A home for literary fiction
Discover handpicked fiction from emerging writers. Every story is reviewed by humans. Reading is always free.
Readers & writers
Writers publishing work they're most proud of, an editor reading every submission with care, and readers around the world finding stories they didn't know they needed.
Common questions
Everything you need to know about reading and writing short stories on StorySloth.
StorySloth is a free platform for reading and publishing original short stories. Every story is written by an independent author and reviewed by a human before publication.
Yes, completely free. Every story on StorySloth can be read without creating an account or paying anything. We believe great fiction should be accessible to everyone.
We feature short stories across all genres including literary fiction, horror, romance, science fiction, mystery, fantasy, thriller, comedy, drama, and many more. You can browse by genre, tone, audience, or format.
Sign up for free, become an author, and use our built-in editor to write and submit your story. Every submission goes through human review before publication. There are no fees to publish.
Readers can voluntarily "Adopt a Sloth" — a subscription that quietly rewards authors based on how much their stories are read. Verified authors receive monthly payouts.
Stories range from flash fiction (under 1,000 words) to longer short stories (up to 10,000 words). Most can be read in 5 to 20 minutes — perfect for a commute, a lunch break, or bedtime reading.
Have more questions? Visit our full FAQ or get in touch.
For writers
Publish for free, get reviewed by humans, and earn when Sloths read your work. No fees, no gatekeepers — just your words finding their audience.
Fresh off the press
My entry for the Story Sloth "Bloom" competition. Inspired by the words different languages have for these things to do with flowers as well as the impreciseness of their translation into English.
A sci-fi dream, or nightmare? Read and decide ...
The height of the summer of love, but already changes were on their way. A young girl is grappling with guilt at the death of another girl. Her boyfriend tells her it's not her fault, but if that is true why is he quick to enlist and go to Vietnam. Trying to make sense of it, yet knowing she is responsible and a price has to be paid.
Longing children get a second chance at life, love and family, but for how long?
Amy J Richardson-Clemmit
Here they’d etched their love, months before their lips uttered the words.
Collette Night
Riley wakes up every day and knows she was born in the wrong body, but she doesn't know how to describe it to anyone. She wants to tell the world who she really is but she's not sure they will understand.
This is a story about Bloom - a sunflower learning to reach the rays of the sun. Obstacles are a part of our life's journey. This story teaches children not to give up when they face obstacles.
The Queen is not the force she used to be. Her courtiers are plotting. Can she last one more season?
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Popular this week
A children’s or young adult’s poem about sincerity and saying the right thing.
Amy J Richardson-Clemmit
Too much???
"It's the scrolling," Jim said. "It's rotting my brain. I read a thing about it." He had read the thing on Facebook. He decided not to mention this.
A story about Oscar, a 60-year-old retired highwayman, and his attempt to become an author in the local newspaper.
Rhys Omit
A letter
RjS
The dragon opened one silver eye. “You should not have come here,” it rumbled. Kael tightened his grip on the king’s sword, trying not to tremble. “I didn’t come to kill you,” he whispered. The dragon stared at him for a long moment. “Then,” it said softly, “why are you afraid?”
Lisa Dominic
This is a sing song type story about the beauty that can be seen in the growth of creatures that may not usually get the love they receive...
A man loses his mum and starts to live.
Feeling lucky?
Not sure what to read next? Let us surprise you.
Jess and Katie enjoy their usual night out, but an unexpected phone call is about to flip Jess's life upside down.
Listen & enjoy
Longing children get a second chance at life, love and family, but for how long?
Amy J Richardson-Clemmit
A change of heart
A back garden, a clammy day, screeching children. Would it be so bad to think this…?
Amy J Richardson-Clemmit
Looking back on the past.
There were beautiful pebbles on this beach once…
Amy J Richardson-Clemmit
It takes just a moment for a woman to become a mother; it is a journey for a woman to bloom into motherhood.
Sometimes life is just unfair
It's the battle of midnight, when your room feels like either the inside of a volcano or the frozen wastelands of the Arctic, and all you can do to stay alive is cling to your walls like some sort of desperate gecko.
KahlanGoh ;)Join the conversation
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