The Jejune Cruise
ByIn Kristopher Jansma’s “The Jejune Cruise,” a man suffering a heartbreak boards a cruise ship and finds himself in the company of a child wearing sunglasses that she claims can control people’s minds.
Colors from Elsewhere
ByIn Rachel Khong’s “Colors from Elsewhere,” a young woman’s miscarriage leads to an unexpected revelation about her past that calls into question everything she believes about herself and presents her with a decision she never imagined she’d have to make.
Advanced Fiction Workshop with Shannon Sanders
In this six-week fiction workshop, each participant will workshop a short story or novel excerpt of up to 5,000 words, with discussions focusing on elements of fiction such as story structure, character development, exposition, and dialogue.
Workshop
Tuesdays, April 14–May 19
2026 Literary Debutante Ball
Tickets are now on sale for our 2026 Debutante Ball! Join us in Brooklyn for a night of cocktails, dancing, and live music to celebrate our One Story debut authors and our Distinguished Alum, Lauren Groff.
Friday, April 24
6:30–10:30pm
Roulette, 509 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY
Summer Writers' Conference
Applications are now open for our Summer Writers’ Conference. Over the course of five days, writers will participate in workshops, attend craft lectures and panel discussions, give readings, and build community with one another.
July 27–31
Apply by March 11
Subscribe for $15
One Story arrives in your mailbox in an envelope like a letter from a friend. Each chapbook-sized story introduces you to a new author. No ads, no images—just a great read.
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2026 Lecture Series
A year of lectures on the craft of fiction from eight One Story authors.
The next lecture in our 2026 Lecture Series takes place Saturday, March 14, from 4-5:15pm ET. Lior Torenberg discusses practical, gentle ways to construct a sustainable writing practice when you’re struggling to meet the page.
Lecture Series
February–November 2026
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Apply for our '26–'27 Apprenticeship
One Story is seeking a paid apprentice to join our team from September 2026 to May 2027. The apprentice will have a chance to learn about all aspects of a literary organization, including the editorial process, grant writing, and online educational programming.
How to Start and Keep Writing with Lior Torenberg
Are you struggling to put your pen to the page? The next lecture in our 2026 Lecture Series offers practical, gentle ways to rethink what a sustainable writing practice looks like for you.
Online Lecture
Saturday, March 14
4–5:15pm ET
The End of the World
ByWhat do you do when your best friend is about to leave for college and it feels like the world is ending? Take a road trip together to a place called The End of the World, of course!
Help Keep One Story In Print
Donations allow One Story to keep our print subscriptions affordable. This means more readers for our writers, and more short stories in the world.
Join Our Mailing List
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Check out our Back Issues
One Story has been publishing since 2002. We never publish an author twice. Browse our back issues to see who we published when.
For Publishers: Submission Manager
One Story provides a free, open-source submission management system to other publishers at no cost.
Sunday Shorts: A (Somewhat) Silent One Story Reading Group
Led by Lena Valencia, this group will meet online once a month to silently read a chosen story from One Story’s archives together, followed by a visit from the author or editor of the issue and a group discussion.
Reading Group
January–June 2026
One Story Submissions Are Closed
They will re-open in the spring. Please read our guidelines before sending us your work.
