opening for submissions on May 15!

send us your true stories

We are OPENING FOR SUBMISSIONS from May 15, 2026, to June 15, 2026!

The window is only open for one month, so get your true stories ready!

We’ve recently updated our publication schedule, which means we can increase what we pay, while continuing to work closely with each writer whose work we publish! We now pay $75 a story, and we offer personalized, in-depth feedback to help you elevate your craft and polish your story.

Guidelines + Details

• 2,000 to 4,000 words

• Nonfiction only

• WE PAY $75 per published piece

• Average two month response time

• We nominate for prizes: Best of the Net, Pushcart, and Best American Essays. The sneaker wave story “Bleeding” was recognized as a Notable Mention in the 2026 edition of Best American Essays, edited by Jia Tolentino.

Our editors also offer line-level essay feedback year round. We want you and your work to shine, and we can make this happen for you. If you would like a full essay markup with margin notes by one of our masthead editors, select the “individual developmental edit” option ($150). If you would like a full essay markup with margin notes by three of our masthead editors, select “collective developmental edit” ($250).

sneaker wave magazine is a digital platform for nonfiction storytelling, and we exist to publish, promote, and elevate the craft of nonfiction writers. You can read more about what we look for in our submissions here.

We look forward to reading your true story. Thank you for considering sneaker wave magazine as a home for your writing!

The Editors