Thanks @vestalreview.bsky.social for a terrific issue and for including my 500-word story. A longer 1,000-word edit of 'Bleeding Seamonster' will be in @neonandsmoke.bsky.social in 2026 #WritingCommunity #IndieAuthors #Fiction #flashfiction #shortstory

And here are our nominations for Best Microfiction 2025. Congratulations!

A flash collection review about women on the verge Read a review of Woman of the Hour by Claire Polders, @clairepolders.bsky.social by Lucy Zhang in issue 67. vestalreview.net/review-of-woman-of-the-hour-by-claire-polders Art by Jinghong Chen.

What unsent letters reveal. Read "The House of Unsent Letters," by Etta Wynn in issue 67. vestalreview.net/the-house-of-unsent-letters Art by Jinghong Chen.

When horsing around becomes serious Read :The Double Life of Medardo," by Manuel Moyano, translated by James Womack in issue 67. vestalreview.net/the-double-life-of-medardo Art by Jinghong Chen.

A shoe with a mind of its own. Read "When Jack Loses a Shoe," by Francine Witte @francinewitte in issue 67. vestalreview.net/when-jack-loses-a-shoe Art by Jinghong Chen.

Much gratitude for this end-of-year publication in a journal I love. Thank you, @vestalreview.bsky.social ☺️🙏

Pickpockets on parade. Read "Bleeding Seamonster," by Stan J Wild @stanjwild.bsky.social in issue 67. vestalreview.net/bleeding-seamonster Art by Jinghong Chen.

Riding the ferris wheel of life. Read "Cassandra Rides the Big Wheel," by Suzanne Warren in issue 67. vestalreview.net/cassandra-rides-the-big-wheel Art by Jinghong Chen.

A woman with a photographic memory. Read "Picture Day," by Eileen Frankel Tomarchio @eileentomarchio.bsky.social in issue 67. vestalreview.net/picture-day Art by Jinghong Chen

"The screen had not even picked an opportune moment to move skyward; nothing thematically in the film resonated with this kind of rupture." Dazzling story @mattleibel.bsky.social in @vestalreview.bsky.social www.vestalreview.net/matinee

"In the back room, out of sight of the Cindys, Marissa sticks used wax strips on our faces, and we jump about screaming at the touch of pubes there." Stunning. Moves from humor to heartbreak in a flash @katehorsleywriter.bsky.social in @vestalreview.bsky.social www.vestalreview.net/the-altar-of...

Such a surprising and beautiful story by @katehorsleywriter.bsky.social.

So flippin’ happy! If you have time, please read my latest story in the brilliant @vestalreview.bsky.social - along with all the other wonderful stories by fellow scribblers. 🫶🏻

Here’s a little story I wrote about watching movies in (and out of) a theater. Thanks to David Galef and team at @vestalreview.bsky.social

Love the imagination of this one! It has extra resonance for me too because my dad used to go off to the Antarctic when I was a kid in the early 60s

So proud of this little story! Thanks to @vestalreview.bsky.social for giving it such a wonderful home.

This story blew me away. Chills. That ending!! DON’T MISS this stunner by the very talented @marioaliberto3.bsky.social @vestalreview.bsky.social ! www.vestalreview.net/last-play-of...

A heroic act against immigration authorities. Read "From the Alleyway," by J. D. Strunk in issue 67. vestalreview.net/from-the-alleyway Art by Jinghong Chen.

Making empty conversation during a drive. Read "Our Trip to Starbucks," by Laura Shell in Issue 67. vestalreview.net/our-trip-to-starbucks Art by Jinghong Chen.

What to bring an errant lover in prison. Read "A Prison Tree, It Isn’t," by Anna Schachner in issue 67. vestalreview.net/a-prison-tree-it-isnt Art by Jinghong Chen

In the basement, freezing out family life. Read "Antarctica in the Basement," by Belinda Rowe @belindarowe.bsky.social in issue 67. vestalreview.net/antarctica-in-the-basement Art by Jinghong Chen.

A pinniped threatening your child Read "The Night the Walrus Came to Take My Baby," by Emily Rinkema @emilyrinkema.bsky.social in issue 67. vestalreview.net/the-night-the-walrus-came-to-take-my-baby Art by Jinghong Chen.

In this school, life imitates art copying life. Read "Moon Story," by Jennifer Met in issue 67. vestalreview.net/moon-story Art by Jinghong Chen.

Another great story in @vestalreview.bsky.social this week. This time by @mattleibel.bsky.social, recently nominated for @pushcartprize.bsky.social - Congratulations Matt Full issue: www.vestalreview.net/issue-67 #VestalReview #FlashFiction #LiteraryMagazine #ShortStories #WritingCommunity #Fiction

This story by @emilyrinkema.bsky.social in @vestalreview.bsky.social was nominated for a pushcart, and you will know why once you take a read. Absolutely brilliant.

This is one stunning piece of flash!!! Check out @stanjwild.bsky.social in @vestalreview.bsky.social.

Great new piece from @stanjwild.bsky.social at @vestalreview.bsky.social - love the voice in this ripper story ⭐ www.vestalreview.net/bleeding-sea...

Another brilliant story in @vestalreview.bsky.social. 'Antarctica in the Basement' by @belindarowe.bsky.social is heart breaking and emboldening to the end. Belinda is also a #SmokeLongQuarterly Emerging Writer Fellow 2025 #FlashFiction #WritingCommunity #LitMag

The smallest girl who ever lived. Read "The Smallest Girl Who Ever Lived," by Skylar Melnick @skyskkyy.bsky.social in issue 67. vestalreview.net/the-smallest-girl-who-ever-lived Art by Jinghong Chen.

A movie that’s truly a runaway hit. Read "Matinee," by Matt Leibel @mattleibel.bsky.social in issue 67. vestalreview.net/matinee Art by Jinghong Chen

A lesson in naming and mourning. Read "Instructions for Carrying the Name of Your Dead Brother," by L. F. Khouri in issue 67. vestalreview.net/instructions-for-carrying-the-name-of-your-dead-brother Art by Jinghong Chen

Total joy to be included in the latest edition of @vestalreview.bsky.social - thanks so much to EIC David Galef and editors for the publication (!) & @smokelong.bsky.social & SLF peeps! This edition includes stories by writers who I GREATLY admire - 🍃🍃🍃 www.vestalreview.net/antarctica-i...

"To be honest, it’s cool and comforting knowing that Antarctica’s in his basement, a vast and wondrous polar continent beneath him, and when Mike’s at school he yearns for that quiet world." Such a gorgeous story told in extended metaphor by @belindarowe.bsky.social in @vestalreview.bsky.social 👏🏻

Waxing everything for the body beautiful. Read "The Altar of Saint Cindy," by Kate Horsley @katehorsleywriter.bsky.social in issue 67. vestalreview.net/the-altar-of-saint-cindy Art by Jinghong Chen

Stitching a narrative together, literally. Read "Lemon Cake," by Alisa Golden in issue 67. vestalreview.net/lemon-cake Art by Jinghong Chen

A girls’ football team calling the play of their lives. Read "Last Play of the Game," by Mario Aliberto III @marioaliberto3.bsky.social in issue 67 today. vestalreview.net/last-play-of-the-game Art by Jinghong Chen

Very honoured to have my flash fiction piece, “Bleeding Seamonster”, in @vestalreview.bsky.social. Read it here: www.vestalreview.net/bleeding-sea... Massive thanks to David Galef and his team for believing in this piece! #WritingCommunity #BookSky #FlashFiction #AmWriting #LitMagLove

Can't quite believe my story "Picture Day" is here in the gorgeous new issue of @vestalreview.bsky.social -- absolute goals. Gratitude for David Galef for the terrific editorial support, @smokelong.bsky.social for the workshop that sparked the story, and my dearest Gryphs group for everything. 🧡💙💚

“Are you seeing my face in Anna’s, however faint?” “Me hanging up after the fourth ring, deciding I’d pay for it myself. Extras shifts, graveyards, weekends.” the “clutch of combs” @eileentomarchio.bsky.social in @vestalreview.bsky.social www.vestalreview.net/picture-day

“… and what comes next is the moment they will remember for the rest of their lives …” @marioaliberto3.bsky.social in @vestalreview.bsky.social www.vestalreview.net/last-play-of...

“The screen had not even picked an opportune moment to move skyward; nothing thematically in the film resonated with this kind of rupture.” @mattleibel.bsky.social in @vestalreview.bsky.social www.vestalreview.net/matinee

“That white ball has bounced into the sky, full as an eye socket. Do you know what a full moon means? my sister asks. Means transformation, she says, like mermaids becoming girls and girls becoming mermaids.” @skyskkyy.bsky.social in @vestalreview.bsky.social www.vestalreview.net/the-smallest...

“…where it all comes down to size and weight, where what’s right doesn’t matter, where strength is just physical, where the word *mother* has no teeth.” @emilyrinkema.bsky.social in @vestalreview.bsky.social www.vestalreview.net/the-night-th...

“Being a kind sort, Jack worries what will happen to the shoe’s leather upper if it takes a swim in the ocean, but really that’s the shoe’s problem now.” @francinewitte.bsky.social in @vestalreview.bsky.social www.vestalreview.net/when-jack-lo...

"...and what comes next is the moment they will remember for the rest of their lives, inside of college classrooms questioning professors, board rooms challenging condescending CEOs,...." Big love for this brilliant piece by @marioaliberto3.bsky.social in @vestalreview.bsky.social 💙💙💙

Thrilled to be part of this incredible issue! Please check out “The Night the Walrus Came to Take My Baby”: www.vestalreview.net/the-night-th...

Girls flag football, shitty coaches, and a moment the team will never forget in my latest flash inside of @vestalreview.bsky.social #67. www.vestalreview.net/last-play-of...

Thrilled to see my flash piece, ‘The Altar of St Cindy’, in brilliant company in this beautiful issue of @vestalreview.bsky.social Thanks so much to David Galef, @smokelong.bsky.social where this piece began, and to my lovely writing group as always ❤️

Abso-effing-lutely! @marioaliberto3.bsky.social starting my week off right with a boost of girl-power in the new issue of @vestalreview.bsky.social. www.vestalreview.net/last-play-of...