Carolyn Wells

We’ve curated nearly 14,000 stories in the past 16 years and published hundreds of original pieces. Today, we’re kicking off a member drive to keep the stories coming. Won’t you join us? longreads.com/2025/10/15/202…

"Then, after over a year of research, I found myself on a mountainside deep in the park—with 130 baby trout on my back." Alex Brown's new #longreads story is the wild tale of a tiny fishing club's battle with the feds over alien trout: longreads.com/2025/05/29/fis…

"I opened his underwear drawer to put the laundry away and noticed a flash of color and lace toward the bottom. My stomach jolted." In our latest #longreads feature, @LaneScottJones navigates gender identity against the backdrop of the Deep South: longreads.com/2024/06/25/cre…

"Like most sign-out sheets, the “out” column had been incredibly neglected, making it look like no one emerges alive." Lost and wrestling with her thoughts, Leyton Cassidy remembers the many missing hiker mysteries in a dramatic new #longreads essay: longreads.com/2024/05/07/dea…

"Without food, we become preoccupied with it. Food is as evolutionarily important as pain and sex." When Crohn's disease took away his ability to eat, @Andrew7Chapman realized food is about more than nutrition. Read our latest #longreads essay here: longreads.com/2024/04/18/cro…

On this day 15 years ago, @markarms fired off a tweet. As it turns out, that was the beginning of something special.

Our original features have won Pushcart Prizes, appeared in numerous year-end anthologies, been nominated for National Magazine Awards, and—best of all—have led to several book deals for their writers. Here’s the first one we ever published: longreads.com/2014/11/06/a-b…

We pay $350 USD for reading lists and $500 for personal essays. Reported essay rates start at $500. Check out our revised submission guidelines: longreads.com/submissions/

We're accepting personal essay drafts and pitches for reported personal essays and reading lists. We're looking for pieces on unexpected topics and unique angles. More on submissions and rates in 🧵

It's the time of year to curl up with a holiday movie, but Cat Modlin-Jackson has a bone to pick with the filmmakers. Read our festive new #longreads feature "’Tis the Season to Kill the Dead-Mom Holiday Movie Trope." longreads.com/2023/12/13/tis…

"Addicts and alcoholics cannot prove their need for treatment by requesting it. They’ve gotta bleed and pee for it. And even that might not be enough." A powerful new #longreads story is out today. #addiction #alcohol #drugs #nonfiction #recovery longreads.com/2023/09/07/dru…

We’re delighted to announce that @samkeckscott’s beautiful Longreads essay “Dreaming of Water with Tiger Salamanders” has won a 2024 Pushcart Prize! Congratulations, Sam! #longreads #PushcartPrize longreads.com/2022/03/22/dre…

"While crying has featured in some of my most life-defining moments, I can also be set off anywhere, anytime, by almost anything." longreads.com/2023/07/18/rea… #longreads

After a man dies the bizarre secrets of his home are revealed. The battle to save it then questions how we define what is art. Our fascinating new #longreads story on #art and being an #outsider: longreads.com/2023/07/13/how…

"Taken as a whole, it’s an endlessly fascinating space; a window into a man’s life, into his mind." #longreads #art #artist #outsider #outsiderart longreads.com/2023/07/13/how…

"But unlike advertising, lofted into the airwaves to evaporate, this project would be carved into granite for eternity. I yearned to create a gravestone that would sing through the ages, that would capture the joie de vivre that was my partner." longreads.com/2023/07/04/mom…

"Eventually, when I was 35, I told a psychiatrist everything and was diagnosed as autistic." #longreads #autism #neurodiverse #autistic longreads.com/2023/07/06/aut…

this is too sad and beautiful

"Kayla met with James in his office to discuss a contingency plan—installing a hospital bed inside room 601, so that Robert could spend his final days in the hotel." Our new #longreads story from @adamreiner longreads.com/2023/06/13/can… @Kimpton

A version of this was the first essay I wrote in grad school. Now, it's on @Longreads. It's all about the dangers of silence, puberty, and the natural desire for attention. longreads.com/2023/02/21/the…