Welcome to our weekly meet-up and open call for the best fiction of the week!
OPEN OCTOBER 11 - 12
Fiction Accepted:
Only fiction shared between October 5th - October 11th on Substack!
This open call will be available: NOW until 9pm EST on Saturday, October 12th.
Self-promotion of your fiction is welcome!
Leave a link of the story in the comments. Please say the GENRE as well (if applicable).
Submit as many as you want, so long as they were written and shared during the window mentioned above.
TEMPLATE FOR RECOMMENDATION
Copy/Paste in Comments Section. Anyone who does not use the template will be passed over for selection.
Story Title: Writer: [Substack Name] Genre: [See NOTE below] Type: [Choose 1: Poetry, Micro/Flash Fiction, Short Story, Short Serial, or Serial] URL: [Must be a Substack URL] Note: If you’d like to say a little something about your recommendation/self-promotion for anyone who happens upon this comments section in search of something new to read.
Genre can often be difficult to pin down or explain. And, if given the opportunity, we’d likely choose 3+ genres to try and explain our story but that can easily cause confusion for readers. So, I urge, nay INSIST, you only list ONE genre for your story. Using a “/” or “-” does not count as ONE genre and will be passed over for consideration. Some key exceptions are Sci-Fi, Cli-Fi, Spec-Fic, & Lit-Fic.
List of Popular Genre Fiction: Science-Fiction OR Sci-Fi / Literary Fiction OR Lit-Fic / Speculative Fiction OR Spec-Fic / Climate Fiction OR Cli-FI / Fantasy / Horror / Thriller / Romance / Historical / Mystery / Comedy / Folklore / Dystopian / Young Adult
This list is in no way “complete.” For instance, you may choose “Crime” in place of Mystery or “Suspense” in place of Thriller. There are hundreds of genres to choose from. A good source of research, if your story does not fit into one of the above commonly used fiction genres is this page.
Feel free to include “extra genres” in the Note area where you can say whatever you want about your story.
Look for our email on Monday, October 14th where the Top In Fiction list will appear in your inbox! You never know what new gems you’ll discover. All we ask in return is that you share Top In Fiction to your email list and Restack the post on Monday in Substack Notes.
Note: What drives our fascination with the forbidden? Why do we so often ignore warnings in pursuit of the unknown, only to regret it when it’s too late?
This haunting tale delves into the delicate balance between curiosity and consequence—proving that some mysteries are better left unsolved.
Note: QUIBBLE is a novel about far-future transhumanism set in the aftermath of a technological singularity. Previously in the story, Quibble destroyed an orb of Unity — an uncanny, unprecedented feat which suggests she might be an excelsior, a rare sort of One who has the powers of Zeros and a few others, uniquely hers. She was lured into doing this by the lady of kindness Vega, who was once her foster mother. Now, she learns the terrible fate of Citation, another excelsior Vega fostered, and gets a stern warning about her future from the lady of control Rasalased.
Note: It's about the tragic situation we all face of laying an egg and having to cope with the guilt of dragging a soul out from the soul ocean into a nasty icky corporeal existence. And revenge. And AI startups. And esoteric arcana.
Note: Tension escalates between four ex-convicts inside a women-only reintegration program with wild horses in the Canadian prairies. The intellectual disability of the younger one threatens the participants' chance at a steady future that they would secure if they complete the program's last task: crossing the country on horseback. Early on their journey, this dysfunctional quartet will be forced to work together when they're framed for a murder they didn't commit and set their mind on finding the real felons before they're sent back to prison.
Note: This is a feel good love story set in Texas about a cowboy getting a second chance at love with his high school sweetheart. This is the first chapter of my new story. It comes out on every Sunday.
Note: A character profile of the protagonist for the FORGED Series, Tessa Wright, shown through a narrative that includes poetry written by the character.
Note: Child of Light was previously featured in the Oct monthly recap (thank you again! ♡) but I just wanted to share that Chapter 4 is live! In chapter 4 a quiet day at the bookstore turns dark, leaving Elswyth with unanswered questions and a creeping sense of unease.
https://shieldbreakersaga.substack.com/p/the-last-of-the-etela-chapter-1?r=3bt5ex
Title: Last of the Etela, Chapter 1
Author: Tom Schecter
Genre: fantasy
Type: Serial
Note: Kareva has an impossible decision to make on his first evening in charge of his tribe.
What about a comic script or a completed comic short?
Hmm, I don’t see why not! That’s just another form of storytelling! By all means recommend it!
Thanks!!!
Title: The Ribbon
Writer: Ginger Bea
Genre: Thriller
Type: Short Story
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/gingerreadswrite/p/the-ribbon?r=4878oa&utm_medium=ios
Note: What drives our fascination with the forbidden? Why do we so often ignore warnings in pursuit of the unknown, only to regret it when it’s too late?
This haunting tale delves into the delicate balance between curiosity and consequence—proving that some mysteries are better left unsolved.
Story title: Quibble, chapter 26: Road
Writer: Joshua Lavender (Singular Dream)
Genre: Science fiction
Type: Serial
URL: https://singulardream.substack.com/p/quibble-chapter-26
Note: QUIBBLE is a novel about far-future transhumanism set in the aftermath of a technological singularity. Previously in the story, Quibble destroyed an orb of Unity — an uncanny, unprecedented feat which suggests she might be an excelsior, a rare sort of One who has the powers of Zeros and a few others, uniquely hers. She was lured into doing this by the lady of kindness Vega, who was once her foster mother. Now, she learns the terrible fate of Citation, another excelsior Vega fostered, and gets a stern warning about her future from the lady of control Rasalased.
Story Title: Beatitude
Writer: Handbuzzer Studio Exposes . . . MS Ricketts’ Stash
Genre: Comedy
Type: Serial
URL: https://markscottricketts.substack.com/p/beatitude-7
Story Title: Eggitude Probing
Writer: A.P. Murphy
Genre: Speculative
Type: Short Serial (2 parts)
URL: https://thestrangenesskit.substack.com/p/eggitude-probing-part-1-of-2
https://thestrangenesskit.substack.com/p/eggitude-probing-part-2finale
Note: It's about the tragic situation we all face of laying an egg and having to cope with the guilt of dragging a soul out from the soul ocean into a nasty icky corporeal existence. And revenge. And AI startups. And esoteric arcana.
Title: The Supply Officer, Part 2/2
Writer: Ken Wolfson
Genre: Science Fiction
Type: Mini Serial
URL: https://kenwolfson.substack.com/p/the-supply-officer-part-22?r=2f2488
Story Title: "Gentle Men"
Writer: David Perlmutter
Genre: Fantasy
Type: Short Story
URL: https://davidperlmutter.substack.com/p/gentle-men
Story Title: Blorphin Zibble Wobblebin
Writer: Irshaad
Genre: Humor
Type: Flash Fiction
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/unfinishedspeedwriting/p/blorphin-zibble-wobblebin?r=2qufyf&utm_medium=ios
Note: Short and silly bit of humor spun out from a truly ridiculous seed sentence.
Story Title: The Tisdale House: A Halloween Story
Writer: Richard Bryant
Genre: Gothic
Type: Short Story
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/richardlbryant/p/the-tisdale-house?r=2qufyf&utm_medium=ios
Note: A nicely framed atmospheric story I read on Substack - short, to the point, and a nice moment at the end.
Story Title: Dry Bread ain't Greasy
Writer: Remi K. Chevalier
Genre: Drama, Neo-western
Type: Serial
URL: https://drybread.substack.com/p/i-bunny-ears-bunny-ears
Note: Tension escalates between four ex-convicts inside a women-only reintegration program with wild horses in the Canadian prairies. The intellectual disability of the younger one threatens the participants' chance at a steady future that they would secure if they complete the program's last task: crossing the country on horseback. Early on their journey, this dysfunctional quartet will be forced to work together when they're framed for a murder they didn't commit and set their mind on finding the real felons before they're sent back to prison.
Story Title: Wildcatter
Writer: Karl K. Gallagher's Stories
Genre: Hard Science Fiction
Type: Short Story
URL: https://gallagherstories.substack.com/p/wildcatter
Note: This is on the long side for short stories (8k words).
Story Title: The Adventures of Seeker and the Serpents
Writer: @augustwritesabook
Genre: Sci-Fi
Type: Serial
URL: https://augustwritesabook.substack.com/p/deja-vu-dinner
Note: Free forever and just launched this week! Planning to run Season 1 through January.
Story Title: Good Fences
Writer: Kerry Sutherland
Genre: Horror
Type: Microfiction/Flash Fiction
URL: https://thinkingincapitals.substack.com/p/good-fences
Title: Detroit Morning
Writer: Thomas Foydel
Genre: Literary Fiction
Type: Short Story
Url: https://falsechoices.substack.com/p/detroit-morning
Note: I must admit that the main action is true. Enjoy!
Title: Where God Once Lay
Writer: Keith Loser
Genre: Horror
Type: Short Story
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/losersflashfiction/p/anthology-short-where-god-once-lay?r=3517l8&utm_medium=ios
Note: 2nd of 5 stories in Anthology of Hidden Places
Title: Epirus
Writer: Oscar Ruto
Genre: Literally fiction
Type: Short story
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/oscarruto/p/epirus?utm_source=app-post-stats-page&r=1of53q&utm_medium=ios
Note: What is the first thing you hear when you land in a war zone? You’re the villain.
Story Title: What's a Dragon?
Writer: Dragon Writer Luc
Genre: Fantasy
Type: Serial
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/dragonwriterluc/p/whats-a-dragon-chapter-14
Note: Reconnaissance takes many different forms.
Story Title: My First Kisment Christmas
Writer: Allie Bock
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Type: Serial
URL:https://alliebock.substack.com/p/the-beginning-of-a-love-story
Note: This is a feel good love story set in Texas about a cowboy getting a second chance at love with his high school sweetheart. This is the first chapter of my new story. It comes out on every Sunday.
Story Title: Pretoria, 1976 - Stupid resting
Writer: Sue Meredith Mann—On the Road to Jericho
Genre: Literary Fiction
Type: Serial
URL: https://ontheroadtojericho.substack.com/p/pretoria-1976-stupid-resting-f91
Note: In the stillness of the afternoon, Eleanor creates her own magical realm. While another toils.
Story Title: The Yogin
Writer: Ranjit More
Genre: Speculative Fiction
Type: Short Story
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/ranjitmore/p/the-yogin-a-short-story?r=4ip9lo&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Story Title: Domestication
Writer: Jimmy Gardner
Genre: Horror
Type: Short Fiction
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/cleanchaos/p/domesticated?r=287ik&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Note: Hi! This is the first issue in my October series of horror shorts. For cat lovers. Kinda.
Story Title: It Takes Two
Writer: Scott MacLeod/Son of Ugly
Genre: Noir
Type: Flash Fiction
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/sonofugly/p/it-takes-two?r=2sz29p&utm_medium=ios
Note: Crime flash with a witch!
Story Title: UNFILTERED
Writer: Harsh Munjal
Genre: Comedy
Type: Short Story
URL: https://harshmunjal.substack.com/p/unfiltered-canine-commentary?r=axagv
Note: I usually don't write comedy, but here it is.
Story Title: Roko’s Lathe™
Writer: M.P. Fitzgerald, Graphomania
Genre: Sci-Fi
Type: Short Story
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/mpfitzgerald/p/rokos-lathe?r=3u6fp1&utm_medium=ios
Note: A darkly humorous cyberpunk story picking fun at tech bro keynote speeches by the author of “A Happy Bureaucracy”.
Story Title: Shattered Dreams: Meet the Teen Uprooted from the Wilds
Writer: @cbmason
Genre: YA Dystopian
Type: Short Story
URL: https://cbmason.substack.com/p/shattered-dreams-meet-teen-uprooted-from-wilds
Note: A character profile of the protagonist for the FORGED Series, Tessa Wright, shown through a narrative that includes poetry written by the character.
Story Title: Inspiration: The Sudden Urge to Bury Yourself Alive When Something Embarassing Happens
Writer: Jess Mae
Genre: Romance
Type: Micro Fiction
URL: https://substack.com/home/post/p-149858665
Story Title: Arbiter's Mantle
Writer: Walker Kuykendall of Scattered Lore
Genre: Fantasy
Type: Short Story
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/walkerkuykendall/p/arbiters-mantle?r=2owfln&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Story Title: Child of Light [Ch 4: Beware the Darkness]
Writer: Diana Hannay of Fickle and Whimsey
Genre: Fantasy
Type: Serial
URL: https://fickleandwhimsy.substack.com/p/child-of-light-chapter-4
Note: Child of Light was previously featured in the Oct monthly recap (thank you again! ♡) but I just wanted to share that Chapter 4 is live! In chapter 4 a quiet day at the bookstore turns dark, leaving Elswyth with unanswered questions and a creeping sense of unease.
Title: Waiting
Writer: @feastsandfables (Just Write, Right)
Genre: Art-Inspired Fiction
Type: Short Story
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/justwriteright/p/waiting-145?r=56lr6&utm_medium=ios