.com. Include your first name, last initial, state or country at the bottom of your article. To mail in your submission, send to: theconnection, FA World Service Office 400 West Cummings Park, Suite 1700, Woburn, MA 01801

Join our Art Team

Join our Art Team!Team Connection

If you are not a writer, but have artwork or photographs (PDF or JPEG format) that you think would be appropriate for the magazine...or if you are an artist and would be willing to create illustrations, email: connectionchair@yahoo.com and we will put you in touch with our Art Team Leader. (You need to have 90 days of continuous abstinence in FA to do this service.)

How can I do service for to theconnection?

Become theconnection Representative for your meeting!

As theconnection rep for your meeting, all you need is 90 days of continuous abstinence and the willingness to do service. This involves standing up at meetings and describing the magazine, explaining how members can subscribe, making sure the forms are on the literature table, encouraging your meeting to carry at least one subscription, and encouraging members to write their stories.

See some of the tools a Connection Rep can use at meetings

As theconnection rep, what do I need to do at my meeting?

As theconnection representative for your meeting, all you need is 90 days of continuous abstinence and the willingness to do service. This involves standing up at meetings and describing the magazine, explaining how members can subscribe, making sure the forms are on the literature table, encouraging your meeting to carry at least one subscription, and encouraging members to write their stories.

Here are some suggestions to help you...

  • Make an announcement at your meeting. The following is an optional script...


    • Hi, I'm ________, a food addict and this meeting's Connection Representative.
    • theconnection is FA's monthly magazine which is written and illustrated by FA's worldwide fellowship.
    • Subscriptions for theconnection are $20 per year for twelve issues.
    • (If the meeting subscribes to theconnection and has copies for sale, add: "We also have copies of this month's issue on sale for $2.00").
    • theconnection Collections are a full year of past issues of the magazine bound in one volume and are available for $16.00 plus postage.
    • Subscription forms for the Collection and the magazine are available on the literature table.
    • The magazine is always seeking writing from any member with 90 days or more of continuous abstinence. See me at the break if you have any questions about writing for theconnection or subscribing.

  • Make copies of subscription forms for display on the Literature table (go to fadocs.org and click on theconnection subscription).
  • Download a tent card from fadocs.org , click on theconnection subscription, make copy on bright paper, laminate and display it on the Literature table with the subscription forms and magazines.
  • Suggest that your meeting purchase subscriptions. We recommend beginning with one subscription for every five to seven members. If you sell current issues for $2.00 each, the meeting will make their money back by year end. Old issues can be included in Newcomer Packets with a subscription form.
  • Suggest that your meeting purchase at least one of theconnection Collections. Mark it as "SAMPLE-DO NOT TAKE" and use as prop during your announcement. The collection allows members to see the magazine and become interested in subscribing. They are also great for use at your meetings.
  • Encourage members to write. When you hear a good qualification, or just an inspiring story or sharing, go up to the member and ask them if they would consider doing service by putting it in writing for theconnection. If they are worried about their writing talent, tell them that theconnection has a team of editors who will polish and edit their piece if necessary. If you know of an artist or illustrator--we need members on our art team. Stress the opportunity to do service! Articles and artwork can be sent to connectionchair@yahoo.com.
  • Join the network! Send your info (name, email, meeting location) to connectionrep@yahoo.com and we will send you regular updates. Thanks for your service!

Become a Writing Team Leader

If you have a year or more of continuous abstinence, consider being a connection Team Leader. As a team leader, you will be responsible for soliciting 4-5 articles a month and joining theconnection editorial team for monthly updates via conference calls. Contact us at connectionchair@yahoo.com for more information.

Join the World Service Magazine Committee

Join our dedicated committee to help plan and produce the fellowship's international publication. The committee meets monthly on conference calls and in person at the annual business convention. Members need 90 days of continuous abstinence to join and have a voice, and at least a year of continuous abstinence to serve as:

  • Editors
  • Proofreaders
  • Writing Team Leaders
  • Art Team Leader
  • Reader Service Coordinator
  • Connection Rep Coordinator
  • Submissions Coordinators