ONE STORY is a literary arts nonprofit that brings people together through reading, writing, and learning about short fiction.
In Gina Ochsner’s deliciously creepy story, teenage babysitter Wendy is drawn into the dark world of ten-year-old Samantha, a provocative and unpredictable foster child who wants more from Wendy than Wendy will ever know—and will stop at nothing to get it.
Boarding-school misfit and cancer survivor Lark Spencer challenges her tormentor, saber champion Sophia Nowak, to an epic fencing duel that ends in a way neither they nor their schoolmates expect.
Seven site-specific exercises to do across NYC
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with Rachel Lyon
Craft Course
Thu, Oct. 22–Nov. 12
One great short story in the mail every month
with Allison Amend
In-Person Generative Workshop
Nov. 8, 9:30am–12pm ET
Oct. 24: Building Conflict with Stephen Fishbach
February–November 2026
Year-long educational program
Apply by Oct. 13
with Lisa Ko
Asynchronous Class
Nov. 9–Dec. 7
Give a gift for $15
Includes a postcard or a custom eCard
In one of the winning stories from our Teen Writing Contest, a young man’s preparing to depart for college must face his complicated feelings about leaving his neurodivergent sister behind.
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One Story has been publishing since 2002. We never publish an author twice. Browse our back issues to see who we published when.
One Story provides a free, open-source submission management system to other publishers at no cost.
Submissions will reopen in early December 2026. Please read our guidelines before sending us your work.
with Patrick Ryan
This self-guided class will help you hone and refine a cohesive collection of your own work.