WRITING EVENT(S)

Looking for a quick and easy writing event, open to all who want to write a short story? Most will be seasonal or based around a holiday or person. Here’s a running list of what’s available. Oh, and you you’re hosting a writing event like this and want us to list is here for you, hit me up in my DMs:

• Heatwave - The temperature is rising this Summer. How will you handle it? Any genre. 1,500 word count cap. Due by July 31st. But if you can’t stand the heat…

TiF PRESS PUBLICATIONS IN 2027

For anyone interested in getting their work published, there will be 3 opportunities for you to do so this year:

• A Deadly Game Event - Our Halloween themed event this year will be a bit different. We’re going to let the readers decide on the best story. [Opens 9/28. Closes 10/28.]

• “11” - A special event that I can’t tell you much about until late Summer.

• Secret Santa Plot Swap 2.0 - We’re back and as a bonus, all who take up the challenge and participate will be invited to be in the Volume II ebook. [Sign up begins the first week of November]

Top in Fiction is the place where fiction lives, but it’s also the place where a community of fiction writers and readers can come together every week to share in their mutual love (and respect) of fiction. Read the guidelines carefully:

• Only fiction shared between July 4 - July 10 on Substack!

• Any story shared OUTSIDE of the dates listed above will be removed.

• This form will CLOSE at 10pm EST on Sunday, July 12.

• Share fiction you’ve read AND/OR fiction you’ve written. (Self-promotion of your fiction is welcome!)

• If self-promoting, submit NO MORE THAN 2 stories! This is a strict rule that will be enforced.

• Story must be Free-to-Read (No portion of it can be behind a paywall).

• Story must be written in English.

• We DO NOT accept stories written by AI. If we discover, at any time, that AI was used, the story will be removed.

Comments are turned OFF for all TiF Notification emails.

Fill out the online form for consideration in our Weekly emails:

The NEW Submission Form

You will receive another email 1 hour before the submission form closes on Sunday.

If you’re reading this on the Substack website or Substack App and you’re not yet subscribed, please consider doing so. It turns out that nearly 45% of our unique visitors aren’t subscribed! Crazy, right! That could be you! Don’t just be a unique visitor. Be a unique subscriber!

POETRY

Our Final Pilgrimage by of The Threshold [Free Verse]
We make our final pilgrimage in a time of storms and churning sea, of weeping rock, of drowning rains, of lupine winds and hidden things. (First Line)

COMIC/CARTOON

Holiday with friends by of Margreet’s Comics [Comedy]
"Lets keep a bit of a low profile on our er, identities..." (First Line)

SHORT STORY

Version History by of Null Point [Literary Fiction]
I slipped the tablets into my satchel beside the notebook and walked home through the rain. (Any Line)

Back From The Brink by of Gravity of Darkness, and other writings [Climate Fiction]
Why is it that when you think you’ve finally got it made, the Great Spirit or whatever goes and throws a polar bear at you? (First Line)

I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor… by of Phillip’s Substack [Literary Fiction]
In the end the baby just didn't fancy being born in a hospital. (Any Line)

A Dream of Dragon Fire by of Hawk & Heron [Speculative Fiction]
At eight-stories up he straddled the edge of the map, balanced along the edge of the known world to peer at an overlay of fantasy and reality. (Any Line)

Breaking Free by of LBaal [Horror]
God never gave his opinion to the Vid-Priests. (First Line)

Wasted Time by of Spill Your Dreams [Speculative Fiction]
“I wish… I wish I could pause time.” (Any Line)

SHORT SERIAL

Story #629: the Have-Nauts [Pt. 1] by of The FRICTION SECTION: microFRICTION (free) and macroFRICTION [Science Fiction]
The International Space Station now sported elbows and wings and warts of nearly twenty nations, afloat a gravity wave that kept it falling forward on that thin line between smashing into or forever escaping its planet. (First Line)

SERIAL

The Celebration [Chapter 1] by of Chapter One Again [Speculative Fiction]
Mary’s expression softened, like she was about to tell a child their parents had died. (Any Line)

Hey ya’ll,

I’m looking upon this issue fondly as it’s the 2nd half of the year and right around the time when I set out to create Top in Fiction 3 years ago. It’s not been an easy road and so for this issue I’m going to do something I don’t normally do; ask for your financial support. How does your monthly contribution help Top in Fiction?

• Overhead costs such as hosting, keeping our URL, etc.

• We’d love to be able to pay for exclusive stories outright and a large portion of your support would go towards paying writers.

• Hiring digital artists to help us with our covers for anthologies, promotion of our events, and more!

As I said, asking you to upgrade from being a free subscriber other a monthly paid one isn’t something I ever thought I would do, so much like a pledge drive on PBS or your local radio station, I’m going to spend the next 4 weeks of July making an impassioned plea for your financial support.

In the meantime and as always, everything we do here on Top in Fiction is free to read. We do not put our weekly issues or monthly recaps behind a paywall nor do we ever intend to. And should we ever get enough paid subscribers to move forward with paying for exclusive fiction content, it would be put behind a paywall for paid subscribers first but then revert to being for everyone after a short period.

Upgrade to Paid

JOIN THE HEATWAVE

No matter where you are in the world, there’s a heatwave approaching. It’s reaching 100+ degrees and the time is now for letting your delirious mind guide you towards your best work. July 31st is the deadline that you don’t want to miss!

IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS

TiF Summit 2027 Sign-Up (June 15th to August 15th) - Would you like to join us and read your fiction on a Substack Live? You can rewatch many of those Voices here. The link to express interest and gain access to The (new and improved) Scheduler can be found here.

Right now I’m looking to fill 75 spots (a 50% increase). Don’t miss out!

SUBSCRIBER UPDATES

Consider becoming a MONTHLY subscriber and you’ll help us reach our goal of paying for exclusive short stories right here on Top in Fiction that you can read early before it is made available to everyone else.

Update to Paid

Paid Monthly Subscribers will get early access to the TiF Story Story of the Month, for a period of two weeks, after which time the story will then be made available to all subscribers. Writers will be paid from the monthly subscribers.

- , Editor-in-Chief 😈

If you enjoyed any of these stories, please consider sharing this post everywhere:

Share

TiF PRESS PUBLICATIONS IN 2027

For anyone interested in getting their work published, there will be 3 opportunities for you to do so this year:

• A Deadly Game Event - Our Halloween themed event this year will be a bit different. We’re going to let the readers decide on the best story. [Opens 9/28. Closes 10/28.]

• “11” - A special event that I can’t tell you much about until late Summer.

• Secret Santa Plot Swap 2.0 - We’re back and as a bonus, all who take up the challenge and participate will be invited to be in the Volume II ebook. [Sign up begins the first week of November]

Top in Fiction is the place where fiction lives, but it’s also the place where a community of fiction writers and readers can come together every week to share in their mutual love (and respect) of fiction. Read the guidelines carefully:

• Only fiction shared between June 27 - July 3 on Substack!

• Any story shared OUTSIDE of the dates listed above will be removed.

• This form will CLOSE at 10pm EST on Sunday, July 5.

• Share fiction you’ve read AND/OR fiction you’ve written. (Self-promotion of your fiction is welcome!)

• If self-promoting, submit NO MORE THAN 2 stories! This is a strict rule that will be enforced.

• Story must be Free-to-Read (No portion of it can be behind a paywall).

• Story must be written in English.

• We DO NOT accept stories written by AI. If we discover, at any time, that AI was used, the story will be removed.

Comments are turned OFF for all TiF Notification emails.

Fill out the online form for consideration in our Weekly emails:

The NEW Submission Form

You will receive another email 1 hour before the submission form closes on Sunday.

Anyhow, you know how much I love to share stats during the Annual Recap that I do in January and I won’t spoil that but I want to at least highlight some pretty note-worthy things that have happened in the span of these last 3 years: (in no particular order)

• Top in Fiction the URL - The moment I feel Top in Fiction went from being an idea born out of frustration and became a real deal thing that I would be managing for as long as I can, was when the community helped me purchase the dot com URL. It might not seem like that big of a deal to anyone but me, but Top in Fiction wasn’t around for that long yet, so for strangers to have taken a chance the way they did. I’ll never forget it.

• TiF Press - The point of Top in Fiction has always been to highlight great writers and the work they do sharing their stories on their respective Substacks (aka newsletters). But for many of us, the fun doesn’t stop there! Many writers want to be published. See their work. Hold it in their hands. There’s no greater feeling (besides writing “The End” on a story) than getting published. But not everyone has the bandwidth, finances, or skillset to do it all. That is where TiF Press steps in. The purpose is to publish at least two anthologies a year that will feature new writers who all come directly from Substack.

• Eye See You - The very first published book under TiF Press. I could not be more proud of this little collection. From the judges, & , to the cover artist, . And all the participants who took a chance entering their story into the contest/event and went even further to let me publish their words. I look forward to the next anthology that is coming this Fall!

• The TiF Library - This was definitely a labor of love. And next to serials it’s what I’ve spent most of my free time on trying to figure out. In the early days it was just a mess of spreadsheets I kept to myself that housed hundreds of stories that were recommended since the beginning. But I knew it was a library that required more eyes on it than me. I had other put it to good use! But how? I tried Notion for a time and while it didn’t look as messy as a Google Sheet it was nowhere near what I envisioned in my mind. I knew something had to be done and so I rolled up my sleeves and got to work coding a site that I am proud of and I hope those who visit it regularly will make damn good use of. It’s nearly perfect to exactly what I was hoping for. It still requires some tweaking here and there but for the most part the bones are there, the stories number in the thousands, and it’s ready for you. If you haven’t checked it out, please do. Share it within your friends, followers, and subscribers everywhere and bookmark it because it updates in realtime every weekend with new stories.

We have a lot of things in the works the second half of this year but for now, let’s enjoy what was created and if you’re in a warm climate (like I am) stay cool! Or if you are looking for a story to write, check out our Heatwave event happening now and if you’re a reader, get ready to read stories that will make you break a sweat on Friday, July 31st!

Happy reading!

Leave a comment

POETRY

Cottonwood by of Potatoes and Poets [Literary Fiction]

MICRO/FLASH FICTION

Love At First Cassette by of Nick After Normal [Comedy]

The Fox and the Spider by [Fantasy]

A Taste of Avocados by of Robert Garron’s Substack [Science Fiction]

SHORT STORY

The Mourning Thing by [Horror]

My Favorite Double Agent by of The Joke’s On You [Comedy]

Doreen by Chip Kussmaul - [Literary Fiction]

Zombieland: Who Loves Ya, Baby? by of Autumn Lives Here [Horror]

SHORT SERIAL

A Bitter Adieu [The Safest Form of Transport, Pt. 1] by of Hinterland Esoterica [Horror]

If you’re reading this on the Substack website or Substack App and you’re not yet subscribed, please consider doing so. It turns out that nearly 45% of our unique visitors aren’t subscribed! Crazy, right! That could be you! Don’t just be a unique visitor. Be a unique subscriber!

POETRY

Cottonwood by of Of Potatoes and Poets [Literary Fiction]
When the moon beams high (First Line)

MICRO/FLASH FICTION

The Happy News by of LEAVES [Literary Fiction]
"To hell with him, she thinks … who needs him anyway?" (Any Line)

Mobius Me by of Gregory Blair - Scribbling Entertainment [Horror]
I slipped in the mushy, muddy muck of the forest floor and scrambled to keep myself upright and moving forward. (Any Line)

SHORT STORY

Slipping by of Snark Floats [Speculative Fiction]
The stranger sitting at Rosie’s counter looked like he’d wandered in from the wrong century. (First Line)

Only Death by of The Sudden Walk [Speculative Fiction]
Many men go down to the cross roads, none leave with what they wanted. (Any Line)

The Crypts of Lieberkühn by of The Vermilion Border [Speculative Fiction]
"When you turn on the Nature channel and see a lion eat a gazelle, you don’t call it a psychopath, do you?" (Any Line)

SHORT SERIAL

The Ashnavian Recipes of War [Part 3 Enemy Cloaked] by and of The Ashnavian Recipes of War [Science Fiction]
The King had pressed his hand to her cheek and told her that her gift was a powerful and untapped resource. (Any Line)

SERIAL

Off to College [Daedalia, Ch. 25] by of Catch & Release [Literary Fiction]
I ate lunch on the campus of the University of Virginia today. (Any Line)

Eisenmauer [Ashes of an Empire, Ch. 2] by of Ashes of an Empire Official [Fantasy]
“Now,” he drew his dagger. (Any Line)

Ink [Ch. 1] by of In Between the Lines [Speculative Fiction]
Los Angeles. (First Line)

Hey ya’ll,

There has been a lot going on just in the past week. In many ways I feel like Substack with all my updates/features I’ve just been pushing out! If you haven’t checked it out yet, The TiF Library now has its own dedicated website. It’s been a long time coming. I strongly felt that using Google Forms and Notion was simply not viable or clean and what was needed to make the whole process simple and clean and professional for the future was a centralized location.

But before you head on over to our new site (and share it with your own subscriber list in your next newsletter) I want to tell you what’s new and improved as of today:

• ISSUES Page - I’m Beta Testing a “Like” feature exclusive to this page. What this will be is an opportunity for readers who have come to use and rely on Top in Fiction to let me know how I’m doing with the selections being made every week by clicking the Heart Icon whenever you read a story that you like. I realize this might be counter-productive as the writers of the stories you like would also appreciate receiving a Like on their own story on their page. Hence why it’s very much in Beta and might go away if my idea doesn’t pan out. What will happen over time is that the default view for visitors will be the stories with the most “Likes” at the top but also any visitor can choose their own “Sort” view that has been added. So, visitors can just see Featured Stories or Most Liked. I would love to be able to pull in the Likes that a story already receives from their own story on their own Substack, but in order to build and sustain something like that I would need a few permissions, not to mention money.

• NEW Annual Recap Page - This is totally brand new to the site! It is a listing of what Featured writers from 2024 and 2025 felt were the best of the best of their work that they’ve written during those respective years! These should require very little to get you to read their story, beside searching for Category (Short Story, Serial, Poetry, etc.) or Genre (Mystery, Comedy, Speculative Fiction, etc.). Whatever you choose should not be behind any paywall nor should the link be broken. Should you come across an issue, please let me know ASAP so I can try to fix it or remove the story. In the interest of fairness and providing smooth reading I strive not to include anything behind a paywall. And for any writers who are listed here, please do check your name as it is the one and only place where clicking it will take you to your Substack Profile. If it’s not right, let me know ASAP and I’ll fix it.

• Submissions Page - Only one fix was made here to make sure the Week dropdown adhered to our wonky demands of Saturday to Friday dates. And for those wondering why this page doesn’t include stories that were submitted in 2024 and the first 2 months of 2025, that’s because submissions were done via the Comments section of the posts calling for submissions using a Template. If you were around during the early days you’ll remember that process. And I think it was who suggested we even use a Template which was a game changer! It meant that I could pull the information into a spreadsheet, which I did. But there were a lot of inconsistencies and link issues and believe me when I say, before I feel comfortable pulling in anything I still need to go over it all with a fine-toothed comb. I do hope to do so soon.

• Submit a Story Page - This is a FUTURE update (meaning it’s coming NEXT weekend when the form opens again on Friday, July 3rd). I’m really excited to announce that we are adding TWO NEW GENRE’S: Thriller and Cozy! I know, they could not be more different from each other but I feel they are strong contenders to be added. With Thriller I hope it will give the writers of Mystery and Horror a new home who have been forced into one or the other. And Cozy is not being pinned down to any specific genre but being separated out for one simple rule that any “cozy” read follows: It doesn’t contain any extremes. What does that mean? Well, a Cozy Mystery can have a murder but the description won’t be graphic. A Cozy Romance can have love of any kind but won’t have any sex scenes, light kissing, think “Hallmark Movie” vibes. Or how about a Cozy Fantasy? It takes place in a fantastical place with swords and sorcery, but the reader can expect less blood and guts and violence. Doesn’t have to be exclusive to Young Adult either. I think you get the point? The one caveat with selecting Cozy is that the pressure is on you to let potential readers know which genre of Cozy your story is! One suggestion I have is to take better care to share your genre either in an intro at the beginning of your work or in the Sub-Title.

VISIT THE TIF LIBRARY NOW

As of June 23rd the Heatwave has officially started! I’m sure many of us are contending with the extremely high temperatures the best way we can. But now it’s time to put your storytelling skills to the test! Write your best heatwave story!

IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS

TiF Summit 2027 Sign-Up (June 15th to August 15th) - Would you like to join us and read your fiction on a Substack Live? You can rewatch many of those Voices here. The link to express interest and gain access to The (new and improved) Scheduler can be found here.

Right now I’m looking to fill 75 spots (a 50% increase). Don’t miss out!

SUBSCRIBER UPDATES

Consider becoming a MONTHLY subscriber and you’ll help us reach our goal of paying for exclusive short stories right here on Top in Fiction that you can read early before it is made available to everyone else.

Update to Paid

Paid Monthly Subscribers will get early access to the TiF Story Story of the Month, for a period of two weeks, after which time the story will then be made available to all subscribers. Writers will be paid from the monthly subscribers.

- , Editor-in-Chief 😈

If you enjoyed any of these stories, please consider sharing this post everywhere:

Share

Top in Fiction is the place where fiction lives, but it’s also the place where a community of fiction writers and readers can come together every week to share in their mutual love (and respect) of fiction. Read the guidelines carefully:

• Only fiction shared between June 20 - June 26 on Substack!

• Any story shared BEFORE the dates listed above will be removed.

• This form will CLOSE in 1 hour from NOW.

• Share fiction you’ve read AND/OR fiction you’ve written. (Self-promotion of your fiction is welcome!)

• If self-promoting, submit NO MORE THAN 2 stories! This is a strict rule that will be enforced.

• Story must be Free-to-Read (No portion of it can be behind a paywall).

• Story must be written in English.

• We DO NOT accept stories written by AI. If we discover, at any time, that AI was used, the story will be removed.

Fill out this form for consideration in our Weekly emails:

Submit a Story

This is your final warning.

TIF NEWS FOR WRITERS

THE TiF LIBRARY is finally open! I realize saying this might mean very little since you probably didn’t know I was working on a dedicated website in this way. But for a while I’ve hated using Google Forms (as I know many out there who write fiction also hated and is one of the main reasons why submissions have decreased) and I’ve despised relying on the messy looking Notion. Now, I could’ve spent time in Notion and tried to make it look pretty, but I only had the tools available to me and I never felt like it was the right fit for our needs.

So, I rolled up my sleeves and built something from the ground up and is automated and fulfills the need of the weekly (and monthly) issues and submissions for readers to search through and find thousands of stories to choose from. And also the need for a proper form, that isn’t Google, for writers to submit their fictions on a regular basis.

The NEW TiF Library

However, like the Google Form, the questions remain the same as does the time you have to submit your story (every Friday at 7am EST to Sunday at 10pm EST) and the 7-days that the “Submit Your Story” page is capturing. If all works according to plan, the dates and access to the form will update automatically. Not only that, you won’t be able to make any date mistakes as have happened in the past.

I still have complete control over what stories get Featured and the weekly issues as well as monthly recap issues will continue to be sent as emails to our 2k+ subscriber base. I realize the emails are the most important part of the Top in Fiction community but so is the writer experience.

With that said, The TiF Library only serves a purpose if visitors use it. So, if you wouldn’t mind sharing its existence with your subscribers as often as you can? Whether that be directly in your emails or on Substack Notes or even out “in the wild” like on Blue Sky or Threads or wherever else you frequent. Let the people out there know that we’ve got an abundant library of up-and-coming (or already arrived?) fiction writers for them to choose from and we will gladly take up the challenge to fill their extra time with amazing storytelling.

Below you’ll find “The NEW Submission Form” button that will take you directly to the new form. As I said before, the questions are the same as you’ve always had to answer. Just not a Google Form anymore. This form will automatically update with the dates for when your story should have been written. If you see a RED dot beside Submit a Story that means the form is CLOSED. When the dot is GREEN then you can submit a story. Once you do so, if you give the system a minute (or two) to update, you should see your submission appear on the Submissions page as it is set to update in real time.

Lastly, I still have complete control over everything, even the automated parts. If a story needs to be taken down then I will take it down. And wherever/whenever possible I will make necessary updates to submissions as well, if only to make the user experience as simple as possible.

TiF PRESS PUBLICATIONS IN 2027

For anyone interested in getting their work published, there will be 3 opportunities for you to do so this year:

• A Deadly Game Event - Our Halloween themed event this year will be a bit different. We’re going to let the readers decide on the best story. [Opens 9/28. Closes 10/28.]

• “11” - A special event that I can’t tell you much about until late Summer.

• Secret Santa Plot Swap 2.0 - We’re back and as a bonus, all who take up the challenge and participate will be invited to be in the Volume II ebook. [Sign up begins the first week of November]

Top in Fiction is the place where fiction lives, but it’s also the place where a community of fiction writers and readers can come together every week to share in their mutual love (and respect) of fiction. Read the guidelines carefully:

• Only fiction shared between June 13 - June 19 on Substack!

• Any story shared OUTSIDE of the dates listed above will be removed.

• This form will CLOSE at 10pm EST on Sunday, June 21.

• Share fiction you’ve read AND/OR fiction you’ve written. (Self-promotion of your fiction is welcome!)

• If self-promoting, submit NO MORE THAN 2 stories! This is a strict rule that will be enforced.

• Story must be Free-to-Read (No portion of it can be behind a paywall).

• Story must be written in English.

• We DO NOT accept stories written by AI. If we discover, at any time, that AI was used, the story will be removed.

Comments are turned OFF for all TiF Notification emails.

Fill out the online form for consideration in our Weekly emails:

The NEW Submission Form

You will receive another email 1 hour before the submission form closes on Sunday.

Now that I’ve managed to cool down I wanted to prepare a more dedicated post, especially for those who may not read what I write at the bottom of the Weekly Issues.

Top in Fiction is hosting a small writing event. A short-short story event. Because, let’s face it, it’s too darn hot!

[INSERT MUSICAL NUMBER HERE]

Setting the great Ann Miller’s talents aside for a moment. Heat can bring about a great many things in a writer’s imagination:

• Anger

• Desire

• Obsession

• Madness

• Transformation

• Secrets bubbling to the surface

• Relationships rekindled

And in this case set your imagination free and let it run wild! But, beware of the carefully thought-out parameters with which you must operate. Cleverly disguised as guidelines you must follow or BURN in the Summer heat!

• Write a short-short story up to 1,500 words

• Any genre is accepted.

• If it should have a TW (Trigger Warning) attached to it, be sure to include that first, before the story begins.

• Schedule your story to be shared with your subscribers on Friday, July 31st at 10am EST.

Keep an ear to the ground because I’ll be back with another post like this to collect your Story URL so a massive Top in Fiction email can go out on July 31st and you’ll want to make sure your story gets on the list! Look for that email on Wednesday, July 29th.

Are you joining this HEATWAVE? Make your intentions known by commenting on this post.

Leave a comment

If you’re reading this on the Substack website or Substack App and you’re not yet subscribed, please consider doing so. It turns out that nearly 45% of our unique visitors aren’t subscribed! Crazy, right! That could be you! Don’t just be a unique visitor. Be a unique subscriber!

POETRY

Dinner Party by of In A Different Place [Free Verse]
We were drenched in the white wine and the lurch to the left (Any Line)

Digging by of The Threshold [Free Verse]
Below there is a head, and in that head a mind, and in that mind is contained all things that was and were and had once been. (Any Line)

Don't Be Me by of Pieces of Silence [Literary Fiction]
He didn’t say anything. (First Line)

MICRO/FLASH FICTION

Lucy's Regal Blue Dress by of West Virginia Fur and Root [Literary Fiction]
The gleaming dress would celebrate her betrothal or mark the end of a relationship stealing her youth. (Any Line)

Mile Marker Zero by of Son of Ugly [Mystery]
Jeff left South Beach just after morning rush. (First Line)

Leaves by of LEAVES [Literary Fiction]
"She can see the entire landscape of her troubled childhood." (Any Line)

SHORT STORY

The Mourning Thing by of E.B-Lacey | Australian Author [Horror]
"You know babe, contrary to popular belief, merely staring at a problem doesn’t solve it." (Any Line)

It Wouldn't Take Much by of From the Interstices [Literary Fiction]
The cockatoo does not survive this story. (First Line)

SERIAL

The Crick [Ripples in the Cove: A Judith Temple Mystery, Ep. I] by of Naptime Novelist [Mystery]
She couldn’t say that she minded watching Tim capably handle machinery while wearing a swimsuit, even if the view was obstructed by a life jacket. (Any Line)

Ascendancy, Book I by of Lesley Sue [Mystery]
You killed your father, you killed him and you know why. (Any Line)

Hey ya’ll,

Summer is officially here and I don’t know about you but I’m feeling this urge to write something hot and sticky! Who’s with me?

I bring to you a very Summer-themed 🥁🥁🥁

IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS

TiF Summit 2027 Sign-Up (June 15th to August 15th) - Would you like to join us and read your fiction on a Substack Live? You can rewatch many of those Voices here. The link to express interest and gain access to The (new and improved) Scheduler can be found here.

Right now I’m looking to fill 75 spots (a 50% increase). Don’t miss out!

SUBSCRIBER UPDATES

Consider becoming a MONTHLY subscriber and you’ll help us reach our goal of paying for exclusive short stories right here on Top in Fiction that you can read early before it is made available to everyone else.

Update to Paid

Paid Monthly Subscribers will get early access to the TiF Story Story of the Month, for a period of two weeks, after which time the story will then be made available to all subscribers. Writers will be paid from the monthly subscribers.

- , Editor-in-Chief 😈

If you enjoyed any of these stories, please consider sharing this post everywhere:

Share

If you’re reading this on the Substack website or Substack App and you’re not yet subscribed, please consider doing so. It turns out that nearly 45% of our unique visitors aren’t subscribed! Crazy, right! That could be you! Don’t just be a unique visitor. Be a unique subscriber!

POETRY

When Will Cascadia Speak? by of Of Potatoes and Poets [Free Verse]
Consistently, over each year, after each small tremble, a single thought lines my fears: Is it finally happening? (First Line)

MICRO/FLASH FICTION

HOMESTEAD by of Whitfield Fahrenheit [Speculative Fiction]
His calloused hands feel the texture of the soil through the spade’s wooden handle. (Any Line)

The Fox and the Spider by of Iridescent Ink [Fantasy]
The fox glanced back to make sure the strange spider-monstrosity was still following them. (Any Line)

Chance by of The Second Sentence [Historical Fiction]
We faced each other by the railroad tracks outside town, each with a knapsack on his shoulder and each as stubborn as the other. (First Line)

SHORT STORY

A Dove Looks for Food in the World We Left Behind by of J.’s Substack [Speculative Fiction]
Flying fast, and flying low, a dove dressed in her brilliant white would dive and flutter, eyes touching everything they could, for any food at all. (First Line)

The Confession by of They Don't All Have To Be Good [Horror]
Pain was always so important to understanding Beethoven. (Any Line)

Game Street by of Anastasiia Shafran Writing [Speculative Fiction]
“Two bandits and a priest walk into Game Street,” Ryot said as he pushed the metal door open and held it for his two associates. (First Line)

Curated Lives by of Rini Sinha [Literary Fiction]
Usually, memories of weekend chance meetings faded by Wednesday. (Any Line)

SHORT SERIAL

Prologue [Ashes of an Empire, Prologue] by of Ashes of an Empire [Fantasy]
The kingdoms of old had fallen into silence, and from their ashes he could sow the seeds of empire anew. (Any Line)

Hey ya’ll,

Today is a VERY big day. HUGE! Top in Fiction has been going strong since 2024 with weekly issues and monthly recaps all along the way. One of the things I knew Top in Fiction needed was a system and a website that was much better than a Google Form and a Notion page. One that was automated, that you could search through, and would have Live updates of submitted fiction by up-and-coming writers. Well, the wait was long but the time is now!

Allow me to introduce The (BETA) TiF Library!

The site is very much still a work in progress, but I couldn’t wait to share it with you and I think it can hold up to what it’s meant to do. Here are just some of the benefits of having the library on its own site:

• All featured stories, going back to the beginning from 2024 to today are now finally searchable by Type, Genre, Year, and Issue #. Know a Substack writers name (or want to search your own name) to see if they’ve been featured? You can do that too!

• Now if you want to submit a story you won’t be directed to a Google Form. It asks the same questions and works exactly the same way as the Google Form did, just way better.

• The Submit a Story form will now automatically open for submissions and close every single weekend. Which means you no longer have to wait for me on those days I forget to unlock the Google Form. And a new “Eligible Story Dates” will also auto-update to the right dates without my having to do anything manually anymore!

• Updated Submissions view in real time! That means the moment you submit a story you should see it in the Submissions page.

• At the moment, only 2026 submissions are available to search and filter in the same way that the main Issues page can. I’m working on adding all of the submissions from 2024 and 2025.

What WON’T change is the Weekly and Monthly emails. In fact, I’m hoping that this new streamlined workflow will help me get things done faster. I understand the importance of receiving a ping that your story has been featured in a Top in Fiction Weekly Issue. And to all the readers who open the emails to easily find stories to read from the previous week. That kind of community wasn’t built overnight and the communication will never go away.

Think of The TiF Library as that fantasy place I (and perhaps you) have always dreamed of or expected and now it’s real!

But I’m just getting started. Here are just a few updated features I’m looking to add to improve The TiF Library experience:

• Clickable links for the Story Writer that points to their Substack Profile.

• Adding 2024 and 2025 Submissions.

If you have any concerns, comments, praise, or maybe even some feature ideas I may have missed. Please do leave them in the comments. I can’t wait to hear what you think!

IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS

TiF Summit 2027 Sign-Up (June 15th to August 15th) - Would you like to join us and read your fiction on a Substack Live? You can rewatch many of those Voices here. The link to express interest and gain access to The (new and improved) Scheduler can be found here.

Right now I’m looking to fill 75 spots (a 50% increase). Don’t miss out!

SUBSCRIBER UPDATES

Consider becoming a MONTHLY subscriber and you’ll help us reach our goal of paying for exclusive short stories right here on Top in Fiction that you can read early before it is made available to everyone else.

Update to Paid

Paid Monthly Subscribers will get early access to the TiF Story Story of the Month, for a period of two weeks, after which time the story will then be made available to all subscribers. Writers will be paid from the monthly subscribers.

- , Editor-in-Chief 😈

If you enjoyed any of these stories, please consider sharing this post everywhere:

Share

TIF NEWS FOR WRITERS

A call for writers of fiction has gone out as of June 15th. Did you hear the call? The TiF Summit 2027 is looking for readers just like you, who toil away writing the best fiction you can write. This is your time to shine! This is your opportunity to share your fiction with the world in a brand new way. So, fill out the Interest Form below and let’s do this together! Because no matter what you write. No matter where you live in the world. This event is for you. Don’t squander this opportunity by sitting on the sidelines. Everyone will be talking about it in much the same way everyone was talking about it the first time we did this. And this one will be even bigger because you will be a part of it!

Sign-Up

TiF PRESS PUBLICATIONS IN 2027

For anyone interested in getting their work published, there will be 3 opportunities for you to do so this year:

• A Deadly Game Event - Our Halloween themed event this year will be a bit different. We’re going to let the readers decide on the best story. [Opens 9/28. Closes 10/28.]

• “11” - A special event that I can’t tell you much about until late Summer.

• Secret Santa Plot Swap 2.0 - We’re back and as a bonus, all who take up the challenge and participate will be invited to be in the Volume II ebook. [Sign up begins the first week of November]

Top in Fiction is the place where fiction lives, but it’s also the place where a community of fiction writers and readers can come together every week to share in their mutual love (and respect) of fiction. Read the guidelines carefully:

• Only fiction shared between June 13 - June 19 on Substack!

• Any story shared BEFORE the dates listed above will be removed.

• This form will CLOSE at 10pm EST on Sunday, June 21.

• Share fiction you’ve read AND/OR fiction you’ve written. (Self-promotion of your fiction is welcome!)

• If self-promoting, submit NO MORE THAN 2 stories! This is a strict rule that will be enforced.

• Story must be Free-to-Read (No portion of it can be behind a paywall).

• Story must be written in English.

• We DO NOT accept stories written by AI. If we discover, at any time, that AI was used, the story will be removed.

Comments are turned OFF for all TiF Notification emails.

Fill out the online form for consideration in our Weekly emails:

Submit Today!

You will receive another email 1 hour before the submission form closes on Sunday.

We’re excited to officially open the first round of invitations for the 2nd Annual TiF Summit 2027!

The TiF Summit is a 3-day celebration of a time-honored tradition; reading fiction aloud, utilizing Substack Live in January 2027. Participating writers will host their own 30-minute Substack Live session where they’ll read a short story of their choice to audiences across the Subtack community.

Our very first TiF Summit brought together 50 incredible voices (watch them all here), and this year we’re hoping to grow even bigger with a goal of at least 75 participating writers!

At this stage, we’re simply gathering interest and basic information from writers who may want to participate. Later this year (around September 2026), we’ll follow up with all interested participants via email, so make sure the email you provide is one you check often, to:

• Confirm the story you plan to read (word count specifically)

• Provide access to the Summit Scheduler that will allow you to select your preferred 30-minute time slot

Some things to keep in mind when deciding if you are able to participate:

• Event dates: Friday, January 15 - Sunday, January 17

• Must have a smart phone with the Substack app installed and the ability to go Live. If you’ve already used Substack Live before, that is preferred. A tutorial on how to set this up will be provided.

• The story you select to read should be no longer than 3k words. This allows time to read it fully and perhaps field questions from the audience, should there be any, in the chat. We will allow all fiction though we will ask if there should be any trigger warning for your story and we ask that AI not have been used on the story you select.

• We will have more time slot hours available to accommodate readers and viewers from around the world.

Whether you’re an established fiction writer or just beginning to build your audience, we’d love to have you join us for this community-wide storytelling event.

If you’re interested in participating in the TiF Summit 2027, please fill out the interest form below:

Sign-Up Now

We can’t wait to celebrate another incredible year of fiction with all of you.

If you’re reading this on the Substack website or Substack App and you’re not yet subscribed, please consider doing so. It turns out that nearly 45% of our unique visitors aren’t subscribed! Crazy, right! That could be you! Don’t just be a unique visitor. Be a unique subscriber!

MICRO/FLASH FICTION

Love At First Cassette by of NICK AFTER NORMAL [Comedy]
There was no need for small talk. I opened, and she entered. (Any Line)

Untitled by Winona Morris of The Butchered Writers [Horror]
They weren’t wrong about the witching though, it was what she was there for. (Any Line)

The Saint by of A Fictionalized Account [Literary Fiction]
Legally, Jose couldn’t come within a hundred feet of the shore… (First Line)

The Gifted by of Tales of the Zeitgeist [Fantasy]
"We were somewhere off the coast of Cornwall, no more than an hour into our patrol, when it happened..." (First Line)

SHORT STORY

Mani by of betweenintentions [Literary Fiction]
In most Indian families, there is someone like Mani, on whom the rhythm of the home depends on…even before she’s had her first sip of tea. (Any Lines)

SHORT SERIAL

Millennium Falcon Business Class [Ch. 1] by of Majeris Reads & Writes [Literary Fiction]
Of all the hundreds of days available to it, the universe had the audacity to pick the worst one — my wedding day. (Any Line)

Fury on Keelan [Ch.1] by of Grim Acres [Science Fiction]
All the colours of the rainbow, here on Rainbow Ridge - and we were just waiting to add our own black flag to the mix. (Any Line)

SERIAL

Star House UK (Part One) [Keeping Up With The Joneses, Ep. 11] by of Amanda's Substack [Speculative Fiction]
"Welcome, to the latest series of Star House UK!" (First Line)

DIRECTORY OF SERIALS

Directory of Serials

Hey ya’ll,

Next week Monday, June 15th will be a day for TWO emails to be sent, that is, if you’re opted in to received our TiF Notifications emails as well. For those who are not in our Discord Server or did not participate in our TiF Summit 2026, this is your opportunity to get access to let me know you’re interest in joining our TiF Summit 2027! I’ll also share how many spots I have open as well. Filling out the form does not guarantee participation but it’s the only way to get access to the next steps. I am especially looking for people in other parts of the globe (Australia, Japan, UK, etc.) because I want to fill slots during my sleeping hours. Can we have storytelling happening 24 hours a day for 3 days straight? We can, but only with your help, your stories, and your time!

IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS

TiF Summit 2027 Sign-Up (June 15th to August 15th) - Would you like to join us and read your fiction on a Substack Live? You can rewatch many of those Voices here. The quick and easy sign-up to let me know you’re interested begins next week but if you’d like to let me know now, join our Discord here.

Right now I’m looking to fill 75 spots (a 50% increase). Don’t miss out!

SUBSCRIBER UPDATES

Consider becoming a MONTHLY subscriber and you’ll help us reach our goal of paying for exclusive short stories right here on Top in Fiction that you can read early before it is made available to everyone else.

Update to Paid

Paid Monthly Subscribers will get early access to the TiF Story Story of the Month, for a period of two weeks, after which time the story will then be made available to all subscribers. Writers will be paid from the monthly subscribers.

- , Editor-in-Chief 😈

If you enjoyed any of these stories, please consider sharing this post everywhere:

Share

This is a weekly notification email. If you do not wish to receive this email, please change your subscription by clicking the button below and turning off TiF Notifications:

Manage subscription

TIF NEWS FOR WRITERS

Only news coming is that on Monday a scheduled email will be sent to all who are receiving TiF Notifications to let me know you’re interested in joining our next TiF Summit 2027. Keep an eye out for that!

TiF PRESS PUBLICATIONS IN 2027

For anyone interested in getting their work published, there will be at least 3 opportunities for you to do so this year and the are:

• A Deadly Game Event - Our Halloween themed event this year will be a bit different. We’re going to let the readers decide on the best story. All who participate will have an opportunity to receive an invitation for the 2027 anthology. [Opens 9/28. Closes 10/28.]

• “11” - A special event that I can’t tell you much about until late Summer.

• Secret Santa Plot Swap 2.0 - We’re back and as a surprise to many, all who take up the challenge and participate will be invited to be in the ebook only 2027 Volume II release. [Sign up begins early November]

Top in Fiction is the place where fiction lives, but it’s also the place where a community of fiction writers and readers can come together every week to share in their mutual love (and respect) of fiction. Read the guidelines carefully:

• Only fiction shared between June 6 - June 12 on Substack!

• Any story shared BEFORE the dates listed above will be removed.

• This form will CLOSE at 10pm EST on Sunday, June 14.

• Share fiction you’ve read AND/OR fiction you’ve written. (Self-promotion of your fiction is welcome!)

• If self-promoting, submit NO MORE THAN 2 stories! This is a strict rule that will be enforced.

• Story must be Free-to-Read (No portion of it can be behind a paywall).

• Story must be written in English.

• We DO NOT accept stories written by AI. If we discover, at any time, that AI was used, the story will be removed.

Comments are turned OFF for all TiF Notification emails.

Fill out the online form for consideration in our Weekly emails:

Submit Today!

You will receive another email 1 hour before the submission form closes on Sunday.

One quick update is that I’ve been working behind the scenes on a better TiF Library that will have better filter controls than what we had in the past with using Notion. My goal was to get it ready to unveil before the official “Summer” season began. I’m looking to share the link and how it works closer to Fall just so I can make sure it’s not only easy for you to navigate but that it’s also easy for me to use as well.

Please excuse the back-to-back-to-back emails this week. There will be another one incoming as I play catch up and send out the Weekly Issue #23 later today.

Happy reading!

Leave a comment

MICRO/FLASH FICTION

A Great Performance by of In Search of Lost Time [Horror]

Windows - Looking Out by of LEAVES [Literary Fiction]

The Things We Are by of Talebones [Speculative Fiction]

SHORT STORY

The Secret by of Tales at Twilight [Speculative Fiction]

Yudit by of Naptime Novelist [Historical Fiction]

May Day Mayday Mayhem by of Daily Delirium [Literary Fiction]

Retirement Fund by of Sex, Drugs & Criminality [Literary Fiction]

SHORT SERIAL

Amboy [Crispy Zombie Road Trip] by of Magical Musings with MeBrady [Speculative Fiction]

Warm Woolen Mittens and Dying from Embarrassment by of Samantha Andersen Writes [Romance]

If you’re reading this on the Substack website or Substack App and you’re not yet subscribed, please consider doing so. It turns out that nearly 45% of our unique visitors aren’t subscribed! Crazy, right! That could be you! Don’t just be a unique visitor. Be a unique subscriber!

SHORT STORY

How Boys See Things by of The Radical Individualist [Literary Fiction]
I challenge anyone to remember any more than just small fractions of the life they’ve lived over the years. (Any Line)

Past Lives and Loaves by of Tea and Tales [Fantasy]
When vampires weren’t skulking, they were sweeping their cloaks. (Any Line)

Helen's World by of Wright Stories: Funny, Dark, Suspenseful Tales [Literary Fiction]
Helen’s world between home and the schoolhouse teemed with threats, strange men who might simply be going the same way as she, or they might be following her. (Any Line)

We are not friendly. by of The Ambassadors: Planet Earth [Speculative Fiction]
We believe in the power of weaponized bureaucratic incompetence. (Any Line)

SHORT SERIAL

Ordinary night out in the city [The Romance Novel, Pt. 1] by of The Studio Rulam [Romance]
They found themselves on the dance floor, strangers just an hour ago but something little more now. (Any Line)

Rearview Horizon [Part 3] by of Space Between [Literary Fiction]
Regardless of where she was in the room, Will felt a spotlight on her, as though she was the star of his movie. (Any Line)

SERIAL

Bastion of Rome [Chapter XX] by of Tom Morrison [Fantasy]
The smell of today’s breakfast, horsemeat stewed with some type of roots and dumplings, mostly displaced the lingering stink of the last dozen or so large amphoras of pickled fish, which would be consumed for lunch. (Any Line)

DIRECTORY OF SERIALS

Directory of Serials

Hey ya’ll,

I have to admit, sending these “late” every week is beginning to bug me. So, I am making the difficult, yet very internal, decision to just screw it and release as I wish. Stop cowering in fear over AI which is, yesterday today and tomorrow, everywhere. I can only move forward with my plans and let whatever happens, happens. Take on those issues at those times.

With that said, I am continuing with my futile mission to incorporate social media and our Top in Fiction accounts more. At least from a Threads standpoint. I want to spend a couple weeks working on one before I incorporate another. In July I want to upgrade us to using Bluesky alongside Threads. But, until then, if you can follow the 4 accounts below and if you’re on Youtube as often as I am, make sure to Subscribe to our channel! Might there be more regular content coming there soon? A gurl can dream, can’t she!

And now… a bit of TiF Press news!

Work on our 2nd anthology is coming along fairly well! Inanimate Objects is on track for an October release. In time for our Halloween event! I’m deep into one of my favorite stages in this process; the formatting. I’m working on the epub file first this time and then I’ll get to work on the print files. I’m also working on getting the cover design finalized and showing the authors before I show it off to the world! All very exciting stuff!

BUT I have some other bit of news that I have been keeping under my hat but I can’t hold it back any longer. Wait, have I shared this already? I honestly can’t remember! lol Anyway, last year’s Secret Santa Plot Swap collection of 24 stories is going to be released this holiday season as an ebook only, directly on our TiF Press shop! If you have visited there at all in the last month or so you will have seen a placeholder there already! :hint hint:

I was asked by multiple people who participated last year why it wasn’t being published as a collection. I honestly didn’t have an answer and so…WHY THE HELL NOT?! I hope you will support our efforts and the writers who are featured in this collection. Volume 1 will release on the same day as this year’s SSPS (Secret Santa Plot Swap), December 22nd. Look for pre-orders to begin the first week of November, right before the sign-up begins for Volume 2. Yes, that means these SSPS will now be another opportunity to get your work published. For now, the theme of “what’s inside the box?” remains the same.

I’m excited to expand the plans of TiF Press to publish three books a year instead of what I thought would be just two! This expands the opportunities for so many authors to see their work out there and for you, dear reader, to show your support by buying their work.

All authors who are published in our anthologies receive royalty payments.

IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS

TiF Summit 2027 Sign-Up (June 15th - August 15th) - Would you like to join us and read your fiction on a Substack Live? You can rewatch many of those Voices here. The quick and easy sign-up to let me know you’re interested begins mid-June but if you’d like to let me know now, join our Discord here.

Right now I’m looking to fill 75 spots (a 50% increase). Don’t miss out!

SUBSCRIBER UPDATES

Consider becoming a MONTHLY subscriber and you’ll help us reach our goal of paying for exclusive short stories right here on Top in Fiction that you can read early before it is made available to everyone else.

Update to Paid

Paid Monthly Subscribers will get early access to the TiF Story Story of the Month, for a period of two weeks, after which time the story will then be made available to all subscribers. Writers will be paid from the monthly subscribers.

- , Editor-in-Chief 😈

If you enjoyed any of these stories, please consider sharing this post everywhere:

Share

This is a weekly notification email. If you do not wish to receive this email, please change your subscription by clicking the button below and turning off TiF Notifications:

Manage subscription

Top in Fiction is the place where fiction lives, but it’s also the place where a community of fiction writers and readers can come together every week to share in their mutual love (and respect) of fiction. Read the guidelines carefully:

• Only fiction shared between May 30 - June 5 on Substack!

• Any story shared BEFORE the dates listed above will be removed.

• This form will CLOSE in 1 hour from NOW.

• Share fiction you’ve read AND/OR fiction you’ve written. (Self-promotion of your fiction is welcome!)

• If self-promoting, submit NO MORE THAN 2 stories! This is a strict rule that will be enforced.

• Story must be Free-to-Read (No portion of it can be behind a paywall).

• Story must be written in English.

• We DO NOT accept stories written by AI. If we discover, at any time, that AI was used, the story will be removed.

Fill out this form for consideration in our Weekly emails:

New Submission Form

This is your final warning.

This is a weekly notification email. If you do not wish to receive this email, please change your subscription by clicking the button below and turning off TiF Notifications:

Manage subscription

TIF NEWS FOR WRITERS

Hey ya’ll, I realize a shocking drop in submissions in 2026. Is it a trend that in the Spring/Summer time less writing happens? Is Top in Fiction no longer need to help highlight stories from the furthest corners of the Substack-verse? Whatever the reason, I’m sure there are still new writers and legacy writers that are writing on the daily! If that’s you, or if you know of someone who isn’t being featured but should be, suggest them by clicking the Submissions button below. Or, better yet, share our newsletter so they can subscribe.

As you know, we’ve got something for everyone at just about every stage in their writing career. Whether just starting out, dabbling a bit, or wanting to be published. We got you covered! But this only works if you put in the work with me!

Let’s get back to the early days when we were getting 75+ submissions every week! I know we can do it!

Oh, and in some upcoming news: In just 10 days from today spots will be opening for everyone who may want to participate in our next TiF Summit! It went really well last year and so many are returning for our next one who had such an amazing time! Got a story you want to read? All it takes is going Live on your Substack! I’m looking to fill 3 days for 24hrs straight each day to accommodate all timezones no matter where you are in the world! You can help me get that done!

TiF PRESS PUBLICATIONS IN 2027

For anyone interested in getting their work published, there will be at least 3 opportunities for you to do so this year and the are:

• A Deadly Game Event - Our Halloween themed event this year will be a bit different. We’re going to let the readers decide on the best story. All who participate will have an opportunity to receive an invitation for the 2027 anthology. [Opens 9/28. Closes 10/28.]

• “11” - A special event that I can’t tell you much about until late Summer.

• Secret Santa Plot Swap 2.0 - We’re back and as a surprise to many, all who take up the challenge and participate will be invited to be in the ebook only 2027 Volume II release. [Sign up begins early November]

Top in Fiction is the place where fiction lives, but it’s also the place where a community of fiction writers and readers can come together every week to share in their mutual love (and respect) of fiction. Read the guidelines carefully:

• Only fiction shared between May 30 - June 5 on Substack!

• Any story shared BEFORE the dates listed above will be removed.

• This form will CLOSE at 10pm EST on Sunday, June 7.

• Share fiction you’ve read AND/OR fiction you’ve written. (Self-promotion of your fiction is welcome!)

• If self-promoting, submit NO MORE THAN 2 stories! This is a strict rule that will be enforced.

• Story must be Free-to-Read (No portion of it can be behind a paywall).

• Story must be written in English.

• We DO NOT accept stories written by AI. If we discover, at any time, that AI was used, the story will be removed.

Comments are turned OFF for all TiF Notification emails.

Fill out the online form for consideration in our Weekly emails:

Submit Today!

You will receive another email 1 hour before the submission form closes on Sunday.

This is a weekly notification email. If you do not wish to receive this email, please change your subscription by clicking the button below and turning off TiF Notifications:

Manage subscription

Top in Fiction is the place where fiction lives, but it’s also the place where a community of fiction writers and readers can come together every week to share in their mutual love (and respect) of fiction. Read the guidelines carefully:

• Only fiction shared between May 23 - April 29 on Substack!

• Any story shared BEFORE the dates listed above will be removed.

• This form will CLOSE in 1 hour from NOW.

• Share fiction you’ve read AND/OR fiction you’ve written. (Self-promotion of your fiction is welcome!)

• If self-promoting, submit NO MORE THAN 2 stories! This is a strict rule that will be enforced.

• Story must be Free-to-Read (No portion of it can be behind a paywall).

• Story must be written in English.

• We DO NOT accept stories written by AI. If we discover, at any time, that AI was used, the story will be removed.

Fill out this form for consideration in our Weekly emails:

New Submission Form

This is your final warning.

If you’re reading this on the Substack website or Substack App and you’re not yet subscribed, please consider doing so. It turns out that nearly 45% of our unique visitors aren’t subscribed! Crazy, right! That could be you! Don’t just be a unique visitor. Be a unique subscriber!

COMIC/CARTOON

Audrey Under the Tree [Audrey, The Unicorn Girl, Ch. 8] by of Hatching Stories [Literary Fiction]
"Can you believe some people actually find the oni cute?" (Any Line)

MICRO/FLASH FICTION

Wearing Your Heart On Your Back by of Writing From Weird [Horror]
Cathy wasn’t surprised that her brother Carl ignored her calls for weeks. (First Line)

Nashoba: A Native Version of the Tale of the Wolf & the Hare by of BoomerSpeak [Fantasy]
The rabbit thought for a moment, then said to the wolf, “Brother. If I loose you from the trap, you’ll only attack me, for the wolf and the rabbit are not friends.” (Any Line)

SHORT STORY

Where Are They? by of Saz’s Little Fictions [Horror]
He started noticing marks on some of them, silver scars that reflected in the moonlight. (Any Line)

Spectrophobia by of Cobwebs and Candles [Horror]
There were no mirrors in Ciarán Hyde’s house. (First Line)

The Mango trees call to him by of The Indian Story [Literary Fiction]
He didn’t exactly know what he was looking for, but it was not in the hundreds of places he had visited. (Any Line)

Tiny Furry Gods by of J.M. Gooding [Comedy]
The human shuffles into the hallway while I pace ahead of him like an executioner escorting a condemned man. (Any Line)

Perfectitude by of The Vermilion Border [Literary Fiction]
What Kimberly Anne Clay wanted more than anything, more than the promotion that she deserved or a man capable of monogamy or a bra that fit well, was to finally, for once in her life, just get everything done. (First Line)

May Day Mayday Mayhem by of Daily Delirium [Literary Fiction]
Squirming, the protester twisted his face upward, and Bemis could see bits of gravel stuck to his chin. (Any Line)

SHORT SERIAL

A Dialogue & A Solo [Substantive Change, Ch. 8] by of The Literary Ledger [Literary Fiction]
The sky was painted a deep violet and pink from the reflections of the sun, as if the day were refusing to die without a final, satisfying denouement. (Any Line)

DIRECTORY OF SERIALS

Directory of Serials

Hey ya’ll,

on Monday, June 1st, I’m giving everyone who is in the Top in Fiction Discord Server official early access to the TiF Summit 2027 Sign-Up form. If you want just a hint on how important it will be to get that early access, all 50 who participated this past January were already invited and everyone said, YES! At the moment I’m hoping to add an additional 25 spots and start a waitlist after that in case anyone from the original 50 are unable to attend next year.

I anticipate those 25 spots will go quickly. Possibly even before the sign-up is shared to everyone on 6/15.

A NOTE TO THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN TIF SUMMIT 2026: You will still need to fill out the sign-up form for 2027. Look for my EMAIL for the sign-up. Unlike everyone else, you will get access to THE SCHEDULER on 6/15, but only as long as you sign up ASAP!

In OTHER news: I’ve renamed our Threads / Instagram / X accounts to Top in Fiction. Not only that but as of last week I started sharing links to the featured stories specifically on Threads which lends itself to creating a main Post with “threads” for each story. If you have any of the below accounts I recommend Following Top in Fiction. I will make sure to follow you back, and next time your story is featured I’ll try to remember to mention you in the post. Also, resharing our posts when you see them would be helpful as well. I’m dipping ONE toe back into social media, being very careful who I follow and checking settings to try and minimize how toxic we all know social media can be. Will this work to bring more eyes to the stories? Only one way to find out…

IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS

TiF Summit 2027 Sign-Up (June 15th - August 15th) - Would you like to join us and read your fiction on a Substack Live? You can rewatch many of those Voices here. The quick and easy sign-up to let me know you’re interested begins mid-June but if you’d like to let me know earlier (June 1st) join our Discord here.

Right now I’m looking to fill 75 spots (a 50% increase). Don’t miss out!

SUBSCRIBER UPDATES

Consider becoming a MONTHLY subscriber and you’ll help us reach our goal of paying for exclusive short stories right here on Top in Fiction that you can read early before it is made available to everyone else.

Update to Paid

Paid Monthly Subscribers will get early access to the TiF Story Story of the Month, for a period of two weeks, after which time the story will then be made available to all subscribers. Writers will be paid from the monthly subscribers.

- , Editor-in-Chief 😈

If you enjoyed any of these stories, please consider sharing this post everywhere:

Share