Making It Last Cover
Read Issue #330

Making It Last

By Sam Dunnington

In Sam Dunnington’s “Making It Last,” a massage therapist-in-training wades through the rocky circumstances of her current life as she attempts to reconnect with the person she wants to become.

Read More
Quarry Cover
Read Issue #329

Quarry

By Lauren Acampora

In Lauren Acampora’s “Quarry,” Bill and Lina, just back from a safari, recount their trip to another couple and, in the process, shine a light on the complexities of the tourist industry and their participation in it.

Read More
Learn

Crafting Your Writing Life with Ann Napolitano

Ann Napolitano, author of the bestselling novels Hello Beautiful and Dear Edward, will help you make careful decisions about life away from your desk so that you can get your best work done during your writing time.

Asynchronous Class
November 19-22

Register today
Read

Flashback Sale: Get a Year of One Story 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.

One great short story
in the mail every month

Subscribe today
Read

Flashback Sale: Give a Gift Subscription for $15

Get a jump on holiday giving and give One Story at our 2002 rate.

They’ll get a new story each month. You’ll get year-round gratitude.

Gifts can start now
or after Christmas
Send a print card or ecard

Give a Gift
Learn

November Lecture: Tell-Tale Awareness

Hone your craft with eight lectures on writing fiction.  In our next lecture, Tell-Tale Awareness, ‘Pemi Aguda will discuss the overlap between description, character, and plot.

Next Lecture:
Saturday, November 15
4-5:15pm ET on Zoom

Register Today
Donate

Be a Literary Superhero—Support One Story Today

Like many arts nonprofits, One Story is dealing with cuts to the NEA from the federal government. Our NEA grant was terminated. We are not supported by a larger organization or backed by a single funder. Instead, we rely on a a wide group of supporters who give large and small gifts year-round. Please give today!

Make One Story
a part of Your Story
in 2025

Donate Today
Learn

Writing Circle Applications are Open

The One Story Writing Circle is a year-long education program and accountability group, hosted and moderated by One Story. Apply today to join a small cohort of fiction writers looking to devote a year to improving their craft and process.

Accountability Group
Jan – Dec 2026
Apply by November 30

Learn more
Learn

Open Level Fiction Workshop with Arlaina Tibensky

In this six-week open-level workshop, each participant will workshop a short story or novel excerpt. Designed for passionate writers without significant writing experience who are eager to engage with the process in a fun and supportive environment. Registration is open now.

Online (Zoom) Workshop
Tuesdays, Jan 20-Feb 24
7-9:15pm ET

Register Today
Write

Enter the One Teen Story Contest

For our One Teen Story contest, we ask writers ages 13-19 to submit their original, unpublished fiction. We are interested in great short stories of any genre about the teen experience. What’s in a great short story? Interesting teen characters, strong writing, and a beginning, middle, and end.

Free Writing Contest
For Writers 13-19
Enter by December 1

Learn more and enter
Something’s in the Water Cover
Read

Something’s in the Water

By Eliza Shannon

Christine and two other teens are trying to earn their summer camp swim badges, halfway across Lake Passamoonshine when things take a harrowing turn. Why? Because they aren’t alone in the lake.

Read More
Connect

Join Our Mailing List

Be the first to get news and updates, to know when our submission period reopens, and to learn about new classes and opportunities.

Join today and get 10% off your first purchase.

Sign Up Today
Learn

Revise with Hannah Tinti

Learn tips and techniques for revising in this self-guided class. You’ll get five in-depth revision techniques to sharpen your work. By the end of the course you’ll have new skills, a helpful to-do list, and pages of new material to move your revision in the right direction.

Register
Write

One Story Submissions Are Open

They will close when we reach our cap. Please read our guidelines before sending us your work.

Read our Guidelines
Connect

For Publishers: Submission Manager

One Story provides a free, open-source submission management system to other publishers at no cost.

Learn More
Read

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.

Back Issues
Learn

Building Your Collection with Patrick Ryan

This self-guided class will help you hone and refine a cohesive collection of your own work. You’ll learn how to assess each story you’ve written, discover thematic connections, order your stories, and more.

Start Learning Today