In which a lonely teen makes an unexpected friend. Short story writing reading stories free content warnings

A tour through what I read in 2025, including my top faves & biggest letdown, plus my so-far TBR

Tweaking my 2026 content plan—here's what to know

New short story, in which a runaway bride shares an abandoned cottage...or is it...with an owl that's unusually useful. This is the last short of 2025, and the final in my weekly series. I'll be releasing shorts monthly in 2026. Read them mid-month here, or get them earlier in my email newsletter!

New short story, in which a bereft sorceress has to get clever about avenging her twin sister's death. Read the beginning at leilaammartin.com/shorts, and subscribe to the blog (it's free!) to read the whole thing.

New short, in which a university student far from home meets the ghost of her dreams. Fun for fans of THE EVERLASTING and/or A STUDY IN DROWNING.

Learn what's changing in 2026 on leilaammartin.com

New blog post, on goals, good stories, and gratitude. Originally from my November Slice of Write newsletter.

New short story, in which a young thief learns a life-changing secret about the city's immortal king and performs one final heist.

New short today, in which a summer camper learns what happens when you ignore ghost stories.

New short story, in which a pirate goes back for his treasure and finds...more.

New #TuesdayShort, in which there are no good guys // short story writing writer fiction dark fantasy

New #TuesdayShort story, in which a witch makes a living banishing ogres from appreciative villages. Sort of.

Thanks, universe, I guess On taking "write what you know" to a whole new level. Excerpted from my October newsletter.

New #TuesdayShort, in which a princess gets in over her head with a mermaid...in several ways. #ShortStory #AmWriting #FreeShort #FreeStory #ToxicLesbianMermaids #Fantasy #DarkFantasy

New #TuesdayShort, in which a king sends his only child into isolation in a wizard's tower, and doesn't see what could go wrong. #AmWriting #ShortStory #Wizard #Princess #Fantasy Credit to @punkeydoodles8 for the inspiration ;)

New #TuesdayShort, in which a farmer finds that kindness is much more rewarding—and safer—than dominion in a world where women and other supernatural creatures bite back. #ShortStory #FreeStory #QuickRead #SpookyRead #SpicyRead #ShortSpice #Romantasy #DarkRomance

New #TuesdayShort, in which the son of a silent father learns the secret that has his whole bloodline by the throat. Read the beginning at leilaammartin.com/shorts, and subscribe (it's free!) to read the whole thing.

New blog post today: an exploration of product vs process and the rewards of refusing to outsource creativity and skill. This is a partial repost of content from my free email newsletter. Sign up so you don't miss out on the full post next month! #AI #Creativity #CreativeProcess

New #TuesdayShort, in which travelers learn about the tucked-away village of Wizard's Cove, where one magician's mishap is only the beginning of an unlikely love story and the town that grew up around it. #AmWriting #ShortStory #FictionalTravelGuide

Planning to pick up CALDERWOOD? Here's a list of mood music for every chapter. Happy reading! #CalderwoodNovel #NewRelease #IndieBook #IndieAuthor #IndiePublishing #GothicFantasy #GothicRomance#Gothic#Gothic #SpookyRead #SpookySeason #FallBooks#NewRelease#NewRelease

New #TuesdayShort this week, in which a girl is taken from an orphanage only to find that her benefactor is...not as advertised. #AmWriting #ShortStory #GothicHorror #DarkFairyTale #FreeStory

New #TuesdayShort, in which which Penny follows her gut, meets her final fortune, and digs up more than she bargained for. #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #ShortStory

New #TuesdayShort, in which high school senior Penny goes on a date, gets three predictions, and starts to wonder if fortune tellers really do know something we don't. #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #ShortStory

New #TuesdayShort today, in which a new kid moves to town and makes friends with someone unexpected. CW for dismemberment, disfigured/monster anatomy, and flesh-eating. Also emo boys with guitars playing Zeppelin. #AmWriting #ShortStory #WritingCommunity #FreeShort #ReadStories#Read#Read #Horror

New #TuesdayShort, in which a con man fools around and finds out. #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #ShortStory #QuickRead

New #TuesdayShort, in which a captive princess becomes something more. Read it at leilaammartin.com/shorts #AmWriting #ShortStory #FreeStory #QuickRead #WritingCommunity

New #TuesdayShort, in which a prince learns the value of leaving well enough alone. Content warnings for weapons, bones, ritual self-sacrifice, excruciating terminal illness. #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #FreeShort #ShortStory

New #TuesdayShort, in which a man chases a fairy and learns his lesson. #ShortStory #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #FreeStory

New blog post up, on being a writer with debilitating anxiety, and how it's affected my creative process. Read it at leilaammartin.com/shorts #anxiety #AmWriting #WritingLife #WritingProcess #MentalHealth #Creativity

New #TuesdayShort, in which a young man hates his sister...until he follows her into the woods and finds out the truth. Read it at leilaammartin.com/shorts. #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #ShortStory #Horror

New #TuesdayShort, in which a young woman is selected to play a part and finds out what happens when myths have their roots in reality. #AmWriting #ShortStory #WritingCommunity

New #TuesdayShort, in which a boy opens a magic door to the world he's always dreamed of. #ShortStory #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #FreeStory

Exploring why the right title & cover art make SUCH a difference. #AmPublishing #IndieAuthor #NoAI

New #TuesdayShort, in which a prince who always gets what he wants eventually gets more than he bargained for, and faces the justice of a pack of angry women. #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #ShortStory

New #TuesdayShort, in which a student chases the legend of a saint to find the darkness at the heart of her school...or does it find her?

I used to think I hated unreliable narrators, until I realized what I need from them.

New #TuesdayShort, in which an old ghost meets a new ghost and falls in love all over again. Also there's a talking skull with a questionable sense of humor. #ShortStory #WritingCommunity #AmWriting

New #TuesdayShort, in which a young woman discovers the truth far too late. Content warnings before the post. #AmWriting #ShortStory #WritingCommunity

New #TuesdayShort, in which a king listens to the wrong brain until it's too late. Whoops. #AmWriting #ShortStory #WritingCommunity

New #TuesdayShort, in which Princess Evelyn learns the dark, dangerous truth behind the wolves that guard her father's kingdom. #AmWriting #ShortStories #WritingCommunity

Fantasy’s most enduring “trend” Is it really a trend if it never goes out of style, though? Publishing—like any other industry—goes through trends. Just look at today's romantasy explosion, or the YA dystopia craze of the early 2010s. Me, I'm all set with dystopia. (We're living in one, after…

New #TuesdayShort, in which the dark, broody lord of a remote castle gets a bride...and one hell of a surprise. 🫦 CW for blood, gore, vampires, mild suggestive language.

New #TuesdayShort, in which the queen's lover breaks a promise and pays the price. #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #ShortStory

Hey writers, what makes you say "I made it" as a writer? #AmWriting #WritingCommunity

Not my usual content...but important. You might find me a little quieter than usual as I navigate this rough patch. If you're struggling with mental health too, please don't be afraid to ask for help. #MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #Anxiety

This is extraordinary: "emissions by data centres needed to train and deliver AI services are estimated at around 3 per cent of the global total, close to those created by the aviation industry."

yo wtf fuck you if you steal and copy authors’ works. fuck you if you use gen ai and call yourself a writer. you’re an opportunist hack using a theft machine. 📚💙

And so it begins! #ProjectOrin #OpeningLines #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #WIPWednesday

New #TuesdayShort, in which a lonely farmer follows a hidden thread to find his destiny. #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #ShortStory