One Story: Market Spotlight
For this week’s market spotlight, we look at One Story, a literary publication that showcases one story in each issue.
Based in Brooklyn, New York, One Story is an award-winning monthly literary publication with a unique twist: Each issue features one (and only one) story in a chapbook format. As such, it means fewer fiction slots (so more competition) per issue, but it also means that publication comes with 100% attention for your story.
The editors say, "Since 2002, One Story has published over 200 writers, and is now one of the largest circulating literary magazines in the country, with over 15,000 readers. Over half the stories One Story published are listed among the top 100 in best-of anthologies like Pushcart, Best American, and the PEN/O. Henry."
In addition to the extra attention, writers who are published in One Story are paid $500 and 25 contributor copies of the issue in which they're published.
What They're Looking For
One Story is seeking literary fiction between 3,000 and 8,000 words in length. The focus is on the story, because One Story publishes established authors as well as many early career and emerging writers.
The editors say, "[Stories] can be any style and on any subject as long as they are good. We are looking for stories that leave readers feeling satisfied and are strong enough to stand alone."
How to Submit
Potential writers can currently submit stories until November 15, 2021, on One Story's Submittable page here.
That said, their normal open submission periods are January 15-May 31 and October 4-November 14. The editors attempt to respond to submissions within 3 months, but this is a very competitive market.
*****
Short stories are a well-loved and popular form of fiction. When you take this online workshop, you will learn how to write short stories that will delight and entertain your readers.
Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Editor of Writer's Digest, which includes managing the content on WritersDigest.com and programming virtual conferences. He's the author of 40 Plot Twist Prompts for Writers: Writing Ideas for Bending Stories in New Directions, The Complete Guide of Poetic Forms: 100+ Poetic Form Definitions and Examples for Poets, Poem-a-Day: 365 Poetry Writing Prompts for a Year of Poeming, and more. Also, he's the editor of Writer's Market, Poet's Market, and Guide to Literary Agents. Follow him on Twitter @robertleebrewer.
