SUBMISSIONS
Open October 8th, 2025 through January 1st, 2026
Sharp, personal nonfiction narratives with an evocative spin on existential-leaning themes. Texture and nuance. Peaks and valleys. The profound and the absurd; the horror and the hilarity of being in the world. How we change or don’t change; how the world changes or fails to change. How people try. Maybe a moment of discovery conflicts with the old narrative and challenges a long-held belief. Maybe little things are big. Heavy, humorous, dark, delightful. Your HOW I LEARNED story has there there. It does not resolve neatly. Make meaning out of chaos, but leave us wondering what happens after the ending.
Marginalized voices are essential. Unconventional arcs welcome.
Nonfiction essay: 1000 - 1200 words
Nonfiction flash essay: 500 - 900 words
Send a Word or Google Docs attachment. No PDFs.
Include the word count.
Keep in mind, the title of the piece need not begin with “How I Learned…”. (See titles.)
Include in your email (1) a brief summary — seriously, like, in 1 to 3 sentences; and (2) a third-person bio.
If this is a simultaneous submission, let us know and please contact us immediately if it gets accepted elsewhere.
Feel free to add how you learned about HOW I LEARNED.
Email subject line: “Submission - How I Learned.”
Send to: howilearned@gmail.com
Note: The decision to change names, places, or other identifying characteristics (or not) is the responsibility of the author upon submittal.
You’ll usually get a response in 1 to 4 weeks. Please wait a month before following up. If you haven’t heard back by then, feel free to resend the original email and add “Follow Up” to the subject line.
HOW I LEARNED magazine is still a baby and it’s 100% supported by readers. As a writer myself, I loathe saying that there’s no pay at this time. The long-term goal is to change that.
Don’t copy/paste a chunk of the story as your summary
Don’t paste the story into the body of the email.
Don’t skimp on proofreading.
Don’t submit without reading any of the published essays.
And please, lord, do not send anything done by a robot.
The magazine is a new iteration of the long-running, live How I Learned series in New York.
Here’s a sampling of topics from live shows. You DO NOT have to write to any of these themes, but you’re more than welcome to.
How I Learned To Fight Back; How I Learned My Adolescence Was Over; How I Learned What Life Is Like; How I Learned About Sex; How I Learned To Lie, Cheat, or Steal; How I Learned To Live In New York; How I Learned It’s All My Parents’ Fault; How I Learned It’s Not Me, It’s You; How I Learned To Say I’m Sorry; How I Learned To Believe.