Fiction
100 Word Story
100 Word Story publishes stories of exactly 100 words — no more and no less, counted by Microsoft Word's tally, with the title not included in the count. Submissions open the first week of every month and carry a $2 fee. The magazine particularly encourages Black, Indigenous and People of Colour, writers from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and LGBTQIA+ and disability communities to submit.
🟢 Currently accepting Verified 2026-09
The docket
The nine things that decide whether a pitch is worth sending. Every answer below is either taken from the publication’s own guideline or computed by BRYME from the 288-publication desk. Where the publication does not say, the docket says so instead of filling the gap in.
- Payment
- Not statedPayment not stated on the submit page; $2 submission fee applies. The publication publishes no figure BRYME could record. That is not the same as unpaid — but you cannot price the work from this page.
- Length
- Exactly 100 words (title not counted)
- Who can submit
- Not statedNo stated country restriction. 100 Word Story states that among the types of underrepresentation in literature it particularly encourages Black, Indigenous and People of Colour, those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and those belonging to LGBTQIA+ and disability communities to submit.
- Reading period
- Not yet assessedBRYME has not recorded a reading period for this market from its guideline page. That is our gap rather than the publication's silence: it does not mean the window is open, and it does not mean there is none. Read the guideline linked on this page before you send.
- Response time
- Not statedNo response time recorded. A follow-up after two to three weeks is reasonable; silence past that is a soft no, not a rejection.
- Simultaneous submissions
- Not statedThe guideline does not address simultaneous submissions. BRYME records that as silence rather than assuming a yes: if you are sending the same piece to several publications, say so in your cover letter and withdraw it everywhere the moment it is taken.
- AI policy
- Not statedThe guideline is silent. BRYME records that 127 of the 288 publications on this desk do restrict AI-assisted work, so silence here is not permission — ask.
- Rights
- Not statedBRYME records that 149 of the 288 publications on this desk state their terms. This one does not. Ask what rights you are assigning, for how long and for what territory, before you sign anything.
- Experience
- Not yet assessedBRYME has read this publication's guideline but has not yet put the experience question to it, so this row is untouched rather than unanswered — it is our gap, not theirs. Treat it exactly as you would an unstated policy.
What this record does not tell you
This publication leaves 8 of the nine questions unanswered. BRYME publishes that gap instead of filling it — a generated answer would look complete and cost you a pitch.
- Payment — pitch only if you are comfortable negotiating the fee itself, or ask before you write.
- Who can submit — the guideline leaves this open, so ask before you spend an evening on the pitch rather than assuming a yes.
- Reading period — no window recorded yet, so check the guideline before you pitch rather than assuming it is open.
- Response time — expect to wait blind, and keep other pitches live.
- Simultaneous submissions — the guideline leaves this open, so declare it in your cover letter rather than assuming.
- AI policy — assume disclosure is expected unless the editor says otherwise.
- Rights — you may be asked to assign more than you expect. Get the terms in writing.
- Experience — BRYME has not assessed this one yet, so do not read the blank as either a welcome or a bar. Look at who the publication normally publishes before you pitch.
Record last human-checked 2026-09-30. Sources listed at the foot of this page. This record holds no figure BRYME could compare, so no ranking appears above it. Where a rate is quoted per word, it is never ranked against a flat fee.
Quick facts
- Payment
- Payment not stated on the submit page; $2 submission fee applies
- Word count
- Exactly 100 words (title not counted)
- Submission
- Online submission, first week of each month
- International writers
- Yes
- Status
- 🟢 Currently accepting
- Last verified
- 2026-09
What this publication wants
This is BRYME's summary of the publication's focus — not a copy of their website. Type of writing: Fiction. Official guideline: 100 Word Story guidelines.
Topics, themes and styles they look for
- A complete story in exactly 100 words — the whole story, holding together, not a fragment.
- A short bio of 25 words maximum.
- Word count verified against Microsoft Word's tally; the title sits outside the 100 words.
Subjects they avoid
- Anything that is not exactly 100 words. The page repeats the point: exactly 100 words, no more or no less.
- A bio longer than 25 words.
- Multiple stories in a single submission — each story must be submitted separately.
Key requirements
- Submit during the first week of a month, when submissions are open.
- Pay the $2 submission fee per story.
- Submit each story separately; you may submit as many as you like.
- Include a bio of 25 words or fewer.
- Count your words in Microsoft Word.
Who can submit
No stated country restriction. 100 Word Story states that among the types of underrepresentation in literature it particularly encourages Black, Indigenous and People of Colour, those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and those belonging to LGBTQIA+ and disability communities to submit.
Rights
Not stated on the official submit page.
AI policy
Not stated in the guideline
How to write for them
Official requirement: always follow the publication's own guideline exactly.
BRYME's practical advice: write for the publication's audience, use a clear structure, keep paragraphs short, lead with a specific angle, and confirm the word count before submitting. These are practical suggestions — they are not the publication's official rules.
How to pitch
Where a pitch is required, this is the general pattern BRYME recommends — always adapt it to the publication's guideline.
- Research the publication and read several recent pieces.
- Choose a specific idea that fits their beat and audience.
- Write a concise subject line naming your idea.
- Introduce yourself in one or two lines (who you are, where you publish).
- Explain the proposed piece in a short paragraph — angle, structure, length.
- Say why it fits this publication.
- Include 2–3 relevant clips or links.
- Close professionally and thank them for their time.
- Send through the official channel only.
Accepting submissions now, with no stated closing date.
How to submit
Online submission, first week of each month
Apply through the official channel below. BRYME only records submission destinations it has verified.
- Official guideline: opens the publication guideline (new tab)
- Submission: Online submission, first week of each month
What the guideline asks you to prepare
- Check https://100wordstory.org/submit/ for the current monthly window.
- Count in Microsoft Word, not in another tool — the tallies differ.
- Your title is free; the 100 words are the story.
What happens after submission
Expected response: Not stated
If the publication does not state a response time, BRYME records that it is unknown. A follow-up is generally reasonable after a couple of weeks; if there is still no response, treat that as a likely non-acceptance rather than a rejection. Acceptance is normally communicated by the publication. If they accept, they will tell you exactly how to submit the final piece and, for most, how and when payment is made.
Check, question or correct this record
BRYME publishes its working, not just its conclusions. Last human check: 2026-09.