Dear writers,
Hello! Thank you for your interest in submitting to Narratively. Our 2025 Memoir Prize has just ended. To all those who submitted, thank you! We can’t wait to read your work. You can expect to hear back from us on or around February 26, 2026 via Submittable and/or email (but please give us a minute if you don’t hear back right away — this is a ballpark). And to everyone else, we're currently looking for pitches for epic longform true crime stories.
Please read on to get a taste of what we’re all about. And make sure you’re signed up for our email list to read our latest posts and stories from our archive.
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 Greatest Hits section. And to learn more about what a good pitch looks like, check out our StoryCraft pieces, “The 3 Best Pitches I’ve Ever Received,” which pulls back the curtain on how to get our attention, 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.
Narratively.com is seeking pitches for epic longform true crime stories. We want to see unique ideas for deeply reported stories that truly surprise and enthrall us with colorful characters and dramatic twists. Pitches shouldn’t feel like an episode of Law & Order we’ve already seen, but instead should hook us with a one-of-a-kind premise and enough detail to show how the story unfolds with a riveting, multi-act structure that feels like a movie we’ve never watched.
We’re particularly interested in stories that spotlight true crime and delayed justice in underrepresented or misunderstood communities. Think: an Egyptian drag queen who uncovers a money-laundering scheme that stretches to the highest levels of government; a Taiwanese grandma taking down a notorious mafia boss; an amateur autistic detective who solves a cold-case murder. We usually prefer crime stories that are fully resolved — with a concrete beginning, middle and end — so period pieces (something set in the ‘70s, ‘80s or ‘90s perhaps) will work particularly well here.
In your pitch, please include a compelling headline, a summary of how this story unfolds, and your plan for how you will report the story and who you will interview. We are open to blended stories that include reporting and first-person storytelling.
Here are a few stories from Narratively that capture what we’re looking for:
- The Gutsy Undercover Cop Who Took Down Chicago P.D.’s Most Crooked Crew: A Black sergeant was the only one willing to take on a risky FBI mission targeting drug-dealer-extorting cops. He reveals how he did it—and why it was shut down before he got to the white guys.
- My High School Girlfriend Became America’s Most Wanted Drug Queenpin: I lost my virginity to the baddest goth girl at theater camp. When I tracked her down fifteen years later I discovered just how dangerous Liz Barrer really was.
- The Man Who Got America High: He chartered the Rolling Stones while smuggling Pablo Escobar’s drugs on the side. After disappearing for decades, Alfred Dellentash finally shares his unbelievable life story.
- A Gilded Age Tale of Murder and Madness: In opulent seaside Newport, a wealthy and beloved Black businessman turns up dead. The prime suspect is his son-in-law, a dashing medical student set to become one of the country’s first Black surgeons. The resulting trial will tear the town in two.
Pitches Due: January 8, 2026
Assignments will be made in early 2026 with drafts due in spring 2026.
Rates: Starting at $1,500, with room to go up for more ambitious reporting.