Fiction
Mid-Morning at the Hair Salon
“So, what are we doing today?” Nikki asks. I stare at myself in the salon mirror. “Just a trim,” I answer. A few minutes later,
Elise Paxson February 2, 2022 No Comments
Contemporary fiction
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BJ Thomas
Did I Help Make Ooga-Chuka a Top 40 Hit?
Now, I’m not Forrest Gump, but I have had a few minor brushes with history in my life and, oddly enough, one of them involves
Donald J. Bingle November 22, 2021 1 Comment
Matchmakers | Chapter 8 | The Cat-Loving Ted Bundy Doppelganger
Photo by KoolShooters from Pexels After a peaceful day at work yesterday, Maisie peels her eyes open and extends out a shaky stretch feeling ready
Crystal Walker March 9, 2022 No Comments
death
He Is Sure They Can’t Hear’Em
I’m wounded, bleeding. Lying at the bottom of the pile of corpses. Who piled them up on top of me I wonder and when exactly?
Andrey Lukyanov August 16, 2022 No Comments
Compassion
Fathers Words To His Son
In a moment of father and son time together. The son asked his father what must I do to become a better person. His father
John Wimsatt September 19, 2022 No Comments
Fact or Fiction?
The distant train whistle doesn’t sound romantic, now. She gathered her coffee as thoughts of chemical spills from train derailments stained the sound she loved.
Mollie Lyon February 23, 2023 2 Comments
Fiction
The Renter: A Short Story
Kelly Swain shook Harris Mason’s hand across the white-marbled table. “Welcome to your new home. I hope you’ll be happy here.” She slid a document
Robin Honigsberg October 26, 2022 3 Comments
action
Options
“This was a mistake,” yelled Dave as he stared out the window at the dark, lurching shapes gathering even faster than the gloomy clouds on
Donald J. Bingle December 14, 2022 No Comments
Romantic Comedy
Matchmakers | Episode 1 | The British-American Blues
Photo by Valeria Boltneva from Pexels Here we go again. Another shitty date that I wish I could move out from under. Sitting here, twirling
Crystal Walker February 6, 2022 8 Comments
equality
Inhuman
“This is kind of a go-nowhere party, Ryan,” Logan said. “I don’t even know why you dragged me here.” Ryan noticed a circle of empty
Tim McDaniel January 15, 2022 No Comments
divorce
The Homeless Woman
I gasped as I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I did not expect my eyes to be so swollen! I should have known
TzeLin Sam April 26, 2022 23 Comments
crossdressing
Glitter
When I moved out, I bought nail polish for the first time. Almost an entire row of little glass bottles: frosted, sparkling, pearlescent. Lipstick in
Christina Nordlander November 19, 2023 No Comments
Children
I Made Muffins (a short story)
What would you say if you were standing at the front door of a nice guy you just met, and it was 6 a.m. and
David Rodeback April 25, 2022 4 Comments
I Swear, it’s Not a Cult
I need to develop an audience. I need to develop an audience that is dedicated. I need to develop an audience that is dedicated to
Jenn Biddle August 1, 2024 No Comments
Fight
Poetry Slam
I thought that I would never see A fight regarding poetry. Life can venture nothing worse, Than fisticuffs o’er flowing verse. * If poems be
Donald J. Bingle August 29, 2022 1 Comment
Capitalism
Meet the New Boss
“And then over at Hower and Drake, I learned how to play bocce – that’s this game with balls, kind of like bowling – and
Tim McDaniel December 20, 2021 No Comments
fable
Storm People
Not all storms are merely named after people. Some storms - often the most destructive sorts - can be people, as well. If you’ve ever wondered why it seems
Shannon Hilson February 21, 2022 1 Comment
The Iinglish Of Dynya: Part 1
Mr. Bunch woke up at exactly seven-thirty on Tuesday morning. He had woken up at seven-thirty on Tuesday morning ever since the hotel had introduced
Conor Matthews September 16, 2024 No Comments
Crime
The Culinary Killer Part I: A short story
Christopher Jones walked into his kitchen to find his very pregnant wife, dressed in a soft, red terrycloth bathrobe sitting in a chair and attempting
Robin Honigsberg July 22, 2022 No Comments
Club
Rapture
She was starting a few minutes late, but it was close enough for jazz. She scanned the crowd. Not huge, but decent. Almost all white
Gene Glotzer December 3, 2021 3 Comments
cheating
Actions Have Consequences: Lost Luggage Part II
Charlotte hung up with the private investigator, smiling. Tossing her cell phone next to her on her suede gray sectional, she grabbed her silver cigarette
Robin Honigsberg July 1, 2022 No Comments
Coronavirus
Seeking Amy
Later that afternoon I asked my wife what my daughter’s name was. She said, “Amy, silly”, and my only thought was to challenge her. “Are
Charles Bastille January 23, 2022 2 Comments
diaster
Rescue
The sky outside the window grayed up. The sirens continued. “Why didn’t I get one of those emergency radios? I mean we have bad storms
Mollie Lyon March 28, 2023 No Comments
The Second Boris Zaleski
He didn’t dream, but neither was he fully unaware. Every now and then he woke up in the darkness when something changed. When light started
Christina Nordlander April 9, 2022 No Comments
flash fiction
Whelp
. Leave a Reviewfeature0 Pros (optional) Type new or select existing pros Cons (optional) Type new or select existing cons Save my name, email, and
Nick Gaudio August 23, 2021 2 Comments
Romantic Comedy
Matchmakers | Chapter 10 | The Honey Trap
Photo by Mae Mu on Unsplash At the studio, Maisie engulfs herself in her work. After hours alternating through various backgrounds and light combinations for
Crystal Walker March 25, 2022 No Comments
Funny
World Cup 2014: A Story of the Curse of the Voodoo Bears
A true story created by yours truly – Satire Joachim looked at me as I considered his request. “So you and your boys want to
TzeLin Sam December 12, 2022 1 Comment
Ops
Photo by author She rises to refill her coffee mug. A rumble overhead muffled by the roof. Last week of the month, ops. Operations by
Mollie Lyon February 24, 2023 1 Comment
Broadcast
It gets easier once you accept that nobody is coming to save you. Kind of like how those eight hour shifts at Hudson’s used to
Samantha Lamph August 12, 2021 No Comments
Barbie
BB’s Sweetfriends Book Club
“There you go, Kip! Soon your knee will be good as new!” BB rolled up the unused length of bandage and put it into a
Tim McDaniel April 3, 2022 No Comments
big bang
Story Choices
This entire story already exists, but you are only experiencing it one word at a time as you move forward through it. You could, if
Donald J. Bingle January 7, 2022 4 Comments
afterlife
Satellites and Violets
Gina was old now by nearly anyone’s standards. Her face was wrinkled and her joints creaked when she moved, especially first thing in the morning
Shannon Hilson February 18, 2022 3 Comments
Fiction
The Trees Swallow People: Part 9
It had been days since we were trapped. What little light was managing to penetrate the forest of people outside my windows came in stages
Conor Matthews August 14, 2022 No Comments
Halloween Story 2023
iSpy
Who is inside Chelle’s phone? Chelle couldn’t figure out what was going on with her phone. She kept insisting to
Andy Spears March 20, 2022 4 Comments
discovery
The Antique Silver Box — Part One: Family secrets
Casey Spencer parked her black SUV in the middle of the circular driveway of the family manor she’d inherited from her grandfather. She turned the
Robin Honigsberg November 8, 2022 No Comments
Behind the Screen
Unlike many of her friends, Anne had always been a morning person. She was up early this morning to practise yoga while catching the sunrise
TzeLin Sam February 12, 2022 13 Comments
Reborn Through Mother Nature
It was on the coldest most pitch black night that the phenomenon took place. The angry sky roared and wept it’s hardest as if it
David Williams March 7, 2024 No Comments
#contemporaryhorror
The Tank Cleaner
It was bright in the corridors of the hospital, but the lonely waiting room was dim. The overhead lights were off to deter loitering. Light
C.D. Hoyle August 11, 2022 No Comments
apocalypse
The Jade Rose: Ladybug, Black Ops, & Zombie Pops (Part VI of Book II)
Introduction: When Seanix Flannery’s ex-wife shows up and poses a threat to the safety of his family, he discovers just how much more dangerous the
Bernadette O'Leary-Malcolm April 19, 2022 No Comments
Dinosaurs
Jurassic Writing — Part Three: The final trip
Serena spent the next two days weighing the pros and cons of going back in time 150 million years. Despite her con list being longer
Robin Honigsberg November 16, 2022 No Comments
The First Football Game of the Season
An exert from Last Free Exit: They arrived early at the football game, as the seats filled quickly in the first of the season, at
Mollie Lyon August 26, 2022 No Comments
LEAVE EVERYTHING WHERE IT IS(after Lu Hsun)
Let me tell you about something that happened while I was in N____ton some while ago on business. N____ton is a bit of a dump
Andrew Larter February 26, 2022 4 Comments
flash fiction
The Time-Lapse Clearing
I knew something had changed the moment I stepped into the clearing – a hidden oasis in a desert of pine and oak. The temperature
Alex Mathers September 17, 2024 1 Comment
aliens
Maybe We Missed The Aliens
If you were standing on the well-trimmed lawn at 2 am, or if you were a fox or mouse on the prowl for food, you
Bo Lowry April 6, 2022 3 Comments
Romantic Comedy
Matchmakers | Chapter 14 | The French-Italian Fallout
Photo by Liza Summer from Pexels Standing at Leah’s front door, Maisie pushes the doorbell and sees her face pop up on the screen. “It’s
Crystal Walker May 9, 2022 No Comments
#narrative structure
Four Short Story Structures for Weaving Impactful Tales
A good short story resonates. In few words, it draws the reader into a new world and captures their attention. It is harder to build
Julia Marsiglio January 26, 2022 8 Comments
ghost story
Til Pizza Do Us Part
“Sorry for the inconvenience, Miss, but we’ve upgraded your room for free,” the clerk chirped. “You’ll be in the honeymoon suite on floor seven. Too
Samantha Nasset February 10, 2025 No Comments
energy healing
The Amazing Ms. Rayven
Psychic Witch Extraordinaire Photo by Volkan Vardar on Unsplash “Chocolate cake and a rootbeer in a frosted mug.” “Sure thing Ms. Rayven.” “Thanks Sara.” I
Pam Reeder January 24, 2022 4 Comments
covid
Due to COVID-19 — All Vampire Werewolf and Zombie Recruitment Remains on Hiatus
Unless you can show proof of being fully vaccinated Image by Etienne Marais from Pixabay The year 2020 was a difficult year for all vampires,
Crystal Walker January 30, 2022 1 Comment
God and a Human
One lazy summer afternoon God met with an ordinary human being in a cafe. Now, God meets with humans all the time for a myriad
Annie Ucci July 5, 2024 No Comments
blood
#1 Blood of the Covenant: Prologue — And So, It Begins
A paranormal horror romance What is this place? I gasp for air. I do not mean to, I just do. I do not mean to
Kai Parker December 2, 2021 3 Comments
final
Finally Got It Down or Jerry Stahl and his story Kicking the Horse
Oh, hello there, blank page! It is being typed with Times New Roman font.Why not: Themes Old Catholic, Days Old Gregorian, Best Somehow Baltic, Zuzhelitsa
Andrey Lukyanov April 26, 2022 No Comments
#Halloween
Piggy Bank Princess
“Hey. Sarah Jane said when she was at the store with Makenzie she saw that princess costume.” “Uh-huh.” “You know, the one she’s been telling
Andy Spears November 11, 2022 2 Comments
Guardian Hawk
A sunny day in a lively forest. A proud healthy hawk flies through the air, high as the mountains. It sits on a tree branch
David Williams March 10, 2024 No Comments
An Errand
Jack walked into the drug store not really remembering why he was there. I really need to start writing stuff down, he thought. I’m getting
Gene Glotzer November 5, 2022 No Comments
Dinosaurs
Jurassic Writing — Part Two: The Past
Dr. Andrew Lerner leaned back in his leather chair, running a hand through his blond hair. Dr. Serena Mulligan, a paleontologist, had found his writings
Robin Honigsberg November 16, 2022 No Comments
coming of age
My First Time Trying Pozole
The pristine light of the summer sun smacked me across the face. The massive jackhammer in my head told me we had danced in the
A.K. Noctua June 27, 2022 2 Comments
comedy
Meet Angie
A supporting character in the serialized RomCom “Matchmakers” Image created via Canva and using a stock image from Pixabay Recently, I introduced you to Maisie — the
Crystal Walker January 31, 2022 No Comments
#Home
Steering
“That’s crazy. I’m a terrible liar. I can’t.” “Come on, Will. I’ll owe you big time. I want the best house for me and Jen.
Gene Glotzer December 10, 2021 No Comments
Anna Clendening
Do You See Me? – Inspired by “Invisible” by Anna Clendening.
I wrote this story based on the song “Invisible” by Anna Clendening – I suggest listening to it after you finish reading! — Day 254
Kelsey Bjork September 6, 2022 No Comments
Abuse
“Burnt Chicken”
It was an accident, I told myself. And I keep telling myself that, as if saying it over and over would make it true. But
Vanessa Lewis March 25, 2024 No Comments
Surf, Sun, and Sadness
On a gray, overcast morning early in the spring of my late twenties, I found myself near the base of a fishing pier of a
Greg Thomas February 12, 2022 No Comments
boarding school
The Sacred Angels Academy Haunting — Part Two: The Voices
MARCH 14 Maggie awoke to the sound of rain against the window pane, but the room was brightly lit by the lights left turned on
Robin Honigsberg October 30, 2022 No Comments
baking
Bourbon-Flavored Baptist
Everyone at Connor Street Baptist loved Billy. He was a short, round man with a forgettable, round face framed by large round glasses. His sparse
Andy Spears January 23, 2022 16 Comments
Fiction
The Cutting
This short story is a part of the MagicLand Chronicles. It is set during a time long before that of the events in my debut
Charles Bastille September 14, 2023 No Comments
autistic author
1. I Live in the House where my Brother Died
I live in the house where my brother died. He lives here too. Not in the traditional sense, of course. I cook meals for two
Katie Tomasko January 17, 2022 No Comments
The Fire in Jeremy Finn
I’ve known Jeremy Finn for eight years. We met on the first day of a new school year, when we were both eleven. The weather
Declan Hopper February 17, 2023 No Comments
church
The Next Morning
Beth stared at the books in the study of her faith leader, Pastor Sean. She always enjoyed seeing what people had on their shelves, end
Mollie Lyon July 26, 2023 No Comments
Fiction
Hidden Secrets — Part One: Best Friends Forever
Courtney White was pissed off. A pipe was leaking in her basement, requiring a call to the plumber. His estimate was higher than she’d expected
Robin Honigsberg October 21, 2022 No Comments
Matchmakers | Chapter 12 | Between a Cock and a Hard Place
Image sourced from FatSiberian from Pixabay After packing a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches into her bag, Maisie grabs her camera and flicks
Crystal Walker April 20, 2022 3 Comments
Romantic Comedy
Matchmakers | Chapter 6 | What the Puck?
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels Sitting at her mahogany desk, Maisie flips through her mail, trying to stay distracted from last night’s date with
Crystal Walker February 23, 2022 No Comments
drama
The Unexpected Dinner Guest
This is it. I thought to myself as I walked out of the arrival hall at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. It had been many years
TzeLin Sam April 13, 2022 29 Comments
Anything is possible
Things Aren’t Always What They Seem A short story
Ame stepped back and surveyed her work with a critical eye. She had built the makeshift hut as sturdily as possible years ago, using mathematical
Robin Honigsberg August 12, 2022 No Comments
Books
The Final Page: Part 4 of 5— Porle Joen, 2014
A journey through the history (and future?) of books The Final Page is an exploration of writing through history and the future. Join me on
Kai Parker November 30, 2021 No Comments
Don't read while hungry!
“Dad’s Donut Shop”
Everyone said the business was a crazy thing to invest in, but dad loved donuts. We knew how much of a morning person he was,
Vanessa Lewis September 3, 2023 No Comments
Alternative History
The Day the World Got Woke
Fiction for a Broken Country When I went to sleep last night, everything was normal. When I woke up, everything was different. Everything was Black.
Charles Bastille January 31, 2022 No Comments
monsters
The Many Deaths of Mita (Part I)
Into the Unknown… With a Bang Lessons, Reality, and Comeuppance “There is only one act that rivals and defeats the peril found within the most
Bernadette O'Leary-Malcolm January 22, 2023 No Comments
choices
Winter, Friendship, and Guilt: The Choices of My Life
A tough nut to crack. Tough indeed. In my case, it is as much metaphorical as is it literal. There is a recurring problem for
Michael Robert March 4, 2022 2 Comments
friends to lovers
May I Have This Dance?
I give mirror-me finger guns as I come to an unfortunate conclusion at the most inopportune moment: I hate every article of clothing that I
Kelsey Bjork September 13, 2022 No Comments
Fiction
Fresh Rack
James found himself sitting alone in his car at around 8:30 each night, wet from a mixture of his own sweat and the sprinklers on
Andy Spears February 20, 2022 10 Comments
The Many Lives of Mita (Part IV)
*** Introduction: After Mita Lopez relocated to Scotland to be with her new boyfriend and their children, she began a new job at a production
Bernadette O'Leary-Malcolm May 15, 2022 No Comments
Romantic Comedy
Matchmakers | Episode 3 | The Gaysian
Photo by Greta Hoffman from Pexels Getting off the trolley in downtown Ybor City, Maisie takes a gulp of her water bottle filled with chilled
Crystal Walker February 6, 2022 No Comments
#interview
A Long Morning
Jim hated mid-morning appointments. He could sleep in a little bit. He could, but he couldn’t. It was too big. He’d been unemployed for too
Gene Glotzer December 24, 2021 3 Comments
Early Signs
Timmy ran through the bunched up bulk of faded fall leaves. He cornered the edge of the playground, the swings still flowing back and forth
Greg Thomas February 12, 2022 No Comments
Meet Arnold (aka “Glitter”)
A supporting character in the serialized RomCom “Matchmakers” Saving the best for last in this group of friends, meet Arnold (aka “Glitter.”) “Arnold is a
Crystal Walker January 31, 2022 No Comments
The Price of Hilda
Heikki sat at the end of the Christmas dinner table, the place Hilda called “the seat of honour”: a ridiculous idea of what it meant
Christina Nordlander April 2, 2024 No Comments
The Many Lives of Mita (Part VII)
Introduction: When a woman with trust issues and a celebrity who works in an industry known for infidelity and oversexed debauchery date, problems should be
Bernadette O'Leary-Malcolm September 3, 2022 1 Comment
AI
Blinking Noon and Midnight
Len put down the book. He’d been kidding himself for an hour at least; the sweater wasn’t enough. The place was just too darn cold.
Tim McDaniel February 18, 2022 No Comments
Rabbit Hole
I was the one man standing up to save the world from Satanist Aliens; that’s how bad things got. I used to be a family
Conor Matthews September 18, 2022 No Comments
Alternate History
Cause Ways
“What if?” is the essence of genre fiction. What if monsters were real? What if mankind had faster-than-light travel? What if there was a world
Donald J. Bingle January 31, 2022 7 Comments
contemporary fiction
The Bartender
“Where am I?” I caressed my sore wrist. “The Locomotion, gal,” the bartender sang. “What is that awful smell?” “Oh, that? Ahhh. That’s the smell
Devyn Beal March 7, 2022 No Comments
computer
Clear My Browser History
nail salons near me BEST nail salons near me difference between acrylics and gel
Anna Flynn June 15, 2022 1 Comment
The Many Lives of Mita (Part VIII)
Introduction Mita Lopez survived domestic abuse, stalking, and an assault that left her a prisoner in her own body, hearing everyone and everything around her
Bernadette O'Leary-Malcolm October 27, 2022 No Comments
Elections
Mayor Paul A.
Whatever it takes to win Paul easily won election to the Mayor’s Office. It was his second time running, and this time, he hadn’t made
Andy Spears March 27, 2022 4 Comments
Alternate History
Standing Still
“Are you sure you wanna do this, doc?” The patrolman gestured across the lobby at the subject. “He’s got some sort of a device, with
Donald J. Bingle September 7, 2021 17 Comments
best friends
Matchmakers | Chapter 5 | Bloomin’ Onion Hangover
Photo by Mekuria Getinet on Unsplash Seeing her mind flip to the images of tigers jumping through hoops, flame-throwers juggling fire sticks, and monkeys serving
Crystal Walker February 16, 2022 No Comments
Freddy’s New Life
Freddy sees something big. Now he has to go into witness protection. He needs the next available vehicle ASAP. Photo by Christian Lue on Unsplash
Pam Reeder January 21, 2022 1 Comment
Dinosaurs
Jurassic Writing— Part One: The Find
Dr. Serena Mulligan was hot, sweaty and dusty. She’d been excavating a dinosaur footprint fossil for over three hours, but it didn’t appear she had
Robin Honigsberg November 16, 2022 5 Comments
Goldie Greedman
Goldie Greedman was one of the meanest men who ever lived. From his birth he was heavily pampered by his wealthy parents and told that
David Williams November 12, 2024 No Comments
Bitter Forever and Ever and Ever
There’s this one coffee machine at work that always makes the coffee bitter. The flavor of coffee’s been changed. The brand of coffee’s been changed.
Osprey White February 2, 2022 No Comments