Frequently Asked Questions
What aren't you looking for? Listicles, generic parenting advice or anything written from the position of "expert parent." We respect actual expertise — psychologists, child development specialists, family therapists, doctors. But we don't believe anyone is an expert at being a parent. We're looking for writers who are figuring it out alongside everyone else, not writers who have the answers. We value the “this worked for me and want to share it with others” perspective.
What kind of stories are you looking for?Personal essays, memoir, travel writing, opinion, reflection, and adventure — anything that explores fatherhood from any angle. Sons writing about their fathers. Daughters writing about theirs. Partners writing about the dads they're raising kids with. Fathers writing about themselves.
A note on adventure: it's in our name, but we mean it broadly. Adventure can be a backcountry expedition, sure. It can also be the first time you took your kid to the museum, the road trip that went sideways, or the haircut that became a story you'll tell for years. The scale doesn't matter — the specificity does.
How long should my piece be?Between 800 and 2,500 words. Shorter pieces should be tightly focused; longer pieces should earn the space. If you have something outside this range that you think is right for us, query first.
Do you accept previously published work?No. We're looking for original, unpublished pieces. If your piece has appeared on your personal blog, Substack, or anywhere else online, please pitch us something new.
Do you pay contributors?Not yet. But we want to get there as fast as possible. Stories is in its early days as a publication. We hope to compensate writers as we grow, and contributors will be the first to know when that changes. For now, publishing with us means your work reaches an engaged audience and lives in a curated home alongside other thoughtful writing on fatherhood.
What happens if you accept my piece?
We'll work with you on light edits before it goes live. Nothing heavy-handed — we want your voice intact. You'll see the final version before it publishes.