Story Publishing Guidelines

1. Story Length and Format

• Recommended word count: 400 to 5,000 words for standalone short stories.
• Multi-chapter stories: No overall word limit, but each chapter should be at least 400 words.
• Flexibility: Quality and content matter more than length.
• Use our user-friendly online submission tool to either copy-paste your story or write directly on the platform. Your progress will be auto-saved as a draft.

2. Content Requirements

• Stories must be original and not published elsewhere.
• Plagiarism is strictly prohibited.

3. Genres

• Accepted genres include romance, fiction, horror, fantasy, science fiction, adventure, and more. Explore All Categories
• Stories should align with one of the platform's predefined genres.

4. Language and Tone

• Accepted genres include romance, fiction, horror, fantasy, science fiction, adventure, and more.
• Stories should align with one of the platform's predefined genres.
• All stories must be written in English.
• The tone should be appropriate for a general audience and relevant to the chosen genre.

5. Content Restrictions

• No explicit pornographic content, excessive violence, or hate speech.
• Mild adult themes are permitted if portrayed tastefully.

6. Cover Image

• Minimum size: 500 x 500 pixels.
• Accepted formats: .jpg or .png.
• Images must be relevant to the story and comply with copyright laws.

7. Publishing and Visibility

• Free Authors: Can publish up to 2 stories per month. Stories are directly published on their author site. Free Authors don’t get instant story boost.
• Pro Authors: Can publish unlimited stories with unlimited instant story boost. Stories are showcased on the Short Story Lovers homepage, category pages, and recommended on other authors' story pages for enhanced visibility. Check Pro Author Plans

8. Editing and Proofreading

• Authors should thoroughly edit and proofread their stories before publishing.
• Proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling are essential.

9. Metadata and Tags

• Include a brief summary (50-200 words) for each story.
• Use relevant categories, sub categories and tags to reach the story effectively.

10. No Review Process

• Stories do not undergo a review and approval process. They are published instantly once submitted.
• Stories which are submitted for Featuring only go through an approval process. Learn More about Featuring a story

11. Revisions

• Authors can edit their stories even after publishing. Changes can be made through the "My Stories" page in the Author Hub.

12. Engagement and Community

• Authors are encouraged to interact with readers who comment on their stories to foster engagement.

13. Copyright

• Authors retain full copyright of their stories but grant Short Story Lovers the right to publish and promote their work on the platform.