The best Small Town USA stories are short, complete stories that capture a reader's interest. A story you have told at the dinner table, at a family picnic, or a tale shared with friends may be the perfect Small Town USA story. Small Town USA readers like to read about the everyday lives of real people, and they appreciate stories that bring back memories of different times. A Small Town USA story reflects a unique American experience. Your personal story may be rural, urban or even suburban. You can write about your own experiences or about the experiences of others. Look at our Story Starters and Featured Stories for some inspiration. Our Small Town USA Frequenty Asked Questions might help too!

Your Small Town USA story should:
-touch the hearts of our readers with a personal situation
-introduce our readers to a kind of life they would like to experience OR
-bring to our reader's minds their own American experiences

Good Small Town USA stories have a beginning, middle and end. Start your story with action or dialogue. A sticky situation or problem is a great way to hook our reader's interest. The end may be a lesson learned, a change in the main character's perspective or an observation about what is unique to your area of the country. Each story or poem may be either fiction or non-fiction, written in either first- or third-person. The story can be either dramatic or humorous. You can send as many submissions to Small Town USA as you like.