One Story

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: One Story guidelines.

Topics, themes and styles they look for

• Literary fiction of 3,000–8,000 words, any style, any subject.
• Stories that leave a reader satisfied and are strong enough to stand alone — the whole issue is your story.
• A cover letter with the word count and a short biographical statement, and the story as a PDF.

Subjects they avoid

• Work previously published online anywhere — blogs, personal sites, online magazines or forums. Work published in print outside North America will be considered.
• A second story before your first has had a response.
• An expectation of feedback: they state plainly that they do not send comments.

Key requirements

• Submittable
• PDF preferred
• Word count in the cover letter
• One story at a time

Who can submit

No nationality restriction stated on the guidelines page.

Rights

First Serial North American rights. All rights revert to the author following publication.

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.

1. Research the publication and read several recent pieces.
2. Choose a specific idea that fits their beat and audience.
3. Write a concise subject line naming your idea.
4. Introduce yourself in one or two lines (who you are, where you publish).
5. Explain the proposed piece in a short paragraph — angle, structure, length.
6. Say why it fits this publication.
7. Include 2–3 relevant clips or links.
8. Close professionally and thank them for their time.
9. Send through the official channel only.

Opens in windows. Currently between reading periods.

Track this pitch

How to submit

Submittable

Apply through the official channel below. BRYME only records submission destinations it has verified.

• Official guideline: opens the publication guideline (new tab)
• Submission: Submittable

What the guideline asks you to prepare

• Wait for an open window — the cap closes it early.
• Prepare a 3,000–8,000 word story as a PDF with a cover letter stating the word count.
• Submit through Submittable.

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.