Kathy Fish
@kathyfish.bsky.social
Ploughshares | Best American Nonreq'd | Copper Nickel Editors' Prize | The Norton Reader | ElectricLit | Flash Fiction America | Swamp Pink | Wigleaf | Five Points (forthcoming) | The Art of Flash Fiction https://artofflashfiction.substack.com
Pinned
Kathy Fish
@kathyfish.bsky.social
· Dec 29
I worked for many weeks on this story, playing with the present continuous tense which, I think, locked my sad narrator into a particular time and place in a way that pleased my ear. Sharing it here, along with the gorgeous illustration by Kaylan Stedman Friedman. ghostparachute.com/issue/octobe...
The Saddest Fuckers of All — Ghost Parachute
I am needing a prescription for the Pill. I can no longer use Student Health due to living in a new town and not being a student anymore. I am telling this to the kid as he is rolling out pizza dough ...
ghostparachute.com
Hey, some happy news! Sometimes nominations come from the Pushcart Contributing Editors. I was just informed this story has been nominated! Many, many thanks to Paul Crenshaw for the nod and much needed boost. 💙
This was in 2022 and was such a surprise. Probably the closest I'll ever get to The Paris Review. www.theparisreview.org/blog/2022/06...
On De La Soul and Elif Batuman by The Paris Review
June 2, 2022 – This week, we rewatch the music video for “Stakes is High” and consider the role of chance in “Either/Or.”
www.theparisreview.org
January 27, 2026 at 7:58 PM
This was in 2022 and was such a surprise. Probably the closest I'll ever get to The Paris Review. www.theparisreview.org/blog/2022/06...
Good.
Breaking NBC:
Family members of two Trinidadian men who were killed in a U.S. boat strike in October have sued the U.S. government — accusing it of wrongful death and extrajudicial killings.
The lawsuit is the first of its kind to be filed against the Trump admin.
Family members of two Trinidadian men who were killed in a U.S. boat strike in October have sued the U.S. government — accusing it of wrongful death and extrajudicial killings.
The lawsuit is the first of its kind to be filed against the Trump admin.
January 27, 2026 at 4:21 PM
Good.
Ah! Congratulations, Angela! I am delighted to hear this! 💙
Thanks to Kathy Fish’s incredible prompts I had two more micros accepted this weekend. Thank you so much @kathyfish.bsky.social
Bonus: I will get paid!
Bonus: I will get paid!
January 27, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Ah! Congratulations, Angela! I am delighted to hear this! 💙
Reposted by Kathy Fish
Here's the thing, Greg — free speech is still protected by the First Amendment under the Constitution.
If you want folks to stop saying you're the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people, maybe stop acting like the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people.
If you want folks to stop saying you're the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people, maybe stop acting like the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people.
Bovino: "When politicians, community leaders, & some journalists engage in that heated rhetoric we keep talking about, when they make the choice to vilify law enforcement calling law enforcement 'Gestapo' or using the term 'kidnapping,' that is a choice & there are actions & consequences."
January 26, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Here's the thing, Greg — free speech is still protected by the First Amendment under the Constitution.
If you want folks to stop saying you're the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people, maybe stop acting like the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people.
If you want folks to stop saying you're the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people, maybe stop acting like the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people.
Reposted by Kathy Fish
“If you call us the gestapo, we will have no choice but to act like the gestapo to stop you from calling us the gestapo.”
January 25, 2026 at 8:10 PM
“If you call us the gestapo, we will have no choice but to act like the gestapo to stop you from calling us the gestapo.”
Reposted by Kathy Fish
Honoured to be featured in WestWord's member spotlight.
Shout outs to @kathyfish.bsky.social @taniahershman.bsky.social @pleomorphic2.bsky.social @mizuki-yama.bsky.social @claudiamonpere.bsky.social @fionamckay.bsky.social
And all at @retreatwest.bsky.social 👏🏼
open.substack.com/pub/westword...
Shout outs to @kathyfish.bsky.social @taniahershman.bsky.social @pleomorphic2.bsky.social @mizuki-yama.bsky.social @claudiamonpere.bsky.social @fionamckay.bsky.social
And all at @retreatwest.bsky.social 👏🏼
open.substack.com/pub/westword...
January 26, 2026 at 12:16 PM
Honoured to be featured in WestWord's member spotlight.
Shout outs to @kathyfish.bsky.social @taniahershman.bsky.social @pleomorphic2.bsky.social @mizuki-yama.bsky.social @claudiamonpere.bsky.social @fionamckay.bsky.social
And all at @retreatwest.bsky.social 👏🏼
open.substack.com/pub/westword...
Shout outs to @kathyfish.bsky.social @taniahershman.bsky.social @pleomorphic2.bsky.social @mizuki-yama.bsky.social @claudiamonpere.bsky.social @fionamckay.bsky.social
And all at @retreatwest.bsky.social 👏🏼
open.substack.com/pub/westword...
Just let the masked, lawless, trigger-happy goons do their jobs!
January 25, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Just let the masked, lawless, trigger-happy goons do their jobs!
Reposted by Kathy Fish
I don’t want to hear anything from an elected official unless it’s a plan to defund the DHS and impeach Noem, Bovino, etc. No texts. No emails. No talk about the economy. Step up or step off.
January 24, 2026 at 7:23 PM
I don’t want to hear anything from an elected official unless it’s a plan to defund the DHS and impeach Noem, Bovino, etc. No texts. No emails. No talk about the economy. Step up or step off.
Reposted by Kathy Fish
Just signed up for this September writing retreat with @kathyfish.bsky.social and Nancy Stohlman! Woo hoo!
mailchi.mp/ac8585353954...
mailchi.mp/ac8585353954...
Grand Lake 2026
mailchi.mp
January 24, 2026 at 12:37 PM
Just signed up for this September writing retreat with @kathyfish.bsky.social and Nancy Stohlman! Woo hoo!
mailchi.mp/ac8585353954...
mailchi.mp/ac8585353954...
There are a few spaces left! A beautiful, restful place to write in Colorado this September. Join us! 🍁🦌🌲📚
Just signed up for this September writing retreat with @kathyfish.bsky.social and Nancy Stohlman! Woo hoo!
mailchi.mp/ac8585353954...
mailchi.mp/ac8585353954...
Grand Lake 2026
mailchi.mp
January 24, 2026 at 8:23 PM
There are a few spaces left! A beautiful, restful place to write in Colorado this September. Join us! 🍁🦌🌲📚
In the interest of time, I'm only teaching three flashes tomorrow in my workshop but they are awesome and I'm swooning and I can't wait to read them to you and talk about them. 💙
January 23, 2026 at 9:46 PM
In the interest of time, I'm only teaching three flashes tomorrow in my workshop but they are awesome and I'm swooning and I can't wait to read them to you and talk about them. 💙
Oh wow. Hey are you reading @patiencemackarness.bsky.social ? You ought to be. This is a gorgeous, moving piece of writing: "He guards his dust-shrouded kingdom. It is protected from housebreakers by an array of mortice locks, deadbolts, and alarms that he installed himself." The whole issue! 💙
Check out this beautiful issue of Raw Lit!
My CNF contribution, 'The Multiple Whammies of December 2019', is very raw indeed. Thanks @kathyfish.bsky.social for the inspiration.
rawlit.weebly.com/issue8.html
My CNF contribution, 'The Multiple Whammies of December 2019', is very raw indeed. Thanks @kathyfish.bsky.social for the inspiration.
rawlit.weebly.com/issue8.html
ISSUE8
I’m happy to officially welcome Marie-Louise McGuinness as a Prose/Poetry Editor. We have worked together on many projects– you might remember her fabulous work as our Issue 5 Guest...
rawlit.weebly.com
January 23, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Oh wow. Hey are you reading @patiencemackarness.bsky.social ? You ought to be. This is a gorgeous, moving piece of writing: "He guards his dust-shrouded kingdom. It is protected from housebreakers by an array of mortice locks, deadbolts, and alarms that he installed himself." The whole issue! 💙
Reminder if you've registered, you should have your Webex link in hand! Pls locate it and come ready to write at 1:00 pm Eastern tomorrow (SAT. 24th). Let me know if you can't find it in inbox, spam, or promotions. I'll forward it to you! Thanks again & see you tomorrow! 💙
January 23, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Reminder if you've registered, you should have your Webex link in hand! Pls locate it and come ready to write at 1:00 pm Eastern tomorrow (SAT. 24th). Let me know if you can't find it in inbox, spam, or promotions. I'll forward it to you! Thanks again & see you tomorrow! 💙
I love pulling books off my shelves for stories to teach, then finding myself sitting on the floor and an hour's gone by...lost in this favorite from @robertlopez-bkln-1.bsky.social
January 22, 2026 at 7:07 PM
I love pulling books off my shelves for stories to teach, then finding myself sitting on the floor and an hour's gone by...lost in this favorite from @robertlopez-bkln-1.bsky.social
Thanks, June, and YES. I love this story by Cathy Ulrich. See you on Saturday! 💙
1. If you’re on Kathy’s workshop on Saturday, you’re lucky - you’ll come away with lots of new ideas.
2. Brilliant use of first person plural in this absolutely stunning story.
2. Brilliant use of first person plural in this absolutely stunning story.
January 22, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Thanks, June, and YES. I love this story by Cathy Ulrich. See you on Saturday! 💙
One of the stories we'll be looking at in Saturday's workshop is "The Hole in the Center of Everything" by Cathy Ulrich. Amazing writer. threadcountmag.com/issue-12-spr...
cathy ulrich
The Hole in the Center of Everything This is one of those stories where someone drowns. It’s actually eleven someones in this story, eleven of us crossing the frozen-over river in our stocking caps…
threadcountmag.com
January 22, 2026 at 6:24 PM
One of the stories we'll be looking at in Saturday's workshop is "The Hole in the Center of Everything" by Cathy Ulrich. Amazing writer. threadcountmag.com/issue-12-spr...
Reposted by Kathy Fish
Thanks to all who've signed up for THIS SATURDAY'S 3-in-90 workshop! The session link was sent upon registration. Please locate it and come ready to write at 1:00 pm Eastern on the 24th. We're going to write up a storm! (Let me know if you can't find the link, I'll re-send. Still time to join us!)
January 21, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Thanks to all who've signed up for THIS SATURDAY'S 3-in-90 workshop! The session link was sent upon registration. Please locate it and come ready to write at 1:00 pm Eastern on the 24th. We're going to write up a storm! (Let me know if you can't find the link, I'll re-send. Still time to join us!)
Reposted by Kathy Fish
I do not have one woman in my friend group who is sleeping through the night anymore.
I get up and wander from room to room. I don’t know what to do with my rage other than to show up every day, but it continues into the night.
I get up and wander from room to room. I don’t know what to do with my rage other than to show up every day, but it continues into the night.
January 22, 2026 at 1:41 PM
I do not have one woman in my friend group who is sleeping through the night anymore.
I get up and wander from room to room. I don’t know what to do with my rage other than to show up every day, but it continues into the night.
I get up and wander from room to room. I don’t know what to do with my rage other than to show up every day, but it continues into the night.
Thanks to all who've signed up for THIS SATURDAY'S 3-in-90 workshop! The session link was sent upon registration. Please locate it and come ready to write at 1:00 pm Eastern on the 24th. We're going to write up a storm! (Let me know if you can't find the link, I'll re-send. Still time to join us!)
January 21, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Thanks to all who've signed up for THIS SATURDAY'S 3-in-90 workshop! The session link was sent upon registration. Please locate it and come ready to write at 1:00 pm Eastern on the 24th. We're going to write up a storm! (Let me know if you can't find the link, I'll re-send. Still time to join us!)
Reposted by Kathy Fish
Would be amazing if European leaders would also start throwing out truth bombs like this. bsky.app/profile/atru...
Carney: "American hegemony in particular helped provide public goods, a stable financial system... this bargain no longer works. Let me be direct. We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition... recently, great powers have begun using economic integration as a weapon. Tariffs as leverage ... "
January 20, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Would be amazing if European leaders would also start throwing out truth bombs like this. bsky.app/profile/atru...
Well, congratulations to me. I’m 35 pounds lighter today than I was one year ago. This is largely due to walking three and a half miles every day with a fourteen pound pack on my back. Turns out, I walk REALLY fast when I’m mad. 💪
January 20, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Well, congratulations to me. I’m 35 pounds lighter today than I was one year ago. This is largely due to walking three and a half miles every day with a fourteen pound pack on my back. Turns out, I walk REALLY fast when I’m mad. 💪
I unwittingly wandered into MAGA world online last night and folks, I'm sorry to report, they are as delusional and hateful and cultish as ever.
January 20, 2026 at 3:05 PM
I unwittingly wandered into MAGA world online last night and folks, I'm sorry to report, they are as delusional and hateful and cultish as ever.
It's only going to get worse, I'm afraid.
Federal immigration agents forced open a door and detained a U.S. citizen in his Minnesota home at gunpoint without a warrant, then led him out onto the streets in his underwear in subfreezing conditions, according to his family and videos reviewed by The Associated Press.
US citizen says ICE removed him from his Minnesota home in his underwear after warrantless search
Federal immigration agents have detained a U.S. citizen in Minnesota at gunpoint without a warrant. That's according to ChongLy “Scott” Thao, who says agents forced open his door, entered with guns drawn and led him outside in his underwear in freezing conditions.
bit.ly
January 20, 2026 at 3:01 PM
It's only going to get worse, I'm afraid.
Reposted by Kathy Fish
C'MON TEAM, WE CAN DO IT
AI boom could falter without wider adoption, Microsoft chief Satya Nadella warns
AI boom could falter without wider adoption, Microsoft chief Satya Nadella warns
Big tech boss tells delegates at Davos that broader global use is essential if technology is to deliver lasting growth
www.irishtimes.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:14 PM
C'MON TEAM, WE CAN DO IT
Reposted by Kathy Fish
me: *painstakingly turns off every Smart Feature in Gmail*
Gmail: DO YOU WANNA TRY GEMINI WANNA LET AI WRITE FOR YOU PAINT FOR YOU IT CAN KISS YOUR HUSBAND AND HUG YOUR CHILDREN IT WILL SUCK THE BEAUTY FROM THE WORLD AND STEAL YOUR SOUL AND LEAVE YOU GASPING FOR AIR BUT, HEY, IT SAVES TIME!
me:
Gmail: DO YOU WANNA TRY GEMINI WANNA LET AI WRITE FOR YOU PAINT FOR YOU IT CAN KISS YOUR HUSBAND AND HUG YOUR CHILDREN IT WILL SUCK THE BEAUTY FROM THE WORLD AND STEAL YOUR SOUL AND LEAVE YOU GASPING FOR AIR BUT, HEY, IT SAVES TIME!
me:
bugs bunny is making a funny face with the words hard no behind him .
ALT: bugs bunny is making a funny face with the words hard no behind him .
media.tenor.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:28 PM
me: *painstakingly turns off every Smart Feature in Gmail*
Gmail: DO YOU WANNA TRY GEMINI WANNA LET AI WRITE FOR YOU PAINT FOR YOU IT CAN KISS YOUR HUSBAND AND HUG YOUR CHILDREN IT WILL SUCK THE BEAUTY FROM THE WORLD AND STEAL YOUR SOUL AND LEAVE YOU GASPING FOR AIR BUT, HEY, IT SAVES TIME!
me:
Gmail: DO YOU WANNA TRY GEMINI WANNA LET AI WRITE FOR YOU PAINT FOR YOU IT CAN KISS YOUR HUSBAND AND HUG YOUR CHILDREN IT WILL SUCK THE BEAUTY FROM THE WORLD AND STEAL YOUR SOUL AND LEAVE YOU GASPING FOR AIR BUT, HEY, IT SAVES TIME!
me: