For the fifth – and for now, final – edition, Story.one and Thalia are once again on the hunt for the most inspiring storytellers of our time. We believe in the power of young voices that are completely reshaping the book market and paving the way for new trends and bestsellers.
On October 2 at 11 a.m., the YSA25 jury will announce which authors have been nominated for the live final in Vienna. At the same time, the jury will announce the winners of the Thalia Special Prizes for “Most Beautiful Book” and “Most Innovative Book”.
Until August 31, 2025 (24:00 CEST), everyone between the ages of 14 and 35 is invited to publish a book on story.one for free. Aside from the story.on book format (“The TikTok of the publishing industry”), there are no restrictions.
All genres and languages are welcome. From all submissions, the jury will select 10 storytellers to read at the live finale on October 10, 2024, at Thalia in Vienna. The top-selling book will automatically qualify.
Your gateway to the world of books: The live jury will choose the Young Storyteller 2025 winner following their live performance (reading of one story). The winner will receive EUR 7,000, a personal mentoring program, the presentation of their book at the Frankfurt Book Fair and promotional support from Thalia.
In 2025, all finalists will share a total cash prize of EUR 15,500, plus there are numerous special prizes.
As in previous years, only one person can become the Young Storyteller, but participating is what counts because …
Your book should have an original idea, an appealing theme, a captivating title, a professional cover, a concise book description as well as a meaningful author photo and an inspiring biography.
All genres and languages are welcome. Don’t think in terms of patterns, but how you can inspire the jury and readers. Be creative.
While AI tools are permitted, they are not a substitute for genuine creativity. The jury explicitly evaluates your work based on originality, personality, emotional impact, and creative authenticity. It doesn’t matter what tools or resources you use—what matters is that your personal creative signature remains clearly discernible. The use of AI is permitted provided it is transparently disclosed in the imprint.
On 25.09.2025 at 11:00 a.m., all participants will receive written information as to whether they have made it onto the shortlist. These +30 books will then be ranked internally according to our own points system and the points system published here. You can achieve a maximum of 100 points – 30 for the idea, 30 for story quality, 20 for writing style and execution, 10 for book description and author biography and 10 for cover design and title.
50% of all finale spots are reserved for non-influencers (no account with more than 2,000 followers). We want to ensure equal opportunities regardless of the jury voting.
“I am delighted that we at Thalia are once again part of the Young Storyteller Award this year and that we will be enriching the book market with creative and unique books together with story.one.
Books that touch and inspire their readers in a very special way. Books that have bestseller potential. Let’s start this journey of discovery together! What does it take?
An outstanding story that inspires us all, that moves us and makes us see the world through different eyes. Are you ready?”
We acknowledge that many of you already naturally incorporate AI tools – for research, imagery, inspiration, or writing. Therefore, this year, we explicitly allow the use of AI tools in your book creation, provided you clearly and transparently disclose this usage in your book’s imprint.
Why are we doing this? Simply put, AI is already a reality. Prohibiting its use would be unrealistic and unenforceable. Instead of hiding its usage, we advocate for honesty.
However, it’s important to note: Our jury explicitly evaluates originality, personality, and emotional depth of your story, not the tools used. Ultimately, it’s the human who wins, never the machine.
Elke Steiner, YSA25 Jury:
“I understand that AI is an emotional and much-debated topic. However, we’ve consciously decided to explicitly allow AI usage. Why? Because AI is already part of our reality—in writing, research, and illustrations. Not permitting it would be unrealistic. Our stance is honesty rather than hypocrisy. Ultimately, what truly excites us is never the tools, but rather the personality, emotions, and the unique voice of the person behind each story.”
Learn more about AI at YSA → FAQ below
Top3 YSA 23
“I grew so much beyond myself during the YSA and I was able to take a lot with me as a young author. It was definitely an exciting time and a worthwhile experience.”
Participant YSA23
“Participating in the Young Storyteller Award was an absolute life changer for me. Not just because my current book is now available at Thalia. I found the courage to finally work as a freelance copywriter. Story.one has opened a lot of doors for me and I promise you, this format is addictive. You made me an author!”
Finalist YSA23
“Impossible. Says the fact. Try it. The dream whispers. And that’s exactly what YSA is all about – making our dreams come true! This feeling of presenting your own book to the world is indescribable. We all have so many dreams but only one life. So what are you waiting for? Try it!”
October 10, 2025 – the grand finale event will take place at the Thalia flagship store MH99 at Vienna. Mark this day in your calendar, everyone is invited. You can either be there as a finalist or as a guest in the audience. Get your free ticket now.
You will be informed on September 25 whether you have made it onto the longlist and on October 2 you will find out whether you are one of the finalists. As a finalist, you can bring 4 friends with you and seats will be reserved for them.
At the finale, the 11 finalists (10 selected by Jury + bestselling book) will read a story from their books. The jury will decide directly on site – the grand finale is the selection of the winner of the Young Storyteller Award 2025.
Be part of the final – book your ticket early, places are limited.
There are Thalia special prizes for the three most beautiful and the most innovative book, each endowed with a book package worth up to EUR 300. Get inspiration in one of the Story Spots in the Thalia flagship stores in Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Leipzig and Vienna.
Unleash the bestselling author in you with the “Hannes Steiner story.one method”: For years he has published one bestseller after another, but now publisher Hannes Steiner is taking on the role of the author himself. In his first book, he sets out to decipher what for many is a closed book: how to write a bestseller. The “story.one bestseller formula” offers not only theoretical knowledge but also practical instructions that can be implemented immediately – the essence of the many years of experience of the two-time Publisher of the Year and visionary founder of story.one. According to him, there is a great book inside each of us, just waiting to conquer the world, and it has never been easier than it is today. So if you’ve ever dreamed of writing a book, the perfect moment is now.
The book is available free of charge as a PDF on story.one for all registered users and also free of charge on thalia.at and thalia.de. It can also be purchased as a hardcover in bookshops for 18 euros.
Our Terms reserve the option to use content to train our own models.
Important: We will only do this after asking you first, and only if you do not object. Your content is never used automatically or without your permission.
Yes—after book text generation. Initially label content as fundamental (whole book) or supplementary (topic depth). Later you can upload chapter-specific add-ons (sparingly, to avoid overload).
Yes—via “Reorder with refresh” (€25): the book switches to draft; you edit texts/bio/description and republish. (Cover image or chapter order changes require a new ISBN.)
Yes—“Reorder with refresh” (€25) lets you change texts, author bio, or description and republish; the ISBN stays the same.
Cover image or chapter order changes require a new ISBN (industry standard).
Yes—currently German, English, Spanish. Duplicate your project, select the new language, and regenerate book proposal + book texts. Note: It’s a new version, not a 1:1 translation.
Yes. Your texts are yours to reuse—even with a publisher.
The specific story.one book (layout, cover, ISBN) isn’t reused 1:1 externally; a publisher would normally redesign it.
Yes. Upload audio/video (YouTube supported). Check the book proposal/sample chapters to confirm content was recognized correctly—if audio quality is poor, upload your own transcript. For short talks, add slides (text is read) and extra materials; enable enrichment or deep research for contextual examples/data.
Yes. Upload the manuscript; for very long files, prioritize relevant passages (upload limits apply).
If you want your own style reflected, add a style sample (20–40k characters).
Yes. Upload your audio file or YouTube link—the editor transcribes, extracts key points, and builds chapters.
Recommendations:
Yes. The editor detects interview/talk formats, and can structure Q&A chronologically, summarized, or dialog-style (your choice). For depth, use longer interviews or bundle several, and specify focus in the briefing.
Yes. Open any auto-generated chapter in the Text Editor and edit line by line.
Yes. The editor reads multiple formats in parallel and links related information when context is clear. Key remains: filter for relevance and mark sources as fundamental vs. supplementary.
Yes—copy & paste from Word or other tools. The editor shows instantly if a chapter exceeds its maximum length. Tip: remove extra paragraph marks/spaces—they count toward length.
Yes—disable ISBN at checkout. Your book will be printed privately for you and not listed in stores.
Great for gifts, private projects, or corporate publications.
Yes—choose “Discontinue book sales” in your profile for €25. It remains visible in databases but can’t be ordered (“no longer available”). Already printed copies stay in circulation.
Yes. Upload a 20–40k character sample. The editor learns syntax, devices, and vocabulary; if desired, you can highlight specific quirks (e.g. typical phrases) via watch-outs/briefing. Readability & consistency for your audience remain a priority.
Yes—for cover and interior. Use ≥225 DPI (recommended 300 DPI) and 2 cm safety margins so nothing gets cropped. For people photos, obtain consent.
Yes. The Text Editor is fully mobile-optimized—write, edit chapters, design the cover, and publish right from your phone.
Some countries (e.g., Germany, Austria) require legal deposit copies for national/library archives. Usually relevant only at higher volumes or public interest.
Responsibility lies with you; for questions, email [email protected].
Yes—recommended for critical data/facts (especially if you enabled enrichment/research). That ensures numbers, quotes, and references meet your standard—just like any professional non-fiction book.
No. story.one claims no copyright on Story Editor-generated content.
Legal status of AI-generated texts may vary by jurisdiction; in any case, rights remain with you/the original uploader.
Give feedback (email), publish public stories, join collaborative projects, and connect on social channels.
Success stories on our website show how authors use the Story Editor—and invite you to create yourself.
In your account, the Sales Trend feature shows all copies that have been ordered by retailers, produced, and delivered to retailers.
Please note:
Exact sales figures are reported twice a year (June 30 & Dec 31) by retail partners, validated, and used as the basis for royalty payouts. Author copies ordered directly from story.one are not included.
Additionally, check the story.one bestseller lists at Thalia Germany and Thalia Austria to see how your book compares to other story.one titles.
After generation, the editor asks chapter-specific reader questions (“test-reader Q&A”). You can regenerate (20 credits/chapter) or edit manually. That way, you improve iteratively without starting from scratch.
Define age, prior knowledge, field, interests. The editor calibrates vocabulary, examples, density, and jargon—from deeply technical (e.g., managers, doctors) to general-audience (explanations, concrete examples).
A good title is short, memorable, audience-fit. The Story Editor suggests titles, but you must check title clearance (e.g., thalia.de, buchhandel.de, search). The editor does not run clearance, and suggestions might already exist.
Tip: test 2–3 favorites with your network; the book draft has a checkbox to disable title hyphenation.
Choose from 2,000+ free images or upload your own. Keep a 2 cm safety margin and remember very dark images print darker (brighten if needed).
One-time options at first order: e.g., vignette swap (€10), back cover tweak (€5), own image with quality check (€25).
Minimum sizes: front (portrait) ≥ 1500×2000 px, front+back (landscape) ≥ 3000×2000 px
In the Text Editor, you see in real time how many pages your chapter has. With the print preview “Check Layout”, you can see exactly how your text will look in the final book. This makes it easy to shorten, split into two stories, or add paragraphs until everything fits perfectly.
Before generating the book proposal, the editor checks if amount/depth fits your goal and flags too much/too little. During the book proposal, content is aligned to scope and depth; afterwards you can adjust (more content, tweak settings).
Choose style (structure/mode), tonality (rhetorical color), and balance (facts vs. narrative) to fit audience & topic. Extreme combinations may seem inconsistent — it’s better to stay coherent or vary only slightly.
Email [email protected] with:
Support typically replies within 1 business day.
Three layers:
Check: extra line breaks (count!), 2 cm margins, image brightness, title legibility, QR codes.
The book description is your shop window in the marketplace (max. 1,000 characters). It should spark curiosity without giving too much away. Tips:
Show who you are and why you wrote the book—personal, authentic, inviting. Example: “Born in Vienna, at home in stories. After years in marketing, I now share what I wish I’d read earlier.”
Aim for a voice that makes readers want more from you.
In the Text Editor, select your language (German, English, French, Spanish, Italian) to enable the matching spell/grammar check.
For final polishing, use the integrated WProofreader tool.
Credits are used for each generation/regeneration:
Credit packages (buy anytime):
Books are produced only when ordered.
Click “Review & Publish.” We check:
Next, you buy at least one author copy (from €18). Your book receives an ISBN, is listed in retail databases, and becomes orderable worldwide.
Small free re-generations are fair-use limited; paid generations are always available.
The Text Editor is your online writing studio on story.one. Write chapter by chapter with live preview, automatic formatting, and page counter. Each chapter can have up to three pages of text.
It’s simple—on laptop or smartphone.
With final checks and layout, you can be print-ready the same day.
In DACH, expect ~10–14 days total; longer worldwide.
As long as you keep the project. If you delete a project, all data is permanently removed.
There is no hard minimum — books can also be created from limited material. The more of your own content is available, the more the result is based on your input (instead of additions).
Upper limit: approx. 250–300k characters per project, 1 GB per file.
Royalties on trade sales (not author copies):
Print-on-demand, local print partners, and efficient logistics reduce overproduction, transport, and CO₂.
Books are printed where they’re ordered—fast, resource-friendly, no warehousing.
Keep the 300 milestone in mind: it can be a springboard to Thalia shelves and PR opportunities for you.
At story.one you have two ways to create a book:
Both paths lead to the same result: a printed book with ISBN, cover, and worldwide distribution.
Three clear options:
These settings control how much external information enters—transparent and similar to a human research/editorial workflow.
After text creation (DIY or Story Editor), you finalize your book with cover, dedication, title, description, and up to 18 color pages. Each chapter has one extra page for an image/quote/QR/short text.
Later changes are possible via “Reorder with refresh” (€25)—except cover image and chapter order.
Proven (human & IP-clean) paths:
The editor analyzes, structures, and writes—just like a human ghostwriter would with your materials.
Books from manuscripts, keynotes, podcasts, interviews, reports, corporate/brand stories, and more. The editor analyzes your material, structures it into chapters, and writes in your chosen style and tone.
Tip: Mark files as fundamental (central) or supplementary (additional).
Credits are required to work with the Story Editor. A typical project:
“Human-centric” means people come first—not AI. The Story Editor helps you turn your ideas, content, and experiences into a book 300x faster, while your voice and perspective remain intact.
That’s why we deliberately don’t speak of “AI books,” but of books by people that become easier, faster, and more accessible thanks to modern technology
You stay at the center: your content, your perspective, your decisions. The Story Editor accelerates the path to a fact-based non-fiction book, but rights, voice, and control remain with you.
No “AI books”—books by people, supported by technology.
Using story.one is free. Costs occur only for:
Each chapter has 3 text pages + 1 extra page for image, quote, QR code, playlist link, graphic, or short text—or keep it blank.
Up to 18 color pages are included at no extra cost. Ensure rights/permissions for quotes/QRs/people photos.
Once your book sells 300 copies in retail (not author copies), story.one notifies Thalia. Your book can then be featured in up to six Thalia flagship stores (e.g., Vienna, Hamburg, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Leipzig, Berlin).
A major boost for visibility, PR, and readings.
Either trim manually (check layout) or regenerate the chapter (20 credits) with a note on what to tighten. Watch blank lines/line breaks—they count toward length.
Enable enrichment or use deep research; then fact-check. Alternatively, upload more assets, reduce the number of chapters, or choose a more narrative style.
Curate up front: mark relevant items as fundamental, others as supplementary; remove duplicates. For very large sets, condense core statements or split into multiple projects.
Other links aren’t auto-supported at the moment.
It works like a researcher: from your assets + briefing, it collects public, thematically relevant information (incl. timely aspects where useful) and integrates it contextually. Ideal when content is scarce or you want more depth. Effort: ~45–50 min, 200 credits (book proposal incl. research 400 credits).
It’s your instruction to the editor: goal, audience, must-have topics, deeper dives, tone/tonality, watch-outs (do’s/don’ts), optional personal anecdotes. Plain language is enough—no prompt tricks required. Precision yields targeted results; freedom yields creative proposals. It mirrors a human editorial/ghostwriting process—just faster.
MeinBuch@Thalia lets you display your book for at least one month in a Thalia store.
You’re not buying shelf space—you qualify through engagement (great for readings, local reach, social media)
Free micro-regenerations (e.g., titles, bio) are limited because they consume compute. If you hit the cap, the free service pauses briefly for one hour.
Paid generations (e.g., chapters or book proposal) are always available.
The Story Editor turns your non-fiction content (text, audio, video, slides, links) into a complete book—from book proposal to chapters to press-ready output. Goal: publish knowledge and experience quickly, precisely, and in the right tone for your audience, while you stay in control (briefing, re-generations, manual edits).
Any left-to-right language works. Multilingual books are possible. Set the correct language in the editor to activate matching spell-check (German, English, French, Spanish, Italian).
story.one is the first end-to-end platform that turns your existing content into a professional non-fiction book in just a few hours. Whether it’s a podcast, interview, manuscript, talk, or notes—the Story Editor creates a structured book with ISBN, cover, printing, and worldwide distribution.
What’s unique is our blend of human-centric publishing (you remain the author; AI is just a tool) and a unified, high-quality book format that works consistently everywhere.
story.one currently provides print-on-demand only. You keep all rights and can publish e-books or audiobooks elsewhere anytime.
If you write about real people or use photos of people, get consent first. For interviews or quotes, ensure you have the necessary rights—otherwise anonymize or pseudonymize.
There are predefined non-fiction styles (e.g. factual-analytical, advisory, narrative, business-like, scientific, modern). Each style has a default balance between information and storytelling — adjustable for your project. Examples/characterizations can be found directly in the briefing dialog.
You can publish any non-fiction that moves, inspires, or informs people. Typical examples:
Note: If you use the DIY Text Editor, you can also use the format for fiction (e.g., short stories or poetry slams).
All story.one books use a unified, high-quality format:
The format is designed so books can be read in about an hour, but leave a lasting impact. Through standardization, production, distribution, and readability are consistent worldwide — no matter where your book is ordered.
We want everyone to have a voice—and to make knowledge, experience, and ideas quickly accessible as real books.
Human-centric publishing: people remain the authors; AI is the tool that brings structure, speed, and quality.
The fixed format (~12.7 × 20.3 cm, hardcover) gives clarity:
It keeps design, production, and global distribution consistent—and readers know what to expect.
You receive royalties starting from the 11th trade sale. Payouts are semi-annual (cut-offs June 30 and Dec 31). About three weeks later, your balance appears in your author profile, and you can request payment (IBAN).
Usually within 1–3 days it’s visible in major online shops (e.g., Thalia, Amazon, Hugendubel). Bookstores can order it too. Each order triggers print-on-demand—no stock, no waiting.
Your book can be ordered from 6,000+ online shops—incl. Thalia, Amazon, Osiander, Hugendubel, and international retailers.
It’s also orderable in physical bookstores: once customers ask, booksellers can order it directly.
story.one is fully web-based and works on all common devices—PC, laptop, tablet, smartphone. Writing, cover design, and publishing are mobile-ready.
We work with strong partners, including:
We’re continually expanding partnerships in culture, education, science, and media.
story.one is for anyone who wants to turn thoughts, experiences, or expertise into a book—without a publisher, without hurdles, and without long wait times. Typical users:
In short: anyone can make a book—even with no prior writing experience.
For everyone who wants to publish compact, well-founded, and timely non-fiction books: coaches, entrepreneurs, scientists, teams—as well as anyone who wants to efficiently turn existing content into book form.
You do. story.one only receives a simple license to publish and distribute your book. You can reuse your content anytime—e.g., as an e-book or audiobook elsewhere.
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