Stranger Stories
We are always looking for both new and established writers to share their voice at Stranger Stories events! We are an "on-book" show, which means each writer gives a lively reading of their piece from their text.
Submission Guidelines:
Your story should:
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Be between 900 - 1450 words in length.
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Written as first-person narratives. Please no poetry or experimental prose. It should have a clear beginning, middle, and end.
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Be true! We want your story, told in only the way that you can!
Want more tips?
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We like stories in the lower half of our word count as much as we like stories in the upper half. Don't feel pressure to extend your piece, if it doesn't suit the story.
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We're a lit night, not a lit journal, so we recommend reading your story out loud before you submit it! This can be incredibly helpful in your editing process to understand how your piece might work with an audience and we read all stories out loud as part of our selection process.
Pieces are not edited by Stranger Stories, but we do need to review your content in order to successfully curate the show. Themes are open to interpretation. All readers receive a modest stipend for their contribution at the event.
We're booking readers for...
Theme: Standoff
When have you had to draw a line in the sand? Tried to save your garden from squirrels and utterly lost? What confrontation or perceived slight made you reach a boiling point… and was it worth it when neither party wanted to back down? Whether your standoff happened in the workplace, with a loved one, or racing for the last roll of toilet paper in 2020… we want to hear about it. Themes are open to interpretation!
Submissions due October 11. To submit, please send your story, and a few lines about yourself, to: strangerstoriespvdgmail.com