Dear writers, 

Hello! Thank you for your interest in submitting to Narratively. We’re currently looking for full submissions for The Personals, our series of bite-sized sharply focused first-person stories that capture a single surprising unforgettable moment or event. You can read more about the specifics and how to submit here. And, for a limited time only, we're looking for pitches for original columns and series, which you can read more about here. 

Please read on to learn more about what we’re looking for overall, and please read our site to see the stories we publish before sending us your essays or pitches. Plus, make sure you’re signed up for our Narratively email list to read our latest posts and stories from our archive, and our sister site, Narratively Academy, as well, for info on pitch calls and flash contests. 

Our mission at Narratively is to publish untold human stories that surprise, delight and captivate readers. The true stories we publish are defined not by topic but by style: immersive, cinematic storytelling that takes readers inside another world, another life, through vivid scenes, colorful details and compelling narrative arcs. 

So, what are we looking for? The best way to get a clear sense of what makes a Narratively story is to read several pieces on our site, particularly from our Personals or Greatest Hits sections. To learn even more about what we're interested in, check out "How to Write for 'The Personals' at Narratively.com" here, and “So, What Is a Narratively Story, Anyway? (Hint: Surprising, Exciting and Delightful, to Start),” in which two Narratively editors break down what defines a feature story for the site, replete with advice on how to do it. Still have questions? Pop over to the How to Pitch Narratively thread and ask us anything!

(NOTE: We’ve refined what types of stories we publish in recent years, so if you’ve submitted to, or even written for, Narratively in the past, we request that you read these full guidelines plus review some of the stories in the link above before submitting.)

There are a few key factors that every Narratively story has:

-It’s untold. The topic is original, fresh and not already covered in other major publications, books or movies. Think offbeat, unusual, beyond the news cycle. It should make the majority of readers say, “Wow, I’ve never heard about this before.”

-It’s human. Every Narratively story follows one central character or a small group of characters. We explore big ideas and topics, but always through the lens of human experience.

-It’s narrative. As you may have guessed from our name, we like stories with a narrative arc. That means that each Narratively story has a concrete beginning, middle and end that unfolds like a movie, taking the readers on a wild ride as they see, feel and hear the events through your writing.

We pay for all stories. In addition to publishing on Narratively.com, we also develop TV, film and podcast projects inspired by the stories that run on our site, generating additional creative and financial opportunities for contributors.

Please note that we only publish narrative nonfiction. We don’t publish fiction, poetry or opinion pieces.