The Human Archive exists because people are brave enough to tell the truth about their lives. If you have a story, we would be honored to read it.
What we are looking for
- True, first-hand experiences that you lived or witnessed yourself.
- Honest, specific writing: what happened, how it felt, and what you learned.
- Between 600 and 3,000 words (shorter or longer can work if it earns the length).
- A clear beginning, middle and end, even when the ending is still unfolding.
What we cannot publish
- Fiction, rumors or stories about people who have not consented to being written about in a recognizable way.
- Content that targets, harasses or exposes a private individual.
- Graphic detail of violence or self-harm, medical or legal advice, or anything promoting hatred.
- Work copied from somewhere else. Your story must be yours.
Your privacy comes first
You can publish under your real name, a first name only, or a pseudonym. We will change names, places and identifying details on request, and you can ask us to remove your story later. Tell us your preferences in your email.
How to submit
- Write your story in an email or attach a document.
- Send it to contact@vanlyra.com with the subject "Story submission".
- Include your preferred name (or pseudonym), a country or region, and whether we may share the story on social media.
What happens next
An editor reads every submission. If we choose your story we will email you a lightly edited version for approval before anything goes live. We cannot reply to every submission individually, but we read all of them. By submitting you agree to our Terms and Conditions, which explain the license you grant and the rights you keep.
If you are writing about something that is still painful, please take care of yourself first. You do not have to share anything you are not ready to share.