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POETRY
Car Communion by Bradley Ramsey of The Writer’s Journey [Free Verse]
I didn’t know the divine (First Line)
MICRO/FLASH FICTION
Bugsplat by by A.P. Murphy of The Strangeness Kit [Speculative Fiction]
Freddie knew that Harriet wasn’t truly distracted by the bugsplat callouts. (Any Line)
The Ride by Sharron Bassano of LEAVES [Horror]
"You ever been on a motorcycle, Ma'am?" (Any Line)
Through the Fold of the Prophet by Robert Garron of Robert Garron’s Substack [Science Fiction]
The atmospheric content seemed promising, strikingly similar to the climate of Earth. But there was a difference. (Any Line)
SHORT STORY
Buick in the Driveway by Jason Beech Messy Business of Jason Beech Messy Business [Thriller]
“If you want it, take it.” (First Line)
Diendra by The Radical Individualist of The Radical Individualist [Literary Fiction]
Her eyes shifted to the left, and there was Kevin, looking back at her with a knowing smile. (Any Line)
The Curious and Extraordinary Case of the Reclusive Clockmaker by J.M. Gooding of J.M. Gooding [Mystery]
There exists, among otherwise sensible people, a curious conviction that remarkable inventors ought to be immediately recognizable. (First Line)
The Darkness In The Doorway by J. Lashley of J.’s Substack [Horror]
The only sign was the damage to the chicken wire wall next to the hutch door, which seemed chewed out from the inside, leaving David almost as confused as he was worried. (Any Line)
Nutbush City Limits by Leanne Shawler of The Môrdreigiau Chronicles [Fantasy]
I must provide the draig môr with a satisfying plot. (Any Line)
SERIAL
A Crow's Nest (The Errant Apprentice Book 2, Chapter 15) by Kevin Hayman - Writer of Everywhen [Fantasy]
Terry turned his back on the horrible thing. (Any Line)
Hey ya’ll,
Some teeny-tiny tweaks have been done to the TiF Library. I love it because it creates this amazing trifecta that Top in Fiction has now morphed into and, for now, I think we’re good:
Top in Fiction is the main hub and where we celebrate fiction that is being written and shared on a regular basis. So regular, in fact, that we release Weekly Issues, Monthly Recaps, and newly added Quarterly Reviews.
TiF Press is an opportunity for those who are writing and sharing fiction regularly to take their passion one step further, into publication. The mission for TiF Press is to publish at least 2 anthologies per calendar year and feature as many new voices in the writing scene as possible.
The TiF Library is just an easily searchable archive of previously featured and promoted fiction work since the inception of Top in Fiction back in the Summer of 2024. Aside from being the place where you can finally easily search through every Weekly Issue and Monthly Recap, it now includes the newly added Quarterly Reviews and our Annual Recap as well. So, when I say there is something for every reader no matter what you’re looking for, I mean it. There are thousands to choose from. Oh, and it also conveniently is where recommendations and self-promoted submissions can be done every single weekend from Friday to Sunday.
EXCLUSIVE FICTION COMING TO TOP IN FICTION THIS FALL
I’m currently working on getting everything underway to finally bring short-short fiction to the subscribers of Top in Fiction. For the past 3 years we’ve a sort of catalog of fiction. We present current fiction from various categories and across different genres. But now I want to share a short-short story that you can only read here on Top in Fiction and pay the writer for their work!
The Open Call email will go out on August 1st, just 11 days away and will be open for just two weeks. Keep in mind the rules and guidelines before submitting a story. There are two main and most important ones: The story cannot be previously posted elsewhere. That includes your own Substack, blog, other publication, or printed material. And the word count cap is 1,500. I will be using Google Docs to check the word count. This title is never included in the word count.
Hopefully any questions you might have will be answered in the August 1st email. Just make sure you have the TiF Notifications Section turned on in order to receive this email.
Do you want to help me increase the number of fiction I can release exclusively on TiF from 4 a year to 6 a year? All we need is 3 more Yearly or 6 Monthly paid subscribers.
One more thing: The official name for this (cause everything needs a name in order to exist and be real) will be announced on August 1st as well.
JOIN THE HEATWAVE
We are just 5 days away from the submissions email going out. So, if you’re participating and NOT subscribed to Top in Fiction, get yourself subscribed ASAP! Just a reminder that while the submission form is open, you do still have time to fill it out and share your post URL. I will be collecting URLs until July 30th at 12pm EST. The reason I’m doing it this way is to give me enough time to include everyone in the email that will go out the following morning, July 31st at 10am EST. In order to in that email that will go to 2k+ on our email list, you MUST fill out the form. I won’t add someone to the post after it’s gone out. Click the image below to learn more!
The guidelines? Let’s keep this very simple.
Short short story. Under 1,500 words (but any length you decide is fine). Any genre.
How the heatwave affects your story is totally up to you.
Write it now and schedule it for Friday, July 31st at 10am EST!
Just 10 more days to break a sweat or try to beat the heat.
BE A PAID SUBSCRIBER TODAY
Paying for exclusive fiction short stories is coming. All made 100% possible by your continued support.
Paid Subscribers will get early access to TiF Short Stories, for a period of two weeks, after which time the story will then be made available to all subscribers.
- Erica Drayton, Editor-in-Chief 😈
If you enjoyed any of these stories, please consider sharing this post everywhere:
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Thanks so much for the highlight!
Thanks for the mention.