Part 1 FRESHMAN They were the only vegetarians, a fact that was highlighted every game day when the other girls loaded up on chicken sandwiches or steak fajitas while Yoon and Carmen ate salads of iceberg lettuce and shredded cheese, forgoing the ranch that came in rectangular packets, which they agreed was disgusting. They ate ironically, offering a round of applause whenever one found an actual cherry tomato. “Sustenance!” they cheered, stabbing the tomato ceremoniously before clinking … [Read more...] about Forever Oak Park High
ISSUE 79
Featuring new stories by Dave Eggers, Becky Hagenston, Jane Kalu, Diane Oliver, and Kate Tighe-Pigott. Dave Eggers, "Keeper of the Ornaments" His doorbell rang. Cole looked at the time: 6:46 a.m. He opened the door to find his new neighbor. Her hair was black, shoulder-length, streaked with pink. Her eyes were wide set, her face round and unwrinkled. If he had to guess, he would have said she had one Asian parent, one Caucasian. She was slightly taller and heavier than Cole, wearing a … [Read more...] about ISSUE 79
MFA for All
MFA for ALL MFA for All was born from our desire to create a space where MFA-quality instruction is widely accessible to writers no matter their age, background, location, or financial situation. MFA for All is not a degree-granting program—it is a community-rich online educational experience led by top-notch faculty, free of the significant hurdles of time, expense, and geography that MFAs demand. These master classes will offer structured insight into your craft and writing practice, … [Read more...] about MFA for All
Announcing the winners of the 2024 American Short(er) Fiction Prize
We are delighted to announce that Dantiel W. Moniz has chosen the winners of our 2024 American Short(er) Fiction Contest. Thank you to our judge and to everyone who submitted—it is always inspiring to read your work. Congratulations to the winners! First-Place Prize "Jack Sprat's Wife" by John McManus In selecting this story, Moniz called it "a gorgeously crafted and contained world, a peek inside the deep bowels of family, shame, and grief, which, although brief, also allowed me to see the … [Read more...] about Announcing the winners of the 2024 American Short(er) Fiction Prize
Spiders Cry Without Tears
Diane Oliver had published a handful of fiction pieces, one of which won an O. Henry Prize, had edited her college student newspaper, and was about to graduate from the Iowa Writers Workshop--one of the few Black women to have attended the program--when she was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1966 at the age of just twenty-two. Her promising literary future suddenly cut off, she left behind a short, masterful stack of stories that are now being published in a new collection. The stories--like … [Read more...] about Spiders Cry Without Tears
Issue 78
Featuring new stories by Jeffery Renard Allen, Jamel Brinkley, Mala Gaonkar, Anita Lo, Yasmin Adele Majeed, Emily Mitchell, and Max Ross. Jeffery Renard Allen, "Orbits" You know, only a fool does something for free, the Champ said. I’ve been thinking about how to repay you. A word stalled on his tongue. It sounded like farty. She had seen it in him before, the blur while thinking. Wait, he said. With evident excitement, he retrieved his top hat from the coat rack, pulled his … [Read more...] about Issue 78