SEASON 28 STORY SUBMISSIONS
For the first time since 2020, we’re opening our public submissions and we couldn’t be more excited! Over the past several seasons, we’ve been rebuilding, reflecting, and investing deeply in the artists and communities at the heart of 2nd Story. Now, as we look ahead to our next season, we’re ready to welcome new voices, new perspectives, and new stories into the fold.
We want to hear all kinds of real, personal stories—funny, heartbreaking, surprising or anything in between. Longtime storytellers and first-time I’m-not-really-a-writer types alike are welcome, and we can’t wait to read your story. 2nd Story has spent 20+ years developing a process that supports all writers, so experience is not necessary. We’re just looking for someone who has a great story and is excited about working with a group of fellow storytellers to bring their story to the stage.
There’s currently no announced theme or topic for this season, so anything that feels meaningful to you is welcome. That said, if you’re looking for inspiration or a place to start, we’re always looking for stories that are in conversation with the current times. So here are some of the questions we’ve been thinking about lately:
How do we work towards repair? Forgiveness? What happens when a relationship is broken in some way? How might we mend it?
What if we’re the ones who were the bad actor, and need forgiveness from someone else? What are the moments when we have not been the heroes? When we needed grace and support from others?
How have we dealt with misinformation and/or disinformation? How do we work to find the truth? What happens when that truth is revealed?
How are we dealing with and/or tending to our mental health Comment start ? Comment end How are we, really? How are we caring for ourselves and our communities as we face the weight of the world?
What are our relationships to faith and spirituality? How and where are we finding meaning in the world? What do we believe in, and why?
How are we finding moments of resistance? Of change? What does it look like to claim our own freedom? To find liberation as individuals, or as a community?
key deadlines
Submissions Open: Monday, December 1, 2025
Submissions Close: Sunday, February 1, 2026
Notification: You’ll hear from us about moving forward with auditions or not by late March.
before you submit
To ensure your work is the best fit for our process and our stages, we encourage you to review the following pages:
Writing Guidelines – What we’re asking for and how to format your materials
Frequently Asked Questions – Learn more about what makes 2nd Story different: our process, pro tips, and additional context to help you prepare your story
We can’t wait to read your work.
what happens after submitting?
We receive many submissions, there are lots of moving parts, and there are only a few of us. Thank you in advance for your patience and grace as we move through this process!
Late February / Early March: Our artistic company gathers to read every submission. Each story is read by at least three different people.
By End of March: We aim to email all submitters with next steps or decisions.
If we’d like to move forward with your story for Season 28, you’ll receive an invitation to audition.
If your story isn’t the right fit at this time, you’ll still hear from us.
In either case, we aim to share thoughtful feedback - what we really loved, what intrigued us, and what we're noticing as we read your story (we're writers, too, and know how essential it is to get a sense of what’s working and what isn’t!)
Mid-Late April / Early May: Auditions for invited storytellers. Details and scheduling info will be provided via email.
Questions in the meantime? Please email submissions@2ndstory.com