We accept completed stories of between 3,500 and 50,000 words. We do not accept pitches. Why? Because we want to read the story you needed to tell, not the story you think an editor might be interested in reading and publishing. We focus exclusively on original works of narrative nonfiction; think nonfiction short stories, or "novellas". Stories driven by plot, drama, and character. Much as we admire exposes, essays, criticism, and investigative work, that is not what we publish. Reporting is at the core of the stories we publish; if fiction is driven by imagination, narrative nonfiction is driven by reporting. You may have a terrific memoir; but we are looking for a memoir in which memories are examined, interrogated, and challenged by reporting. We are not bound by newsworthiness, or location. We are open to submissions year-round. We're fine with simultaneous submissions, but ask that if your story is accepted eslewhere you inform us quickly. We do not accept multiple submissions. To get a sense of the kinds of stories we publish, and which we published previously on The Big Roundtable, we suggest you look at the archives on our website.
The Delacorte Review publishes narrative nonfiction and connects passionate nonfiction writers with readers. We do this through experimental methods of gathering, selecting, editing, and distributing ambitious narrative stories, and, eventually, researching the reading and sharing behavior around those stories.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
Original works of narrative nonfiction of between 3,500 and 20,000 words. By narrative we mean a story with a beginning, middle and end - though not necessarily told in that order -- propelled by a simple question: What happened next? We publish stories that are grounded in reporting. The reporting should be the engine that drives the narrative. Even if you have a memoir we are looking for stories in which an author's curiosity compelled him or her to find our more, to research and report and challenge those memories.
The work cannot have been published elsewhere.
If you have submitted the story to other publications please let us know. We're fine with simultaneous submissions, but ask that if your story is accepted elsewhere you inform us quickly. We do not accept multiple submissions.
HOW ARE WRITERS PAID?
Writers are paid $500 per story.
Nota bene: All stories must be 100% true. This is journalism.
