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FROM THE JOURNAL

Short Stories, Big Feels

Read short fiction, essays, prompts, and audio pieces made for quick breaks and fresh ideas.

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TOPIC CHANNELS

Paths for Readers and Writers

New stories with quick turns, sharp scenes, and strong endings.

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GUIDE

Short Fiction

New stories with quick turns, sharp scenes, and strong endings.

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TRENDS

Personal Essays

Real-life pieces on family, work, loss, joy, and change.

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TIPS

Writing Prompts

Simple prompts to start drafts, classes, and morning pages.

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GUIDE

Audio Stories

Listen to fiction and essay reads made for commutes and chores.

Published each year

120+ stories

Published each year

Read, listen, save

3 formats

Read, listen, save

Fresh pieces every week

Weekly posts

Fresh pieces every week

The Map

Community

Customer notes

Verified

“The stories are short, but they stay with me all day.”

T

Tessa Rowan

Grade 8 ELA teacher

Verified

“The prompts give me a clean start when my draft feels stuck.”

M

Miles Bennett

Freelance writer

Verified

“I use the essays in class because the language is plain and sharp.”

N

Nina Patel

High school librarian

SPOTLIGHT

More Picks From the Journal

Pick up short fiction and essays made for the last hour of the day.

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Spotlight

Late Night Reads

Pick up short fiction and essays made for the last hour of the day.

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02Set 01

Story Stack 01

Five quick pieces for a slow Sunday.

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03Set 02

Story Stack 02

Five more reads for lunch breaks and trains.

Top-down desk scene with story cards, pen, stone weight and closed journal

Guide

Essay Map

A simple path from idea to draft, line by line.

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05Listen

Bedtime Audio

Soft reads for the end of the day.

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06For class

Classroom Picks

Stories and prompts teachers can use fast.

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07Tips

Writer's Desk

Notes on scene, voice, pace, and clean lines.

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08From readers

Reader Mail

Letters, notes, and guest picks from our crew.

Journal

From the Journal

Questions

Common Questions

Quick answers before visitors choose a product, service, or next step.

01What is Cool Story?+

Cool Story is a digital magazine with short fiction, essays, prompts, writing tips, audio stories, and guest picks.

02How often do you post new pieces?+

We post new writing and audio pieces each week, so there is always something fresh to read or listen to.

03Who is it for?+

It is for readers, writers, and teachers who want short pieces they can use in a free minute or in class.

04Can I use the prompts with students?+

Yes. The prompts are simple, clear, and easy to use for warm-ups, group work, and quick writing drills.

05Do you publish guest work?+

Yes. We share guest essays, story picks, and reader notes when they fit our voice and weekly mix of topics.

06Is the audio free to hear?+

Most audio stories are free to stream right on the site, with no sign-up needed for many posts and features.

Get New Stories

Get one short story, one essay, and one writing prompt in your inbox each week, plus links to the latest audio reads.