NOTE: Apologies for the late email. Illness, as always, is running rampant through my house. This email was intended for Wednesday, March 4th.
February being a short month still managed to bring some great stories worth reading. Here are some callbacks as well as a some new stories we’ve yet to feature for your reading pleasure.
But before you go, a few updates for both readers and writers of fiction:
SPRING FEVER IS HERE
On March 20th a group of brave souls will share their works. If you’d like to enter there is still plenty of time! The deadline to let Garen Marie know that you’ve written a story for this specific event is March 16th. Be sure to schedule your story for March 20th and be sure to follow us both as we will go Live on Substack on that very day. Find out more about this amazing event and ask any questions you may have, HERE.
UPDATES TO TIF PRESS AND TOP IN FICTION WEBSITES
I’ve taken some time to do a bit of “Spring Cleaning” and I’m still smack dab in the middle of it! But, I thought I’d share a few changes that I’ve done thus far:
I’ve taken down the link to the TiF Library temporarily. I’m working on officially making that our “archive” of previous years, thereby providing a brand new Library link that will only include 2026 submissions. I hope to have this all properly sorted by the Summer.
The TiF Events Calendar has officially been updated with nearly all major events that readers and writers alike may want to make note of and perhaps even set reminders to. You’ll find a convenient link to the Events Calendar on either the Top in Fiction or TiF Press menu bar.
The first ever Top in Fiction Monthly Meet-Up will take place in April. But, I’m asking all the writers in the community if this is something they’d be interested in having happen every month or even every other month? In the past, a monthly meet-up like this was hosted by Fictionistas. It has not happened in quite some time but I recall how helpful it was for me in my early days of using and navigating Substack and just being a fiction writer in general to have and to attend. Let me know in the comments, send me a private Note or email letting me know your thoughts and hopefully I’ll see you on April 13th!
Any errors seen below such as typos, miss-labeling of genre or category, wrong link, wrong person mentioned, etc. please state the error in the comments and I will update immediately. Mistakes can happen. I am only human.
POETRY
Her Silent Song by Maximilian Siddell of Mythscape [Free Verse]
MICRO/FLASH FICTION
Three Steps, Pause, and Turn by Stories Sown With Hope of Stories Sown With Hope [Fantasy]
Reconstruction by Elisabeth Grace Foley of The Second Sentence [Historical]
The Single Rose by Chris J. Franklin of Tales of the Zeitgeist [Comedy]
First Time Home Owners by The Butchered Writers of The Butchered Writers [Horror]
SHORT SERIAL
What Passes Down by S.E. Reid of Talebones
State Trooper by Nathan Hatch of Nathan Hatch [Horror]
The Long Dark by J.M. Gooding of J.M. Gooding [Horror]
The Revolution by Jenean McBrearty of Bent Eye [Speculative Fiction]
The Black Swan by L.G. Wells of Ink & Shadows [Horror]
SHORT SERIAL
Stillard [Part One] by Bri Heron of Writing on a Whim
The Lantern Bearer Part 1 [The Lantern Bearer, Ch.1] by Rob Mortell of Stories Have Power [Fantasy]
SERIAL
Treachery and Tales [The Huntsman's Widow, Ch. 7] by Larry Denninger of Smatterings [Fantasy]
It’s been a terrible winter/spring/more winter for illness. I hope your family is on the mend. Here’s hoping you stay healthy for a good long time now. Thanks for sharing that story, too.