“It takes a long time to sound like yourself. But when you get there, it's like flying. It's the best.” — @keersteemack.bsky.social on @lofipod.bsky.social From Lo Fi Lit: Kirstie Mackenzie, Dec 30, 2025 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/l...

new lit journal alert 😊

never once seen a personalized license plate that wasn’t deeply embarrassing

button flies are bullshit. i’m tired of pretending they’re not

Incredible how you can turn out some of your best work while drawing on the emptiest well imaginable. What is the science. Has someone studied this

Wish I could write about my complicated relationship with my home with as much razored precision as Mal does. Nobody is a keener observer of the Midwest. Her essays are absolutely worth your time.

I have read two (2) Lyndsay Hall stories and have decided I would take a bullet for her. Collection or novel immediately, please

ON REPEAT: Lauren Theresa in Volume 4 This one from @imlaurentheresa.bsky.social still hits us in the guts, embodying the spirit of Major 7th in an arresting visual style. Hit repeat: www.major7mag.com/post/a-favor...

men love to ask if my book is smut. i tell them no, i wish. i’d be making more money

being a writer is so embarrassing when I was at the border the guard was like why do you travel through Pearson a lot and I was like I’m a writer and he said oh like academic papers and said no. short fiction about hot dogs. and love

ok, so, i am selfish and wanted to ask one million questions of @martinezfjulian.bsky.social but i settled for like 8 and he was v v nice about telling me all his writing secrets. i am going to steal them lil interview up for ya keersteemack.substack.com/p/julian-mar...

OKAY FINE I ADMIT IT

brewery dogs are the best dogs this is Tikka. she takes treats very gently and has perfect manners. please say hi to Tikka

muttering “breakin’ the law, breakin’ the law” when I miss a deadline from legal

Belting AND IF YOU DONT LOVE ME NOW, YOU WILL NEVER LOVE ME AGAIN when I cc people on the email chain

Gen Z coworker keeps owning my shit by saying “she was born the year Chernobyl happened”

save me crispy Diet Coke. crispy Diet Coke save me

this story is about a haunted vibrator. there is an exorcism, but not by a priest. it is so much fun and I’m mad I didn’t write it. please enjoy pitheadchapel.com/pulse/

Put one of Sheldon’s stories in front of me w/out saying who wrote it, I’m confident I’d be able to tell it’s his. Love how unique, skillful, and engaging his writing always is!!

one day I am gonna live somewhere I don’t have to clear snow

The next 804 lit salon will be on January 17th in DC. You can register for the event below www.eventbrite.com/e/804-lit-sa...

hey this is super nice 😊

Sheldon Birnie one of my faves doing it rn. So excited to get to feature this one today and share it with you all! "Buddy walked into the lake with his shambling gait, legs struggling against the pull and push of the waves as they rolled into shore." https://www.havehashad.com/q6q46

on earth we’re briefly posting

ebook or audiobook of Where the Pavement Turns to Sand a steal of a deal, you guys

i'm lucky i don't live with anyone bc i'm singin' "I'll Believe in Anything" while throwing my voice like the Wolf Parade guy

chatted with @jillianluft.bsky.social about all kinds of writing stuff on AFWP take the work seriously, don’t take yourself seriously 😊 open.spotify.com/episode/3jB6...

made a list of some of our favorite things from 2025 ! subs open today at noon arizona time, until we reach our caps xraylitmag.com/x-r-a-y-2025...

If you're looking for a short story collection to start your year, here's a bunch of recs from Short Story, Long contributors: ashortstorylong.substack.com/p/short-stor... Also, I collected them all in a @bookshop.org list for ease of purchase: bookshop.org/wishlists/11...

has anyone in the history of the world ever won a gift card for answering a feedback survey

fuck it, we ball* *bartend 9hrs in sequins wish me luck

End the year by emailing/tagging/etc. a writer who wrote something that inspired you, brought you joy, meant something to you this year!

Without further ado, here are my favorite stories of 2025, to give you something to read today. Other than my two favorites, these are in chronological order. My FAVORITE story of 2025 was this one by @keersteemack.bsky.social in @xraylitmag.bsky.social xraylitmag.com/portrait-of-...

if anyone wants an absolute master class in longer short stories may I scream from the rooftops about Alexander MacLeod

A bunch of fave short story collections of the year from Short Story, Long contributors!

Thrilled to be on this list with some buds! Thanks @aaronburch.bsky.social for putting this together and thanks @keersteemack.bsky.social for the kind words!

i wrote this piece long ago + @matchbooklitmag.bsky.social was kind enough to give it new life, which somehow suits all this year-end wistfulness. grateful to anyone who spends time with it 🤍

hello Winnipeg come hang 😊

If you grew up somewhere you couldn’t wait to escape, Winesburg, Ohio will recognize you immediately. shop.maudlinhouse.net#winesburg-ohio

December reads

nicest bday gift is writing something and someone saying hey this was fun and good

Keep your stick on the ice.

A Boxing Day special for you to “enjoy” farewelltransmission.net/2025/12/whit...

if you are feeling lazy today and want something to do I wrote a nice story for you. there is audio if you are feeling extra lazy I don’t judge 😊 open.substack.com/pub/ashortst...

okay yeah this is it this it the hangover that kills me i had a good run it was nice knowing ya

regrettably left off this week's mixtape: Joe Pesci's "Vincent LaGuardia Gambini Sings Just For You" (1998)

feels like the time to remind everyone that 1. Joe Pesci sings 2. Joe Pesci made whole albums 3. Joe Pesci’s oeuvre has Christmas songs 4. put some respect on Joe Pesci’s name

forgot to hit "publish" on this yesterday. wrapping up the year on Short Story, Long with some lists — some more best & fave stories of the century (so far) this week, and some of our fave story collections of 2025 next week. check out some of these faves! add some of your own in the comments!

it’s my birthday today. people keep asking how old i am. i tell them. they tell me they never would have guessed. i tell them i bathe in the blood of my enemies to stay young. we never speak again

Dave stories are my fav stories there should be a collection