Our goal: to bring readers and writers together.
For many people, reading can fall to the bottom of the pile. 80% of Americans wish they read more, but don’t have time. This is a commercial failure— not a creative one. It’s time to fix it.
Short fiction is one of the most powerful forms of storytelling. It also happens to be one of the most versatile. You can read or listen to short stories on the train, at home, or doing chores. As literary magazines left the mainstream, however, publishing companies made a business decision to focus on the more lucrative novel format.
With the rise of the internet, short fiction subculture was spread thin. Other platforms — like TikTok, Substack, and Wattpad — have provided temporary respite for writers. Sanctuary is a purpose-built home for short fiction in the digital age, offering powerful tools for writers to grow and reach willing readers.
In short, we think that short-form storytelling on a beautiful platform is a recipe for success. In the same way that Spotify revitalised the music industry, our mission is to give writers and readers the wonderful stories that they deserve — on their time. We hope that you share our enthusiasm — please feel free to get in touch if you’d like to help us on our journey.
Curation for the benefit of readers and writers
In an internet which is increasingly crowded, an open platform can often suppress rather than highlight talented writers. If great stories are buried under piles of low-quality writing, readers will never be able to find them.
After lots of thought, we have found that a dual system is the best way to accomplish this. Writers can either publish instantly to their portfolio, or submit their story to be recommended to Sanctuary readers. Approving each story ensures that writers benefit from having their stories read. The submissions process is quick and easy, and reviewers aren’t looking for any particular genre or style. If you have any feedback or concerns on this process, feel free to contact us.
How We Operate
Sanctuary was founded by English Literature students at some of the world’s top universities, and aims to bring great stories to readers across the world. If you’re interested in joining the Sanctuary team, have any questions, or just want to say hello, you’re welcome to contact us at contact@sanctuarystories.co.uk.
Sanctuary Stories is independently owned and operated, and wholeheartedly committed to ethical business and creative practices. Our driving ethos is the desire to democratise writing and help people read, and we think sustainability, diversity and responsibility is non-negotiable.
Questions?
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Sanctuary is entirely free to read. We’re passionate about making reading accessible, not extracting value.
As a thank-you to early adopters, Beta users will have a complementary Sanctuary Premium membership to read and listen for free.
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Yes! Stories are available to listen to as audiobooks, with the latest ultra-high quality voice narration technology used to generate a powerful voiceover. We’re always working on integrating new technology to improve the listening experience.
We know that sometimes it’s hard to find the time. You can listen to your favourite stories on the go with the click of a button.
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Sanctuary is currently available on iOS. We’re working hard to bring Sanctuary to desktop and Android very soon.
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Absolutely! You don’t need any prior experience or accomplishments to publish on Sanctuary. Make sure you check our content guidelines and copyright policies before publishing.
If you’re reluctant to share your writing, we would encourage you to take a chance and put it out there. You never know who your writing might connect with.
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Beta refers to an early release version of Sanctuary, wherein our team is working hard to make continual improvements before rolling out globally.