$500 One Teen Story Writing Contest
- Organization: One Story
- Type: Competition
- Location: Global
- Deadline: December 1, 2026
- Funding: Fully Funded
Submissions open on October 20, 2026 and close on December 1, 2026; the entry link will not accept stories before October 20. One Story, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit literary publisher, runs a free annual short fiction contest through its teen magazine, One Teen Story. Writers aged 13 to 19 anywhere in the world enter one original, unpublished story of 2,000 to 4,500 words about the teen experience, in any genre. Winners receive $500, work with a One Teen Story editor, and are published on the magazine's website. **What you get:** - $500, paid on publication, for each contest winner - Publication of the winning story on the One Teen Story website - The chance to work with a One Teen Story editor before publication - Honorable mentions chosen in three age categories (13 to 15, 16 to 17, 18 to 19), announced on the website, by email and on social media - Rights revert to the author after publication (One Teen Story pays for first North American serial rights) **What you'll do:** - Write one original, previously unpublished short story of 2,000 to 4,500 words with teens as the main characters - Submit it in English (translations accepted, with the original text on request) as a double-spaced, page-numbered DOC, DOCX, PDF or RTF file through One Story's online submission manager, under your age group - Provide proof of age if you are a winner or finalist, and a parent or guardian consent form if you are under 18 and win or receive an honorable mention **Key dates:** - Submissions open October 20, 2026 (the submission manager lists no open call before then) - Submissions close December 1, 2026 - Age eligibility is measured as of December 1, 2026 - Winners announced in spring 2027 **More information:** - Full guidelines and FAQ on One Story's contest page - Questions to otscontest@one-story.com
