Chatbots — LLMs — do not know facts and are not designed to be able to accurately answer factual questions. They are designed to find and mimic patterns of words, probabilistically. When they’re “right” it’s because correct things are often written down, so those patterns are frequent. That’s all.

From the archives: "The Man Who Didn’t Laugh at PG Wodehouse" by Paul Gray. The voice channels Wodehouse in an Orwellian setting. It's so fun and well rendered! @smokelong.bsky.social #ArchiveChallenge brilliantflashfiction.com/2019/09/30/i...

"They are scarfing down their mother’s love, bowls clinking." Everything in this micro is so crisp and perfect.

"But can’t I remember so clearly the trees, the night, the sting of a bone in my throat, the safety of embracing the body that carries me?" Aninna Zh's "Fish Bone" in @theoffingmag.bsky.social @smokelong.bsky.social #ArchiveChallenge theoffingmag.com/fiction/fish...

I love "Scenario: One of Those High School Parent/Teacher Conferences Where the Student is Strongly Encouraged to Attend" by Miranda Keskes because of how deftly it captures its subject. @smokelong.bsky.social #ArchiveChallenge brilliantflashfiction.com/2024/09/30/s...

And we're off! Start a 2-week deep dive TODAY into a favorite online flash journal older than 10 years and get your name in the hat to win $400! Please share at least 1 flash daily (up to 4) and tag SmokeLong so we see you! Get on it! www.smokelong.com/the-archive-...

Absolutely delighted to have a story in the new issue of @adroitjournal.bsky.social alongside so many other stellar pieces. theadroitjournal.org/issue-fifty-...

Thrilled to be launching MicroMonday today and we're kicking off with a stellar lineup. Please enjoy stories by @aniking.bsky.social @writesofkathryn.bsky.social and Sheree Shatsky #microfiction #MicroMonday. Please follow the link and enjoy fictivedream.com/2025/04/07/m...

Excited to share the Spring 2025 of our online journal, Litmosphere, with beautiful artwork by @abelmont.bsky.social and fiction, poetry, CNF, and flash by so many talented writers. Check it out! litmosphere.charlottelit.org/issues/2025s...

About a year ago, I was driving home from the grocery store when I passed a homeless man, his shopping cart parked on the sidewalk, building a cairn out of drainage rock. That image planted the seed that grew into this story. litmosphere.charlottelit.org/issues/2025s...

Madeleine L'Engle; this is why they want you illiterate

Thrilled to have a story among the brilliant pieces in this quarter's issue! brilliantflashfiction.com/2025/01/31/j...

New year, new issue coming later this month! Always a great excuse to revisit the contributors from last issue, so get ready for a trip down memory lane this week

You've just won the lottery (see if you catch the reference) because you've got a chance to read this haunting read from @lindseyjameswrites.bsky.social in @necessaryfiction.com necessaryfiction.com/stories/by-a...

Write because you are going to run out of everything else: time, money, fucks to give. But you will never run out of your own bullshit. You could live forever on this unlimited fuel of emotional damage and charm. Plus people think you're funny. You're such a good writer. Live más.

If you’re looking for some great flash to read over your holiday break, these are the most popular Commuter pieces of 2024! electricliterature.com/the-commuters-most-popular-posts-of-2024

HI EVERYBODY! Couldn't imagine a better innaugural skeet than to announce... Our community favorite nominations are now OPEN! ⬇️ Nominate your favorite lit mags through this form: tally.so/r/mKPJ4A and & we’ll pay the winners $200 and scream about how great they are

“Crow calls puncture the icy air. In the silences between—our snowshoes punching a trail behind us—we make small talk like we have practiced in class.” — @lindseyjameswrites.bsky.social, “To Make Tracks” in Issue 12 vastliterarypress.org/2024/10/12/2...

"When I ask her how her day was, she doesn’t answer. Or maybe my middle-aged ears have lost her frequency." — @angelines.bsky.social, “Screentime” in Issue 11. vastliterarypress.org/2024/07/13/2...

I adore the way this story plays with Chekhov's Law to create tension and then, through a dazzling tour of characters and motivations, still achieves a release that feels realistic and earned. Very curious now about that staff meeting :-)

okay, we're starting with this Step 1. call your own rep if you haven't already! Step 2. sign this (cis women only please! cis guys, you can help by boosting) Step 3. much depends on the success and reach of step 2; lots of options if this blows up actionnetwork.org/petitions/no...

ICYMI: Our latest flash fiction offering, the wonderful "Almost Plea to My Ex-Therapist" by @rachellaverdiere.bsky.social. 🦩 📝

We can build the #literaryfiction community beyond the starter packs. Here’s how: First, hit the like button, reply with #literaryfiction, and most importantly, hit the REPOST button. Then, follow each other back. The easiest way to do so is to follow everyone who reposts. Here’s how:

Art gives the gift of insight so we can better understand and contextualize the challenges of living in the world. I just wish it wasn't quite so *necessary* in cases like this.

Because tedious tasks are my therapy right now: are you a short fiction writer (flash or short stories only, please) publishing in litmags or aspiring to? I'd like to make a starter pack of short story and flash people! Comment here and please share for visibility #writingcommunity

This is one of the best pieces of nonfiction I've read this year. If you haven't read it yet, you should. If you have read it, you should read it again.

“he isn’t stupid but he’s part of the gang, he’s one of us, we let the truth linger above our heads, like the truth is the thing with feathers that will always fly around but will never bother us.” This taut, introspective piece is a stunner!

I'm excited my substack is up to 1200 free subscribers! Maybe you'll find something worthwhile here to help your writing! tommydean.substack.com

Tante Sarah's List of Things You Should Do Before January 20th, In Increasingly Dire Order (and a shorter list of what not to do): (1/10)

Do you write flash? We'd love to get to know you.

Have a (sort of) new piece today. It’s a reprint of the first published story I ever shared on social media. It happened before anyone really cared about my writing. It feels a bit full circle considering everything going on. As always, I am humbled by anyone taking the time to read.

Well, this is neat: here's a #litmag starter pack by @lacouvee.bsky.social!

"When he’s home from the hospital, I will carry my father upstairs to bed with my strong bones." These micros are so lovely and emotionally resonant.

the second acceptance from our giant giant pile of HAD 100 skulls is today from Lexi Clidienst, and it's another stunner "I just learned how to say no and it still feels wet in my hands." https://www.havehashad.com/j7y0e

If you're part of the writing community, could you please holla and RT so we can find each other? I want to build up what we once had on Twitter (but better) #writers #writing

Cats remain unaware of the precarity of society or the tyranny of a blank page. I'm so jealous.

This story was born of half a dozen classroom conversations from over the years and the lingering trauma of one very disturbing staff meeting last spring. Huge gratitude to Necessary Fiction for giving this one a home.