Nothing is going as it should. Green keeps drawing cards, even when it’s not his turn; Red is trying to bite the head off one of Yellow’s pawns; Blue’s fingers are so big that he keeps knocking over his own pawns; and Yellow has drawn his saber. @emilyrinkema.bsky.social @trampset.bsky.social

Emily Rinkema@emilyrinkema.bsky.social · 5d ago

I have a story in @trampset.bsky.social (I have been wanting to type that for so long)! Thanks to my potatoes for all the feedback. Hope you enjoy “The Night the Mongols Arrive to Sack the City” www.trampset.org/post/the-nig...

I listed a half dozen things he might choose: money, politics, cold plunging, the way he looked at Kyle’s teacher during conferences last week, why he won’t get a colonoscopy, his salmon-colored shorts. And the hits keep coming... @emilyrinkema.bsky.social in Hawkeye

Emily Rinkema@emilyrinkema.bsky.social · 2w ago

Hi all--been a long few days and I forgot to post how excited I am to have a story at Hawkeye this week! Check out "Fight Night": hawkeyemag.com/stories/rink...

We dip, squeeze, wash, return. Calculate what we have shared and what we have kept to ourselves. In kissing scenes, never kiss. In food scenes, never eat. But the penetration was real, make no mistake about that. Direct and unflinching @nomad-sw18.bsky.social @thin-skin.bsky.social

Cole Beauchamp 🏳️‍🌈 📖@nomad-sw18.bsky.social · 5d ago

Excited to have a new story in @thin-skin.bsky.social "Where were your family then? Where were they when you needed rent, when he broke your heart, when he broke your ribs, when he took you back and kicked you out over and over, when we begged you to leave him?" thin-skin.com/flash-fictio...

“She always knew there was a mean girl inside of her.” Love the progression in this story by @dawnsteffler.bsky.social in @100wordstory.bsky.social 

Therapy - 100Words

Dawn Tasaka StefflerShe always knew there was a mean girl inside of her.

100wordstory.org

'She always knew there was a mean girl inside of her. But apparently, inside of her, there’s a girl who’s afraid to open her piehole.' Wonderful layering by @dawnsteffler.bsky.social @100wordstory.bsky.social #fiction #microfiction #writingcommunity 100wordstory.org/therapy/

Therapy - 100Words

Dawn Tasaka StefflerShe always knew there was a mean girl inside of her.

100wordstory.org

Thrilled to have a story up in one of my big white whales, @100wordstory.bsky.social ! Thank you Michelle Ross ! Huge thank you also to @rgvaughan.bsky.social for letting me into @neonpajamas.bsky.social 's humor workshop a day after it started, where this story began. I’m such a fan of Ben!

Therapy - 100Words

Dawn Tasaka StefflerShe always knew there was a mean girl inside of her.

100wordstory.org

Matt Kendrick is the winner of The Villager Challenge 2026 for his inspiring commitment to the flash community. The prize ($200) will be passed along to two more people. Matt has already chosen two people to receive a free place in one of his workshops. smokelong-quarterly.mn.co/posts/105247...

I love this so much. Read it out loud. Trust me.

hex@hexliterary.bsky.social · last wk.

"Ook tired of roots and sprouts! Ook want meat!" hex love Ook! You love Ook too? Read @spencerorey.bsky.social's delightful & tender “Caveman Days of Exile and Meat,” new on hex today!

I heard @ajwoodhouse.bsky.social read this in tribute to John Brantingham at the Flash Fiction Festival. I looked for it but couldn't find it. Fortunately, the day we left, I finally met Alison (so lovely) and she told me where it was. And, in case you need some magic today, here it is. (1st piece)

Even if you skip my rambling about reading palate/writer's voice in the beginning DO READ the three writers I share whose work knocked me out this week, and why... with links to their work: @glennorgias.bsky.social @emilyrinkema.bsky.social @claudiamonpere.bsky.social RT follow subscribe

The ghosts are more vulnerable than usual… 💔💔💔 @sfreligh.bsky.social @welkinpress.bsky.social

The Welkin Press@welkinpress.bsky.social · 2w ago

Shortlisted in the Firefly Prize, "After the End Was the Beginning" by @sfreligh.bsky.social www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...

Oh I am DELIGHTED to finally set eyes on the story that belongs to this title! I do think this is my favorite title from the LL, and I had *lots* of favorites this time around… @sagreene1.bsky.social @welkinpress.bsky.social

The Welkin Press@welkinpress.bsky.social · 2w ago

Shortlisted in the Joy Prize, "Whenever My Husband Reaches a Sexual Climax, he Shouts ‘Annabel!’" by @sagreene1.bsky.social www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...

Micro perfection ❤️ @alisonwassell.bsky.social @welkinpress.bsky.social

The Welkin Press@welkinpress.bsky.social · 2w ago

Shortlisted in the History Prize, "Having Received His Call-Up Papers, Arthur Jenkins Invites You To The Cinema" by @alisonwassell.bsky.social www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-stori...

Thank you Katie, Jill and the entire BT crew. I’m pinching myself. It’s an absolute honor to be featured again in July. ❤️🐓

River Teeth@riverteeth.bsky.social · 2w ago

✨Every year, during the month of July, we revisit some of our favorite Beautiful Things essays. Today we come back to “Dottie & Coco & Me.” Read the rest: riverteethjournal.com/beautiful-th... ✨Submissions to Beautiful Things will open again September 1. #MicroEssay #OnlineLitMag #Submit

Ok Sumitra and Emily, over to you

Karaoke at the amazing Bath Flash Fiction Festival with @smokelong.bsky.social friends @kathrynsilverhajo.bsky.social, me, @kathyfish.bsky.social, @sarahillswrites.bsky.social, @dawnsteffler.bsky.social, and @nomad-sw18.bsky.social

Every time I read this piece, I love it more. Beautiful, Dawn! @dawnsteffler.bsky.social @riverteeth.bsky.social

River Teeth@riverteeth.bsky.social · 2w ago

✨Every year, during the month of July, we revisit some of our favorite Beautiful Things essays. Today we come back to “Dottie & Coco & Me.” Read the rest: riverteethjournal.com/beautiful-th... ✨Submissions to Beautiful Things will open again September 1. #MicroEssay #OnlineLitMag #Submit

What's a word for the delight you feel when you open your inbox and see a publication by an author you admire? @dawnsteffler.bsky.social in @riverteeth.bsky.social Beautiful Things this morning. Wonderful micro essay. #flash #flashnonfiction #cnf #writingcommunity

What am I doing with my life?

I love this photo so much.

Claudia Monpere@claudiamonpere.bsky.social · 2w ago

Karaoke at the amazing Bath Flash Fiction Festival with @smokelong.bsky.social friends @kathrynsilverhajo.bsky.social, me, @kathyfish.bsky.social, @sarahillswrites.bsky.social, @dawnsteffler.bsky.social, and @nomad-sw18.bsky.social

Flash Fiction Festival haul! And when the t-shirt comes out, just saying, I want one. @sarahillswrites.bsky.social @fionamckay.bsky.social

Yesterday was "changeover day." I lost @gilloshaughnessy.bsky.social & @electrarhodes.bsky.social but I gained @claudiamonpere.bsky.social @dawnsteffler.bsky.social & @kathrynsilverhajo.bsky.social There may have been train station music and dancing 😀

Finally in England! Amazing 2 days at a country cottage with dear friends @mattkendrick.bsky.social, @dawnsteffler.bsky.social, & @kathrynsilverhajo.bsky.social. Matt, thank you so much for an incredible time: meadows, sheep, cows, charming cottage, ginger nuts, word games, walks, friendship.

Great evening listening to @kazbarwrites.bsky.social & @gilloshaughnessy.bsky.social read from their respective #flashfiction collections - COLD TOAST from Dahlia Publishing and SALT CITY RUNAWAY from Night Parrot Press. And got to meet @claudiamonpere.bsky.social & @dawnsteffler.bsky.social IRL🤗

On the last leg of this UK trip and thinking fondly of the time we just spent with @mattkendrick.bsky.social in the English countryside. He and I talk frequently over zoom, but it's so special to share space all day, cooking, playing games, walking, and talking randomly about everything. TY Matt. ❤️

I don’t know understand why I can’t keep them, so I don’t stop asking. Eventually, while scrubbing dishes, she says, “Wild things are meant to be free, Jeannie.” She’s in one of those moods where she feels “harassed” by everyone and everything @chelseastickle.bsky.social @reckonreview.bsky.social

Chelsea Stickle@chelseastickle.bsky.social · 3w ago

Today I've got a new flash in @reckonreview.bsky.social about disappearing fireflies and family. Thank you to the editors for publishing it. This story saw many drafts over the years, but I'm glad this is the one out there. reckonreview.com/life-cycle-o...

The counselor told us that another boy had flung his half-eaten Jello at Avery in the lunchroom and called her weird. Apparently, Avery quoted Sagan at him: “If a human disagrees with you, let him live. Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious.” So good @thewritelifeliz.bsky.social

Liz Rosen@thewritelifeliz.bsky.social · 3w ago

I'm becoming a sentimental fool in my old age. This favorite of mine has been given a home by The Los Angeles Review and I'm so grateful. losangelesreview.org/the-aggregat... #carlsagan #wonderstories #shortfiction

"at the bottom of an ancient chest, I find a pair of yellowish dentures. Blocky and inelegant, yet the front teeth align precisely; they’re definitely capable of biting something in half." 3 amazing stories @dawnsteffler.bsky.social newworldwriting.net/dawn-tasaka-...

Dawn Tasaka Steffler ~ Three Stories - New World Writing Quarterly

I’m a decorative throw pillow, I’m a pair of memory foam house slippers After Eric Scot Tryon I work the afternoon shift at the TJ Maxx Homegoods. I eat yogurt

newworldwriting.net

The Shortlist for July 10, 2026: With authors from Liz Rosen's launch event: Sumitra Singam @pleomorphic2.bsky.social Jaime Gill @jaimegill.bsky.social Travis Flatt @travisflatt.bsky.social Ani King @aniking.bsky.social Dawn Tasaka Steffler @dawnsteffler.bsky.social (...cont'd)

The Shortlist for July 9, 2026 - Turn and Work

Recent fiction from Turn & Work, plus authors from Liz Rosen's chapbook launch

turnandwork.com

Day 191! I read Lost but Found by @dawnsteffler.bsky.social published in @newworldwriting.bsky.social. Sometimes when we are most lost is when lost things find us. Read my review here: mickstaniforth.wordpress.com/2026/07/10/s...

S/D/Y Jul 10 – Lost but Found by Dawn Tasaka Steffler – New World Writing Quarterly

A tale about the fallout of war on the most vulnerable of people. And also a story about what it is we hold dearest about our loved ones, and how that moves with us even after they’re gone. T…

mickstaniforth.wordpress.com