A Short Story Dispenser is a little like a library: you curate the reading material you wish to offer. In order to help you in this task, all works available are gathered in collections. It is up to you whether your library is filled with children’s stories only, a compilation of crime stories and comics, or a mix of everything. We even go so far as to let you select the format (poetry, short stories, comics) and the tone (Children’s, Contemporary, Light, Moderate, or Heavy) that you like best.
Our collections’ greatest strength is the variety of stories they offer. It is impossible not to find stories fitting one’s taste.
General collections
Brief yet captivating stories that whisk you into real or imaginary worlds in just one to five minute reading time. From romance to sci-fi, fantasy to thrillers, our collections offer something for every reader in your community.
Light
Relax with gentle, easy-to-read stories that offer a break from the day’s demands. Featuring everyday encounters, lighthearted romances, small life moments, and carefree adventures, all told in a simple, soothing style.
Moderate
Stories that balance realism and imagination, exploring themes like family, identity, activism, and life’s shifting landscapes - told with a clear, neutral voice across a variety of genres.
Contemporary
Fresh, dynamic stories for readers looking for a vibrant experience. Written in inventive, impactful styles, these works mix modern themes with unconventional tones - offering sharp reflections on society, new perspectives on the world, and bold literary experiments.
Heavy
Profound stories that confront life’s most difficult trughts - from loss, war, and sacrifice to the passage of time and the pain of love. These moving tales highlight the struggles that shape us, making life’s brighter moments all the more meaningful.
Poetry enhances the world around us. This collection invites you to discover space where the ineffable is captured, where feelings you couldn’t put into worlds are verbalized, where fresh perspectives on universal experiences are explored.
Rooted in real experience, these stories combine vivid description with powerful insight. They invite readers to reflect not only on themselves but also on the essential challenges and pressing issues of today’s world.
In just a few black-and-white frames, these comic strips surprise, amuse, and move their readers. From humor to heartfelt moments, with touches of sci-fi and fantasy, they offer a playful visual twist on the short story experience.
From the flutter of butterflies after a fleeting touch with your crush to the pulse-pounding secrecy of joining a modern order of knights, our Young Adult collection captures the wild, luminous adventure of those in-between years—when childhood fades, and the world begins to open in thrilling new ways.
A world where curiosity sparks and imagination soars. Our children’s collections make reading fun and accessible, inviting young readers to dive into bright worlds filled with bold, relatable characters. With lively, age-appropriate writing, these stories guide children from their first discoveries to confident, independent reading.
6 - 10 Years Old
Designed for early readers, these stories feature simple language and engaging plots. From exciting questions alongside dragons to heartwarming tales of budding friendships, this collection opens doors to boundless imagination and vivid worlds.
10 - 14 Years Old
Tailored for confident readers seeking richer stories, this collection features more complex language and appropriate themes for this age range. From chilling trick-or-treating excursions to schoolplays gone hilariously wrong, these lively talkies explore bold quests and unique encounters.
Our classics collection is filled with works that have withstood the test of time and are still just as poignant. From Robert Frost’s crisp imagery to Anne Spencer’s activist poetry, this collection of texts free of rights merges classic literature with innovative distribution.
Short Fiction
Swinging between Alice Dunbar-Nelson’s historical fictions and Virginia Woolf’s ghost stories from the modern times, this collection encompasses a wide range of literary genres that represent a variety of places at different times.
Poetry
Amid literary images and emotions, you will find in this collection of works from activist poets who used their art to pass poignant messages and fight for their rights, as well as verses aimed at glorifying the world, nature, and the beautiful complexity of human feelings.
African American Literature
Our editorial team has put together a special collection of historical African American literature because we believe these authors’ voices are important pieces of our past to share in this time of education, awareness, and rethinking systemic issues for a better future for all.
Classics for Children
From Mr. McGregor’s sun-drenched garden to Timmie Willie’s discovery of life in town, this collection of the most charming children’s stories is both a delicious dose of nostalgia and a way to discover more classic children’s favorites.
General Audience
- Suitable for all readers, regardless of age, maturity, or sensitivity
- Free from violence, sensuality, nudity, and explicit language
- Not specifically for “children’s” texts, but broadly accessible
- May include everyday expressions that go beyond polite conversation, without strong language
- Designed to ensure a comfortable reading experience for everyone
Mature Audience
- Intended for mature readers capable of judging potentially triggering topics
- May contain material some readers find unsuitable or sensitive
- Can include some profanity, mild violence, or sensuality
Target Audience
Short Édition curates stories designed to appeal to the widest possible audience, similar to collections found in bookstores or libraries. Because readers receive works at random, it’s important to tailor the content of your Short Story Dispenser, or Cube, to suit your specific audience. To assist with this, all collections are grouped into two main categories: “General Audience” and “Mature Audience” for adult collections, based on suitability for all readers.
While some works include elements intended for mature readers, these do not define the core of the stories and should not be seen as negative judgements. Instead, this distinction empowers readers to decide if the content is appropriate for them. Just like in the movies, TV, or novels, these themes add depth and cultural richness, making the stories impactful and memorable.
Broaden Your Perspective
Your Short Story Dispenser or Cube shares stories from the collections you select, allowing you to tailor content to your taste and that of your readers. For projects that call for even greater customization, we offer a range of options and specialized collections to help you personalize your content or shine a spotlight on specific themes.
Our theme-based selections draw from our General Collections and group stories according to various criteria, including:
- Topics: Family & Home Life, New Beginnings, etc.
- Literary genres: Magical Realism, Fantasy, Science Fiction, etc.
- Seasonality: Summer, Spring, Winter Holidays, Halloween, Valentine’s Day, etc.
- Social issues: Environment, Marginalized Communities, etc.
Request a Thematic Collection
If you haven’t found exactly what you’re looking for, our editors can curate a collection tailored to your needs. Whether for your location project, or events, we can develop a specific collection for your Dispenser or Cube’s content.
Simply suggest a topic and share your requirements, and our editorial team will assess the feasibility and the number of stories available for your curated collection.
Contact us