Necessary Fiction

This thing is at 9996/10000. Can someone please buy a pencil or a zine and then you’ll never hear about it again? (That’s not true)

Interview @allisonwyss.bsky.social talks to Sean Bernard about his new book CAN WRITING BE TAUGHT & OTHER NOVEL IDEAS (What Books Press). necessaryfiction.com/interviews/a...

Any thriller writers or fans in Boston area tonight? We've got an exciting panel for you tonight in our Boston location featuring four thriller writers! Check out all the info here and please RSVP

Last day to get in on this one and support these good folks:

I have a review of a great story collection up at Necessary Fiction today. Loved Tom Andes's GUESS THIS IS KAPUT!

GUESS THIS IS KAPUT by Tom Andes (@cowboyjamboree.bsky.social). Reviewed by @sarahholloway.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/gues...

Wonderful to see this recognition for Pip Adam. Davis MacMillan reviewed AUDITION for us last year: necessaryfiction.com/reviews/audi...

In research notes, @devonhalliday.bsky.social writes about her novel TO STAY, TO STAY, TO STAY (@mcsweeneys.net). necessaryfiction.com/researchnote...

For two years, I've been working with David Long, a superb writer, to put together a collection that covers his 40+ year career and his many studies of the people of Montana. It's a privilege to see The Montana Stories coming out in a few days from Boiler House Press & the U. Montana Press. 1/2

In case you missed it: I’ve decided to step down from my longtime role as fiction editor at the literary journal @necessaryfiction.com But to give you an idea of lit mag submission numbers from the inside…

This week's story is "A Note from the Translator on This Translation" by Elissa Field. necessaryfiction.com/stories/a-no...

This week's story is "A Note from the Translator on This Translation" by Elissa Field. necessaryfiction.com/stories/a-no...

Interviewer @mlensheffer.bsky.social talks to Bradley Sides about his novella THE VOLCANO KEEPER (@regalhouse.bsky.social). necessaryfiction.com/interviews/a...

Interviewer @mlensheffer.bsky.social talks to Bradley Sides about his novella THE VOLCANO KEEPER (@regalhouse.bsky.social). necessaryfiction.com/interviews/a...

traveling back in time to tell teenage Emily that one day she's gonna be the horror columnist for the New York Times Book Review!!!!!!!! www.nytimes.com/2026/10/19/b...

I have a new book review in Necessary Fiction today!

Our longtime fiction editor @bookbent.bsky.social shares some thoughts as she steps away from the role, with my deepest gratitude and appreciation. necessaryfiction.com/interviews/a...

BOOK OF HOURS by Ellen O’Connell Whittet (Dzanc Books). Reviewed by @kristenhg.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/book...

Our longtime fiction editor @bookbent.bsky.social shares some thoughts as she steps away from the role, with my deepest gratitude and appreciation. necessaryfiction.com/interviews/a...

In research notes, @clinforth.bsky.social writes about his collection DIRECTORY from Indirect Books. necessaryfiction.com/researchnote...

If you're at the Boston Book Festival tomorrow, come say hello at the @emersonsoarts.bsky.social table where I will be throughout the afternoon.

In research notes, @clinforth.bsky.social writes about his collection DIRECTORY from Indirect Books. necessaryfiction.com/researchnote...

The @barrelhouse.bsky.social conference is coming back to American U in DC on April 24, 2027! The schedule isn't set yet, but registration is up & you can count on our usual mix of useful craft/publishing sessions, plus featured books and 1-on-1 workshop w editors! www.barrelhousemag.com/conference

A new call for submissions on the theme of “Migration”. We want to explore the meaning of it outside of images of small boats: tell us stories of storks flying from Africa to Poland, about your family, about why movement matters. Open until November 15th, 2026. www.elsewhere-journal.com/submissions

This week, we are honored to publish "i go apple picking.", a debut story by Meg White necessaryfiction.com/stories/i-go...

Attn science writers, journalists, essayists, nature writers: You can (and should!) nominate your own work for The Best American Science and Nature Writing! (Editors et al, you're welcome to nominate, too.) Everything you need to know is here: jaimegreen.net/basn

Cover reveal! Introducing Squash by Michelle Ross, winner of the 2027 @mooncitypress.bsky.social Editors Choice Prize! Due out in March '27! Link to order coming soon!

This week, we are honored to publish "i go apple picking.", a debut story by Meg White necessaryfiction.com/stories/i-go...

ÉLISABETH by Éric Rohmer, tr. Aaron Kerner (@mcnallyeditions.com). Reviewed by Grace Novarr. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/elis...

ÉLISABETH by Éric Rohmer, tr. Aaron Kerner (@mcnallyeditions.com). Reviewed by Grace Novarr. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/elis...

Submissions for Last Syllable are now open through October 15! We accept submissions for poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and open genre pieces. Longform works ranging from 5,000 to 25,000 words for the fiction, nonfiction, and open categories are highly encouraged!

Two upcoming October workshops! One in person about writing spooky stories. The other an online book discussion of Shirley Jackson’s haunted house novel. Registration links are in my bio. 👻🎃👻

Forgot to mention it in this morning's newsletter, but if you're attending the Boston Book Festival next Saturday I will be there in my MFA program director hat, sitting at the Emerson College table all afternoon. Do say hi!

Want to treat yourself to a workshop for under 10 dollars? All thirty-four of my popular 3-in-90 workshop recordings are now available for purchase! Expect to come away with three fresh flash drafts! Every purchase includes lifetime access in your account. www.artofflashfiction.com/videos

I have a new essay up today in @northamerreview.bsky.social, the literal first lit mag I ever submitted to, back in 2005 (they rejected me, correctly), so this is a pretty exciting one for me. It's about a person I know who has gotten obsessed with wigs. northamericanreview.org/open-space/2...

Have you preordered your copy of The RMP Field Guide to Writing the Lyric Essay? It releases on Tuesday! Only 5 more days to get free US shipping on your preorder w/ code LYRICFREESHIP! @heidiczerwiec.bsky.social & @artichokeheart.bsky.social have edited a stunner! rosemetalpress.com/books/field-...

In research notes, PJ Blumenthal writes about SELF-PORTRAITS from @saggingmeniscus.bsky.social necessaryfiction.com/researchnote...

In research notes, PJ Blumenthal writes about SELF-PORTRAITS from @saggingmeniscus.bsky.social necessaryfiction.com/researchnote...

If you have a chance to read, here's my flash fiction out today --set in Fresno, where I grew up. Sharks, malls, dentists, fountains, vodka. Many thanks to Steve HImmer and the team @necessaryfiction.com necessaryfiction.com/stories/wher...

Read some research notes about the book here necessaryfiction.com/researchnote...

This week's story is "Where the Sharks Are" by @claudiamonpere.bsky.social necessaryfiction.com/stories/wher...

This week's story is "Where the Sharks Are" by @claudiamonpere.bsky.social necessaryfiction.com/stories/wher...

Rickey Fayne discusses his novel THE DEVIL THREE TIMES (@littlebrown.bsky.social) with Amina Gautier necessaryfiction.com/interviews/a...

Rickey Fayne discusses his novel THE DEVIL THREE TIMES (@littlebrown.bsky.social) with Amina Gautier necessaryfiction.com/interviews/a...

Hey folks, if you also like great books and great writing and, furthermore, can tolerate me: next week (10/12) at 6 PM, I'm doing an event with @adamoprice.bsky.social at Lot 49 in Fishtown. Adam is also reading at Rutgers-Camden the next night at 6 PM. You should come to one of these.

OLENKA by Budi Darma, tr Tiffany Tsao (@penguinclassicsusa.bsky.social). Reviewed by @sarahlayden.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/olenka/

In research notes, Jocelyn Cullity writes about THE NURSE AT BAKER HOSPITAL (@regalhouse.bsky.social). necessaryfiction.com/researchnote...

OLENKA by Budi Darma, tr Tiffany Tsao (@penguinclassicsusa.bsky.social). Reviewed by @sarahlayden.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/olenka/