Narrative is dedicated to advancing literature in the digital age by supporting the finest writing talent and encouraging reading across generations, in schools, and around the globe. Our digital library of new literature by celebrated authors and by the best new and emerging writers is available for free.

Since 2003 Narrative has been at the forefront of a new kind of library—a global meeting place, if you will, where readers and writers meet. We publish work of the highest literary caliber, offer opportunities for both established and emerging writers, host contests in search of a new generation of talent, provide reading and writing mentorship to underserved schools around the globe, and every day, all year we offer our expansive library of thousands of stories, poems, essays, cartoons, and more to readers everywhere for free.

We believe there’s a hungry reader in all of us. It’s been that way since the beginning of time, since nights of trading tales around the campfire. This screen is our campfire.

We believe the digital age represents a unique opportunity to create renewed, vital audiences for literary excellence.

We believe there are exemplars of the art of writing—some known, some yet to be known—all deserving to be published beautifully and read widely.

We believe emerging writers need support, encouragement, and mentoring.

We believe students and readers everywhere deserve a great and free modern library, inside of which they can get deliriously, entertainingly, profoundly lost. And found.

We believe students and teachers need access to the power and inspiration that great writing provides. Our “Tell Me a Story” High School Essay Contest provides a place where young writers can shout from the rooftops.

We believe that stories are what bind us, remind us, and transcend us, in our time, and for all time.

The $4,000 Narrative Prize is awarded annually for the best short story, novel excerpt, poem, one-act play, graphic story, or work of literary nonfiction published by a new or emerging writer in Narrative. Recent winners include Ocean Vuong, winner of a 2016 Whiting Award, and Anthony Marra, whose debut novel, A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, was nominated for a National Book Award.