Delighted to relay the news that one of our contributing editors, Mandira Pattnaik, snagged runner-up in Quarterly West's latest prose contest: www.quarterlywest.com/issue-116-pa...
Paradise for writers, from the latest issue of Blink-Ink.
Dark teal background for graphic of mustard/gold prize cup with stars behind. Text: The SmokeLong Quarterly Workshop Prize. 1st place: Kate Horsley
Kate Horsley's @vestalreview.bsky.social story, “The Altar of Saint Cindy”, won first prize in our annual free-entry contest for published work begun in an SLQ workshop. You can read it here (it made the judges cry, so please do): www.vestalreview.net/the-altar-of... @katehorsleywriter.bsky.social
In the new issue of Ghost Parachute, among a wealth of worthy pieces: ghostparachute.com/issue/februa...
We assume you've suffered this, too, right?
Our spring submission window is now open, 2/1 through 5/15! Let's see what you've got!
vestalreview.net/guidelines
Congratulations to all those in Best Microfiction 2026, including Carolyn R. Russell (“Summertime, and the Livin’ Is Easy,” VR 66), one of our editors, Christopher Notarnicola (“Dysgeusia,” The Baltimore Review), and the many others whose previous work we’ve published.
Follow-up to "How many times have you submitted one manuscript?": What's the maximum number of places you've had a simultaneous submission?
Simultaneous submissions are fine with us (starting again on Feb. 1), but just curious: What’s the greatest number of submissions for one piece that you’ve ever sent out?
Thrilled to wake up to this Best Small Fictions nom from @vestalreview.bsky.social. Thank you @dgalef.bsky.social and the insanely wonderful editors.
Grateful for the recognition from the incredible team at @vestalreview.bsky.social 🥰🙏
Thank you, VR, for the nomination
Bright spots after a sad & difficult stretch. Warm thanks for supporting my work in 2025:
@hungermtn.bsky.social
@gooseberrypielit.bsky.social
@natflashfictionday.bsky.social
@psmokejournal.bsky.social
Ghost Parachute @brettpribble.bsky.social
@vestalreview.bsky.social
@necessaryfiction.com
Happy new year and congratulations to our 2026 best small fictions nominations!
@marioaliberto3.bsky.social Anna Schachner J.D. Strunk @francinewitte.bsky.social @eileentomarchio.bsky.social
Thanks @vestalreview.bsky.social for a terrific issue and for including my 500-word story.
A longer 1,000-word edit of 'Bleeding Seamonster' will be in @neonandsmoke.bsky.social in 2026
#WritingCommunity #IndieAuthors #Fiction #flashfiction #shortstory
And here are our nominations for Best Microfiction 2025. Congratulations!
A flash collection review about women on the verge
Read a review of Woman of the Hour by Claire Polders, @clairepolders.bsky.social by Lucy Zhang in issue 67.
vestalreview.net/review-of-woman-of-the-hour-by-claire-polders
Art by Jinghong Chen.
What unsent letters reveal.
Read "The House of Unsent Letters," by Etta Wynn in issue 67.
vestalreview.net/the-house-of-unsent-letters
Art by Jinghong Chen.
When horsing around becomes serious
Read :The Double Life of Medardo," by Manuel Moyano, translated by James Womack in issue 67.
vestalreview.net/the-double-life-of-medardo
Art by Jinghong Chen.
A shoe with a mind of its own.
Read "When Jack Loses a Shoe," by Francine Witte @francinewitte in issue 67.
vestalreview.net/when-jack-loses-a-shoe
Art by Jinghong Chen.
Much gratitude for this end-of-year publication in a journal I love. Thank you, @vestalreview.bsky.social ☺️🙏
Pickpockets on parade.
Read "Bleeding Seamonster," by Stan J Wild @stanjwild.bsky.social in issue 67.
vestalreview.net/bleeding-seamonster
Art by Jinghong Chen.
Riding the ferris wheel of life.
Read "Cassandra Rides the Big Wheel," by Suzanne Warren in issue 67.
vestalreview.net/cassandra-rides-the-big-wheel
Art by Jinghong Chen.
A woman with a photographic memory.
Read "Picture Day," by Eileen Frankel Tomarchio @eileentomarchio.bsky.social in issue 67.
vestalreview.net/picture-day
Art by Jinghong Chen
"The screen had not even picked an opportune moment to move skyward; nothing thematically in the film resonated with this kind of rupture." Dazzling story @mattleibel.bsky.social in @vestalreview.bsky.social
www.vestalreview.net/matinee
"In the back room, out of sight of the Cindys, Marissa sticks used wax strips on our faces, and we jump about screaming at the touch of pubes there." Stunning. Moves from humor to heartbreak in a flash @katehorsleywriter.bsky.social in @vestalreview.bsky.social
www.vestalreview.net/the-altar-of...
Such a surprising and beautiful story by @katehorsleywriter.bsky.social.
So flippin’ happy! If you have time, please read my latest story in the brilliant @vestalreview.bsky.social - along with all the other wonderful stories by fellow scribblers. 🫶🏻
Here’s a little story I wrote about watching movies in (and out of) a theater. Thanks to David Galef and team at @vestalreview.bsky.social
Love the imagination of this one! It has extra resonance for me too because my dad used to go off to the Antarctic when I was a kid in the early 60s
So proud of this little story! Thanks to @vestalreview.bsky.social for giving it such a wonderful home.
