Aaron Burch
@aaronburch.bsky.social
Author: A KIND OF IN-BETWEEN; YEAR OF THE BUFFALO; STEPHEN KING'S THE BODY; BACKSWING
Editor: HAD; Short Story, Long (on Substack)
https://linktr.ee/aaronburch
Editor: HAD; Short Story, Long (on Substack)
https://linktr.ee/aaronburch
Pinned
Aaron Burch
@aaronburch.bsky.social
· Nov 13
cover! synopsis! preorder! out in feb!!
"Blending autofiction with fantasy, meta with magic, and earnestness with absurdity, 𝘛𝘢𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘢 presents a recognizable but also magical world where we ask, if nothing is real, then why not have as much fun as possible?"
autofocusbooks.com/store/p/tacoma
"Blending autofiction with fantasy, meta with magic, and earnestness with absurdity, 𝘛𝘢𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘢 presents a recognizable but also magical world where we ask, if nothing is real, then why not have as much fun as possible?"
autofocusbooks.com/store/p/tacoma
I’ve ALWAYS said Frances has the best taste.
End of year reading stats from @thestorygraph.com
Looks like @hanvanderhart.bsky.social and @aaronburch.bsky.social are in the big leagues
Looks like @hanvanderhart.bsky.social and @aaronburch.bsky.social are in the big leagues
December 27, 2025 at 10:38 PM
I’ve ALWAYS said Frances has the best taste.
I'd say the same for art? I can rarely remember what happened in something I watched/read/etc., struggle to describe it... but just about always remember how it made me feel.
I always think about the maya Angelou quote because it’s really true,
“People will always remember how you made them feel,"
“People will always remember how you made them feel,"
December 27, 2025 at 7:01 PM
I'd say the same for art? I can rarely remember what happened in something I watched/read/etc., struggle to describe it... but just about always remember how it made me feel.
I like some Cormac books just fine— and lots of people I love, LOVE him — but I’m so bored by the “your art should drive you to suicide” romanticization. I want short stories, and novels, and art, that drove the artist to joyful exaltation.
Merry Christmas, friends! Here's Cormac McCarthy on novel writing:
"I'm not interested in writing short stories. Anything that doesn't take years of your life and drive you to suicide hardly seems worth doing."
"I'm not interested in writing short stories. Anything that doesn't take years of your life and drive you to suicide hardly seems worth doing."
December 27, 2025 at 2:38 PM
I like some Cormac books just fine— and lots of people I love, LOVE him — but I’m so bored by the “your art should drive you to suicide” romanticization. I want short stories, and novels, and art, that drove the artist to joyful exaltation.
Reposted by Aaron Burch
2026 is the year i’m gonna do everything i’ve always wanted to do, i’m so serious
December 26, 2025 at 3:27 PM
2026 is the year i’m gonna do everything i’ve always wanted to do, i’m so serious
Reposted by Aaron Burch
Winter is a time of reflection. I think about my previous year’s mowing performance, and honestly, I’m disgusted. Uneven patterns, bad overlaps. I’ve let my entire family down and I hate myself.
December 26, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Winter is a time of reflection. I think about my previous year’s mowing performance, and honestly, I’m disgusted. Uneven patterns, bad overlaps. I’ve let my entire family down and I hate myself.
Happy “do nothing and mostly just read all day” Day to all who celebrate.
December 26, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Happy “do nothing and mostly just read all day” Day to all who celebrate.
@danielmiller.bsky.social new cardigan for Christmas = festive #cardicore for family Christmas
December 25, 2025 at 9:53 PM
@danielmiller.bsky.social new cardigan for Christmas = festive #cardicore for family Christmas
If you were wishing to read an interview with me about my forthcoming TACOMA, I’ve got just the gift for you!
Aaron Burch Returns
[GS-INT-029]
geminisessions.substack.com
December 25, 2025 at 8:20 PM
If you were wishing to read an interview with me about my forthcoming TACOMA, I’ve got just the gift for you!
Not to spoil it (which doesn’t even really matter) but I think this might be my fave ending I’ve written.
December 25, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Not to spoil it (which doesn’t even really matter) but I think this might be my fave ending I’ve written.
Reposted by Aaron Burch
forgot to hit "publish" on this yesterday. wrapping up the year on Short Story, Long with some lists — some more best & fave stories of the century (so far) this week, and some of our fave story collections of 2025 next week.
check out some of these faves! add some of your own in the comments!
check out some of these faves! add some of your own in the comments!
"25 for 25" — a few more contributor lists
wrapping up the year with a few more Short Story, Long contributor lists of "best" and favorite short stories from the last 25 years
ashortstorylong.substack.com
December 24, 2025 at 4:09 PM
forgot to hit "publish" on this yesterday. wrapping up the year on Short Story, Long with some lists — some more best & fave stories of the century (so far) this week, and some of our fave story collections of 2025 next week.
check out some of these faves! add some of your own in the comments!
check out some of these faves! add some of your own in the comments!
A fave! A top 5 inspo for my THE LAST LOCK-IN novel.
December 24, 2025 at 4:47 AM
A fave! A top 5 inspo for my THE LAST LOCK-IN novel.
Reposted by Aaron Burch
👀👀
1,200 submissions.
33 published pieces.
And these are Doric Literary's 2026 #BestAmericanShortStories nominations!
If you hate visiting family at Christmas, stay home and read these gems!
doric-literary.com/nominations/
33 published pieces.
And these are Doric Literary's 2026 #BestAmericanShortStories nominations!
If you hate visiting family at Christmas, stay home and read these gems!
doric-literary.com/nominations/
December 23, 2025 at 5:47 PM
👀👀
Reorganizing the order of the questions someone sent me for an interview, because I'm answering as an author, but can't totally turn off being an editor...
December 23, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Reorganizing the order of the questions someone sent me for an interview, because I'm answering as an author, but can't totally turn off being an editor...
👀👀
1,200 submissions.
33 published pieces.
And these are Doric Literary's 2026 #BestAmericanShortStories nominations!
If you hate visiting family at Christmas, stay home and read these gems!
doric-literary.com/nominations/
33 published pieces.
And these are Doric Literary's 2026 #BestAmericanShortStories nominations!
If you hate visiting family at Christmas, stay home and read these gems!
doric-literary.com/nominations/
December 23, 2025 at 5:47 PM
👀👀
next semester's comp class them: Converge
December 22, 2025 at 8:17 PM
next semester's comp class them: Converge
I feel like I’m terminally online and legit had no idea there were more than two parts.
This feels like how I think I watch a good amount of TV, and am aware of a lot more than that, and still have never even heard of any of the shows my parents tell me about.
This feels like how I think I watch a good amount of TV, and am aware of a lot more than that, and still have never even heard of any of the shows my parents tell me about.
December 22, 2025 at 3:28 AM
I feel like I’m terminally online and legit had no idea there were more than two parts.
This feels like how I think I watch a good amount of TV, and am aware of a lot more than that, and still have never even heard of any of the shows my parents tell me about.
This feels like how I think I watch a good amount of TV, and am aware of a lot more than that, and still have never even heard of any of the shows my parents tell me about.
lol at 30-50 feral pigs
December 21, 2025 at 9:57 PM
lol at 30-50 feral pigs
Reposted by Aaron Burch
the beginning is the most important bc if it isn't good enough, reader might not keep going
the middle is most important bc beginnings are just all potential but the middle is what actually makes a story
the end is most important bc a great one is what's gonna elevate a good story to an all-timer
the middle is most important bc beginnings are just all potential but the middle is what actually makes a story
the end is most important bc a great one is what's gonna elevate a good story to an all-timer
December 21, 2025 at 6:21 PM
the beginning is the most important bc if it isn't good enough, reader might not keep going
the middle is most important bc beginnings are just all potential but the middle is what actually makes a story
the end is most important bc a great one is what's gonna elevate a good story to an all-timer
the middle is most important bc beginnings are just all potential but the middle is what actually makes a story
the end is most important bc a great one is what's gonna elevate a good story to an all-timer
30 pages into this, and it’s great, and also I don’t know a single thing about it — am a big Chaon fan and a cpl friends have raved about it, but I haven’t heard or read anything about it, not even the back cover copy — and what a treat of total discovery.
December 21, 2025 at 3:21 PM
30 pages into this, and it’s great, and also I don’t know a single thing about it — am a big Chaon fan and a cpl friends have raved about it, but I haven’t heard or read anything about it, not even the back cover copy — and what a treat of total discovery.
asking chatGPT for the solution to my debilitating ailment of sometimes engaging with art and things that bring me enjoyment
Really a sad way to go through life www.nytimes.com/2025/06/27/b...
December 20, 2025 at 3:03 PM
asking chatGPT for the solution to my debilitating ailment of sometimes engaging with art and things that bring me enjoyment
I thought 28 Years Later was mostly kinda silly and not really my thing... but then that 30-45 minutes with Ralph Fiennes is pretty amazing!
December 20, 2025 at 2:35 PM
I thought 28 Years Later was mostly kinda silly and not really my thing... but then that 30-45 minutes with Ralph Fiennes is pretty amazing!
12 Days of Extra Delicious Morning Coffee
December 20, 2025 at 2:15 PM
12 Days of Extra Delicious Morning Coffee
Wait, how did I not know Young Fathers did the 28 Years Later soundtrack??
December 20, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Wait, how did I not know Young Fathers did the 28 Years Later soundtrack??