Necessary Fiction
@necessaryfiction.com
A webjournal publishing short fiction, book reviews, a weekly newsletter, & whatever else happens at http://www.necessaryfiction.com. Doing our best since 2009.
Posts by http://shimmer.bsky.social.
Posts by http://shimmer.bsky.social.
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GOOD NEWS. My novel--a retelling of Hansel & Gretel in which the parents are addicted to opioids--originally titled Abandon & now titled A THOUSAND WAYS TO DISAPPEAR, will be published by Cornerstone Press (Univ. of Wisconsin) in February 2028.
January 26, 2026 at 10:42 PM
GOOD NEWS. My novel--a retelling of Hansel & Gretel in which the parents are addicted to opioids--originally titled Abandon & now titled A THOUSAND WAYS TO DISAPPEAR, will be published by Cornerstone Press (Univ. of Wisconsin) in February 2028.
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GRACE BEFORE THE FALL by Geri Lipschultz (Dark Winter Press). Reviewed by @nonabiding.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/grac...
January 26, 2026 at 2:25 PM
GRACE BEFORE THE FALL by Geri Lipschultz (Dark Winter Press). Reviewed by @nonabiding.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/grac...
GRACE BEFORE THE FALL by Geri Lipschultz (Dark Winter Press). Reviewed by @nonabiding.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/grac...
January 26, 2026 at 2:25 PM
GRACE BEFORE THE FALL by Geri Lipschultz (Dark Winter Press). Reviewed by @nonabiding.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/grac...
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My first story of 2026 is up in Necessary Fiction! Thank you so much EIC @shimmer.bsky.social Himmer and guest editor @nicholas-claro.bsky.social for picking my story.
This week's fiction is "Just Another Saturday Night" by @dawnsteffler.bsky.social, selected by guest editor @nicholas-claro.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/stories/just...
January 23, 2026 at 6:21 PM
My first story of 2026 is up in Necessary Fiction! Thank you so much EIC @shimmer.bsky.social Himmer and guest editor @nicholas-claro.bsky.social for picking my story.
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We're filling up the schedule for the Barrelhouse conference in DC on 4/18/26 with lots of great workshops and panel discussions on craft, publishing, and fitting writing into your life. Registration is $95 and We're a third sold out already. Hope you'll join us! www.barrelhousemag.com/conference
January 23, 2026 at 2:13 PM
We're filling up the schedule for the Barrelhouse conference in DC on 4/18/26 with lots of great workshops and panel discussions on craft, publishing, and fitting writing into your life. Registration is $95 and We're a third sold out already. Hope you'll join us! www.barrelhousemag.com/conference
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This week's fiction is "Just Another Saturday Night" by @dawnsteffler.bsky.social, selected by guest editor @nicholas-claro.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/stories/just...
January 21, 2026 at 2:30 PM
This week's fiction is "Just Another Saturday Night" by @dawnsteffler.bsky.social, selected by guest editor @nicholas-claro.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/stories/just...
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“The redhead had laughed because everyone else was laughing, but he also scanned the cafeteria, hoping David wasn’t in earshot.”
Dawn’s story really jumped out at me. I love her writing and this story so much. Give this a read!
Dawn’s story really jumped out at me. I love her writing and this story so much. Give this a read!
This week's fiction is "Just Another Saturday Night" by @dawnsteffler.bsky.social, selected by guest editor @nicholas-claro.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/stories/just...
January 21, 2026 at 6:11 PM
“The redhead had laughed because everyone else was laughing, but he also scanned the cafeteria, hoping David wasn’t in earshot.”
Dawn’s story really jumped out at me. I love her writing and this story so much. Give this a read!
Dawn’s story really jumped out at me. I love her writing and this story so much. Give this a read!
This week's fiction is "Just Another Saturday Night" by @dawnsteffler.bsky.social, selected by guest editor @nicholas-claro.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/stories/just...
January 21, 2026 at 2:30 PM
This week's fiction is "Just Another Saturday Night" by @dawnsteffler.bsky.social, selected by guest editor @nicholas-claro.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/stories/just...
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Interesting things happening out there these days
ARTIFICE
www.artificemag.org
January 19, 2026 at 9:24 PM
Interesting things happening out there these days
THE NIGHTS ARE QUIET IN TEHRAN by Shida Bazyar, tr Ruth Martin (@scribepub.bsky.social). Reviewed by Megan Peck Shub. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/the-...
January 19, 2026 at 2:35 PM
THE NIGHTS ARE QUIET IN TEHRAN by Shida Bazyar, tr Ruth Martin (@scribepub.bsky.social). Reviewed by Megan Peck Shub. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/the-...
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HEY NEW YORK: Whatcha doing on Saturday, Jan 31?
January 19, 2026 at 1:11 AM
HEY NEW YORK: Whatcha doing on Saturday, Jan 31?
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Submissions to our annual summer flash fiction series are now open!
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January 7, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Submissions to our annual summer flash fiction series are now open!
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This week's featured fiction is an excerpt from THE MORGUE KEEPER by Ruyan Meng, selected by guest editor @nicholas-claro.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/stories/the-...
January 14, 2026 at 2:35 PM
This week's featured fiction is an excerpt from THE MORGUE KEEPER by Ruyan Meng, selected by guest editor @nicholas-claro.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/stories/the-...
This week's featured fiction is an excerpt from THE MORGUE KEEPER by Ruyan Meng, selected by guest editor @nicholas-claro.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/stories/the-...
January 14, 2026 at 2:35 PM
This week's featured fiction is an excerpt from THE MORGUE KEEPER by Ruyan Meng, selected by guest editor @nicholas-claro.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/stories/the-...
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It's always fascinating to read about a writer's process. Here Sara Levine describes her background research, including her borrowings and pilferings from other writers. I suspect all writers do this—I do—but few talk about it so transparently. Refreshing and inspiring to read.
In research notes, Sara Levine writes about THE HITCH from Roxane Gay Books/@groveatlantic.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/researchnote...
January 10, 2026 at 10:33 PM
It's always fascinating to read about a writer's process. Here Sara Levine describes her background research, including her borrowings and pilferings from other writers. I suspect all writers do this—I do—but few talk about it so transparently. Refreshing and inspiring to read.
Reposted by Necessary Fiction
TIDAL LOCK by Lindsay Hill (McPherson & Co.). Reviewed by Lindsey Drager. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/tida...
January 12, 2026 at 2:32 PM
TIDAL LOCK by Lindsay Hill (McPherson & Co.). Reviewed by Lindsey Drager. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/tida...
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Writers, it's time. Scrivener for Creative Writers is back! Join me 1/31 for a 90-minute class that will give you a powerful start to your writing year. Info and signups (and student discount) at jaimegreen.net/classes
January 12, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Writers, it's time. Scrivener for Creative Writers is back! Join me 1/31 for a 90-minute class that will give you a powerful start to your writing year. Info and signups (and student discount) at jaimegreen.net/classes
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@greatplacebooks.bsky.social courses are back! With a seminar on the short novels of Muriel Spark.
www.greatplacebooks.com/spark
www.greatplacebooks.com/spark
Reading Muriel Spark with Emily Adrian — Great Place Books
Join author and GPB cofounder Emily Adrian in reading the dazzling fiction of Muriel Spark. This class will meet four times to discuss four of Spark’s most original, ambitious, and tightly constructed...
www.greatplacebooks.com
January 11, 2026 at 4:17 PM
@greatplacebooks.bsky.social courses are back! With a seminar on the short novels of Muriel Spark.
www.greatplacebooks.com/spark
www.greatplacebooks.com/spark
TIDAL LOCK by Lindsay Hill (McPherson & Co.). Reviewed by Lindsey Drager. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/tida...
January 12, 2026 at 2:32 PM
TIDAL LOCK by Lindsay Hill (McPherson & Co.). Reviewed by Lindsey Drager. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/tida...
Reposted by Necessary Fiction
In research notes, Sara Levine writes about THE HITCH from Roxane Gay Books/@groveatlantic.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/researchnote...
January 9, 2026 at 2:25 PM
In research notes, Sara Levine writes about THE HITCH from Roxane Gay Books/@groveatlantic.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/researchnote...
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We're starting to fill the @barrelhouse.bsky.social DC conference program for 4/18! Thrilled to be bringing back crowd faves @wendywimmer.bsky.social and @reneeknicholson.bsky.social, and @dustinbrookshire.bsky.social is bringing Dolly Parton poetry! More soon. www.barrelhousemag.com/conference
January 9, 2026 at 8:06 PM
We're starting to fill the @barrelhouse.bsky.social DC conference program for 4/18! Thrilled to be bringing back crowd faves @wendywimmer.bsky.social and @reneeknicholson.bsky.social, and @dustinbrookshire.bsky.social is bringing Dolly Parton poetry! More soon. www.barrelhousemag.com/conference
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This week's story, selected by guest editor @nicholas-claro.bsky.social, is "Don't Come Looking For Me" by Lauren Osborn. necessaryfiction.com/stories/dont...
January 7, 2026 at 2:20 PM
This week's story, selected by guest editor @nicholas-claro.bsky.social, is "Don't Come Looking For Me" by Lauren Osborn. necessaryfiction.com/stories/dont...
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Don't miss out on listening to @kesemmel.bsky.social on the Three Percent Podcast! buff.ly/gArxtly
Treat yourself to THE BOOK OF LOSMAN right here: bit.ly/3TYAXzJ
@susanschulman.bsky.social
Treat yourself to THE BOOK OF LOSMAN right here: bit.ly/3TYAXzJ
@susanschulman.bsky.social
"The Calf" by Leif Høghaug & David M. Smith
Podcast Episode · Three Percent Podcast · 12/29/2025 · 1h 7m
buff.ly
January 6, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Don't miss out on listening to @kesemmel.bsky.social on the Three Percent Podcast! buff.ly/gArxtly
Treat yourself to THE BOOK OF LOSMAN right here: bit.ly/3TYAXzJ
@susanschulman.bsky.social
Treat yourself to THE BOOK OF LOSMAN right here: bit.ly/3TYAXzJ
@susanschulman.bsky.social
In research notes, Sara Levine writes about THE HITCH from Roxane Gay Books/@groveatlantic.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/researchnote...
January 9, 2026 at 2:25 PM
In research notes, Sara Levine writes about THE HITCH from Roxane Gay Books/@groveatlantic.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/researchnote...
Reposted by Necessary Fiction
An excerpt from HYPER in today's LitHub Daily Fiction. Out next week! 💶💶💶
lithub.com/hyper/ @lithub.com.web.brid.gy
lithub.com/hyper/ @lithub.com.web.brid.gy
Hyper
A salesman’s hand stretched out towards the prospective buyer, cupped into a universal signifier. His fingers flexed slightly towards the palm, in case Rafiq Hardi Kermanj, the potential future owner …
lithub.com
January 8, 2026 at 3:40 PM
An excerpt from HYPER in today's LitHub Daily Fiction. Out next week! 💶💶💶
lithub.com/hyper/ @lithub.com.web.brid.gy
lithub.com/hyper/ @lithub.com.web.brid.gy