Congrats to Kathleen McNamara! Her story collection was selected as the winner of the EastOver Press debut prize for a story collection, selected by Manuel Munoz. Congrats to Kathleen and the finalists!

Cutleaf is the "listing of the day" -- and we're currently open for nonfiction subs (cap of 200) and collaboratively written short fiction. The latter will be selected by our guest collab writers @kimmagowan.bsky.social and Michelle Ross.

...and! Giano will be presenting at the Luther Writers Festival this Saturday (Sept 13) alongside @rachelswearingen.bsky.social and Jennifer Case. More info here:

...and! Michael will be presenting at the Luther Writers Fest this weekend, Sept 12-13. Free to attend!

new issue of Cutleaf (as of last Thursday)! With a poem by @davidbprather.bsky.social, an essay by Monica Woelful, and a short story by Toshiya Kamei. Cutleaf publishes a new issue every other week, which is usually comprised of a short story, an essay, and a poem.

Send your beloved out of print subs to @abigailoswald.bsky.social! We want to print your book! ✨

My husband built a custom book stand for me to use at in person events. My book is out now from @cowboyjamboree.bsky.social.

We're down to the final 10 DAYS of the 2025 Literary Awards Program with @deeshaphilyaw.bsky.social as our judge! Submit today for a chance to make it to the winners' circle and have your manuscript considered for publication! buff.ly/AMZ2510 @susanschulman.bsky.social

weekly talk story about my Bitter over Sweet (@sfwp.bsky.social) book launch with @deeshaphilyaw.bsky.social, hosted by @avitusbcarle.bsky.social, and my recent (and not so recent pubs) in @mrbullbull.bsky.social , @claudineliterary.bsky.social and Mojo www.melissallanesbrownlee.com/talk-story/2...

Cutleaf is open for collaboratively written short stories. Guest editors are @kimmagowan.bsky.social and Michelle Ross. Open through the month of Sept!

Quick reminder that we'll open for collab written fiction on Sept 1.

Let's go!!!!

My thanks to @keithlesmeister.bsky.social and Cutleaf Journal for publishing my short story, In Between. "It was 1971. No one was surprised at anything anymore. When you've seen brains splashed across the evening news, surprise seems terribly old-fashioned." cutleafjournal.com/content/in-b...

a new short story in Culteaf by @karenmulter.bsky.social - takes place in 1971. The story is a kind of character study of Evelyn, who, among other things, disguises herself on a solo vacation. A fascinating and finely crafted story. cutleafjournal.com/content/in-b...

Cutleaf Journal will be open in Sept for collaboratively written short fiction up to 4k words. Guest editors for this call are @kimmagowan.bsky.social & Michelle Ross, who wrote a collab story in Cutleaf which you can check out here. Also included: an interview with them abt their process.

I'm looking forward to reading this forthcoming collection of stories-- Oct 2025 -- preorder available now.

new #poem in The MacGuffin. It's addressed to a farmer in Ridgeway, IA who shot a wandering black bear for no reason (it was a young male looking for a mate and we in Iowa don't have a hunting season for bears). I only had one place where I could channel my rage. This poem was the result.

A stellar line up of writers coming to my little corner of northeast Iowa.

This is going to be great! And it's all free 💜

Going to be so much fun!

I'm looking fwd to this! If you're in/around northeast Iowa, check it out. Free and open to the public. Craft lectures, readings, generative writing workshops. Sept 12-13: www.luther.edu/event/luther...

So excited to be judging the 2025 Larry Brown Short Story Award for @pitheadchapel.bsky.social ! Submissions open Friday! 👇

trying to figure out how to describe a character's hair, and then I went for a walk and saw this and thought, yes, there it is.

been writing a few poems as of late, and grateful to have this one in the new issue of Under Review, a sports-themed lit journal that publishes twice a year. If you're interested in the intersection of sports & literature, this might be worth checking out: www.underreviewlit.com/issue-12-202...

new issue dropped today. Beautiful new work by Ryan Peed (f), Sharon Perkins Ackerman (p), and Chrissie Anderson Peters (cnf): cutleafjournal.com

long time ago, I heard Bob Shacochis give a lecture in which he claimed that getting a dog was the first step to being a writer. Among other things, having a dog gives structure to one's day. What I should've asked him: will two dogs double the writerly output?

One of my favorite craft- or fiction-like things to talk about is POV. A convincing POV, like the ever-elusive writerly “voice,” can really carry a story. Anyhow, here’s a very brief and very incomplete lesson on POV w help from this clutch of yellow oysters.

tried to post this last month for short story month, but got caught up with end-of-semester stuff, new puppy, etc, but wanted to showcase some fave story collections over the past couple of years. Please feel free to drop a rec or two.

A new story of mine, "Bread and Butter," is up at Cutleaf today! Thanks to @keithlesmeister.bsky.social and everyone there for publishing my work!

my good pal Denton Loving's book was a featured cover reveal at @electricliterature.com! electricliterature.com/exclusive-co...

If Shai wants to win a trophy -- he's got the team/talent to do it -- he needs to learn how to control the game with the kind of offensive intensity equivalent to what Caruso, Dort, and Williams bring on defense. If Shai can match their intensity, this will be a tough team to beat. #okc #nuggets

it's short story month, and I'm looking for recommendations of any recent short stories you've read and loved. Preferably online. With the school year wrapping up, I'm looking to read and review short stories this month and into summer for read-short-stories.com -- thanks in advance!

Picked up this fantastic collection by @keithlesmeister.bsky.social at AWP. WE COULD’VE BEEN HAPPY HERE. His new collection comes out next year!

New short interview w/ @amystuber.com today, about her short story "Swans" (which if you haven't read yet, I can't recommend enough; it's such a huge recent fave)

The #GreatRiverWritersRetreat offers one Midwestern writer a fully-funded week alone with their writing at the stunning and solitary #BenetHouseRetreatCenter in rural Rock Island, IL.

is the best part of AWP the fact that writers step away from their work for a week only to return with a fresh set of eyes, ready for revision?

manageable #awp25 book haul. excited to dig into these lit journals, along with a collaboratively written novel by Katie Jean Shinkle and Jessica Alexander @astrophilpress.bsky.social, and collections by @nickreesgardner.bsky.social and @deeshaphilyaw.bsky.social

Call for debut authors: 4/1-5/1, EastOver Press will open for a short story collection contest for writers who have not published another full-length book. Winner will be selected by guest judge Manuel Muñoz and awarded $2,000 + publication. More info: eastoverpress.com/submit/

#awp25 goers, if you have time, swing by and hangout with EastOver Press and @astrophilpress.bsky.social. Complimentary food and beverages.

It's ALIVE! bookshop.org/p/books/amer...

Happy release day to our EIC @kimmagowan.bsky.social and Michelle Ross! DON'T TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY is available now! eastoverpress.com/book/dont-ta...

I have another new story at wonderful Cutleaf. Thank you @keithlesmeister.bsky.social for publishing this one! cutleafjournal.com/content/drie...

I usually review stories that you can access for free online, but this is an exception, and an exceptional story. A rarity whose alchemic combination of propulsion and artistry of language conjures that elusive *voice* @onestorymag.bsky.social More at: read-short-stories.com

vote every day by how/where you spend money. Buy less. Buy used. Barter. Grow vegetables. Support small family farms. Support regional artists, musicians. If you live in a rural area, spend locally and that money will continue to benefit your community. Vote every day by how/where you spend money.

i live in iowa. i love @moonpalacebooks.bsky.social in minneapolis.

grateful to help assemble Vol II of this anthology: Rural Stories by Writers of Color. Guest Edited by @erikatwurth.bsky.social - more info here: eastoverpress.com/book/the-eas...

highlights from the game in no particular order: 1) philly's d-line 2) coooooooper pick 6 (gotta support the hawkeye rookie) 3) kendrick, sam, serena, and the entire halftime crew 4) john denver singalong -- kinda made me laugh, honestly 5) ET discovers the SAD, so now they won't invade earth

I've been on again/off again with read-short-stories.com but I'm trying to do a few each month. Recent reviews of short stories published in @theforge.bsky.social, @reckonreview.bsky.social, @southeastreview.bsky.social, @theiowareview.bsky.social, and Nashville Review. #shortstories #litjournals