Every story begins somewhere…

At The Prologue Project, we begin with a single line—one shared starting point—and invite writers to follow it wherever inspiration leads. The result? A collection of wildly different tales, each one radiating from the same origin but branching into its own genre, voice, and world.

Our logo is an agate stone, whose bands form outward from a single core. Each story in our magazine is one of those bands—distinct in color, shape, and texture—yet part of a larger, beautifully layered whole.

We publish quarterly in both digital and print formats. Digital issues are always free to read, and printed editions can be purchased in our shop.

Come see where one line can lead.

Cover of The Prologue Project with a stylized drawing of a layered rock and the subtitle "We give you the first line. You give us the story."

Explore Past Issues

Every issue of The Prologue Project begins with the same first line—and from there, anything can happen. Browse our archive to discover stories from past prompts, each one a unique take, a new voice, a different path from the same starting point

An overhead view of a workspace with a silver laptop, an open lined notebook with a gold pen, black glasses, a cup of coffee on a wooden coaster, and a potted plant on a white desk.

Calling all authors!

Do you have what it takes to turn a single line into a world of your own?

The Prologue Project is now open for submissions! Each issue begins with a bold first line—we provide the spark, and you bring the fire. Whether you're a seasoned author or an emerging voice, we want to see how you take our prompt and shape it into something unforgettable

We give you the first sentence. You write the story.
Original. Bold. Boundary-pushing fiction.

Submit your work today and become part of a literary experiment that starts where all great stories begin: the first line.