Welcome to our weekly meet-up and open call for the best fiction of the week!
OPEN OCTOBER 25 - 26
Fiction Accepted:
Only fiction shared between October 19th - October 25th on Substack!
This open call will be available: NOW until 9pm EST on Saturday, October 26th.
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 28th 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.
Bailey's telling of the valise and Eli's journal doesn't match what [ ] thinks she knows. Friday's 100-word story in Centenary, a serial novel unfolding at Living Well Towers.
Note: The chaos of the last three days continues as a lone crossbowman throws gasoline on an already raging fire. Iatr & Klem do their best to escape the authorities, only this time they're running from one of the kingdom's legendary Gale Knights - or as Iatr and Klem would describe it, "a magical cheater." And finally, there's a reason to be afraid of black cats in the dark. But you'll have to read to find out why.
Note: I think I'm going to stick with the 'lit fic' genre for my poetry, even if it is a bit offbeat in that regard. Can't think of another genre or sub-genre for it, anyhow. I don't think, idk, 'Plathian' with a hint of Dylan Thomas, could be construed as a genre.
Note: Hi, I’m starting out on Substack, serialising my first novel, a whodunnit style mystery, and I’d really appreciate any feed back from this incredibly community.
Story info: set in coastal town in England in 1995.
Brid O’Malley’s life finally starts to come together when she moves in with her best friend and the reclusive Diana Hunter.
But when strange events unfold, Brid, a rookie reporter, finds herself teaming up with Diana to investigate. As secrets surface and danger draws near, can the unlikely duo solve the mystery before it’s too late.
Story Title: I Tried to Ignore Him: Stricken with Misanthropy Writer: Irshaad Genre: Literary Fiction Type: Flash Fiction URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/unfinishedspeedwriting/p/i-tried-to-ignore-him?r=2qufyf&utm_medium=ios Note: This was written against a timer so it’s reasonably brief - written quickly, and quick to read. I put the genre as Literary Fiction although it could as well be classified as a bizarrely humorous character study. Either way, I hope you find it interesting and enjoyable to read. Thank you.
Note: A real estate developer gets more than he bargained for when a mysterious shop turns up in the mixed-use development where a pumpkin patch once stood.
Note: I've had the pleasure of reading an ARC of this novel in full, but the chapters are serializing here on Substack before publishing wide and I think today's chapter would be a great contender for top fiction this week!
So for THROWBACK THURSDAY, I put up my Novella THE BASHFUL COURTESAN, only this time I posted it with links to the chapters. Wayyy easier for everybody!
And then there's my STORIES, AFTER EIGHT with FREEDOM HOUSE. I put it down as Lit-fic because I didn't know where else to put it. It could be considered "historical," but I have a hard time thinking that something that happened in my own lifetime, is now considered "historical." When did I get THAT old?
Note: Every post of The Stories Music Tell Me is illustrated with embedded audio. This one is inspired by the cool Norwegian Espen Berg Trio, and their Scoddefall.
Note: A shorter version of this story was published many years ago in a chapbook (in case that disqualifies it), but I wasn't happy with it and rewrote it last week for Substack. It was posted here on the 20th. It's a fantasy short story inspired by two paintings by JW Waterhouse, a mysterious rock I once found on a beach, and Holst's Neptune from the Planet Suite.
Note: Inspired by a real-life tale shared by my Grandmother. On summer visits to her grandparents’ farm, young Katy discovers that life in the barnyard comes with its own set of unexpected lessons.
Note: Built around a video mashup made by me of the song by the artist Jamie xx "Gosh". The resulting video creates a cyberpunk-post-apocalyptic scenario.
Video included, so it's a sort of mini-AV installation, if you like
Story Title: Centenary Day 85: Bailey and [ ]
Writer: Andrew Horan
Genre: Literary Fiction
Type: Flash Fiction
URL:https://centenary.substack.com/p/day-85-bailey-and
Bailey's telling of the valise and Eli's journal doesn't match what [ ] thinks she knows. Friday's 100-word story in Centenary, a serial novel unfolding at Living Well Towers.
Story Title: Who Tends the Flames of Chaos
Writer: Robin George - Tales of the Godswood
Genre: Fantasy
Type: Serial - "Rundellfall"
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/robingeorge/p/who-tends-the-flames-of-chaos
Note: The chaos of the last three days continues as a lone crossbowman throws gasoline on an already raging fire. Iatr & Klem do their best to escape the authorities, only this time they're running from one of the kingdom's legendary Gale Knights - or as Iatr and Klem would describe it, "a magical cheater." And finally, there's a reason to be afraid of black cats in the dark. But you'll have to read to find out why.
Story Title: 'A Time Traveller's Fable'
Writer: The Common Centrist
Genre: Superhero
Type: Serial
URL: https://substack.com/home/post/p-149732167?r=2wu590&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Dystopian tale about the survivors of a war between superhumans and humans trying to time travel to undo the end of the world...
Story Titie: Last of the Etela, Chapter 2
Writer: Tom Schecter
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Type: Serial
URL: https://shieldbreakersaga.substack.com/p/the-last-of-the-etela-chapter-2
Title: Kundalini one to three
Writer: Evelyn Brunswick
Genre: Lit fic
Type: Poetry
URL: https://inadifferentplace.substack.com/p/kundalini-one-to-three?r=2s9hod
Note: I think I'm going to stick with the 'lit fic' genre for my poetry, even if it is a bit offbeat in that regard. Can't think of another genre or sub-genre for it, anyhow. I don't think, idk, 'Plathian' with a hint of Dylan Thomas, could be construed as a genre.
Title: Shadows in the spotlight - E2 Brid on the Skids
Writer: Mona Walsh
Genre: Mystery
Type: Serial
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/monawalsh/p/brid-on-the-move?r=4gpfb2&utm_medium=ios
Note: Hi, I’m starting out on Substack, serialising my first novel, a whodunnit style mystery, and I’d really appreciate any feed back from this incredibly community.
Story info: set in coastal town in England in 1995.
Brid O’Malley’s life finally starts to come together when she moves in with her best friend and the reclusive Diana Hunter.
But when strange events unfold, Brid, a rookie reporter, finds herself teaming up with Diana to investigate. As secrets surface and danger draws near, can the unlikely duo solve the mystery before it’s too late.
Story title: The Sunset Glowed A Blinding Red
Writer: Safa H
Genre: flash-fic
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/inkblotwriting/p/the-sunset-glowed-a-blinding-red?r=4at1ty&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
Note: they always follow the fire...
Story title: The Countess
Writer: Jack Conlan
Genre: Crime fiction
Type: Short story
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/jackconlan/p/the-countess?r=3oefic&utm_medium=ios
Note: Revenge and banking.
Story Title: The Pentagram
Writer: Paige Garland
Genre: Horror
Type: Flash Fiction
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/paigegarland/p/story-the-pentagram?r=2kavwf&utm_medium=ios
Story Title: I Tried to Ignore Him: Stricken with Misanthropy Writer: Irshaad Genre: Literary Fiction Type: Flash Fiction URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/unfinishedspeedwriting/p/i-tried-to-ignore-him?r=2qufyf&utm_medium=ios Note: This was written against a timer so it’s reasonably brief - written quickly, and quick to read. I put the genre as Literary Fiction although it could as well be classified as a bizarrely humorous character study. Either way, I hope you find it interesting and enjoyable to read. Thank you.
Story Title: Pumpkin Patch
Writer: John Coon
Genre: Horror
Type: Flash Fiction
URL: https://newworlds.substack.com/p/pumpkin-patch
Note: A real estate developer gets more than he bargained for when a mysterious shop turns up in the mixed-use development where a pumpkin patch once stood.
Story Title: Do you believe?
Writer: Wes Mann
Genre: Literary Fiction
Type: Flash Fiction
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/wesmann/p/do-you-believe?r=1spoth&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Note: A woman encounters a man with a wooden box. What does she want? What's in the box?
Story Title: Ghoulfriend
Writer: David Perlmutter
Genre: Horror
Type: Short Story
https://davidperlmutter.substack.com/p/ghoulfriend
Story Title: Patchworld Nova
Writer: Jude Mire
Genre: Science Fiction
Type: Serial
URL: https://substack.com/home/post/p-150726290
Note: I've had the pleasure of reading an ARC of this novel in full, but the chapters are serializing here on Substack before publishing wide and I think today's chapter would be a great contender for top fiction this week!
Story title: Fangs
Writer: Oscar Ruto of Oscar Ruto Chemelil
Genre: Literary Fiction
Type: Short Story
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/oscarruto/p/fangs?r=1of53q&utm_medium=ios
Note: Is this who you are? I can hear through your mask.
So for THROWBACK THURSDAY, I put up my Novella THE BASHFUL COURTESAN, only this time I posted it with links to the chapters. Wayyy easier for everybody!
And then there's my STORIES, AFTER EIGHT with FREEDOM HOUSE. I put it down as Lit-fic because I didn't know where else to put it. It could be considered "historical," but I have a hard time thinking that something that happened in my own lifetime, is now considered "historical." When did I get THAT old?
STORY: THE BASHFL COURTESAN
BEN WOESTENBURG
LITERARY FICTION
SERIAL
https://benwoestenburg.substack.com/p/throwback-thursdays?r=254e8w
STORY: FREEDOM HOUSE
BEN WOESTENBURG
LITERARY FICTION
SERIAL
https://benwoestenburg.substack.com/p/freedom-house-d17?r=254e8w
Story: Friday, As It Always Has Been
Writer: Adam Dalby
Genre: vignette
Type: flash fiction
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/ajdalby/p/friday-as-it-always-has-been?r=2f0b2r&utm_medium=ios
Story Title: Another Love Story
Writer: Rostislava Pankova-Karadjova
Genre: Literary Fiction
Type: Flash Fiction
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/rostislava/p/another-love-story?r=zcxsb&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Note: Every post of The Stories Music Tell Me is illustrated with embedded audio. This one is inspired by the cool Norwegian Espen Berg Trio, and their Scoddefall.
Story Title: SCreen Time: How to Summon A Friend
Writer: S.L. Stallings
Genre: Horror
Type: Short Story
URL: https://merakiwriting.substack.com/p/screen-time
Title: from Ganges to Hudson
Writer: buku sarkar
Genre: long short story
https://open.substack.com/pub/bukus/p/from-ganges-to-hudson?r=9brcu&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Notes: this story was recently published in the Sewanee Review
Title: the apartment
Writer: buku sarkar
Genre: flash fiction
https://open.substack.com/pub/bukus/p/the-apartment?r=9brcu&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Story Title: Who Heard the Sound
Writer: Keith Loser - Loser’s Fiction
Genre: Horror
Type: Short Story
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/losersflashfiction/p/anthology-short-who-heard-the-sound?r=3517l8&utm_medium=ios
Notes: this is the fourth part of a five part anthology.
Title: Leelanau Election
Author: Thomas Foydel
Genre: Literary Fiction
Type: Short Story
URL: https://falsechoices.substack.com/p/leelanau-election
Note: With the election fast upon us, I thought I would take the opportunity to share a story that holds a good lesson for us all!
Title: Missouri, Wild and Wonderful
Author: Thomas Foydel
Genre: Literary Fiction
Type: Short Story
URL: https://falsechoices.substack.com/p/missouri-wild-and-wonderful
Note: This explains why there are more than 8 billion of us
Story Title: Synthetic Thoughts
Writer: Steven Vickers
Genre: Sci-fi
Type: Poetry (Haiku)
URL: https://scvickers.substack.com/p/sci-fi-haiku-b7f?r=3qcfmg
Note: Join me for sci-fi/fantasy microfiction, haiku, and snippets from longer works.
Story Title: What's a Dragon? - Chapter 16
Writer: Dragon Writer Luc
Genre: Fantasy
Type: Serial
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/dragonwriterluc/p/whats-a-dragon-chapter-16
Note: If you thought moving enough heat to freeze air was safe, think again.
Story Title: The Mermaid's Song
Writer: K.M. McKellar
Genre: Fantasy
Type: Short story
URL: https://karenmckellar.substack.com/p/the-mermaids-song
Note: A shorter version of this story was published many years ago in a chapbook (in case that disqualifies it), but I wasn't happy with it and rewrote it last week for Substack. It was posted here on the 20th. It's a fantasy short story inspired by two paintings by JW Waterhouse, a mysterious rock I once found on a beach, and Holst's Neptune from the Planet Suite.
Story Title: Flash Fiction: Volume Four
Writer: Chris J. Franklin
Genre: Horror/Humour
Type: Micro/Flash Fiction
URL: https://chrisjfranklin.substack.com/p/flash-fiction-volume-four
Note: Hi everyone! This is a special edition of my Flash Fiction series, featuring five spooky little tales for Halloween. Have a great weekend... 😎
Fashion Forward
Writer: Michael Serrur (@mserrur)
Genre: Dramatic Irony
Type: Micro/Flashfiction
URL: https://michaelserrurauthor.substack.com/p/fashion-forward
Note: A 60-second story poking fun at that future of fashion…because they so often poke fun at us!
Writer: Janet Bess
Genre: YA Mystery
Type: Serial novel
Chapter 17 is out, and it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. New chapter releases weekly.
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/janetbess/p/let-it-rock-d8a
Story Title: Bacalaito
Writer: Scott MacLeod/Son of Ugly
Genre: Sports
Type: Flash Fiction
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/sonofugly/p/bacalaito?r=2sz29p&utm_medium=ios
Note: Boy meets gloves. Boxing gloves.
Story Title: My House
Writer: Ginger
Genre: Modern
Type: Poem
URL: https://open.substack.com/pub/gingerreadswrite/p/my-house?r=4878oa&utm_medium=ios
Story Title: Leave my soup alone
Writer: Rolando Andrade from Outside The Therapy Room
Genre: Literary fiction
Type: Short Story
URL: https://rolandoandrade.substack.com/p/leave-my-soup-alone
Note: A Story about love and grief
Story Title: Katydid and the King of the Flock
Writer: Diana Hannay of Fickle & Whimsy
Genre: Literary Fiction
Type: Short Story
URL: https://fickleandwhimsy.substack.com/p/katydid-and-the-king-of-the-flock
Note: Inspired by a real-life tale shared by my Grandmother. On summer visits to her grandparents’ farm, young Katy discovers that life in the barnyard comes with its own set of unexpected lessons.
Story Title: Oh My Gosh
Writer: A.P. Murphy
Genre: Sci-fi
Type: Short Story
URL: https://thestrangenesskit.substack.com/p/oh-my-gosh
Note: Built around a video mashup made by me of the song by the artist Jamie xx "Gosh". The resulting video creates a cyberpunk-post-apocalyptic scenario.
Video included, so it's a sort of mini-AV installation, if you like
Story Title: A tradition
Writer: Isha Jain
Genre: Romance/ Comedy
Type: Short Story
URL: https://theindianstory.substack.com/p/a-tradition
Note: A sweet account of a couple celebrating a tradition in new way.
Jonathan Foster
Literary fiction
https://open.substack.com/pub/jonathanfostersthecrow/p/schrodingers-cat?r=17bi96&utm_medium=ios
Writer: Zackary San Martin (Literary Ledger)
Genre: Literary Fiction
Type: Flash Fiction
URL: https://zackarys.substack.com/p/the-boat
Note: Set adrift on an endless sea, "The Boat" tells the story of a community living aboard a vast wooden vessel that has floated for generations.