FAQ

Anyone 18 or older who has an original story to tell. You don’t need an agent, a big platform, or previous credits—just a piece of writing you care about.

Short, narrative pieces that feel like lived experience—true or true-feeling. Memoir, fiction, and lightly speculative stories are all welcome as long as the emotional core is honest and human. We love work about family, work, belief, loss, survival, and the small moments that change everything.

For now, we’re looking for stories in roughly the 500–1,500 word range. Shorter is okay if it lands; longer pieces may be considered if they adapt well to a 1–10 minute film.

Not strictly—but it has to feel true.
You can submit:

• Memoir / personal essays
• Fiction inspired by real life
• Lightly speculative pieces rooted in real human stakes

What we’re not looking for right now: high fantasy, hard sci-fi worldbuilding, or pure joke sketches without a narrative heart. We may open up other genres in the near future, so stay connected.

Yes. You retain ownership of your work.
If we select your piece, you grant The Riveter Studio a non-exclusive license to adapt, publish, and promote the story as a cinematic short (and related promotional materials). That means:

• You can still publish the written story elsewhere.
• You can include it in your own book, newsletter, or portfolio.

Full details are in the Story Submission & License Agreement.

In this first “pilot” season, our focus is proving that the studio model works and building an audience. Selected contributors will receive:

• A professionally produced short film based on their story
• Credit and attribution when the piece is released
• A link you can share with your own audience

As Riveter grows, we plan to explore revenue-sharing and additional compensation models. Any changes to payment or terms will be clearly communicated and updated in our agreement.

We may lightly adapt or edit for:

• Clarity
• Length / pacing
• Voiceover performance

We will not change the core meaning of your story. If substantial changes are needed, we’ll be in touch before moving forward with production.

We look for pieces that:

• Are emotionally honest and character-driven
• Center on a clear turning point or moment of insight
• Fit our current themes and production bandwidth
• Translate well to a 1–3 minute cinematic format

We wish we could produce everything, but we keep the slate small so each story gets real attention.

Yes, as long as:

• You still hold the rights needed to grant us a non-exclusive license, and
• You tell us where it has appeared (blog, newsletter, book, etc.).

Just note any prior publication when you submit.

Yes, as long as:

• You still hold the rights needed to grant us a non-exclusive license, and
• You tell us where it has appeared (blog, newsletter, book, etc.).

Just note any prior publication when you submit.

Yes. You can:

• Publish or republish the written story
• Share the Riveter film link with your audience
• Mention that your piece was adapted by The Riveter Studio (which we love)

We simply retain the right to keep using the film and related materials as described in the agreement.

Our goal is to share a preview link with selected contributors before public release whenever timelines allow. Because our production schedule can be tight, we can’t promise a long review window, but we do want you to see how your story came to life.

You’ll be credited by your name or pen name (your choice), and we may include a short byline or description when there’s room. If you have a website or social media handle you’d like us to link, you can include that information in your submission, and we’ll add it to the outro.

We’re not able to accept stories that promote hate, harassment, or violence against individuals or groups, or that are primarily graphic without a narrative purpose. Sensitive topics (trauma, abuse, addiction, etc.) may be considered, but we’ll handle them with care and may decline pieces that we feel we can’t responsibly adapt.

This is a small studio with a small team. We aim to respond within 4–6 weeks, but timelines may vary depending on how many submissions we’re reviewing and what’s in active production.

Yes, but please start with your strongest piece. Once we’ve reviewed your first submission, you’re welcome to send more as our submission window and bandwidth allow.