One Real Story

Submissions

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Welcoming the work of established and upcoming writers!

Please let me read your stories and in return you’ll be considered a published author and read by people all over the world. I appreciate stories that are both well written and engaging by demonstrating a unique voice. I do not appreciate anything that is racist or sexist. Profane language is not a problem as long as it fits naturally within the context of the work.

Submissions must always be original, unpublished fiction. No simultaneous submissions unless noted. Please, no novels or stories written for children. When I accept a story for publication, I assume First Serial Rights as well as Electronic Rights. Once I’ve published your story, you are free to use it offline as long as One Real Story is noted as the first to publish the work. By submitting your work, you are agreeing to these terms and conditions.

Note: Your work will also be featured in an annual printed edition of One Real Story.

How do I submit my work?

Submissions are made by emailing your work as an attachment to submissions@onerealstory.com. Your work should be submitted in a readable font and follow these guidelines:

  1. Please only submit Rich Text Format (.RTF) files. Most word processing applications allow you to “save as” an RTF file.
  2. Please also make sure that your file ends with the .RTF extension (for example: “storytitle.rtf”). Submitted files cannot exceed 500 KB.
  3. Please include the story title and all writer contact info on the first page of the submitted file.
  4. The e-mail must contain a subject head that reads “OneRealStory - Submission”.
  5. The e-mail must have the completely finished manuscript attached in rich text format (.rtf). I will only read unfinished work for use as a critique piece.
  6. Your e-mail must be in the form of a standard query letter and include the following information:
    • Brief synopsis of the story
    • The genre & sub-genre of the work (where applicable)
    • Your writing background, including any recent publishing history, and relevant biographical information
    • Your email address, if other than the return address on the query letter

What do I send in?

This is a short story site. I do not accept extracts from novels (except where the piece is complete in itself). However, I have been known to make an exception and publish a novel in a series if I really think my readers will enjoy it. Rather than set specific word limits, I am interested in receiving any pieces that authors consider to be in the form of a short story.

Not a short story writer?

Now you can contribute to One Real Story by sending in writing tips and flash fiction prompts. You can also volunteer to be a short story reviewer. Maybe you’re starting out and want to get a critique of your work? You can do that here too! Just be sure to explain what you are sending in in your cover letter. Again, I assume First Serial Rights as well as Electronic Rights. Once I’ve published your work in print, you are free to use it offline as long as One Real Story is noted as the first to publish the work.

How soon will I know?

I do my best to respond to submissions between 4 and 12 weeks after they are received, so please be patient! It is my goal to make sure each submission gets a good read and to ensure the best quality fiction on One Real Story. Submission results are emailed directly. Please put submissions@onerealstory.com on your safe-senders list so I can reach you and keep me advised of email address changes by emailing editorial@onerealstory.com.

I never share your contact information with anyone.

If you have any further questions feel free to browse the comments below or submit your own and you will hear from me shortly.

17 Comments

17 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Editor’s Note: Calling All Poets and Wannabees! // Jan 9, 2008 at 1:51 pm

    [...] submissions [...]

  • 2 Editor’s Note: Hot Markets- LBGT Lit. | One Real Story // Jan 13, 2008 at 5:24 pm

    [...] submissions [...]

  • 3 Scott // Jan 20, 2008 at 12:24 am

    Hi,

    I’m a novelist and I see that you don’t accept novels, which is understandable given space restrictions. But would you do a novel excerpt, particularly one from the beginning? And how long would the word limit be?

    SCOTT

  • 4 Editor // Jan 20, 2008 at 4:07 pm

    Hi Scott,

    I would be more than willing to consider a novel excerpt as long as it stands on it’s own as a full story. In terms of word limit, I generally don’t like to set a limit. Just keep in mind that it is supposed to be a short story. Send me your work and we can always discuss truncating it if it is too long. If I really like it I may be interested in posting it as a series.

    Keep writing,
    The Editor

  • 5 Don // Jan 20, 2008 at 11:28 pm

    What is your rate of pay?

  • 6 Editor // Jan 22, 2008 at 5:11 pm

    Hi Don,

    Unfortunately this early in the game, One Real Story is not a paying market other than providing contributors with the hard copy version of our fiction. But don’t be discouraged. We are hoping to have this in the works very soon and will formally announce it on the site.

    Keep your eyes on us,
    The Editor

  • 7 Editor's Note: Another Great Find | One Real Story // Jan 25, 2008 at 1:12 am

    [...] submissions [...]

  • 8 Brandi // Feb 1, 2008 at 10:50 am

    I am curious to know before I submit, if erotica is acceptable as a submission?

  • 9 Editor // Feb 1, 2008 at 12:02 pm

    Anything goes as long as it’s good!

    Cheers,
    The Editor

  • 10 Editor's Note: Last Call for One Real Story Poetry | One Real Story // Mar 10, 2008 at 2:18 pm

    [...] submissions [...]

  • 11 Monday Market: New Creative Writing Venues | One Real Story // May 5, 2008 at 12:13 pm

    [...] submissions [...]

  • 12 Monday Market: 2008.05.05 | One Real Story // May 5, 2008 at 12:16 pm

    [...] submissions [...]

  • 13 Monday Market: 2008.05.19 | One Real Story // May 19, 2008 at 9:00 am

    [...] submissions [...]

  • 14 Monday Market: 2008.06.23 | One Real Story // Jun 23, 2008 at 5:01 am

    [...] submissions [...]

  • 15 Editor // Jul 12, 2008 at 12:41 pm

    Ann Brook wrote in with the following question:

    “What’s the word count for flash fiction prompts?”

    Well Ann, that’s completely up to you. Writing the prompts is simply a matter of giving the writer enough information to write a story, but not too much info that it becomes constricting.

    Hope this helps,
    The Editor

  • 16 D.L. Wilson // Aug 18, 2008 at 11:11 am

    As my story, Shadow Kitties, has been accepted for publication by OneRealStory; when can I expect to see the hard copy version? No hurry, just curious (and a little excited.) This copy will contain my story, right? Also, thanks a bunch for the opportunity. I feel honored to be published by OneRealStory.

  • 17 Editor // Aug 18, 2008 at 12:34 pm

    Hi D.L.,

    I am glad you are excited, I am too! The hardcopy journal is already in the works and if everything goes right it should be out in January. Keep your fingers crossed. I was going to announce this on the site as a surprise, but added it into the submissions page as some of our writers wanted to know why I asked for First Serial Rights, now you know!

    All of the stories published on the site before December will appear in the hardcopy edition. So if anyone is still on the fence about submitting, get on it!

    Once I have everything ready to go, I’ll let everyone know so my contributers can contact me for a copy.

    Stay tuned and keep writing,
    The Editor

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