are there offsite events at Printers Row? If so, where might one find a list of those events?

I rec'd the kindest note from a stranger who happened to read my story "The Boxing Match" in the latest issue of the North American Review. Print journals live on! I'm not sure for how long, but I'm glad to know they're still out there and people, other than me, still read them.

Keith Pilapil Lesmeister@keithlesmeister.bsky.social · 2mo ago

A new short story in North American Review. It's about a reunion of two acquaintances who haven't seen each other in decades. They meet up to settle a dispute. In the story, I was able to work in a lyric from a Bob Dylan tune: "Helpless as a rich man's child." Thanks to the editors at NAR!

here's the cover of my forthcoming collection (Nov 26)! The book features: working class characters, soft criminals, DIY aficionados, coupon cutters, garage sale hunters, cash-is-king philosophers, and anyone who might drive thirty miles to use a fifty-cent coupon. Preorder in link below.

"Short story writers are exactly what artists are supposed to be: Clear-eyed, realistic, fiercely independent, and at peace with their place at the margins of a culture that only occasionally, unpredictably, looks their way." -Jess Row

Lit Hub@literaryhub.bsky.social · 3w ago

Why short stories aren't going anywhere. buff.ly/hjxfyyh

I'm not in this issue, but I enjoy promoting lesser known lit journals, such as this fabulous new issue of Clackamas Lit Review. As fall submission season rolls around, consider a subscription to a lit journal -- an excellent way to show support in this age of slim budgets and AI bullshit.

positively smitten by these sunflowers. Only my second year growing them. They're great for soil regeneration and attract birds and pollinators. Planted near forty and they're going strong. Happy August. #sunflower

#tbt found this 2012-13 issue of @ninthletter.bsky.social that I purchased at a book fair at Mission Creek in Iowa City. To this day, Mary Miller remains one of my favorite short story writers, so it was a real treat to find this story in this issue when I first purchased it all those years ago.

A new short story in North American Review. It's about a reunion of two acquaintances who haven't seen each other in decades. They meet up to settle a dispute. In the story, I was able to work in a lyric from a Bob Dylan tune: "Helpless as a rich man's child." Thanks to the editors at NAR!

i purchased a copy of the Beloit Fiction Journal. A perfect summer read. #readshortstories

excellent opportunity.

Aaron Burch@aaronburch.bsky.social · 2mo ago

I could use 2 or 3 more volunteer submission readers. hmu if interested? ashortstorylong.substack.com

100% guarantee 💙💙💙 (though I may be biased) You can pre-order my book here: malarkeybooks.com/store/afterl...

After Last Call by Will Musgrove — Malarkey

April 2027 Preorders will be signed by the author. After Last Call is about those who linger long past closing time, who bum around the bar’s parking lot to trade stories about a time when t...

malarkeybooks.com

Malarkey@malarkeybooks.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Rereading this book as I make copy edits, want everyone to know that you’ll love it!

grateful that @aaronburch.bsky.social shared his "full blown kink" publicly while using my book (preorder) as an example. Love this, Aaron. Thank you!

Aaron Burch@aaronburch.bsky.social · 2mo ago

preordering short story collections is my love language, and when the author of said story collection is a big vocal supporter of other writers, it elevates it to full blown kink (I might have mixed up my analogies and maybe that makes more sense inversed, idk?)

very excited that my forthcoming story collection ASK ME ABOUT THE MONEY is now available for preorder. If interested, you can check out more info here: www3.uwsp.edu/english/corn...

I'm not sure if I've ever seen anything quite like what I just witnessed with Spurs-Knicks. And on so many levels. Kinda shocked, but not surprised, if that makes sense. Wow.

so cool to see @blairpub.bsky.social restart New Stories from the South. And so honored to have @lisawv.bsky.social's story from Cutleaf featured in the venerated anthology among so many other GREAT short story writers.

#tbt miss these guys. Midwest Gothic published my very first short story, in this issue, 14 years ago this spring. They also published my debut story collection 4 years later. I wouldn’t be who I am today w/o their support. MG had a great run and their impact on the lit world is still felt today.

In honor of short story month, I'd love to hear your recommendations for best/favorite short story you've read in the past few months. Please feel free to link to the story or journal or collection. #readshortstories

cool new issue of Cutleaf, guest edited by @kimmagowan.bsky.social and Michelle Ross. The stories were collaboratively written by @emilyrinkema.bsky.social and @dawnsteffler.bsky.social, Amanda Ellard and Madison Porter, and @dianelp.bsky.social and Ania Payne. Check it out here: cutleafjournal.com

a flash piece published today at JMWW. Thanks to the editors for giving this one a home. It's dedicated to anyone who spent an unusual amount of their childhood at garage sales.

JMWW Journal@jmwwjournal.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Creative Nonfiction: Garage Sale, 1992 by Keith Pilapil Lesmeister For what seems like the hundredth time, my grandmother makes a hard right turn onto C street because she sees the sign: Garage Sale. I’m in the backseat of her Dodge Aries, a two-door beater whose seats are lined with bingo markers.

It's not even noon and I'm already looking forward to the Twolves-Nugs game 5 matchup. Watching McDaniels work the Nugs into physical and psychological exhaustion has been nothing short of genius. We'll see how it goes w/o Ant and Donte...

Open.

If you enjoy reading and talking about short stories, this is the substack for you.

Andrew Porter@andrewporter01.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Just joined Substack. If you’re interested in following, I’ll be posting about short story collections at @andrewporterwriter!

Gobert played a helluva game, but overall the Twolves looked out of it, like they took themselves outta the game, esp in the 4th. Silly fouls, lapses on defense. They didn't have that drive to win. Anyway, regardless, the @nuggets.bsky.social & @mntimberwolves.bsky.social should be a GREAT series.

the frantic first quarter pace of the Heat-Hornets game is off the charts. This is why people don't watch the regular season #nba but will tune in for the playoffs. So far, it's a sloppy game, but high intensity and fun to watch.

People commenting on Raven Johnson going to the Fever don't understand how sports work. It's about winning on the court. The court is its own, immediate space, devoid of politics, history, or bad blood. There is only the here and now and winning. An example:

#wnba should demand more money. Their game is objectively better than the NBA game. The men's game is full of foul grifting, too many threes, zero team offense, among so many other issues, including the dunk. The dunk -- and the three-point line -- have ruined the NBA.

amish buggy edition of #hoopdreams.

ICYMI: this story, published on 1/1/26, takes place over Easter weekend. It's a highway romance marked by cheap motels, Old Style, and a three-song piano concert in the Old Market in Omaha. One song is by the inimitable @dawestheband.bsky.social.

Doric Literary@doricliterary.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Take a road trip for a wonderful start to 2026! "Des Moines" by @keithlesmeister.bsky.social doric-literary.com/2026/01/01/d...

A huge, huge thanks to @roxanegay.bsky.social and @therumpus.net for publishing my autoerotic-asphyxiation, porn-in-a-Little-Free-Library short story. (Seriously, I owe those people a lot of beer.) It's called "Hell Is the Absence of God's Love," & I hope you dig it. therumpus.net/2026/04/02/h...

Hell Is the Absence of God’s Love - The Rumpus

We watch the neighbors and the high schoolers as we sip cold gin at the window. There's the widow from the other side of the loop who chuckles while she takes an old Playgirl calendar and a paperback ...

therumpus.net

I'm stepping away from my editorial role at Cutleaf, for this year, but we have three excellent guest fiction editors: Monic Ductan, @arahko.bsky.social, and @karammck.bsky.social -- fiction cap is 500 and we're getting close to that mark. If you're thinking of sending work, now is the time...