One Teen Story

Grades

Open to all grades (13-19 years old)

Age

13-19 years old

Citizenship

Not specified on available pages; likely open internationally but verify on official site

Prerequisites

Must be a fiction writer; no prior publication experience required

Steps

1. Create an account on the One Story submission manager (submissions.one-story.com)
2. Prepare your fiction story following submission guidelines
3. Submit story through the online submission portal when submissions are open
4. Wait for editorial review and notification of winners

Materials Needed

• Completed fiction story (word count limit not specified in accessible pages)
• Valid email address
• Author's full name and age verification

Timeline

Submissions appear to have seasonal opening/closing periods. The submission manager shows 'no submissions' mode at various times. Check one-story.com/submissions regularly for opening announcements. Contest selects 3 winners annually.

Cost

Free to enter

What Judges Look For

• Quality of storytelling and narrative voice
• Authenticity of teen perspective and experience
• Technical writing ability (grammar, style, structure)
• Originality and creativity
• Emotional resonance and compelling character development
• Stories that reflect meaningful teen experiences

Scoring

Not publicly detailed; appears to be subjective editorial judging by One Story magazine staff

Common Mistakes

• Submitting during closed submission periods
• Stories that feel inauthentic or don't capture genuine teen voice
• Overly formulaic or clichéd narratives
• Exceeding or significantly falling short of typical short story length conventions
• Poor editing and revision before submission
• Stories that don't resonate emotionally or lack meaningful stakes

Acceptance Rate

Extremely competitive—3 winners selected from unknown number of applicants annually

Applicants

Not publicly disclosed; likely hundreds to thousands given free entry and national reach

Winners / Selected

3 winners per year (3 stories published annually)

• Write authentically from a genuine teen perspective—avoid trying to sound 'adult' or overly sophisticated
• Focus on emotional truth and meaningful character development rather than plot gimmicks
• Read published One Teen Story winners to understand the magazine's style and preferences
• Ensure your story is thoroughly revised and edited before submission—first drafts rarely succeed
• Develop a compelling voice—strong narrative voice distinguishes winning stories
• Show rather than tell; use vivid scenes and dialogue to convey emotion
• Have beta readers or teachers review your work; external feedback is invaluable
• Submit during open windows and monitor one-story.com/submissions for announcement updates
• Consider the universality of your story—while specific, it should resonate beyond just your personal experience
• Avoid common teen writing pitfalls: melodrama, purple prose, or trying too hard to impress

How to Prepare

• Read widely in short fiction, especially literary magazines, to understand pacing and style
• Study published One Teen Story pieces on one-story.com to understand editor preferences
• Practice short story writing regularly; aim to complete 5-10 stories before submitting
• Join a writing group or workshop (school or community-based) for feedback
• Take creative writing classes if available at your school
• Read One Story magazine's full issues to understand the publication's literary standards
• Revise aggressively—professional quality requires multiple drafts
• Get feedback from trusted teachers or experienced writers before submission
• Develop your unique voice through reading and practice

Resources

• One Story magazine website and archives (one-story.com)
• One Teen Story page for published winning stories
• Writing craft books: 'Save the Cat! Writes a Novel' by Jessica Brody, 'The Art of Fiction' by John Gardner
• Local writing workshops and community centers
• School creative writing classes and literary magazines
• Online writing communities and critique groups (Critique Circle, Scribophile)
• MasterClass or similar online writing courses
• Literary magazines for teens: The Kenyon Review, Ploughshares, The Missouri Review

Time Needed

Minimum 3-6 months of dedicated practice and writing, but ideally 1 year of regular writing practice to develop the craft level needed for competitive submission

While specific winner names and details are not readily accessible online, One Teen Story winners likely share these characteristics: strong command of English prose, authentic teen voice that feels genuine, compelling short fiction (typically 3,000-8,000 words based on standard literary magazine conventions), stories exploring meaningful coming-of-age themes or teen experiences, and professional-quality writing from a high school student

One Teen Story publication is a strong addition to college applications, particularly for writing-focused applicants or English/Literature majors. It demonstrates: professional-level writing ability, recognition by a respected literary magazine, ability to compete at national level, and commitment to the craft of writing. This is more impressive than typical school literary magazine publication due to the national scope and professional editorial standards. Admissions officers at selective colleges recognize One Story as a legitimate, prestigious publication. It carries particular weight for students applying to creative writing programs or demonstrating intellectual/artistic merit.

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