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

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

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

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

The Crown I See by of Hatching Stories [Free Verse]
The crown I see, (1st Line)

MICRO/FLASH FICTION

The Devil is in the Detail by of Just Write, Right [Literary Fiction]
… slump into a whiskey-sodden, post-fornication coma and the awakening is ruder than the bedroom antics that preceded it. (Any Line)

Brock Sticks The Landing by of Aaron Martinez [Comedy]
Down the aisle, past the weed whackers and hedge trimmers and rototillers, idling in front of the lawn mowers, stands a gently swaying Brachiosaurus. (First Line)

SHORT STORY

Yudit by of Naptime Novelist [Historical Fiction]
The general might slaughter a widow, but he would never turn away a whore. (First Line)

Svanhvit by of Corey’s Story Stack [Fantasy]
But as fast as he was for his age, he was no match for the speed of a Valkyrie. (Any line)

Friday After Eleven by of All Day Long [Literary Fiction]
Her hair tickles my nose and she says fun, flirty things that I’ll never remember. (Any Line)

Beneath Ashen Skies by of Ink & Shadows [Horror]
One more set before the fire dies,
Beneath these ashen skies. (Any Line)

SHORT SERIAL

Karma [State of Grace, chapter 10] by of CJ Palmisano's Roads Taken [Literary Fiction]
Right about the same time the principal handed Grace her diploma., Lorraine learned about her daughter’s graduation. (Any Line)

SERIAL

Beasts of the Bastille [Part 1] by of The Strangeness Kit and of Honeygloom [Historical Fiction]
When you were taken away from us, I lived a while alone with father but he wearied me with his eternal complaining by day and his unwanted attentions at night, and so I soon left that place never to return. (First Line)

DIRECTORY OF SERIALS

Directory of Serials

Hey ya’ll,

The Summer is almost upon us and I’m excited because it’s always the second half of the year that seems to fly by what with all the events happening at Top in Fiction. And this year we have 3 major ones that will all be published in 2027! Not to mention the 2nd TiF Press anthology coming this Fall!

In other news, I’ve been toiling away on a super secret project. I wish I could say more but until it’s in Beta and some select few people are testing it properly, I can’t even tell you the code name it’s going by! But if it all does according to plan, all will be revealed during the TiF Summit 2027! Till then…

I just want to remind everyone that in about 3 weeks the summit sign-up begins. And shortly after that the first of three writing events! “11” is all I’m willing to tell you about this next event but once all is revealed I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Especially, those who enjoy writing mystery or historical fiction.

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

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

Flesh Offered To Divine Fire by of Writing from Weird [Fantasy]
Caroline must’ve climbed this windy mountain path hundreds of times, and she swore each trip it got a little longer. (First Line)

She Said, He Said by of Son of Ugly [Mystery]
She read her note again, start to finish. (First Line)

Claudia at the Bookshop by of LEAVES [Science Fiction]
Martin is a smart man, funny … even a little handsome, in a way, but he is shy and can be a bit slow when it comes to women. (Any Line)

SHORT STORY

Untitled 5 by of Spill Your Dreams [Literary Fiction]
Duke Corbel was surprised to receive an invitation to the opening of a new exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art. (First Line)

Second Blood by of Anton Anderson [Horror]
After finally succeeding, I tie him down with a steel wire using the best shibari techniques and gag the man using a proper tool. (Any Line)

Skating Away by of The Jones Reader [Literary Fiction]
We didn’t call it ‘going postal’ until the 1990’s, and back in the seventies, there was no euphemistic slang for this kind of rage-borne spectacle. (Any Line)

Taxi by of The Radical Individualist [Literary Fiction]
I suppose if you look at just the facts, Sue wasn’t so different from many of us. (Any Line)

The Secret by of Tales at Twilight [Speculative Fiction]
Lucy felt it as soon as she entered the room: a strange familiarity, as if she’d been there before. (First Line)

Death Takes a Vacation by of Existential Dread and Other Hobbies [Speculative Fiction]
Death had not intended to take a vacation. (First Line)

SHORT SERIAL

The last circus and its dragon [Ch. 1] by of The Circus Dragon [Fantasy]
Our story begins in the heart of a circus, and for this, dear Reader of mine, you must know a little history. (First Line)

DIRECTORY OF SERIALS

Directory of Serials

Hey ya’ll,

In just four weeks from now the sign-up sheet will open for all those who want to be a part of our TiF Summit 2027 happening in January. Now, June might seem a bit early to get the ball rolling on this event but when you consider last year I didn’t start this early and had to wrangle organizing 50 people, trust me, I’m glad to be giving myself the extra time.

One of the things a few participants and viewers have asked me about, when it comes to the next TiF Summit is the question of panels and if we’ll be hosting any? My knee-jerk answer is, no. But I want to try and explain why for anyone who may not have heard my explanation I’ve given in the past:

While I appreciate what panels and workshops can offer to writers starting out I’m also well aware of the audience something like TiF Summit is trying to attract. It’s not like your typical writers convention. Yes, we require writers for it to be successful, but the summit is 100% for readers of fiction. And it’s because of this desire to attract readers that I’m not trying to offer something that most readers may not be as interested in.

Now, that’s not to say that writers aren’t readers (of course we are) or that readers don’t have an innermost desire to write their own fiction some day (of course they do). But I hope taking this firm stance on not including workshops and panels will be what makes this annual event unique and different and attractive to readers everywhere.

Also, a small point I’d like to make to the writers out there who have and will participate, in many ways this event is also for you. A chance for you to share your stories in a way that might inspire others. I’m truly not aware of any other event that is so dedicated and devoted to reading stories from all walks of life and genres on a global scale one after another. Whenever I think about it, I get even more excited at the possibilities.

So, while I champion those who have workshops and panels, attending or running their own, Top in Fiction is dedicated to lifting every voice through storytelling!

If you are a writer of fiction, here there and everywhere, then I hope you will consider signing up. And if you’re a reader of fiction, I hope you will take some time to show up for what will be at least 3-days of amazing fiction next January 2027.

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

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

Laura by of The Radical Individualist [Science Fiction]
Laura brought the drink over to him, handed it to him and sat on the companion stuffed chair beside him. (Any Line)

A Great Performance by of In Search of Lost Time [Horror]
Many years ago, way before our falling out, my best friend faked his own death—just to spare me the work of having to kill his grandma. (First Line)

The Outhouse Agreement by Raven Tomes of The Butchered Writers [Horror]
They always think we’re stupid. (First Line)

SHORT STORY

It's Been Zero Days Since A Plane Crash by of Nick After Normal [Speculative Fiction]
The commercial jet whips and twists in the 90-mph wind like an abandoned hair weave discarded from a moving vehicle. (First Line)

THE GRAVEDIGGER'S WALTZ by of Whitfield Fahrenheit [Speculative Fiction]
Stab. Step. Pull. Lift. Toss. Breathe. (Any Line)

To Rise by of from our ashes [Science Fiction]
The blitz drone seemed to be staring at him from the shadows. (First Line)

Puzzled by of Just Write, Right [Literary Fiction]
The nervous chatter of fellow students did little to puncture the claustrophobic atmosphere of learnedness. (First Line)

SHORT SERIAL

Selene’s Vow [Ch. 2] by of The Môrdreigiau Chronicles [Romance]
“To the beautiful and kind Lady Selene, may we never find her chaperone.” (Any Line)

SERIAL

Neon Black: Dispatch #1 by of A Little Night Breeze [Speculative Fiction]
Let me show you this world in broad strokes first before we go into the meat. (Any Line)

WALL OF SERIALS

Check out our Wall of Serials where we have a dedicated page showing you ACTIVE stories:

Visit the Wall

Hey ya’ll,

As it’s Mother’s Day Weekend here in the states, I say Happy Mother’s Day to the moms, the caregivers, and all who take up the role.

IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS

Rather than give you the long list of what’s coming in the second half of 2026, here is the most important one that you need to mark your calendars for, especially if you’d like to participate in any way.

TiF Summit 2027 Sign-Up (June 15th - August 15th) - Would you like to join us and read your fiction on a Substack Live? This past January we had 50 different readers across a 3-day Voices event who took turns reading their work one after the other! You can rewatch many of those Voices here. And come January 2027 you could join us as we attempt to do it all over again, only this time bigger and better than ever! 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

Our very first anthology featuring 18 writers is out but we’re not stopping there. We have one more anthology coming in 2026 and plenty more planned for the future! But we need your help and support to make it all happen and pay the writers what they deserve. Consider becoming a MONTHLY subscriber and you’ll help us reach out 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

Silent Kiss of the Angel by of Oli Trollgora [Free Verse]
Finally, after hours (First Line)

MICRO/FLASH FICTION

The Quay by of Anjay Dee [Literary Fiction]
He had left the event and began the walk home. (First Line)

SHORT STORY

Mermaid in the Bathtub by of Existential Dread and Other Hobbies [Speculative Fiction]
“Chad you motherfucker.” (First Line)

Nerissa by of Tales From a Wilted Rose [Fantasy]
The words struck Nerissa’s heart like a thunderous spell. (First Line)

The Talisman by of Poor Translations [Literary Fiction]
The talisman was, in a way, purchased to restore divine balance. (First Line)

The Vermilion Border by of The Vermilion Border [Horror]
Somewhere, a breach in the foundation of the house had allowed a thin stream of wildness to invade. (Any Line)

Dolokov, Dolokov by of Oscar Ruto [Literary Fiction]
Joseph was a teacher although he’d never plainly reveal this fact to anyone who’d ask. (First Line)

Mommy Blogger: Back-To-School Edition by of Machine Poet [Speculative Fiction]
Okay parents, real talk time. (First Line)

SERIAL

The Call [Where the Blood Calls, Ch. 1] by of Worlds of Kummer Wolfe [Historical Fiction]
I’ve heard it said a cry for help at sea is the loneliest sound in the world. (First Line)

WALL OF SERIALS

Check out our Wall of Serials where we have a dedicated page showing you ACTIVE stories:

Visit the Wall

Hey ya’ll,

Yesterday we celebrated the release of our first publication under TiF Press. For those who may not know, TiF Press was created out of necessity and a personal desire to help fellow fiction writers achieve what many of us feel is unattainable; having our work published! The mission statement of TiF Press is a simple one: Publish at least 2 Anthologies a year that feature dozens of up and coming fiction writers, making their dreams come true, while paying them for their work.

This is only the beginning…

Eye See You | A Horror Anthology is OUT NOW!
Tell your family, friends, and neighbors!

Click the book or the button below to pre-order the ebook for $4.99! And if you’re having any issues, please send a DM, leave a comment, or reply to this email.

PRE-ORDER EBOOK

Looking for the Print version? Well, you’re in luck because it is currently available for purchase on Amazon (US) and Barnes & Noble! It will be available in other retailers in other countries like UK, Australia, Canada, and the Middle East but it can take a while for that metadata to reach those sites. I’m checking and refreshing my pages throughout the day and soon we’ll have a UBL (universal book link) landing page where all the links around the world are listed!

AMAZON (US) PAPERBACK

AMAZON (UK) PAPERBACK

BARNES & NOBLE PAPERBACK

BOOKSHOP.ORG PAPERBACK

ADD ON GOODREADS

IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS

Rather than give you the long list of what’s coming in the second half of 2026, here is the most important one that you need to mark your calendars for, especially if you’d like to participate in any way.

TiF Summit 2027 Sign-Up (June 15th - August 15th) - Would you like to join us and read your fiction on a Substack Live? This past January we had 50 different readers across a 3-day Voices event who took turns reading their work one after the other! You can rewatch many of those Voices here. And come January 2027 you could join us as we attempt to do it all over again, only this time bigger and better than ever! 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

Our very first anthology featuring 18 writers is out but we’re not stopping there. We have one more anthology coming in 2026 and plenty more planned for the future! But we need your help and support to make it all happen and pay the writers what they deserve. Consider becoming a MONTHLY subscriber and you’ll help us reach out 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

The Fool on the Heath by of The Strangeness Kit [Free Verse]
Don’t be unwrapping no word-present (Any Line)

heart-nose mother by of Bruce Dobbins [Free Verse]
Twist my intestines around the rail of a scenic point of view. (First line)

MICRO/FLASH FICTION

Exchange by of Robert Garron's Substack [Science Fiction]
One of the merchants raised his hand and struck the newly purchased thrall, knocking him to the ground like dead weight. (Any Line)

Marina Grande by of Anjay Dee [Literary Fiction]
The storm had passed in the night. (First Line)

SHORT STORY

Pink Wafers by of The Midnight Quill [Fantasy]
Mr Townsend even joked he was watching his weight; no one needed to ask if that were true because his torso was mostly just ribcage at this point, but the observation felt light. (Any Line)

The Spirits' Gift by of Anton Anderson [Fantasy]
The nothingness has only you, the way you truly are, and this acceptance (or the lack of care) feels truly inviting, making me breathe deeply and easily. (Any Line)

SHORT SERIAL

La Bella Morte, Part One: Dr. Simmons by of Tales of Calamity and Triumph [Speculative Fiction]
My name is Thomas Edwards, and I remember the first time I met Dr. Victor Simmons. (First Line)

WALL OF SERIALS

Check out our Wall of Serials where we have a dedicated page showing you ACTIVE stories:

Visit the Wall

Hey ya’ll,

After sitting alone in a Zoom chat for 40min last week Monday, April 13th, I realize that perhaps Meet-ups may just be a thing of the past…and that’s okay. There may have been many factors as to why no one showed up. I set-up the Zoom incorrectly. I picked the worst time for anyone. Everyone was busy. And the one I know I’m most responsible for, I did a piss poor job of promoting and sharing that it was even happening!

In any event, perhaps I will try again in a few months. Till then, we do have some other rather important bit of news to share! 🥁 🥁 🥁

Eye See You | A Horror Anthology pre-orders are available!! Tell your family, friends, and neighbors!

This is the very first (of many) TiF Press anthologies that is finally happening this year. A few months late but well worth it! I will have a more proper celebration over the next 6 days leading up to the actual release date of 4/28!

Click the book or the button below to pre-order the ebook for $4.99! And if you’re having any issues, please send a DM, leave a comment, or reply to this email.

PRE-ORDER EBOOK

Looking for the Print version? Well, you’re in luck because it is currently available for purchase on Amazon (US) and Barnes & Noble! It will be available in other retailers in other countries like UK, Australia, Canada, and the Middle East but it can take a while for that metadata to reach those sites. I’m checking and refreshing my pages throughout the day and soon we’ll have a UBL (universal book link) landing page where all the links around the world are listed!

AMAZON (US) PAPERBACK

BARNES & NOBLE PAPERBACK

IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS

Don’t be overwhelmed by this long list I’m sharing. Turns out the latter half of the year is the busiest time for events! This is just to keep certain future dates in the forefront of your mind. As long as you stick right here and receive our emails you’ll never miss an important date or event.

TiF Summit 2027 Sign-Up (June 15th - August 15th) - Would you like to join us and read your fiction on a Substack Live? This past January we had 50 different readers across a 3-day Voices event who took turns reading their work one after the other! You can rewatch many of those Voices here. And come January 2027 you could join us as we attempt to do it all over again, only this time bigger and better than ever! 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!

“11” (September) - I wish I could share more about this special event but it’s much too soon. More information will be shared in August.

Pentober 2026 (October 1st - October 31st) - It’s that time of year again to grab your pens/pencils and paper and step away from technology to write a short story! The word prompts will be shared on September 1st.

A Deadly Game | A Horror Anthology (September 28th - October 28th) - The third anthology that will be published by TiF Press in 2027 and our second collaboration with who will be sponsoring this event. The winning story will receive a free entry in their 8th Season Prose category. More information to come this Summer.

A Secret Santa Plot-Swap Sign-Up (November) - This was a run-away hit from last year that I didn’t think would go off so well but we’re back! Are you up for the challenge? We might keep the same theme as it’s so versatile of “What’s inside the box?” I’ll make my final decision by October. But the rules remain the same: You’ll write a brief synopsis for a short story. I’ll take yours and, using a randomizer (ie a rather complicated formula I’ve devised just for this), will swap it with another. You’ll then have a little over one month to write a short story based on someone else’s synopsis! Last year we had 24 brave souls take up the challenge. Will you join us? More information to come in October.

TiF Summit 2027 (Thursday, January 14th - Monday, January 18th) - The dates are tentative at the moment. Day 1 will be the TiF Annual Recap where we look back at how we did in 2026. Days 2 through 4 will be the Voices event where we will be adding hours to accommodate participants and viewers in other parts of the world so everyone can read and listen to stories when it suits them best. Day 5, the final day, will be the TiF State of the Union where we look forward to the Top in Fiction and TiF Press plans for 2027.

SUBSCRIBER UPDATES

Our very first anthology featuring 18 writers is out but we’re not stopping there. We have one more anthology coming in 2026 and plenty more planned for the future! But we need your help and support to make it all happen and pay the writers what they deserve. Consider becoming a MONTHLY subscriber and you’ll help us reach out 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!

MICRO/FLASH FICTION

Rubberneckers by of Son of Ugly [Mystery]
Tex and Jimbo had a foolproof heist. Candy from a baby. (First Line)

First Date by of LEAVES [Romance]
"If she wants to excite this young man, she only has to do one thing." (Any Line)

SHORT STORY

Lucy & the Cosmic Comet Ride by of Writing & Selling Stories [Science Fiction]
Sunday night, Bron and his followers were jumping on a comet to outer space. (Any Line)

Origin of the trouble by of The Strangeness Kit [Fantasy]
I trust not the wiles of scaly speechifiers, but I can see no way else, other than to crack this blatherer’s skull for impudent sassiness. (Any Line)

It's In The Kitchen by of Autumn Lives Here [Horror]
With watery eyes, Trudy looked at Zahra, who said, "Call that company and have them take it away. It's their demon." (Any Line)

Deterrence: Against Terence by of One More Draft [Comedy]
On my first day, a kid’s finger comes off on the raft slide. (Any Line)

SHORT SERIAL

Forsaken [Forsaken, Pt. 12] by of J.S. Ceballos [Science Fiction]
The squad remained huddled. (First Line)

The Sour Wines of Westmost [Ch. 1] by of Latter-Day Wood Pulps [Fantasy]

Anonymity (Attempt One) [Blood Soup and Other Love Languages, Ch. 1] by of E. Pearce [Fantasy]
‘So this is the part of the holiday,’ said a voice that was unmistakably, catastrophically his own, ‘where I realised my dads forgot I can’t eat squirrels.’ (Any Line)

WALL OF SERIALS

Check out our Wall of Serials where we have a dedicated page showing you ACTIVE stories:

Visit the Wall

Hey ya’ll,

After sitting alone in a Zoom chat for 40min this past Monday, April 13th, I realize that perhaps Meet-ups may just be a thing of the past…and that’s okay. There may have been many factors as to why no one showed up. I set-up the Zoom incorrectly. I picked the worst time for anyone. Everyone was busy. And the one I know I’m most responsible for, I did a piss poor job of promoting and sharing that it was even happening leading up to Monday!

In any event, perhaps I will try again in a few months. Till then, we do have some other rather important bit of news to share! 🥁 🥁 🥁

Eye See You | A Horror Anthology Ebook pre-orders are available over on the TiF Press website!! Tell your family, friends, and neighbors!

This is the very first (of many) TiF Press anthologies that is finally happening this year. A few months late but well worth it! I will have a more proper celebration over several days in the lead-up to the actual release date of 4/28!

And if you’re asking, where is the print version? Don’t worry, it’s coming! It’s working its way through IngramSpark so it can eventually end up on all major online retailers for purchase.

Click the book or the button below to pre-order the ebook for $4.99 starting today! And if you’re having any issues, please send a DM, leave a comment, or reply to this email.

PRE-ORDER EBOOK

SUBSCRIBER UPDATES

Our very first anthology featuring 18 writers is out but we’re not stopping there. We have one more anthology coming in 2026 and plenty more planned for the future! But we need your help and support to make it all happen and pay the writers what they deserve. Consider becoming a MONTHLY subscriber and you’ll help us reach out 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!

COMIC/CARTOON

Audrey, The Unicorn Girl [Audrey, The Unicorn Girl, Ch. 1] by of Hatching Stories [Literary Fiction]
Audrey, your ears are so cute! (Any Line)

MICRO/FLASH FICTION

Stigmata by of Mediterranean Gothic [Horror]
It started on a Tuesday. (First Line)

Invisible Fences by of Meadoe's Mythology Corner [Literary Fiction]
The squirrels are getting bold. (First Line)

SHORT STORY

Spark Broker by of Spill Your Dreams [Speculative Fiction]
It’s difficult to appear as a true artist when your inspiration comes in a little glass jar, with a cork and a price tag. (Any Line)

Scene Queen by of Tales from the Labyrinth [Horror]
I learned magic the way any teenage girl does. (Any Line)

I’ll Wait for You on the Roof by of Adrian Fares [Horror]
All the things that happen to people when they discover something they cannot believe they are discovering happened to him. (Any Line)

Low Tide by of Wright Stories: Funny, Dark, Suspenseful Tales [Literary Fiction]
When a man rode out of town in the trunk of a car, he wasn’t coming back. (First line)

SERIAL

The Quiet Places He Missed [The Age of the Plainborn, Ch. 4] by of Every Root, Every Thorn [Horror]
I learned a long time ago that men's brutality is always an opening. (Any Line)

The Prince [Destiny, as Told by An Apprentice, Ch. 5] by of Reflecting on Aspects of Writing [Fantasy]
To whatever gods that exist out there, please let this not be a momentary dream. (Any Line)

WALL OF SERIALS

Check out our Wall of Serials where we have a dedicated page showing you ACTIVE stories:

Visit the Wall

TiF Meet-Up Today! - 3pm EST / 12pm PST

Meeting Invite:

Topic: TiF Meet-Up: Substack Features for Fiction Writers
Time: Apr 13, 2026 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

MEETING HAS CONCLUDED

SUBSCRIBER UPDATES

Help us reach the goal of paying fiction writers for their work to appear exclusively on Top in Fiction by becoming a MONTHLY subscriber! Upgrade today!

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

A Light Still Dreaming by of Beyond the Therapy Room [Free Verse]
Hope— (First Line)

MICRO/FLASH FICTION

Hunger by of Leaves [Horror]
"A woman’s got to eat, right?" (Any Line)

He Shows Up by of Notes from the Hill [Speculative Fiction]
When I started writing my book, really writing it and not just skirting around it, I realized something. (First Line)

SHORT STORY

The Cracker Hats by of The Maple Moon [Literary Fiction]
Mother clears the table; sweeping the crumbs of our year into her cupped palm. (Any Line)

Coverage by of The Faraday Room [Speculative Fiction]
The intake nurse had told him that ideation scores of six to seven played best, and he'd gone straight to a ten. (Any Line)

tonal contrast by of Oscar Ruto [Literary Fiction]
“…she was meant for this sorta place..." (First Line)

A City, a House, a Ship by of One More Draft [Speculative Fiction]
On the corner of your street stands a thin man in a tuxedo, leaning against the postbox, his dress shirt unbuttoned to his navel, wearing a top hat, turning a thin black cane by its silver gargoyle. (First Line)

Hook, Line, and Sinker by of After Dusk [Horror]
Fishing. (First Line)

SHORT SERIAL

The Fate of a Prince by of Lee’s Library [Fantasy]
Alongside his skill, he had something that no one else had—he had a way to finally kill Arzlag hidden safely away in the pouch on his hip. (Any Line)

SERIAL

Gangs of Vegas: The Butcher [Episode 1] by of The Notorious Narrator [Mystery]
"Never outshine your master." (Last Line)

WALL OF SERIALS

Check out our Wall of Serials where we have a dedicated page showing you ACTIVE stories:

Visit the Wall

The Ultimate Serialized Fiction Discussion!

The date and time is officially set! Mark your calendars for TODAY Monday, March 30th @ 3:30pm EST / 12:30am PST / 8:30pm GMT where I’ll be joined by none other than and ! Some of the leading leaders and voices when it comes to serialized fiction here on Substack.

A few weeks ago I reached out to the fiction community of serial fiction writers and asked them to answer 5 questions. Well, I’ve got the results and now the three of us will discuss them as well as other things all related to serialized fiction and hopefully help those who are in the weeds or on the fence to make the experience for readers even better!

SUBSCRIBER UPDATES

Help us reach the goal of paying fiction writers for their work to appear exclusively on Top in Fiction by becoming a MONTHLY subscriber! Upgrade today!

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!

MICRO/FLASH FICTION

What Happened with the Firework Was a Total Accident (Closing Statements to the Jury) by of Hannah S. [Literary Fiction]
A gas-station regular started telling me about her latest kills, and at first I thought she was some sort of gamer, but no, she meant *literal* kills—stabbings, explosions, attacks by carnivorous animals. (Any Line)

Pups for Sale by of Along the Hudson [Literary Fiction]
I’d heard about the “Pups for Sale” in an ad in the paper and figured my life could use a bit of light. (Any Line.)

SHORT STORY

Sojourn by of Keep On Keeping On [Horror]
What think thee, Coyote, is thy thirst for coffee great? (Last Line)

Murder and Over Again by of Tony's Special Word Sauce [Mystery]
Trent looks up to the Punjabi man, softly bowed, twice removed from his native land by now, mustachioed with a smile bright enough for any of the famous ollywoods. (Any Line)

INDIA'S TOES by of DUSTSCEAWUNG [Literary Fiction]
You can feel how the restaurant under a sea is being shadow-grilled this morning with the 3D signpost maps of grey shallot blooms and the bad-word slurp of fauna cooks with goat hearts and sauna rash. (First Line)

Is That Checkmate? by of One More Draft [Speculative Fiction]
The first night, Juliet throws a whiskey tumbler, and Karl calls it their Kristallnacht. (First Line)

SHORT SERIAL

Two Feet Short of a Grave by of DeWitt's End [Literary Fiction]
I thought Momma and the mule were going to die before we made it to the Savannah River, but what do I know? I’m just the bastard child of a dead man. (Any Line)

SERIAL

Urd's Well [Ash & Oak, Ch.1] by of Notes from the Edge [Fantasy]
This is Urd’s Well, and it is where all mortal destinies are decided. (Any Line)

WALL OF SERIALS

Check out our Wall of Serials where we have a dedicated page showing you ACTIVE stories:

Visit the Wall

We are now officially at 2,000+ subscribers! YAY!

It was a long time coming but I knew we’d get here in time. I don’t like to set goals that I have no control over, so, while I want us to all take a moment to be proud of this accomplishment, I much rather look forward to things that Top in Fiction can control; such as promoting as much fiction as humanly possible!

So, please do make sure you’re letting Top in Fiction know about any great fiction you’re reading (or writing) week-over-week as we are constantly looking for new and fresh stories to share! Every Friday the form opens up for new work and closes Sunday evenings. Plenty of time to let me know! I’d love for us to get back to the early days when we received upwards of 60+ (sometimes 75+!!) submissions every week! Make my job of finding the best of the best that much harder!

The Ultimate Serialized Fiction Discussion!

The date and time is officially set! Mark your calendars for Monday, March 30th @ 2:30pm EST / 11:30am PST / 7:30pm GMT where I’ll be joined by none other than and ! Some of the leading leaders and voices when it comes to serialized fiction here on Substack.

A few weeks ago I reached out to the fiction community of serial fiction writers and asked them to answer 5 questions. Well, I’ve got the results and now the three of us will discuss them as well as other things all related to serialized fiction and hopefully help those who are in the weeds or on the fence to make the experience for readers even better!

SUBSCRIBER UPDATES

Help us reach the goal of paying fiction writers for their work to appear exclusively on Top in Fiction by becoming a MONTHLY subscriber! Upgrade today!

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

Wife in Watercolors by Johannah Simon of [Free Verse]
Her shame blossoms in the cool evening air. (Any Line)

MICRO/FLASH FICTION

Leafless Pines by of Strange Face [Literary Fiction]
Theo wandered beneath the leafless pines, dot to dot trunks forming electric overhead connections, once burdened with carrying forth the messages, to friends he no longer had. (Last Line)

SHORT STORY

Dinner with the Morrisseys: A Judith Temple Short Story by of Naptime Novelist [Comedy]
Tim’s smile slipped into a faint smirk, and Judith prepared herself to pretend to be aggravated. (Any Line)

I trained ravens to terrorize my town. by of The Ambassadors: Planet Earth [Speculative Fiction]
Ravens have become my anger language. (Any Line)

MGS04 by of Writing & Selling Stories with Angelique Fawns [Horror]
Try Floatation Therapy! (First Line)

Monochrome Frame by of Robert Garron’s Substack [Horror]
It was the picture of economic perfection: the busy streets, chugging highways, and regular flights passing in and out of a skyline full of cranes. (Any Line)

Amelia on Mars by of Ashley@Briefly [Science Fiction]
Her sons were still on Earth and she didn’t know if they were alive or dead. (Any Line)

The Metro Station Situation by of Ricky Denham’s Words [Literary Fiction]
I was walking underground. (First Line)

Nobody Buries a Traitor by of Corey’s Story Stack [Speculative Fiction]
Nobody saw him leave. Nobody knows where he is. (Last Line)

WALL OF SERIALS

Check out our Wall of Serials where we have a dedicated page showing you ACTIVE stories:

Visit the Wall

We are now officially at 2,000+ subscribers! YAY!

It was a long time coming but I knew we’d get here in time. I don’t like to set goals that I have no control over, so, while I want us to all take a moment to be proud of this accomplishment, I much rather look forward to things that Top in Fiction can control; such as promoting as much fiction as humanly possible!

So, please do make sure you’re letting Top in Fiction know about any great fiction you’re reading (or writing) week-over-week as we are constantly looking for new and fresh stories to share! Every Friday the form opens up for new work and closes Sunday evenings. Plenty of time to let me know! I’d love for us to get back to the early days when we received upwards of 60+ (sometimes 75+!!) submissions every week! Make my job of finding the best of the best that much harder!

The Ultimate Serialized Fiction Discussion!

The date and time is officially set! Mark your calendars for TOMORROW, Wednesday, March 25th @ 3:30pm EST / 12:30pm PST / 7:30pm GMT where I’ll be joined by none other than and ! Some of the leading leaders and voices when it comes to serialized fiction here on Substack.

A few weeks ago I reached out to the fiction community of serial fiction writers and asked them to answer 5 questions. Well, I’ve got the results and now the three of us will discuss them as well as other things all related to serialized fiction and hopefully help those who are in the weeds or on the fence to make the experience for readers even better!

SUBSCRIBER UPDATES

Help us reach the goal of paying fiction writers for their work to appear exclusively on Top in Fiction by becoming a MONTHLY subscriber! Upgrade today!

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!

MICRO/FLASH FICTION

Venket's special masala chai is all you need by of The Indian Story [Literary Fiction]
Mr. Venket Nadar was the only one on the road to Madurai who sold tea at his Madras Coffee Shop. (First Line)

Well Deserved by of Majeris Reads & Writes [Science Fiction]
Nope, being Human, it’s just too much work. (Any Line)

The Green Man by of BoomerSpeak [Speculative Fiction]
He reached down with his strong, tangled hands and lifted me to my feet. (Any Line)

PICK ‘EM UP, DROP ‘EM OFF by of Whitfield Fahrenheit [Speculative Fiction]
He cranked the wheel to the right, cut across three lanes of traffic, and ran over a couple of construction cones as he connected with the offramp. (Any Line)

Car by of The Cat Mother Writes [Speculative Fiction]
They’d let the growling go on for way too long. (Any Line)

Seed of Light by of Fantasy and Fellowship [Fantasy]
Aurelia stood at the edge of the Blight-stricken forest, its stench gagging her and stinging her eyes. (First Line)

SHORT STORY

Jerryfish by of Chad’s Substack [Speculative Fiction]
But when the first smell of the sea breeze wafted in the windows of the car, something happened to Jerry. (Any Line)

The House That Sighs by of C.C. Harlow [Historical Fiction]
Last night, I dreamt I went to Holloway again. (First Line)

The Man Without a Badge by of Snark Floats [Historical Fiction]
But as I opened the door of my parents’ bedroom, the mingled smells of copper and death hit me so hard I doubled over. (Any Line)

Bread and Rainbow Skin by of Aseel Ayelia [Literary Fiction]
God forbid the town people remember that the wicked daughter of their decent mayor got knocked up in high school. (Any Line)

WALL OF SERIALS

Check out our Wall of Serials where we have a dedicated page showing you ACTIVE stories:

Visit the Wall

SPRING FEVER IS HERE!

The event to kick off the Spring season is coming this Friday, March 20th! Don’t miss it! Follow for up to the minute updates.

THE MURDER ROOM UPDATE!

We’ve done our very first Cross-Post today. As I’m not 100% sure how it all works, I’ll be relying on you to tell me if this idea is worth it. I believe an email should’ve been sent to everyone sharing the story that included a blurb at the top:

If you’d like to submit an artifact for our Murder Room you can learn all about it by reading THIS POST.

OTHER NEWS OF NOTE

I can’t believe it’s March already! I’m looking at my calendar of events for Top in Fiction in the 2nd half of this year and there are many. I just want to share the State of the Union post here with you as a reminder of what’s coming! We will have a bit of down time this April and May but after that, WATCH OUT! Cause the 2nd half of this year is going to fly by and I want to make sure you don’t miss anything! Some things to look forward to:

• TiF Summit 2027 Sign-Up

• Super Secret Writing Event

• These Wicked Things Event (2027 Anthology Opportunity)

• Pentober 2026

And much more! READ THIS POST AND MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

SUBSCRIBER UPDATES

If you want to help us reach that goal, become a MONTHLY update today!

Update to Paid

Leave a comment

Do you have a question you’d like to ask the readers/writers in our little fiction community? Let me know in the comments and I just might select it for a future weekly issue!

- , 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!

MICRO/FLASH FICTION

Bee by of Chad’s Substack [Speculative Fiction]
I won’t eat your jam and you don’t eat my biscuits and we’ll get along fine. (Any Line)

Death in the North by of Dave Boyko [Horror]
Jack managed a wry smile, “I think at one point, I hoped that I could become a vampire… but my body is too old… and I miss Danielle too much…”: (Any Line)

White Room by of In Search of Lost Time [Speculative Fiction]
I’d been home for the past three days, recovering from a severe leg injury; otherwise I’d already gone over and given them a piece of my mind. (Any Line)

SHORT STORY

The Long Dark by of J.M. Gooding [Horror]
Half the town leaves because they say the Taqriaqsuq walk when the sun goes down. (First Line)

Eye of the Storm by of Hawk & Heron [Speculative Fiction]
Bowen realized some people, maybe the majority, were going to fight against this change, which is like a person arguing with themselves—even if you win, you lose. (Any Line)

Endgam8 by of The Vermilion Border [Science Fiction]
Twenty minutes later I was on the highway in my Civic, hauling ass down I-5 toward the Bay with my heart scraping against the inside of my ribcage and a Beretta 9mm in the glove box. (Any Line)

The Last of the Gen Xers by of Free Friday Fiction [Climate Fiction]
A chain link fence separated the meticulous metal roads, wind turbines, and skyscrapers of the Canadian Colonies from the reforested buffer zone to the States of Freedom. (Any Line)

SHORT SERIAL

Layer 1 [Till Death Do Us Partition, Pt. 1] by of Graphomania [Science Fiction]
If God is alive, then He certainly must live in the machine; otherwise, how could He bear not to flood this creation? (Any Line)

Honey Trap [Pt. V] by of Writing Wrongs [Mystery]
“As much as these formal affairs are under strict security and the invitees are carefully scrutinized you would be shocked…despite all these measures, as much as a third of that ballroom might be foreign intelligence of some sort.” (Any Line)

SERIAL

Treachery and Tales [The Huntsman's Widow, Ch. 7] by of Smatterings [Fantasy]
Our repeated calls for Gilnor go unanswered. (First Line)

WALL OF SERIALS

Check out our Wall of Serials where we have a dedicated page showing you ACTIVE stories:

Visit the Wall

Last week I woke up and decided I wanted to find out first hand “what the heck is going on with serialized fiction on Substack?” But I want to do more than just answer that already complex and multi-layered question. I want to deep dive in and find out if there are answers to my questions or just more questions? So, I put a call out to everyone here who writes serialized fiction or have written (or plan to write) serialized fiction to reach out to me. I came up with 5 simple questions that I hope will undoubtedly answer more questions than they create once combined with as many volunteers willing to answer them. And as always the community did not disappoint! We got nearly 70 brave souls willing to answer the call and these 5 questions!

In just a few short weeks I will be joined by and to analyze, discuss, dissect, and perhaps see how we can take the tools we have, combined with our obvious love of storytelling, and make the journey forward the best it can be!

Look for a more specific date and time for this HUGE Substack Live to be announced SOON! I suggest following me on Substack Notes as I’m most likely to mention it there first.

SPRING FEVER IS HERE!

Do you feel it? There is a certain warmth coming in and melting all the snow (at least where I am) but with it come strange happenings I can’t quite describe. Just ask all about it as she’s putting together a lovely writing event for everyone who wants to participate. You can read more about it by clicking the image below:

But the most important thing to remember is the deadline is March 16th! Get your ideas and stories written in time, then join us as we go Live (along with all the stories) on March 20th!

THE MURDER ROOM UPDATE!

As you know, the Murder Room opened on February 16th for submissions and we plan on revealing TWO this month! This is a cross-post opportunity between Top in Fiction and the writers who are chosen!

This is an open-ended event and opportunity for you to get your writing style out to 2k+ subscribers! March 10th and March 24th at 12pm EST. Mark your calendars as Top in Fiction treads into a new frontier this year.

If you’d like to submit an artifact for our Murder Room you can learn all about it by reading THIS POST.

EYE SEE YOU (A HORROR ANTHOLOGY) UPDATE

As you know, this is TiF Press’s first ever publication and we want to make sure we get it right. To that end, I am sitting on my hands as I practice patience, waiting for the 2nd proof copy to come in the mail. And praying that it’s right this time! I’ve decided not to go Live this time when it comes in. I will, instead, just share an update with those contributors in the book. However, if it is right you’ll be the 2nd to know! It will mean I can move forward to starting the engine on getting pre-order links, etc. to all of you who I know are waiting just as patiently to show your support to the writers in this anthology!

OTHER NEWS OF NOTE

I can’t believe it’s March already! I’m looking at my calendar of events for Top in Fiction in the 2nd half of this year and there are many. I just want to share the State of the Union post here with you as a reminder of what’s coming! We will have a bit of down time this April and May but after that, WATCH OUT! Cause the 2nd half of this year is going to fly by and I want to make sure you don’t miss anything! Some things to look forward to:

• TiF Summit 2027 Sign-Up

• Super Secret Writing Event

• These Wicked Things Event (2027 Anthology Opportunity)

• Pentober 2026

And much more! READ THIS POST AND MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

SUBSCRIBER UPDATES

We are 32 subscribers away from 2,000 but more importantly, we are 8 Monthly Paid Subscribers away from our goal of paying for short story fiction and opening up our TiF Short Story of the Month Club!

If you want to help us reach that goal, become a MONTHLY update today!

Update to Paid

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

I’ve been going above and beyond when it comes to my plan to write a mystery series by reading and watching all things Agatha Christie. Do you ever go deep on a passion project before you endeavor to do it yourself? Are you in the middle of doing just that right now? What are you learning/reading/watching/eating? Share your latest obsession(s) and why you’re so obsessed now!

Leave a comment

Do you have a question you’d like to ask the readers/writers in our little fiction community? Let me know in the comments and I just might select it for a future weekly issue!

- , 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

Unfolding the Eternal Now by of Beyond the Therapy Room [Free Verse]
You asked me to be with you (First Line)

MICRO/FLASH FICTION

Situation Critical by of Son of Ugly [Mystery]
It’s my worst dream but I’m fully awake. (First Line)

Dragons, Those Majestic Creatures; Dragons, Those Monstrous Things by of Hatching Stories [Fantasy]
Fools! Those naive, dragon-worshipping fools! (Any Line)

Disco Inferno by of Magical Musings with MeBrady [Speculative Fiction]
The Velvet Underground was a second-rate disco club before the meteors fell. (First Line)

The phantom of free coffee by of Tredecko [Literary Fiction]
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but this stamp card expired,” said the barista. (First Line)

Bedtime Routine by of The Butchered Writers [Horror]
“Maybe you don’t see her because she looks like you." (Any Line)

SHORT STORY

What Passes Down by of Talebones
The nursing home hallway yawned ahead of me like the too-bright aisle of an unadorned church, lined with its stooped congregants and hallowed doorways; I tried to smile at each one as I passed them, looking for the right room number. (First Line)

State Trooper by of Nathan Hatch [Horror]
A dark river flows in conjunction with an endless stretch of synthetic black poison. (First Line)

SHORT SERIAL

Wake me up in Dystopia [Third Part] by of In a Different Place [Science Fiction]
They can’t stop your brain’s deeper instinct from shifting your eyes into the periphery, just in case. (Any Line)

SERIAL

A Dread Tide Rising [Chapter 34] by of Blackspire [Historical]
A bell tolled somewhere in the distance. (First Line)

WALL OF SERIALS

Check out our Wall of Serials where we have a dedicated page showing you ACTIVE stories:

Visit the Wall

Typically, when I’m late with sending these weekly emails there is always a reason. In this case, as it’s been for the past year, I’m thinking about serial fiction and the writers of serial fiction. How best to showcase the work that, actually, so many are doing, have been doing, and are considering starting up later this year? Unlike any other aspect of fiction writing, this one really does keep me up at night. And so…

CALLING ALL SERIAL FICTION WRITERS

* Past, Present, and Future

I have 4 questions that I’d love for you to answer. My idea is that everyone who writes serial fiction should answer them. The questions have nothing to do with your specific serial fiction and more to do with the how and the why. I’d like to go about writing up a large Post here specific to serial fiction with your answers. I may even do another Live where your answers are discussed with some old and new serial fiction writers from our very own community later on.

If you’d like to help me by answering just 4 questions, DM and say, “I write serial fiction. What are your 4 questions?” and I’ll share them with you. All I ask is that you are actively, or have in the past, written and shared your serial fiction on Substack. If you are seriously considering putting up your own serial fiction on Substack, then say, “I intend ot write serial fiction. What are your 4 questions?” and I’ll share them with you.

SUBSCRIBER UPDATES

We are 32 subscribers away from 2,000 but more importantly, we are 8 Monthly Paid Subscribers away from our goal of paying for short story fiction and opening up our TiF Short Story of the Month Club!

If you want to help us reach that goal, become a MONTHLY update today!

Update to Paid

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Not so much a question but a POLL of the week! We’ve had some amazing contenders for our very first Murder Room display case! Now, without knowing who wrote it (please if you know this is you DO NOT share a link to your story or reveal who you are!) which piques your interest to want to know more about from our rather eccentric tour guide?

In truth, we may cross-post ALL of the stories but your vote will help us decide the order! You have 7 days.

Leave a comment

Do you have a question you’d like to ask the readers/writers in our little fiction community? Let me know in the comments and I just might select it for a future weekly issue!

- , 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

Her Silent Song by of Mythscape [Free Verse]
He sits in the midst of this moss-clad wood, and the whole world breathes within him. (First Line)

MICRO/FLASH FICTION

Three Steps, Pause, and Turn by of Stories Sown With Hope [Fantasy]
Out from behind the rock clambered a bold little man, a brilliant red feather stuck in his equally brilliant red hat. (Any line.)

The Worst Valentine’s Ever by of Saint-Lazare, Writer [Horror]
The day of love became the day of rage and depression, on an international scale. (Any Line)

SHORT STORY

Penal Art by of Mediterranean Gothic [Horror]
Breathing had become a decision between two kinds of pain. (Any Line)

Sassafras and flatrabbit by of The Strangeness Kit [Romance]
Jean was unlovely on the outside but radiant within. (Any Line)

Nothing Personal by of Anton Anderson [Speculative Fiction]
In which café is the assassin meeting being held? (Any Line)

Welcome Eternal, Your Helpful Mind AI by of Reflecting on Aspects of Writing [Science Fiction]
Eternal is our best AI model yet. (First Line)

The Company She Kept by of Wright Stories: Funny, Dark, Suspenseful Tales [Literary Fiction]
Men have only one thing on their minds, Mama once said when Beth was fifteen and looking forward to her first high school dance. (Any Line)

SHORT SERIAL

Out of the Frying Pan - 5 by of LEAVES [Comedy]
“I never was in jail once in my whole life, Haylene, and because a you, I been locked up twice in two days..." (Any Line)

SERIAL

Kindred Spirits [Chapter 1] by of Through a Glass, Darkly [Mystery]
“I hate this guy,” Veronica Wilson announced as she stared at the television in disbelief. (First Line)

WALL OF SERIALS

Check out our Wall of Serials where we have a dedicated page showing you ACTIVE stories:

Visit the Wall

Top in Fiction News

Yesterday, announced their Season 7 Quarterfinalists across their main, 1-page, and short story (prose) categories. And wouldn’t you know it, some from our very own community made it to this round! Congratulations to , , and ! If you made it to the Quarterfinals, let us know in the comments!

has cooked up a brand new Spring of an idea and she’s graciously asked Top in Fiction to assist in bringing it to as many people as possible. Learn all about the Spring Fever! Horror in Bloom Substack Event and we’ll both see you on March 20th with your stories ready for a Sprint awakening unlike any other!

THE MURDER ROOM is officially OPEN for submissions! If you’re a writer, this is a great opportunity to get your work cross-posted on Top in Fiction! It will also be featured prominently in our museum room filled with artifacts of your creation. Read all about it HERE. And if you’re a reader, be prepared for actual fiction stories to be shared. Beginning a whole new chapter in what Top in Fiction shares.

The EYE SEE YOU (A HORROR ANTHOLOGY) is nearing the point of being available to pre-order!! I’m expecting the Proof Copy in the mail some time today when I hope to do a Live Substack unboxing! If you don’t want to miss it, make sure you’re following to get notified when I go Live via the Substack app. This anthology that features 18 fiction writers will be available to purchase as an Ebook and paperback very soon!

An update on the TiF Short Story of the Month Club! What is it? An opportunity for Top in Fiction to feature exclusive short stories where we pay the writers once we reach at least 10 monthly paid subscribers. How can you join? Just become a monthly paid subscriber at $5 / $10 / $20 a month. From now on I will include the below bar to keep track of when we reach our goal and open up this feature. As members of the TiF Short Story of the Month Club it will entitle you to have access to the featured short story for one week before it’s released to everyone else to read.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Spring is drawing near and there’s no better time than now to think about our plans. Some like to do some cleaning, others look forward to what may start to bloom, and some of us just long for a time when the damn snow will finally be all gone! What are you looking forward to doing most this Spring?

I’ll share my answer in the comments and you should too!

Leave a comment

Do you have a question you’d like to ask the readers/writers in our little fiction community? Let me know in the comments and I just might select it for a future weekly issue!

- , 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!

SHORT STORY

Dragon Spurs: Nik's Tale by of Christopher Dale Roberts [Fantasy]
You are about to enter a world where swords are the weapons of choice, but it is not the Middle Ages. (First Line)

Resurrection Photo by of Deadwater Inn [Speculative Fiction]
“I’m telling you, it was a job well done.” (First Line)

we wasn't no good together by of Disorder [Literary Fiction]
Yeah, the night I’m thinking of probably should of told me that we wasn’t no good together, me and my ex, but I still hung on longer, almost the same way that old bar of soap hangs around on lip of the tub, broke damn in half, barely of use, but still too early for that trash bin. (Any Line)

The Storyteller by of Hannah S. [Literary Fiction]
At lunchtimes Casey Robertson sat outside on the snowy stoop of her middle school building writing stories about the Nebraska Night Stalker. (First Line)

Deceit of the Devout by of Daria [Science Fiction]
And now she had to go back and tell everyone that the very thing that had brought the galaxy together into a time of peace was all based on the lies of a murderer. (Last Line)

Georgia Coffee by of Oscar Ruto [Literary Fiction]
“What I do is art,” she insisted. (First Line)

Smokey by of Norm DePlume [Literary Fiction]
He knew the feeling because Saul had murdered seven people, so far. (Any Line)

SHORT SERIAL

Stillard by of Writing on a Whim
As soon as our car drove into Stillard, a neighborhood that was described as a bustling and fast-growing community in the heart of Brownwood, I knew a false picture had been fabricated. (First Line)

The Lantern Bearer Part 1 [The Lantern Bearer, Ch.1] by of Stories Have Power [Fantasy]
Kira drifted through the battlefield, alone, with a lantern only the dead could see. (First Line)

SERIAL

Ambulance Bus [NextGen, Ch.1] by of NextGen [Speculative Fiction]
The song in Henry Simon’s head began with the scattering of crows. (First Line)

WALL OF SERIALS

Check out our Wall of Serials where we have a dedicated page showing you ACTIVE stories:

Visit the Wall

Top in Fiction News

Next week Tuesday the wait is over. If you tuned in to our TiF State of the Union then you heard me talk about The Murder Room. If you’re a writer, you’ll want to get in on this opportunity to be immortalized. If you’re a reader, you’ll want to get in line for a ticket to enter The Murder Room and discover things you can’t even begin to imagine!

The space has been cleared. The cases are ready for your work. The date where all will be revealed is February 17th. Are you ready?

Short Story of the Month Club update - There’s always time to support your local fiction writer! One great way to do that is by becoming a MONTHLY subscriber of Top in Fiction. With your monthly contribution you can be directly responsible for paying a writer for their work that will be prominently featured on Top in Fiction as well as TiF Press. The writer will be paid from 100% of one month of Top in Fiction earnings from our monthly subscribers! That could be you! But, before we can make this happen, we need at least 10 monthly subscribers.

As of today we have 2 paid monthly subscribers. Just 8 more to go and opportunity will await one lucky fiction writer every single month! And as a thank you for your contribution all monthly paid subscribers will get to read the Short Story of the Month one week before everyone else! » UPGRADE TO MONTHLY PAID HERE «

I have it on good authority that a writing event is imminent. Organized by another but she’s entrusted me to use the mighty power of Top in Fiction to share this news! Look for a very special TiF Disruption this Friday, February 13th for all relevant information!

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What are you reading this week/month? Drop the title and author. I could use some new material!

I’ll share my answer in the comments and you should too!

Leave a comment

Do you have a question you’d like to ask the readers/writers in our little fiction community? Let me know in the comments and I just might select it for a future weekly issue!

- , 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!

The White Horse [Tales from the Triverse] by of Write More with Simon K Jones
[Serial | Science Fiction]
The pub glowed in the early evening, a beacon in the gathering dark. (First Line)

Remote Relationship by of Ruth O’Reilly
[Micro/Flash Fiction | Romance]
For once I don't want to be found. (Last Line)

Stormkeepers by of Of Turtles and Talking Stones
[Short Story | Fantasy]
People were never sure what Maria and Shoshana were. (Any Line)

Double-Stitched by of Patrick Parker’s Myth Engine
[Short Story | Horror]
Aveline spun, clutching the towel to her chest with one arm as her other hand snatched the butcher knife off the counter. (Any Line)

The Shortcut by of A Fictionalized Account
[Short Story | Horror]
In order to cross, you had to admit that the other world was impossible and then step into it anyway. (Any Line)

Spring Break by of Wright Stories: Funny, Dark, Suspenseful Tales
[Short Story | Literary Fiction]
Eddie Mac turned a page in the sports section of the Richmond Times-Dispatch and looked up at the ceiling as he heard water running in the plumbing. (First Line)

THE LIGHT by of Whitfield Fahrenheit
[Micro/Flash Fiction | Speculative Fiction]
I don’t think I can handle what’s coming. (Any Line)

Death by Misadventure by of Tales at Twilight
[Short Story | Speculative Fiction]
‘Is this really necessary?’ (First Line)

Questions [Boston Burglar, Chapter Three] by of Jolie Tunnell, Author
[Short Serial | Mystery]
I kept one hand on my hat and the other on my stomach that niggled at me in premonitions of worse things to come. (Any Line)

Feuerbach's World by of Grim Acres
[Short Story | Science Fiction]
"The crash had not been kind to the pack, and a part of Marek was secretly terrified that the contents had been wrecked by their sudden stop after the fall." (Any Line)

WALL OF SERIALS (New Section)

Check out our Wall of Serials where we have a dedicated page showing you ACTIVE stories:

Visit the Wall

Top in Fiction News

With January complete, the first Monthly Recap of 2026 is coming tomorrow. Till then, enjoy the 10 stories for this week.

TiF PRESS ANTHOLOGY UPDATE

I’ve made the difficult decision of publishing the 2026 anthologies with FREE ISBN’s. While I have enough to purchase 1 ISBN for $125, that is just not a “good deal” when 10 ISBN’s can be purchased for $295 and I’d rather hold out till Top in Fiction has earned enough money to make that purchase.

What does using FREE ISBN’s mean for the two anthologies being published this year?

For now, it won’t change distribution. I’ve decided to use the ISBN’s for the Print versions of each book. There will be Ebooks available to purchase as well, only be available directly on the TiF Press website. This will allow two things:

1. All of the author’s in each book will be able to have their name on places like Amazon, B&N, etc. I know the feeling of going on a bookstore site and searching my name and seeing a book I’m in listed there with my name. This mean the book can also be added on Goodreads (coming soon!).

2. 100% of ebook sales will go to the authors instead of giving a percentage to the distributor first.

When TiF Press is able to purchase 10 ISBN’s will the 2026 anthologies get a reprint?

Yes! Both books will get a “Special Edition” release (Print version only) that will each include a brand new short story. And as a Thank You to helping us purchase our own ISBN’s with our Imprint, all who’ve purchased the Ebook will receive a FREE update that will include the additional short story.

Want to help us get closer to acquiring our own ISBNs?

Become a Monthly Paid subscriber here for $5/M, or here for $10/M. We also have a $20/M option by removing the pre-applied discount on the two lower tiers.

At this time, any Annual or Founding member subscriber funds are being used to acquire our own ISBNs with our TiF Press Imprint.

Short Story of the Month Club Update - We still only have 2 Monthly Paid subscribers. Just a reminder that once we reach our goal of 10 Monthly Paid subscribers we will start the process of featuring exclusive short stories here on Top in Fiction where we intend on using the Monthly subscriber payouts to pay the writer. Want to help us reach that goal?

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What do you do for enjoyment, when you need a good laugh? When you need to unwind and escape from the tragic mess the world is in.

I’ll share my answer in the comments and you should too!

Leave a comment

Do you have a question you’d like to ask the readers/writers in our little fiction community? Let me know in the comments and I just might select it for a future weekly issue!

- , Editor-in-Chief 😈

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

Share

The Lady and the Lake by of Tales of Calamity and Triumph
[Short Story | Fantasy]
Marcos Leopold Claudius was a devil of a man, a charming dandy whose penchant for breaking hearts and marriages saw him run out of Vida Lucaris before his twenty-first birthday. (Any Line)

Housebreaker by of The Strangeness Kit
[Short Story | Literary Fiction]
It was a heist within a heist. (First Line)

Deadwater Inn by of Deadwater Inn
[Short Story | Speculative Fiction]
Harlan set two cloudy glasses of scotch on the table and slid into a rickety chair. (First Line)

Dawn Has No Mercy [City of Saints, Ch. 4] by of The Historical Novelist
[Short Serial | Historical Fiction]
“Do you really need to do this?” Frederick asks the executioners. (Any Line)

The Doublet Soliloquies by of LEAVES
[Micro/Flash Fiction | Literary Fiction]
How long’s she gonnae put up wi’ these numpties? (Any Line)

The Dark Orchard [Vastland, Ch. 52] by of Vastland: A Novel
[Serial | Science Fiction]
The moment Emélie came through the Gate, she understood two things: first, that she had been here before. (First Line)

Crossing the Bridge by of The Sudden Walk
[Short Story | Speculative Fiction]
In every memory I leave the man on the bridge behind, though in some versions I do work up the nerve to stay and chat a little longer. (Any Line)

Battle Blue by of BoomerSpeak
[Short Story | Historical Fiction]
The ship pulled slightly to the right as a gentle wind caught her sails and nudged the Ulfich closer to the shoreline. (First Line)

Redcaps and White Knights by of Doctor Eclectic
[Short Story | Fantasy]
“Why am I pretending to have a toothache?” groused Quetzal, my dinosaur best friend and salsa-dancing partner. (First Line)

Last Shot by of In Search of Last Time
[Micro/Flash Fiction | Literary Fiction]
I brushed the unwashed curtain aside and went in. (First Line)

WALL OF SERIALS (New Section)

Check out our Wall of Serials where we have a dedicated page showing you ACTIVE stories:

Visit the Wall

Top in Fiction News

With January nearly complete, the first Monthly Recap of 2026 is happening next week Wednesday. Till then, enjoy the 10 stories for this week.

FOR WRITERS - Make sure you’ve got TiF Notifications turned ON because announcements about how to participate in The Murder Room will be coming soon.

FOR READERS - Pre-orders for our Eye See You Anthology should be ready by late February!

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What authors are your favorite? Prove it! Do you own all of the books they ever wrote? Have you read their books over and over again? Maybe you own multiples of the same book?

I’ll share my answer in the comments and you should too!

Leave a comment

Do you have a question you’d like to ask the readers/writers in our little fiction community? Let me know in the comments and I just might select it for a future weekly issue!

- , Editor-in-Chief 😈

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

Share