Yay for our Lead Fiction Reader, Justin!

ICYMI…

We’re finally revealing the wizard behind the curtain…our Social Media Associate, Cassey Abella! For OKD’s social media presence, she “envision[s] Sad Jack subconsciously permeating everyone’s minds [...] TLDR: WORLD DOMINATION.” Read Cassey’s interview at okaydonkeymag.beehiiv.com/p/bid-farewe...

“[...] I tell her sometimes people don’t understand they are standing in the middle of a miracle until all that’s left of it is an afterthought.” “Case of Missing Animals” by Sarp Sozdinler, new poetry out today at OKD: okaydonkeymag.com/2026/07/17/c...

ICYMI…

OKD and its contributors were fêted in the Wigleaf Top 50 2026 for “On Your 60th Birthday, Resembling Our Mother, Dead at 61” by Patricia Q. Bidar and “Fireflies” by Rina Olsen. Several pieces also made the longlist— see the full list in our newsletter at okaydonkeymag.beehiiv.com/p/bid-farewe...

“Maybe everything people thought was lost was really alive somewhere, hiding from the brutal grab of the world, waiting for a quiet moment to reappear.” @writesofkathryn.bsky.social in @okaydonkeymag.com

"That winter felt like a giant, lumbering snowman, only human enough to feel malice, cast his pallid curse on us all. We hunkered." Two terrific winter themed micros.

“Days and nights melted together. I remember it rained, and I stood outside under a tree, catching runoff from leaves in my mouth.” “Winter’s Tales,” two micros by Kathryn Kulpa @writesofkathryn.bsky.social new flash fiction out today at OKD: okaydonkeymag.com/2026/07/10/w...

OKD contributor T.J. Martinson (Jan. 2026) has a thrilling new novel out with Counterpoint Press! You can check out T.J.’s book, “Blood River Witch,” at bookshop.org/p/books/bloo...

ICYMI…

This month’s newsletter features Lead Fiction Reader Ellie Amos on outwitting writer's block, and we (Dani & Cassey, socials team) answer some interview questions! Plus, other members of the OKD community have some exciting news to share… Read the full newsletter at buff.ly/gBgcxWk

Yummy yummy free subs. They might be out of stock. Check now at okaydonkeymag.com/submissions/!

“[...] The red taillights make fingertips. Blinking, they both turn left, then dark.” “Planet” by Kary Wayson, new poetry out today at OKD: okaydonkeymag.com/2026/07/03/p...

OKD is open for free subs until we reach our cap! Learn more about us and submit your best poetry or flash fiction: buff.ly/chQ4jpz Okay Donkey is always open for tip jar ($2.50) or expedited ($4.00) subs! Your contribution helps us pay our contributors and cover other mag-related expenses.

ICYMI…

So proud and honored. Grateful to @sudhab.bsky.social @andrewporter01.bsky.social, Scott Garson, and the Wigleaf 50 associate editors. Thank you, @okaydonkeymag.com, for working with me!

“Have you tried to drop a rock? YES. A rope? YES. Do you personally know anyone who has fallen in? She refused to answer. “ “The Void is Right There” by Yasmine Yu, new flash fiction out today at OKD: okaydonkeymag.com/2026/06/26/t...

ICYMI…

Oof. As an adoptee (and a writer, a combo only a masochist could love), this hits hard. 🥊

“Unfortunately, we are sorry that despite consideration, Adoptee, you were not chosen.” “H̶o̶w̶ a̶n̶ Adoptee R̶e̶a̶d̶s̶ L̶i̶t̶e̶r̶a̶r̶y̶ Rejection L̶e̶t̶t̶e̶r̶s̶:̶ a l̶o̶s̶t̶ a̶n̶d̶ found poem” by Danna Schmidt, new poetry out today at OKD: okaydonkeymag.com/2026/06/19/a...

ICYMI…

At Okay Donkey, we don’t want anything written by AI, LLM, etc. If you submit we trust this means you did not use AI as part of the creation of your piece at any stage. Thanks to everyone out there who writes solely from their heart and mind!

“Sometimes I think my dad could be the Zodiac killer. But I doubt it. Maybe he just likes to polish his knives and play the daily jumble.” Four Stories by Tim Frank, new flash fiction out today at OKD: okaydonkeymag.com/2026/06/12/f...

ICYMI…

Want the MFA workshop experience without the cost and the crying? With OKD Fiction Editor Steve Chang, LMC writing workshops are collaborative conversations so you get the roundtable feedback that matters to you! Spots are limited to 4 writers in each cohort, so enroll now at buff.ly/VZDX2VG

“violence. one time i shot a metaphor just to watch it bleed out on my lawn” “Nine American Sentences” by Julia Ross @tachment.bsky.social new poetry out today at OKD: okaydonkeymag.com/2026/06/05/n...

What harm is there in sending in your work for free? Exactly. Submit at buff.ly/chQ4jpz

Don’t forget to submit your work! 🫏

ICYMI…

This month’s newsletter features “How I turn a weird idea into flash fiction” by OKD Fiction Reader Andre'a Victorian. News includes the many achievements of our staff and readers! Read the full newsletter at okaydonkeymag.beehiiv.com/p/turn-your-...

When the rejections start hitting the inbox.. It's time to be the capybara

OKD is open for free subs until we reach our cap! Learn more about us and submit your best poetry or flash fiction: buff.ly/chQ4jpz Okay Donkey is always open for tip jar ($2.50) or expedited ($4.00) subs! Your contribution helps us pay our contributors and cover other mag-related expenses.

“He was all cut up and it was like looking at a piece of exotic fruit, trying to identify something familiar.” “Cooter” by Rebekah Morgan, new flash fiction out today at OKD: okaydonkeymag.com/2026/05/29/c...

ICYMI…

Another OKD contributor, Lisa Richter @lisarichter.bsky.social (August 2021) has a poetry collection out with University of Alberta Press! You can check out Lisa’s book, “Sublunary,” at bookshop.org/p/books/subl...

“He says don’t fear the things you see, says surviving is about / looking deep...“ “Jack Nicholson Complains To Me About Nurse Ratched in a Dream” by Ambrielle Butler, @AJButlerWriting.bsky.social new poetry out today at OKD: okaydonkeymag.com/2026/05/22/j...

ICYMI…

OKD contributor Lavina Blossom (March 2025) has a chapbook of poems and art out with Bamboo Dart Press! You can check out Lavina’s chap, “Here to Be Remade,” at www.bamboodartpress.com/store/lavina...

“I’ve heard the young one and its mother [...] But the sonar carries more than shapes. Today, the whole resounding space of the sea is raw with grief.” “Protocol for Sonar” by Ellen Wiese, new flash fiction out today at OKD: okaydonkeymag.com/2026/05/15/p...

OKD is happy to announce that our very own Fiction Reader, Samantha Borek, is now our Newsletter Editor! Read her full message to the community in the second image (or alt-text) below.

ICYMI…

Congratulations to Okay Donkey’s Best New Poets nominees! 🥳 Chrissy Stegman for “Breaking News: Barbie Eats Trump During Baltimore Pride Fest,” March 2025. (okaydonkeymag.com/2025/03/14/b...) Maxwell Minckler for “Hot-Desking,” September 2025. (okaydonkeymag.com/2025/09/26/h...)

“There is an office where they keep sounds no one was present to hear, the tree falling, the glass crazing…” “The Office of Nobody There” by Jeffrey-Michael Kane, new poetry out today at OKD: okaydonkeymag.com/2026/05/08/t...

I love reading the stories that come through each week! We are always looking for more great ones 👀

ICYMI…

Wait, you haven’t submitted yet?! Even though we have free subs every month? Well, I guess we can forgive you… if you submit now at okaydonkeymag.com/submissions/

This month’s newsletter features OKD Fiction Reader Kier Davison on “inscriptions in books.” Other news includes OKD’s Best New Poets nominees, new work from past contributors, and more! Read the full newsletter at okaydonkeymag.beehiiv.com/p/book-inscr...

OKD is open for free subs until we reach our cap! Learn more about us and submit your best poetry or flash fiction: buff.ly/chQ4jpz Okay Donkey is always open for tip jar ($2.50) or expedited ($4.00) subs! Your contribution helps us pay our contributors and cover other mag-related expenses.

“... she must never fold the poems she submitted to class. Henceforth she never did fold the poems because henceforth she never did permit herself to submit.” Three Stories by Brendan Todt, new flash fiction out today at OKD: okaydonkeymag.com/2026/05/01/t...