Blog

SmokeLong’s Pushcart Nominations!

November 28, 2019

This has been a particularly difficult year for nominations. So many great stories. Thank you to all our contributors for allowing SmokeLong to share your work with the world. We owe you all a great debt. We have nominated the following stories for inclusion in the Pushcart Prize anthology: * Everything is Terrible but You … Continue reading SmokeLong’s Pushcart Nominations! →

Review: Dustin M. Hoffman’s No Good for Digging

by Beret Olsen Dustin M. Hoffman’s latest short story collection, No Good for Digging (word west 2019), opens with “A Nesting,” two perfect paragraphs hovering on a white page....

November 25, 2019 Continue reading…

Review: Shine of the Ever by Claire Rudy Foster

by Julia Tagliere When a book’s jacket copy describes it as a “literary mixtape,” it’s safe to assume music will play a significant role in its pages, a promise...

November 18, 2019 Continue reading…

SmokeLong Workshop at The Porch, Nashville

After workshops in London, Norwich, Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol, UK, SmokeLong is finally bringing its flash fiction workshop across the Pond. On November 23, Christopher Allen will be leading...

November 11, 2019 Continue reading…

Review: the everrumble by Michelle Elvy

by Karen Jones I’ve been reading a lot of novellas-in-flash recently, and I’ve enjoyed them all, but the everrumble is unique, compelling and has an unforgettable main character in...

November 4, 2019 Continue reading…

Get your name in to win! #flashgiving 2019

Looking to sort your Christmas gift list? Or do you just need some great books to bridge the holiday season? This year for FlashGiving, we have decided to give...

November 1, 2019 Continue reading…

10 Stories from Our Archives to Get You in the Halloween Spirit

Conjured by Meghan Phillips We’ve published our fair share of creepy stories. Here are ten tales and a playlist to get you in the mood (whatever that mood is)...

October 28, 2019 Continue reading…

Fridge Flash: Der Goldenefisch / The Goldfish

Today’s fridge flash comes from nine-year-old Rafael from Vienna, Austria. _______________________________ by Rafael Furmuzachi The English Translation: It was a beautiful spring morning when the alarm clock in Heinz’s...

October 21, 2019 Continue reading…

Review: Tender Cuts by Jayne Martin

by Ashley McGreary The image of a hand cupping a fractured heart; a motif spray-painted onto a crumbling wall – the cover-image for Jayne Martin’s Tender Cuts (Vine Leaves...

October 14, 2019 Continue reading…

Flash in the Classroom: Contagion in the Flash Lab

by Yasmina Din Madden I’ve recently designed and taught several advanced flash fiction and flash nonfiction workshops, and I fear, dear Reader, that I might never be able to...

October 7, 2019 Continue reading…

SmokeLong on the Road – Catching up with Tania Hershman in Manchester, UK

Tania, it was such a pleasure catching up with you in Manchester (UK) last weekend. Manchester is so lively. The climate demonstration was going on just metres from our...

September 30, 2019 Continue reading…

Book Review: Ghosts of You by Cathy Ulrich

Reviewed by Emily Webber Cathy Ulrich’s Ghosts of You (Okay Donkey Press, 2019) is a full-length collection of her Murdered Ladies series. In each of these forty flash fiction...

September 23, 2019 Continue reading…

Issue Sixty-Five — The Playlist

Looking for a soundtrack while you read the new stories in Issue 65? Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Here is the playlist for Issue 65. Read more about...

September 16, 2019 Continue reading…

Book Review of All That Is Between Us by K.M. Elkes

by Frannie McMillan The 41 stories in K.M. Elkes’ latest collection, All That Is Between Us (Ad Hoc Fiction, June 2019), are helpfully grouped under three concise headings: “Parents...

September 9, 2019 Continue reading…

Best of the Net Nominations

It’s that time of year again, when editors put on their Santa hats and make writers’ days and weeks and years. Sadly, we can nominate only two stories for...

September 2, 2019 Continue reading…

Book Review: This. This. This. Is. Love. Love. Love. by Jennifer Wortman

by Julia Tagliere During an AWP panel this year, author Bethanne Patrick spoke of the difficulties of writing about depression: “The trickiness of writing mental illness, the biggest pitfall,...

August 26, 2019 Continue reading…

SmokeLong Workshops in Manchester and Birmingham, UK

We’re excited to announce that on September 20 and 21 SmokeLong Co-Editor-in-Chief Christopher Allen and submissions editor Helen Rye will be in Manchester and Birmingham to lead workshops on...

August 19, 2019 Continue reading…

An Interview with Guest Editor/Translator for Filipino, Kristine Ong Muslim

SmokeLong’s Global Flash Series endeavors to spotlight non-Anglo writing communities around the world. Until November 17, Kristine Ong Muslim will be reading submissions in Filipino and will choose one...

August 12, 2019 Continue reading…

The SmokeLong Flash Fellowship for Emerging Writers is Open for Applications!

The submission period for the SmokeLong Flash Fellowship for Emerging Writers is officially open. A few things are different this year. The first big change is that we’ve increased...

August 5, 2019 Continue reading…

Fridge Flash: Powim 3 (for you)

Today’s Fridge Flash comes from 7-year-old Emi from London. We are providing a translation here, with the original handwritten story below. And we are aware that Emi’s work is...

July 29, 2019 Continue reading…

A Review of Joseph Young’s Always Never Speaking: 50 Flash Fictions with Commentaries by the Author

by Emily Webber Always Never Speaking: 50 Flash Fictions, with Commentaries by the Author by Joseph Young (RowHouse Press, 2019) gives voice to dreamers and drifters and people just...

July 22, 2019 Continue reading…

Artist Spotlight — Peggy Reavey

Interviewed by Paul Bilger Who are some of your influences? Degas. I’m not talking about the ballerinas. I’m thinking of a startlingly intimate painting (for that time) of a...

July 15, 2019 Continue reading…

A Review of David Carlin & Nicole Walker’s The After-Normal

by AnnaLee Barclay One of my favorite things to do is have long, winding conversations with a good friend, conversations that explore themselves as time passes by and ideas...

July 8, 2019 Continue reading…

Issue Sixty-Four Playlist

Looking for a soundtrack while you read the new stories in Issue 64? Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Here is the playlist for Issue 64. Read more about...

June 17, 2019 Continue reading…

SmokeLong Flash Fiction Workshop — London, July 6th

Continuing our tour of the UK, SmokeLong is thrilled to announce our workshops in London. That’s right: not one, but two! On July 6th, we’ll be offering a three-hour...

June 17, 2019 Continue reading…

An Interview with Tony Huang, Guest Editor and Translator for Chinese

Tony, thank you so much for choosing a story in Chinese for SmokeLong Quarterly‘s Global Flash Series. What kind of story will you be looking for? I’m honored to...

June 3, 2019 Continue reading…

Flash Fiction Retreats with Kathy Fish and Nancy Stohlman

For the last few months, I’ve been traveling around, bumping into SmokeLong contributors and editors, doing workshops and readings. Recently, I had the opportunity to share a glass of...

June 1, 2019 Continue reading…

Review of Damhnait Monaghan’s The Neverlands

by Frannie McMillan Damhnait Monaghan’s The Neverlands (V. Press, April 2019), described by Kathy Fish as a “mosaic of microfictions,” alternates between the perspective of a young Irish girl,...

May 27, 2019 Continue reading…

SmokeLong on the Road — Norwich (UK) Reading and Workshop

by Helen Rye The medieval city of Norwich, England, latest stop on the SmokeLong on the Road journey, is famous for mustard, British pubs and the legendary University of...

May 20, 2019 Continue reading…

Book Review: The Middle Ground by Jeff Ewing

by Julia Tagliere Reading a story collection is a bit like putting together a jigsaw puzzle or solving a mystery. With each story’s end, you see more of the...

May 13, 2019 Continue reading…

SmokeLong on the Road: Fairfax, VA Reading

We’ve been traveling around the world to meet our contributors and fall asleep in our cocktails with our editors. A few weeks ago, we were in Fairfax, Va where...

May 6, 2019 Continue reading…

Fridge Flash: Cold Bottom Bart and the Ship of Fire

Today’s Fridge Flash comes from 7-year-old Dash Taylor, who had to write an adventure story during his spring break camp. It includes chapters AND cliffhangers. We are providing a...

May 1, 2019 Continue reading…

A Book Review of The In-Betweens by Davon Loeb

by Amy Lyons Davon Loeb skillfully weaves together a series of non-fiction flash pieces to tell the story of his childhood and coming-of-age in The In-Betweens, published by Everytime...

April 29, 2019 Continue reading…

SmokeLong Quarterly at AWP Portland — A Recap

If you found it difficult to find the SmokeLong table this year, it’s because we were a roving table. We came to you. It’s your fault if you weren’t...

April 22, 2019 Continue reading…

Fridge Flash: The Grocery Alien

Today’s Fridge Flash comes to us from 12-year-old Quin, who very deftly illustrates the absurdity of our modern world with a wonderful sense of humor and wit. The Grocery...

April 17, 2019 Continue reading…

SmokeLong Flash Fiction Workshop in Norwich, England!

SmokeLong On The Road is coming to Norwich, England, where we will be running a half-day flash fiction workshop on Saturday May 4th at the beautiful 15th-century home of...

April 7, 2019 Continue reading…

The Life of Foxy

by Fiona B Editor’s Note: Fiona is 8 years old. Foxy is her best friend. She likes dinosaurs and Five Nights At Freddy’s (FNAF). She likes to draw...

April 4, 2019 Continue reading…

Issue 63–The Playlist

Looking for a soundtrack while you read the 19 new stories in Issue 63? Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Here is the playlist for Issue 63. Read more...

March 26, 2019 Continue reading…

SmokeLong Flash Reading 2 at AWP in Portland

SmokeLong Quarterly presents a flash reading at Ex Novo Brewery 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. March 28. We are thrilled to host Nancy Au, Michael Don, Sherrie Flick, and Kathy...

March 4, 2019 Continue reading…

AWP SmokeLong Flash Reading 1

SmokeLong Quarterly presents a flash reading at Ex Novo Brewery in Portland on Thursday March 28 — 4:45-6:45 p.m. With Dennis Norris II, Tyrese L. Coleman, Megan Pillow Davis,...

February 25, 2019 Continue reading…

Wild Life: An Interview with Kathy Fish

by Josh Denslow Over the last 10 years Kathy Fish has done more than probably anyone to influence the direction of flash fiction. She’s a popular and sought-after workshop...

February 18, 2019 Continue reading…

SmokeLong on the Road — A Video Interview with Helen Rye

In 2019 we’re going on the road to meet as many SmokeLong contributors and editors as possible. This time, I’ve met up with Helen Rye, one of our submissions...

February 11, 2019 Continue reading…

A Review of Patrick Crerand’s The Paper Life They Lead

by Emily Webber In The Paper Life They Lead, Patrick Crerand takes risks in his storytelling, and the result is an inventive collection. In this slim book of just...

February 4, 2019 Continue reading…

Nominations — The Best Small Fictions 2019

Congratulations to our nominees! “We All Know About Margo” by Megan Pillow Davis “History” by Maia Jenkins “Itinerary” by Laurinda Lind “Boy” by Tochukwu Emmanuel Okafor “Whale Fall”...

January 30, 2019 Continue reading…

SmokeLong on the Road — Flash Reading in Singapore

What a pleasure it was to meet Shasta Grant, our coordinating editor, in person at the BooksActually reading in Singapore. Shasta manages the guest readers for SmokeLong, conducting interviews...

January 28, 2019 Continue reading…

Flash: The Literary Theory and Analysis Teacher’s Best Friend

The following essay by Jolene McIlwain is part of SmokeLong Quarterly’s series on Flash in the Classroom, in which we invite instructors to share how they use flash fiction....

January 21, 2019 Continue reading…

SmokeLong on the Road: A Video Interview with Hananah Zaheer

In 2019 we’re going on the road to visit as many of our contributors and editors as possible, to say thank you and to get to know these passionate,...

January 14, 2019 Continue reading…

Listen Up! The Issue 62 Playlist is Here!

Listen to the Issue 62 playlist on Spotify! We decided to wait until after the holidays to bring this to you. Enjoy! Brendan Stephans, “Rascal” – “For Wanda” by...

January 11, 2019 Continue reading…

A Review of Maria Romasco Moore’s Ghostographs: An Album

by Kelly Lynn Thomas In Maria Romasco Moore’s debut collection of flash fiction, Ghostographs: An Album (Rose Metal Press, 2018), vintage photos serve as the jumping off point for...

January 7, 2019 Continue reading…

Muddy Boots by Tim Morriss

Editor’s Note: Today’s fridge flash comes from 12-year-old Tim Morriss from the UK. Tim likes reading, writing, hiking, and staying up later than is advisable. __________________________________ Hiking is a great thing...

January 2, 2019 Continue reading…

Losing and Finding in the Debris Field: A Review of In the Debris Field

by AnnaLee Barclay To a flash fiction newcomer, the task of writing such a short story may seem easy, as though length is an indicator of difficulty. In my...

December 23, 2018 Continue reading…

Flashgiving Winner: Ellipsis Zine

For the month of November, we asked our readers to nominate other flash-focused journals that they thought were doing great work. In exchange, we would pick one to award...

December 19, 2018 Continue reading…

Artist Spotlight: “Junk Artist” Chris Roberts

Chris Roberts is Dead Clown Art and has illustrated a couple stories for SmokeLong. He is a full-time freelance artist, using mixed media and found objects to create his...

December 17, 2018 Continue reading…

Book Review: Ben Berman’s Then Again

by Beret Olsen With two volumes of poetry under his belt—Figuring in the Figure (Able Muse Press, 2017) and the award-winning Strange Borderlands (Able Muse Press, 2013)—Ben Berman has...

December 10, 2018 Continue reading…

Flash in the Classroom: Winesburg to Las Perditas

In the SmokeLong Flash in the Classroom series, we ask teachers to share how they use flash fiction in their classrooms. If you are a teacher and have a...

December 3, 2018 Continue reading…

2018 Pushcart Prize Nominees

Congratulations to the following writers whose stories we’ve nominated for a Pushcart Prize this year. “Earlove” by Ashton Carlile “We All Know About Margo” by Megan Pillow Davis “History”...

November 30, 2018 Continue reading…

Review: Christopher DeWan’s Hoopty Time Machines: Fairy Tales for Grown-Ups

by Amanda Krupman Christopher DeWan, in his debut flash fiction collection, Hoopty Time Machines (Atticus Books, September 2016), creates new “fairy tales for grownups.” Fairy tales, fables, myths, and...

November 26, 2018 Continue reading…

Myth — Origin of the Blood Moon by Aravah Chaiken

“Yes! Finally! Time for the story!” I cheered with excitement, nearly ruining my new red dress my mother sewed me for the mourning. “Watch it!” Fifteen people snapped at me. How many people can get angry at...

November 19, 2018 Continue reading…

Fridge Flash: Never Taste a Rainbow

Editor’s Note: Today’s Fridge Flash—and good, sound advice—comes to us from 7-year-old Amelie from the U.K. Never Taste a Rainbow Never taste a rainbow. Especially the red. All of...

November 15, 2018 Continue reading…

Review: Stephanie Hutton’s Three Sisters of Stone

Reviewed by Natalie C. Brown Stephanie Hutton’s Three Sisters of Stone (Ellipsis Zine, May 2018) is a novella-in-flash that follows three sisters from childhood through adulthood in Australia, spanning...

November 12, 2018 Continue reading…

Artist Spotlight: The Unusual, Extraordinary Worlds of Cindy Fan

Cindy Fan is the cover artist for SmokeLong Issue 61. Fan is a Toronto-based artist who studied Illustration at OCAD University. Her work takes inspiration from poetry, mythology, urban...

November 5, 2018 Continue reading…

Nominate Your Favorite Journal with SmokeLong’s 2018 #FlashGiving Contest

For the month of October, SmokeLong Quarterly received $318 in tip jar donations. We’ve decided, in the spirit of giving, to send it to another journal. Nominate your favorite...

November 4, 2018 Continue reading…

Nominate Your Favorite Journal for Our 2018 #FlashGiving Contest

For the month of October, SmokeLong Quarterly received $318 in tip jar donations. We’ve decided, in the spirit of giving, to send it to another journal. Nominate your favorite...

November 4, 2018 Continue reading…

Review: A Bright and Pleading Dagger by Nicole Rivas

Review by Julia Tagliere Each year since 2007, Rose Metal Press holds its Short Short Chapbook Contest, which the press’s founders describe as a way “to showcase one of...

October 29, 2018 Continue reading…

Social Media and Politics in Kenya: An Interview with John O. Ndavula

For the last few months, the SmokeLong team have had the pleasure of having John O. Ndavula on staff as our Kiswahili editor and translator. The story he chose...

October 22, 2018 Continue reading…

Book Review: Sarah Layden’s The Story I Tell Myself About Myself

by Frannie McMillan The 15 stories in Sarah Layden’s new collection of flash fiction, The Story I Tell Myself About Myself (Sonder Press, August 2018), offer readers failed couplings,...

October 15, 2018 Continue reading…

Flash in the Classroom: The Pleasure of Risk-taking

The Flash in the Classroom series on the SmokeLong blog explores creative writing teachers’ various approaches to teaching flash fiction to their students. We–and the entire flash fiction community–are...

October 8, 2018 Continue reading…

Book Review: Sophie Van Llewyn’s Bottled Goods

by Tiffany Sciacca Sophie Van Llewyn’s debut flash novella, Bottled Goods, (Fairlight Books, July 2018) is the perfect place to start whether you are a longtime fan of flash...

October 1, 2018 Continue reading…

Listen up! The Issue 61 Playlist Is Here.

Listen along to Issue 61’s playlist on Spotify! Svetlana Beggs ,“The Photo” – “Звезда по имени Солнце” by Viktor Tsoi Victor Tsoi was a necessary force of nature...

September 18, 2018 Continue reading…

Nominations and More Nominations

The SmokeLong Quarterly team are thrilled to have more and more opportunities for celebrating flash fiction writers. A couple of new Best-anthologies are accepting nominations, and of course we’re...

September 17, 2018 Continue reading…

Book Review: Dana Diehl’s TV Girls

by Kelly Lynn Thomas Dana Diehl’s new chapbook, TV Girls (New Delta Review, August 2018), is a collection of short stories based on reality TV shows and celebrities. You...

September 10, 2018 Continue reading…

Book Review: Mandy Huggins’ Brightly Coloured Horses

by C.A. Schaefer The title of Mandy Huggins’ collection, Brightly Coloured Horses (Chapeltown Books, 2018), evokes images of a childhood toy box. The stories inside this treasure chest are...

September 3, 2018 Continue reading…

Best of the Net Nominations

It’s that time of year again, when editors put on their Santa hats and make writers’ days and weeks and years. This nomination season is going to be particularly...

August 27, 2018 Continue reading…

Book Review: Alligators at Night by Meg Pokrass

by Julia Tagliere Brad Watson (author of Aliens in the Prime of Their Lives) dubbed Pokrass the “new monarch of the delightful and enigmatic tiny kingdom of micro- and...

August 20, 2018 Continue reading…

Review: Karen Donovan’s Aard-vark to Axolotl

by Ashley McGreary Opening any collection of short fiction is like losing your senses to a curio cabinet of wonder, but Karen Donovan’s Aard-vark to Axolotl (Etruscan Press, April...

August 13, 2018 Continue reading…

Review—New Micro: Exceptionally Short Stories

Reviewed by Kara Oakleaf The challenge of flash fiction is often what to leave out – limiting yourself to 1,000 words leaves little room for anything other than the...

August 6, 2018 Continue reading…

Book Review: Barry Gifford’s The Cuban Club

by Pilar DiPietro Often we think of life in the 1950s as one of wistful innocence and familial ease. We may even term it “the Good Old Days.” Barry...

July 30, 2018 Continue reading…

Twelve Great Flash Fiction Novels / Novellas

by Michael Loveday The novel-/novella-in-flash is a curious form. Not a straightforward novel/novella, nor simply a story collection, it functions as a hybrid. Its enthusiasts, myself included, resemble TV...

July 20, 2018 Continue reading…

Book Review: Sherrie Flick’s Thank Your Lucky Stars

by Cheryl Pappas Lucky for us, Sherrie Flick has a new collection of stories. Thank Your Lucky Stars (Autumn House Press) comes out in September. If you read flash,...

July 16, 2018 Continue reading…

Fridge Flash: Mickey Mouse

Editor’s Note: Today’s fridge flash comes from 8-year-old Shifa Asif, from Lahore, Pakistan. Shifa Asif is eight years old and attends Beaconhouse Canal side campus, Lahore, Pakistan. Amongst her...

July 12, 2018 Continue reading…

Artist Spotlight: An Interview with Josh George

A work by painter Josh George illustrates this issue’s story from Jonathan Nixon, “Anywhere We’ve Ever Wanted.” Smokelong art director Alexander C. Kafka asked George about his experiences and...

July 5, 2018 Continue reading…

Issue 60 Playlist

Listen along to Issue 60’s playlist on Spotify! K.C. Mead-Brewer, “The Cover-up” – “Maneater” by Lower Dens Lower Dens is a bright star in Baltimore’s dream pop sky. I...

June 18, 2018 Continue reading…

Review: Tiny Crimes Leaves Big Impact

by Kim Kankiewicz It takes audacity to write flash fiction, to assert that a few hundred words can carry the weight of a story. Memorable flash fiction...

June 7, 2018 Continue reading…

The Long List and Finalists — SmokeLong Quarterly Award for Flash Fiction

Well, our first flash fiction contest was an overwhelming success! Thank you to the writers who participated. Nearly 1,200 of you submitted around 2,000 stories to our 15th-anniversary competition....

May 29, 2018 Continue reading…

Review: No Other Form but This: Nothing Short of 100: Selected Tales from 100 Word Story

By Cheryl Pappas In what other form can you find a story about old men floating up in the air, or a narrator’s deep dive into the word...

May 23, 2018 Continue reading…

We Are Now a Paying Market!

Since I took over as editor in 2010, I hoped that one day we might be able to pay our contributors for their work. Today, I am thrilled to...

May 21, 2018 Continue reading…

Cool Stuff Writers Do: An Interview with Container

Doug Luman and Jenni B. Baker’s Container is a literary project for artists interested in nontraditional storytelling. Container tells stories on lunchboxes and Rolodexes, on View Masters and with...

May 18, 2018 Continue reading…

Fridge Flash: Before the Law, 2018

Editor’s Note: Today’s story is by 4-year-old Sam, who is clearly channeling Kafka. His dad Marcus says that Sam told him the following story after building this awesome LEGO...

May 8, 2018 Continue reading…

Fridge Flash: The Enemy

Today’s Fridge Flash is from Nikhil Sampath, a young writer and cleaning warrior who strikes fear in the hearts of dust bunnies everywhere. by Nikhil Sampath The...

May 2, 2018 Continue reading…

Issue 59’s Spotify Playlist!

Nine of our writers in Issue 59 contributed to our issue playlist. Their songs, stories, and the reasons they chose the tune follow. Listen below or on SmokeLong’s Spotify...

March 27, 2018 Continue reading…

The SmokeLong Quarterly Award for Flash Fiction — Submissions are open!

15 Years. 15 Weeks. 15 Writers. $1500. Do you have what it takes to write the best flash fiction we’ve ever seen? There’s $1500 on the line–both to celebrate...

February 5, 2018 Continue reading…

Anticipated FAQs about the SmokeLong Award for Flash Fiction

Submissions are live for The Smokey, so we’re already anticipating that some folks might have a few questions about the award and why the heck we’re doing it. Here...

February 1, 2018 Continue reading…

Kathy Fish Fellow 2018: An Interview with Tochukwu Okafor

We are beyond excited to introduce our 2018 Kathy Fish Fellow, Tochukwu Okafor. Recently, we asked him about his influences, his voice, and why he’s interested in flash fiction....

January 24, 2018 Continue reading…

Our Ten Most Popular Stories of 2017

As we close out an amazing year of flash fiction, I wanted to take a moment to thank all of our contributors—the writers who sent us their beautiful words,...

December 31, 2017 Continue reading…

Our Issue 58 Playlist Is Here

We’ve got an amazing issue for you this time–and a Spotify playlist to go along with it. After you’ve read the stories (or while you’re reading them!) check out...

December 18, 2017 Continue reading…

Tochukwu Okafor Is Our 2018 Kathy Fish Fellow!

Congratulations to Tochukwu Emmanuel Okafor, our 2018 Kathy Fish Fellow and virtual writer-in-residence! We are so excited to bring his work to SmokeLong Quarterly and are thrilled to work...

December 18, 2017 Continue reading…

2018 Kathy Fish Fellowship Finalists Announced

Good news! We have 10 finalists for our 2018 Kathy Fish Fellowship. Out of more than 200 applications, these 10 writers really stood out for their originality and talent....

December 11, 2017 Continue reading…

SmokeLong Nominations — Pushcart and Best Small Fictions

The holidays seem to begin earlier and earlier every year. This year, for us, they’re starting right now. SmokeLong Quarterly is thankful for the opportunity to have published these...

November 18, 2017 Continue reading…

13 Creepy Stories from Our Archives

Here are some spooky tales from our archives to get you in the Halloween holiday spirit. The Dead Are Not Hungry by Justin Lawrence Daugherty Zombies like you’ve...

October 31, 2017 Continue reading…

Fridge Flash: If Dragons Were Real

Today’s Fridge Flash is from Evie McClinch, who narrated this piece during one of her many imaginative play sessions. Her mom transcribed it as originally told, read it back...

October 3, 2017 Continue reading…

Review: Best Small Fictions 2017, A View Into The Collective Subconscious

By Stefen Styrsky While reading the exceptional stories in The Best Small Fictions 2017, the phrase “in our time” kept bouncing around my head. It’s the title...

September 29, 2017 Continue reading…

Here’s Our Playlist for Issue 57!

Issue 57 of SmokeLong Quarterly comes with a whole new sensory experience. We’ve created a Spotify playlist for Issue 57, so you can listen to music that’s been paired...

September 18, 2017 Continue reading…

Six Flash Fictions with Great Endings

Editor’s note: We are fortunate to have Tara L. Masih, founding series editor for the Best Small Fictions anthology, guest blog for us this week. Tara takes a look...

September 6, 2017 Continue reading…

Fridge Flash: Why Squirrels Don’t Care for Robots

The kids in Oliver Jones’ first grade class were instructed to imagine a story that took place outside of their school. They were to include at least one real...

August 1, 2017 Continue reading…

Fridge Flash: Not Going Back

Today’s Fridge Flash is from nine-year-old Ethan. Ethan shares a poignant story about love, loss, and childhood friendships that last a lifetime. By Ethan Hampel Jone was...

June 29, 2017 Continue reading…

Flash Fiction Day Top Ten: Allison Pinkerton’s Favorite Flashes About Kids

June 24 was National Flash Fiction Day in the U.K. Although the festival is over, we at SmokeLong Quarterly would like to party one more day. In celebration, we...

June 27, 2017 Continue reading…

Flash Fiction Day Top Ten: Claire Polders’ Favorite “(Dead) Father” Flashes

June 24 was National Flash Fiction Day in the U.K. Although the festival across the pond is over, we at SmokeLong Quarterly would like to keep the party going...

June 26, 2017 Continue reading…

Flash Fiction Day Top Ten: Gay Degani’s Favorite “Car” Flashes

June 24 is (Inter)National Flash Fiction Day. In celebration, SmokeLong Quarterly asked several amazing writers of flash fiction to share a top ten list of flash favorites on a...

June 23, 2017 Continue reading…

Flash Fiction Day Top Ten: Santino Prinzi’s Favorite Funny Flashes

June 24 is National Flash Fiction Day in the United Kingdom. When we learned that flash fiction has its own day of celebration in the U.K., we at SmokeLong...

June 22, 2017 Continue reading…

Artist Spotlight: Ashley Inguanta

Ashley Inguanta, a SmokeLong Quarterly contributing artist for seven years and its art director for six, will be stepping down from the art director role after this issue to...

June 19, 2017 Continue reading…

Fridge Flash: The Cool Air Giver

Today’s Fridge Flash comes from seven-year-old Shifa Asif, who extols the beauties of nature. By Shifa Asif You give us cool air and oxygen, And they are very beautiful,

May 2, 2017 Continue reading…

Behind the Flash

By Dana Diehl As a kid, one of my favorite pastimes was looking at old photographs of my family. My parents had five photo albums stored at the top of...

April 27, 2017 Continue reading…

Cool Stuff Writers Do: Our Associate Editor Is Going to Be on Jeopardy!

SmokeLong Associate Editor and resident trivia buff Meghan Carlton Phillips will be appearing as a contestant on the beloved game show Jeopardy! this Friday, April 21, 2017. Will she...

April 19, 2017 Continue reading…

Fridge Flash: Volkswagen Picture

Today’s Fridge Flash comes from four-year-old Sherdil Asif, who shares his tale of a spider taking a ride! by Sherdil Asif The spiderman was going in a Volkswagon. He...

April 5, 2017 Continue reading…

Fridge Flash: A Duk Swam

Today’s Fridge Flash comes from six-year-old, Esben Møller Semmel. This cautionary tale is full of phonetic fun and is poetic in structure. Be careful of duks! by Esben Møller...

March 29, 2017 Continue reading…

Bath Flash Fiction Anthology Giveaway!

Congratulations to Bath Flash Fiction on their first anthology: To Carry Her Home: Bath Flash Fiction, Volume One! To celebrate flash from the UK and around the world, SmokeLong...

March 20, 2017 Continue reading…

Will You Please Not Be Quiet, Please?

For Raymond Carver By Len Kuntz He was already dead when I found him. There was no one to call. My stomach filled with acid, my head spun....

March 2, 2017 Continue reading…

Fridge Flash: The Rubber Lizards Of Concord

In this week’s Fridge Flash, eleven-year-old Irene Meklin shares a story about the end of school days, jelly donuts, sleepovers, throwing rubber lizards, and the exhilarating exhaustion of childhood. We...

February 22, 2017 Continue reading…

Why Flash Fiction? Because Jim Carroll

By Kara Vernor Not all of us drop from the womb writers. In 1991, when I was seventeen, none of the books I read—Vonnegut, Kerouac, Nin—made me feel...

February 16, 2017 Continue reading…

Flash, Back: Edward Falco’s “Koi”

SmokeLong‘s “Flash, Back” series asks writers to discuss flash fiction that may be obscure or printed before the term “flash fiction” became popular, and tell us how these older...

January 31, 2017 Continue reading…

Global Flash Series Update

You may have noticed in the last two issues of SmokeLong Quarterly that things were a bit less Anglo than usual. In September 2016 we published Rupprecht Mayer’s “Aufgaben:...

January 30, 2017 Continue reading…

Four Vignettes on Flash Fiction

This “Why Flash Fiction?” essay from Michelle Elvy shares what Debussy, beasts, birds, and the sea reveal about flash fiction. Submit your own “Why Flash Fiction?” article or other...

January 26, 2017 Continue reading…

Review: Looking Back, Moving Forward: Reflecting on Life Happening in Jack C. Buck’s Deer Michigan

By Santino Prinzi In many of the stories in Deer Michigan (Truth Serum Press, 2016), characters reflect on memories of what once was and how the world around...

January 11, 2017 Continue reading…

Review: Exploring Violence and Small Moments in Santino Prinzi’s Dots

By Eshani Surya Imagine the things you do in a day. See those small moments in succession: walk by the preacher on the subway, bake cookies or bread...

January 4, 2017 Continue reading…

Fridge Flash: The Great Pencil

In this week’s Fridge Flash, ten-year-old Nikhil Sampath shares an homage to our most important writing utensil, the pencil. By Nikhil Sampath In every pencil there is a story waiting to unfold....

December 20, 2016 Continue reading…

Allison Pinkerton Is Our 2017 Kathy Fish Fellow!

Congratulations to Allison Pinkerton, our 2017 Kathy Fish Fellow and writer-in-residence at SmokeLong Quarterly. Allison’s application packet blew us away with its originality and sense of play. We are...

December 19, 2016 Continue reading…

Flash, Back: Langston Hughes’ The Simple Shorts

SmokeLong‘s “Flash, Back” series asks writers to discuss flash fiction that may be obscure or printed before the term “flash fiction” became popular, and tell us how these older...

December 14, 2016 Continue reading…

SmokeLong Quarterly’s 2017 Pushcart Prize Nominees: Final Round

SmokeLong Quarterly is excited to nominate six fantastic stories for the 2017 Pushcart Prize! Today we are happy to announce that we have nominated Justin Lawrence Daugherty “The Dead...

December 13, 2016 Continue reading…

2017 Kathy Fish Finalists Announced

Out of more than 300 applications for the 2017 Kathy Fish Fellowship, our staff has narrowed the list to 13 finalists. We’d like to congratulate and honor these 13...

December 8, 2016 Continue reading…

SmokeLong Quarterly’s 2017 Pushcart Prize Nominees: Round Two

SmokeLong Quarterly is excited to nominate six fantastic stories for the 2017 Pushcart Prize! Over the next three Tuesdays, we will announce our nominees by posting links to the...

December 6, 2016 Continue reading…

Fridge Flash: A Fox in Paris

In fewer than 30 words, this week’s Fridge Flash from Raya Ghosh-Roy follows the journey of a wistful Parisian fox. Showcasing evocative, haiku-like descriptions, “A Fox in Paris” recalls one of...

December 6, 2016 Continue reading…

Flash, Back: The Collected Stories of Isaac Babel

SmokeLong‘s “Flash, Back” series asks writers to discuss flash fiction that may be obscure or printed before the term “flash fiction” became popular, and tell us how these older...

November 30, 2016 Continue reading…

SmokeLong Quarterly’s 2017 Pushcart Prize Nominees: Round One

SmokeLong Quarterly is excited to nominate six fantastic stories for the 2017 Pushcart Prize! Over the next three Tuesdays, we will announce our nominees by posting links to the selected stories and author interviews....

November 29, 2016 Continue reading…

SmokeLong and D.C.’s Noir at the Bar Present ‘Cold, Dark Flash’ at AWP

PLEASE NOTE VENUE CHANGE BELOW! This event is no longer being held at the Wonderland Ballroom. Heading to AWP‘s conference? Washington, D.C. is COLD in February. So why not...

November 28, 2016 Continue reading…

#FlashGiving Winners and Stories

It’s been an amazing week of flash fiction giving and receiving. Thank you to everyone who participated in SmokeLong’s #FlashGiving! We discovered many wonderful pieces of flash fiction, while...

November 25, 2016 Continue reading…

Flash, Back: Ernest Hemingway’s In Our Time

SmokeLong‘s “Flash, Back” series asks writers to discuss flash fiction that may be obscure or printed before the term “flash fiction” became popular, and tell us how these older...

November 23, 2016 Continue reading…

Flash, Back: Kafka’s “A Fratricide”

SmokeLong‘s “Flash, Back” series asks writers to discuss flash fiction that may be obscure or printed before the term “flash fiction” became popular, and tell us how these older...

November 16, 2016 Continue reading…

#FlashGiving with SmokeLong Quarterly

Celebrate the season of giving with us by sharing your favorite online story! From now until Wednesday, November 23, SmokeLong Quarterly is sponsoring #flashgiving to show how grateful we...

November 14, 2016 Continue reading…

The Deception of Flash

This week’s “Why Flash Fiction?” essay from Melissa Scholes Young discusses why and how she teaches her students flash fiction as their first assignment. Submit your own “Why Flash Fiction?” article...

November 10, 2016 Continue reading…

Flash, Back: Alice Walker’s “The Flowers”

SmokeLong‘s “Flash, Back” series asks writers to discuss flash fiction that may be obscure or printed before the term “flash fiction” became popular, and tell us how these older...

November 3, 2016 Continue reading…

Review and Q&A: ‘Exposure’ Reveals All

According to Webster’s Dictionary, there are generally three commonly used meanings for the word “Exposure:” “the fact or condition of being affected by something or experiencing something: the condition...

November 2, 2016 Continue reading…

Flash, Back: Virginia Woolf’s “A Haunted House”

SmokeLong‘s “Flash, Back” series asks writers to discuss flash fiction that may be obscure or printed before the term “flash fiction” became popular, and tell us how these older...

October 28, 2016 Continue reading…

Flash, Back: Margaret Atwood’s “Happy Endings”

SmokeLong‘s “Flash, Back” series asks writers to discuss flash fiction that may be obscure or printed before the term “flash fiction” became popular, and tell us how these older...

October 20, 2016 Continue reading…

Interview with Rose Metal Press: Annual Short Short Chapbook Contest

Rose Metal Press is an independent publisher of hybrid genres, including flash fiction collections and novellas-in-flash. For the past 11 years, Rose Metal Press (RMP) has held their annual...

October 19, 2016 Continue reading…

Cool Stuff Writers Do: Fbomb Flash Fiction Reading Series

Most are familiar with the typical poetry reading scene: a dark bar, an uplit stage, maybe some jazz and finger snaps at the end of some emotionally wrought yet...

October 12, 2016 Continue reading…

Organized Lightning

This week’s “Why Flash Fiction?” essay from Jennifer A. Howard discusses how puzzling over the world’s mysteries drives her flash. Submit your own “Why Flash Fiction?” article or other flash-related essays...

October 6, 2016 Continue reading…

Cool Stuff Writers Do: Aymar and Alkimist

What’s cooler than flash fiction? Reading it out loud and pairing it with music. Writer E.A. Aymar, a past guest editor here at SmokeLong, and Kimberly Venetz (DJ Alkimist)...

October 5, 2016 Continue reading…

News from Contributors and Staff

We have six months worth of updates on book deals, publications, interviews, awards, and other accomplishments from SmokeLong contributors and staff, so take a deep breath and dive in. If you’ve...

October 4, 2016 Continue reading…

Flexible Borders

This week’s “Why Flash Fiction?” essay from Robert Scotellaro charts his journey from loving Emily Dickinson to co-editing a collection of micro-fiction. Submit your own “Why Flash Fiction?” article or other...

September 29, 2016 Continue reading…

Flash, Back: Revisiting Jayne Anne Phillips

SmokeLong‘s “Flash, Back” series asks writers to discuss flash fiction that may be obscure or printed before the term “flash fiction” became popular, and tell us how these older...

September 28, 2016 Continue reading…

The Temporal Art of Flash

This week’s “Why Flash Fiction?” essay from April Bradley explains how her long-term memory loss influences her flash. Submit your own “Why Flash Fiction?” article or other flash-related essays on our Submittable page! ...

September 22, 2016 Continue reading…

Tiny Secret Objects

In honor of the release of The Best Small Fictions 2016, this week’s “Why Flash Fiction?” essay from collection contributor Rosie Forrest examines the hidden life within flash stories. Buy The Best Small...

September 15, 2016 Continue reading…

Encountering the Divine and Mundane in Joy Williams’s Ninety-Nine Stories of God

By Eshani Surya Joy Williams gives her Antigone Bookstore reading with sunglasses perched on her face, though it is evening and we are inside. Perhaps this is enough...

September 13, 2016 Continue reading…

SmokeLong Welcomes New Editors and Readers

SmokeLong is pleased to announce the addition of two editors and two readers to its staff. Please join us in welcoming them. Tyrese Coleman is SmokeLong’s new associate blog...

September 7, 2016 Continue reading…

Love and Disappointment in “Goldfish on the Roof”

By Marie Schutt My first unwitting introduction to flash fiction, or something like it, was when I picked up Yasunari Kawabata’s Palm-of-the-Hand Stories as a bored teenager. Though...

September 6, 2016 Continue reading…

Flash as a Second Language

This week’s “Why Flash Fiction?” essay from Mark Budman muses on his journey toward writing flash in a second language. Submit your own “Why Flash Fiction?” article or other flash-related essays...

August 25, 2016 Continue reading…

Why Flash Fiction? Because of a Parrot and a Porn Star, Of Course

In this week’s installment of “Why Flash Fiction?”, Ashley Chantler, co-director of the International Flash Fiction Association (IFFA), looks back at his path-breaking (and occasionally potholed) essay “Notes Towards...

August 18, 2016 Continue reading…

Fridge Flash: The Lions, the Litterbox, and the Lily Pads

This week’s Fridge Flash from Aubrey Reiter features illustrations, story, and loads of lovely alliteration from a talented budding writer! Remember to watch out for lethal lake snakes! Got a great...

August 12, 2016 Continue reading…

Flash Fiction as Language Art

In SmokeLong‘s “Why Flash Fiction?” series, writers and editors explore what draws them to the form. In this column, Anne Weisgerber likens writing a novel in flashes to traversing a museum....

August 11, 2016 Continue reading…

Flash Fiction for Genre-Benders

In SmokeLong‘s “Why Flash Fiction?” series, writers and editors explore what draws them to the form. In this column, Dot Dannenberg discusses her transition from poetry to flash. Submit...

August 4, 2016 Continue reading…

On the Mirror and the Echo

In SmokeLong‘s “Why Flash Fiction?” series, writers and editors explore what draws them to the form. In this column, Carmen Maria Machado analyzes the famous six-word story “For sale: baby...

July 28, 2016 Continue reading…

Space Between

In SmokeLong‘s “Why Flash Fiction?” series, writers and editors explore what draws them to the form. In this column, Ravi Mangla writes about flash’s role in interstitial spaces and...

July 21, 2016 Continue reading…

Flash Fiction: A Flash Essay

In SmokeLong‘s “Why Flash Fiction?” series, writers and editors explore what draws them to the form. In this column, Rolli posits that his love for flash fiction may be pathological. Submit...

July 14, 2016 Continue reading…

Flash Addiction

In SmokeLong‘s “Why Flash Fiction?” series, writers and editors explore what draws them to the form. In this column, Claire Polders describes her journey discovering flash fiction. Submit your...

July 7, 2016 Continue reading…

The Silence and the Flood

In SmokeLong‘s “Why Flash Fiction?” series, writers and editors explore what draws them to the form. In this column, Alvin Park discusses how his father’s short-lived rule that the family...

June 30, 2016 Continue reading…

The Flash That Haunts Us

In SmokeLong‘s “Why Flash Fiction?” series, flash fiction writers and editors explore what draws them to the form. In this column, Hillary Leftwich explores how her son’s epilepsy has...

June 23, 2016 Continue reading…

Cool Stuff Writers Do: The Tool Project

Writing prompts are nothing new, but they can always be helpful in sparking the imagination and generating new content. SmokeLong editor Tara Laskowski recently stumbled across a casual Facebook...

June 21, 2016 Continue reading…

Fiction That Strikes Like Lightning

In SmokeLong‘s “Why Flash Fiction?” series, flash fiction writers and editors explore what draws them to the form. In this column, Berit Ellingsen provides an overview of flash and...

June 16, 2016 Continue reading…

Interested in Everything

In SmokeLong‘s “Why Flash Fiction?” series, flash fiction writers and editors explore what draws them to the form, from the first time they wrote a piece of flash to...

June 9, 2016 Continue reading…

Universe, Multiverse, Miniverse

In SmokeLong‘s “Why Flash Fiction?” series, flash fiction writers and editors explore what draws them to the form, from the first time they wrote a piece of flash to why...

June 2, 2016 Continue reading…

Ten SmokeLong Stories Make Wigleaf’s Top 50 (Very) Short Fictions of 2016 Lists

Flash fiction publication Wigleaf released its hotly-anticipated annual Top 50 (Very) Short Fictions lists last week. The top 50 included two SmokeLong stories: “Puberty” by Kat Gonso and “Broken...

May 27, 2016 Continue reading…

Like Apples and Rollerblades

In SmokeLong‘s “Why Flash Fiction?” series, flash fiction writers and editors explore what draws them to the form, from the first time they wrote a piece of flash to why...

May 26, 2016 Continue reading…

Fridge Flash: Left Corner

Today’s Fridge Flash comes from sixth grader Coleman Davidson, who expertly captures the chaos and drama of the final moments of the big game. By Coleman G. Davidson Today,...

May 20, 2016 Continue reading…

It Is Always a Sunday Afternoon in April

In SmokeLong‘s “Why Flash Fiction?” series, flash fiction writers and editors explore what draws them to the form, from the first time they wrote a piece of flash to...

May 19, 2016 Continue reading…

The Expansiveness of Compressed Writing

In SmokeLong‘s “Why Flash Fiction?” series, flash fiction writers and editors explore what draws them to the form, from the first time they wrote a piece of flash to...

May 12, 2016 Continue reading…

“Catch These Little Gifts”: Flash Interviews with Dan Nielsen, Robert Scotellaro, and Nancy Stohlman

by Jonathan Cardew Like a shot of whiskey, or a plunge into cold water, or a breeze on a hot summer’s day, good flash recalibrates the senses. It...

May 6, 2016 Continue reading…

Idea of the Sprawl

In SmokeLong‘s “Why Flash Fiction?” series, flash fiction writers and editors explore what draws them to the form, from the first time they wrote a piece of flash...

May 5, 2016 Continue reading…

What is Possible

In SmokeLong‘s “Why Flash Fiction?” series, flash fiction writers and editors explore what draws them to the form, from the first time they wrote a piece of flash to...

April 28, 2016 Continue reading…

Framing Flash

In SmokeLong‘s “Why Flash Fiction?” series, flash fiction writers and editors explore what draws them to the form, from the first time they wrote a piece of flash to...

April 21, 2016 Continue reading…

On the Continuum of Art and Science: An Interview with the Winner of Africa’s Etisalat Prize for Flash Fiction

The Etisalat Prize for Literature is a pan-African award that strives to nurture emerging writers on the continent and support the African publishing industry. Although the prize began with...

April 15, 2016 Continue reading…

On Frayed Ends and Open Doors

In SmokeLong‘s “Why Flash Fiction?” series, flash fiction writers and editors explore what draws them to the form, from the first time they wrote a piece of flash to...

April 14, 2016 Continue reading…

Artist Spotlight: Jessica Gawinski

SmokeLong’s Art Director Ashley Inguanta sat down with artist and illustrator Jessica Gawinski to discuss the creative process and visual narratives. Tell me about your beginnings as an artist. The...

April 8, 2016 Continue reading…

Coming Out to Flash Fiction

In SmokeLong‘s “Why Flash Fiction?” series, flash fiction writers and editors explore what draws them to the form, from the first time they wrote a piece of flash to...

April 7, 2016 Continue reading…

Fox Coats and Dictionaries: A History of My Flash Education

In SmokeLong’s “Why Flash Fiction?” series, flash fiction writers and editors explore what draws them to the form, from the first time they wrote a piece of flash to...

April 4, 2016 Continue reading…

We’re Changing Our Name—Introducing SipLong Quarterly

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SmokeLong Quarterly is no more. The online flash fiction journal with the problematic name has changed its official name to SipLong Quarterly, in response to pressure from...

April 1, 2016 Continue reading…

News from Contributors and Staff: AWP Edition

This week, we’ve got the details on where and when you can catch some of our contributors and staff reading, panel-ing, and signing during AWP in LA. Contributor Notes: Aubrey Hirsch...

March 28, 2016 Continue reading…

Fridge Flash: The Conch

This week’s Fridge Flash from sixth grader Maddie Silver includes what might just be our new favorite onomatopoeic word. Read on to find out what it is! By Maddie Silver...

March 25, 2016 Continue reading…

Just a Flash. Did You See It?

In SmokeLong‘s “Why Flash Fiction?” series, flash fiction writers and editors explore what draws them to the form, from the first time they wrote a piece of flash to...

March 24, 2016 Continue reading…

Students Take Over Our Queue! A Hands-On Approach to Teaching Fiction

Creative writing professors Wade Geary and Huan Hsu teach at Amsterdam University College in the Netherlands. This week, their students will be reading the SmokeLong queue, discussing the stories,...

March 21, 2016 Continue reading…

Best Small Fictions Selects Three SmokeLong Stories for 2016 Anthology

SmokeLong Quarterly is pleased to announce that the 2016 edition of Best Small Fictions from Queen’s Ferry Press will feature three SLQ stories, the most of any publication. The...

March 17, 2016 Continue reading…

Why Flash Fiction? Because of “Karintha”

In SmokeLong‘s “Why Flash Fiction?” series, flash fiction writers and editors explore what draws them to the form, from the first time they wrote a piece of flash to...

March 17, 2016 Continue reading…

News from Contributors and Staff

Here’s the latest good news from contributors and staff! Contributors Matt Rowan’s story “No Me Say It” was published in the latest issue of Timber Journal, 6.1. Rowan’s...

March 11, 2016 Continue reading…

Why Flash Fiction? It’s a Not-Quite Accident

In SmokeLong‘s “Why Flash Fiction?” series, flash fiction writers and editors explore what draws them to the form, from the first time they wrote a piece of flash to...

March 10, 2016 Continue reading…

Welcoming New Staff Editors

SmokeLong is pleased to announce two new staff editors. Eshani Surya is the new associate editor for social media and marketing. She is based in New York City. Her...

February 20, 2016 Continue reading…

Fridge Flash: One Morning At The Zoo

On Thursday morning at the zoo, all the animals stretched and yawned their wide mouths and munched up their breakfast. Then, Marty the zebra found a curious orange egg...

February 19, 2016 Continue reading…

News from Contributors

Here’s some of the latest good news from our wonderful contributors! Amber Sparks’ fabulous new collection The Unfinished World and Other Stories is out now from Liveright/Norton. Her story,...

February 12, 2016 Continue reading…

Lost at Sea: On Falling for Atlas of Remote Islands

This week Matt Weinkam shares his unabashed love for Judith Schalansky’s beautiful book Atlas of Remote Islands: Fifty Islands I Have Not Visited and Never Will and its recent Pocket Atlas reissue. By...

February 4, 2016 Continue reading…

Kathy Fish Fellowship 2016: An Interview with Shasta Grant

We’re so excited for you to get to know our 2016 Kathy Fish Fellow, Shasta Grant. Recently, we took a little time to ask her about her writing habits,...

January 28, 2016 Continue reading…

We’re Looking for an Associate Editor

SmokeLong Quarterly is looking for an associate editor, social media and marketing, to join our team. We are an award-winning online flash fiction publication founded in 2003. This is...

January 26, 2016 Continue reading…

SmokeLong’s Most Popular Stories and Interviews of 2015

We launched a newly designed site in April 2015, and you all responded kindly by actually visiting it! From April to December, SmokeLong Quarterly had more than 62,000 site...

January 18, 2016 Continue reading…

Imitating Life: Lovers of the Arts, Unite

This week on the blog, Dan Cafaro, the founder of Atticus Books, makes a case for recapturing the fiery spirit of small press publishing. By Dan Cafaro “No...

January 14, 2016 Continue reading…

Shasta Grant is Our 2016 Kathy Fish Fellow!

With 273 submissions, the most we’ve ever received for the Kathy Fish Fellowship, SmokeLong Quarterly is pleased to announce that Shasta Grant is the winner of the 2016 Kathy...

December 30, 2015 Continue reading…

Stories We’d Like to See More of in 2016…and Some that Should Go Away Awhile

In 2015, SmokeLong received 3,930 submissions and published 74 stories. We read a lot of flash fiction, and see a lot of trends. Many of the stories our editors...

December 29, 2015 Continue reading…

Fridge Flash: Little Foot

Today’s Fridge Flash from three-year-old Gretl Spikes-Gilbert is here to get you in the holiday spirit complete with Legos, lions, and quite the twist ending. By Gretl Spikes-Gilbert...

December 11, 2015 Continue reading…

News from Contributors and Staff

Here’s an update on what some of SmokeLong‘s contributors and staff have been up to lately. From our contributors: Rob McClure Smith’s collection The Violence was released on October...

December 10, 2015 Continue reading…

SmokeLong Announces Pushcart Prize Nominations

We are always thrilled to have such fine work in our issues, and 2015 was an especially great year. The following stories have been selected by SmokeLong for nomination...

November 24, 2015 Continue reading…

“Process as Photosynthesis”: An Interview with Mary Rickert

This past month, SmokeLong‘s associate content editor, Annie Bilancini, had the pleasure of talking form and inspiration with Mary Rickert, whose newest short story collection You Have Never Been...

November 19, 2015 Continue reading…

The Excess of the Short-Short

This week we’re over the moon to have Rachel Levy, author of the novel A Book So Red, guest blogging for us. Levy is here to set the record slant...

November 6, 2015 Continue reading…

Flash Libs: A Spooky Halloween Mad Lib

In honor of the spookiest of holidays, we’ve scared up a little Halloween-themed Mad Lib for all you ghosts and ghouls out there, care of a fright-tastic classic, “The Legend...

October 30, 2015 Continue reading…

Fridge Flash: The Bad Guy

Six-year-old Jasper penned the crime thriller below to tell the story of the Bad Guy in his chalk art. We’re so excited to debut what is sure to be the first...

October 29, 2015 Continue reading…

Back to the Future: A Sestina

We here at SmokeLong don’t normally do poetry, as you know. And yet…when a Back to the Future poem slides under our noses on the very day that Marty...

October 21, 2015 Continue reading…

Review and Q&A: ‘The Family Arcana’ Deals Out a Full House

by Tara Laskowski Here’s a genius idea: take a creepy gothic story about a family living in a possibly haunted house and break it up and put the pieces...

October 15, 2015 Continue reading…

News from Contributors and Staff

We’re always happy to share good news. Here’s some of the latest. From our contributors: B.A. Goodjohn‘s second novel, The Beginning Things (Underground Voices), is due for publication in November 2015....

September 18, 2015 Continue reading…

Fridge Flash: 42

Today’s Fridge Flash by 13-year-old Annie Lee explores the pressures of school and friendship in the digital age with clear, vivid prose. It was the last question. dx/dy= Graph!...

September 3, 2015 Continue reading…

“You can just read it. You should just read it.” An Interview with SLQ’s Former Fish Fellows

This week on the SmokeLong Blog, in honor of the 2016 Kathy Fish Fellowship, we’re catching up with former SLQ Fish Fellows Tara Laskowski, Adam Peterson, Megan Giddings, Beth...

August 28, 2015 Continue reading…

Friends in Flash: Matchbook Stories

Matchbook Stories Issue 3, out now from Book Ex Machina is, in some ways, the perfect complement to the mission of SmokeLong Quarterly both in name and intention. But...

August 20, 2015 Continue reading…

News from Contributors and Staff

Read on for the latest news from our fabulous contributors and our very own SmokeLong staff! Contributors Bud Smith has a new novel, F250, out from Piscataway House Publications. His...

August 13, 2015 Continue reading…

How to Lead a Writing Workshop with Developing Writers: Advice from Flash Fiction Maestros Gay Degani and Kathy Fish (Part Two)

Today on the blog, we are excited to feature the second post in a two-part series from guest blogger Virgie Townsend, who recently taught a two-week intensive course on...

August 6, 2015 Continue reading…