American Short Fiction

Publishing exquisite fiction since 1991.

The Editors

Contest Closed: The 2021 Halifax Ranch Fiction Prize

Please Note: The deadline for the 2021 Halifax Ranch Fiction Prize is has passed.  We’re thrilled to announce that our judge for this year’s Halifax Ranch Fiction Prize will be the brilliant R.O. Kwon, author of the bestselling novel, The Incendiaries, and coeditor of the groundbreaking new story anthology, Kink, published by Simon & Schuster in February 2021. There's more exciting news! This year, we've partnered with the Tasajillo Residency, an idyllic writing residency that … [Read more...] about Contest Closed: The 2021 Halifax Ranch Fiction Prize

2021 American Short(er) Fiction Prize

Please Note: The 2021 Short(er) Fiction Prize is now closed for submissions.  *We're extending the deadline until February 15, 2021! Good Luck!* We are thrilled to announce that Susan Steinberg, author of three remarkable story collections—The End of Free Love, Hydroplane, and Spectacle—and Machine: A Novel (read a beautiful ASF-published excerpt, "Killers," here), will judge our 2021 American Short(er) Fiction Prize. The prize recognizes extraordinary short fiction under 1,000 words. The … [Read more...] about 2021 American Short(er) Fiction Prize

My Constellation of 8: A Conversation with Carmen Maria Machado

This fall, American Short Fiction will host three virtual events featuring some of today’s most exciting and celebrated writers as they share eight books that helped them grow as writers, thinkers, and humans. As with previous events in this series, there will be an ASL interpreter at this event. This event is free, though you'll need to register here. For each “My Constellation of 8” event, we’ve partnered with an independent bookstore of the author’s choice to sell the recommended texts as … [Read more...] about My Constellation of 8: A Conversation with Carmen Maria Machado

My Constellation of 8: A Conversation with Esmé Weijun Wang

Next week, American Short Fiction will host the second installment of My Constellation of 8, a virtual events series featuring authors in conversation about the books that shaped their thinking and helped them grow as writers, as thinkers, and as people. On September 15th, we will join award-winning writer Esmé Weijun Wang in conversation about eight of her literary influences with ASF's Coeditor Adeena Reitberger and will benefit Green Apple Books, a trio of fiercely independent bookstores … [Read more...] about My Constellation of 8: A Conversation with Esmé Weijun Wang

My Constellation of 8: A Conversation With Roger Reeves

Please note that this event has already occurred, but the good news is that you can watch a recording of the event on Crowdcast here, in its entirety. Watch a Recording of the Event Here This fall, American Short Fiction will host three virtual events featuring some of today’s most exciting and celebrated writers. Unlike other virtual events, which importantly seek to promote and share a writer’s own work, we’re inviting Roger Reeves on August 25th, Esmé Weijun Wang on September 15th, … [Read more...] about My Constellation of 8: A Conversation With Roger Reeves

2020 American Short(er) Fiction Prize Winners

We are thrilled to announce the winners for this year's American Short(er) Fiction Prize, judged by Deb Olin Unferth. Thank you to everyone who submitted—reading your work during this time has been a bright spot for us. Congratulations to the winners! _____ First-Place Prize: "Ricky" by Whitney Collins Judge Deb Olin Unferth writes, "Hilarious, rageful, sorrowful, and yet somehow adorable, this satiric story is full of energy and personality to spare." "Ricky" will be published in an … [Read more...] about 2020 American Short(er) Fiction Prize Winners

The 2020 Halifax Ranch Fiction Prize

We’re thrilled to announce that our judge for this year’s Halifax Ranch Fiction Prize will be the brilliant Manuel Gonzales, author of the acclaimed novel The Regional Office Is Under Attack! and the prize-winning short story collection The Miniature Wife and Other Stories. Gonzales's work is wildly inventive and deeply moving, and as he is a contributing editor to ASF, we're especially pleased to have him judge the contest this year. General Guidelines — Submit your entry online between … [Read more...] about The 2020 Halifax Ranch Fiction Prize

Contest Closed: The American Short(er) Fiction Prize

Thanks for your interest in the 2019 American Short(er) Fiction Prize. The contest is now closed. We are thrilled to announce that Danielle Dutton, author of three remarkable books and editor of Dorothy, a publishing project, will judge this year’s American Short(er) Fiction Prize. The prize recognizes extraordinary short fiction under 1,000 words. The first-place winner will receive a $1,000 prize and publication, and the second-place winner will receive $250 and publication. Previous … [Read more...] about Contest Closed: The American Short(er) Fiction Prize

2018 The Halifax Ranch Fiction Prize Winners

We are delighted to announce that our wonderful judge ZZ Packer has selected the winners of the inaugural Halifax Ranch Fiction Prize. We received many terrific submissions—thank you for giving us the opportunity to read your work! Winner:  Alejandro Puyana for “The Hands of Dirty Children” Of Puyana's story, Packer writes, "Full of energy, beauty, pathos and an unswerving eye for vivid detail, "The Hands of Dirty Children" is a touching and gut-wrenching glimpse of Venezuela through the … [Read more...] about 2018 The Halifax Ranch Fiction Prize Winners

The Stars at Night 2018: A Celebration of Writing and Community

[Please note: this event has passed. Keep your eyes on our website for information about the Stars at Night 2020!] Join us on Thursday, October 11th, for The Stars at Night 2018, a bright Texas evening of songwriting, honky-tonk, and literary splendor. Come for the live country music and readings, and stay for the open bar, delicious food, silent auction, and the historic charm of Mercury Hall, complete with beautiful gardens and rambling live oaks on a bright starry lawn. The evening will … [Read more...] about The Stars at Night 2018: A Celebration of Writing and Community

Support ASF & Get this Dog-Approved Tote Bag!

As the new year approaches, we look back with gratitude on the magazine's accomplishments and think about how we can grow in the years to come. Here are a few of our favorite highlights from 2017: - We published 22 stories, including our first issue dedicated exclusively to the work of emerging writers. We proudly offer competitive payment to all writers whose stories we publish. - Through "ASF Goes Back to School," we donated hundreds of back issues to creative writing classrooms across … [Read more...] about Support ASF & Get this Dog-Approved Tote Bag!

Contest Closed: The American Short Fiction Prize

Thank you for your interest in the 2017 American Short Fiction Prize, judged by Lauren Groff. The contest is now closed.   The American Short Fiction Prize—a contest for stories between 2,000 and 6,500 words—is now open for submissions. This year we are honored to have Lauren Groff, author of Fates and Furies (Obama's favorite book of 2015), as our guest judge. Submit your story through our online submission manager today! General Guidelines – Submit your entry online between … [Read more...] about Contest Closed: The American Short Fiction Prize

Issue 64 Release Party & Reading

We are thrilled to announce the arrival of Issue 64—so thrilled that we decided to throw a party! This is no regular party—it's a reading party at the dark and delightful King Bee Lounge, featuring ASF staff members, including contributing editors JENNIFER DUBOIS and STACEY SWANN, editorial fellow CHARLES RAMSAY MCCRORY, and assistant editor HEATHER HASSELLE. These folks can balance horses on their heads, write sentences that wrap around to lasso the most terrible of criminals, and ride elegant … [Read more...] about Issue 64 Release Party & Reading

Contest Closed: American Short(er) Fiction Contest

The American Short(er) Fiction Contest is now closed. Thank you all for your submissions. This year we are honored to have Justin Torres as our guest judge. We will be announcing the winners on this site. General Guidelines – Submit your entry online between October 25, 2016 – February 1, 2017. The submission deadline has been extended to February 17th. The contest is now closed. – The first-place winner will receive a $1,000 prize and publication in a future issue of ASF. One … [Read more...] about Contest Closed: American Short(er) Fiction Contest

Announcing our American Short Fiction Contest Winners!

We are delighted to announce that Victor LaValle has chosen the winners of our 2016 American Short Fiction Contest. The first-place prize goes to Amanda Emil Anderson, for her story “The Goodnow Guide.” Look out for the story in an upcoming issue of American Short Fiction! Amanda Emil Anderson is a writer from Vermont. Her fiction has appeared in Sonora Review. She has an MFA from Emerson College and is the recipient of a Vermont Studio Center fellowship. The second-place prize goes … [Read more...] about Announcing our American Short Fiction Contest Winners!