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.
Reposted by Necessary Fiction
I didn’t make up the gun in the David Berman poem (though the speaker did) but I did embellish it into a shotgun.
Day 2 of our solstice gathering features writing by @mizuki-yama.bsky.social, Catherine Reedy, Kendra Cardin, @garetherees.bsky.social, @nonabiding.bsky.social, @erinkeane.bsky.social, @kleopatraolympiou.bsky.social, Lleyton Michael Kane, and Warren Stoddard II. necessaryfiction.com/stories/poin...
December 25, 2025 at 2:10 AM
I didn’t make up the gun in the David Berman poem (though the speaker did) but I did embellish it into a shotgun.
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I've got a micro, "If You Were Here," in @necessaryfiction.com's second group of solstice/end-of-year stories which was just published today! Thrilled to be in such excellent company ☺️
necessaryfiction.com/stories/poin...
necessaryfiction.com/stories/poin...
Points of light, day 2 – Necessary Fiction
necessaryfiction.com
December 24, 2025 at 2:35 PM
I've got a micro, "If You Were Here," in @necessaryfiction.com's second group of solstice/end-of-year stories which was just published today! Thrilled to be in such excellent company ☺️
necessaryfiction.com/stories/poin...
necessaryfiction.com/stories/poin...
Reposted by Necessary Fiction
You will be visited by three spirits. One of them has notes on your novel.
December 24, 2025 at 2:21 PM
You will be visited by three spirits. One of them has notes on your novel.
Day 2 of our solstice gathering features writing by @mizuki-yama.bsky.social, Catherine Reedy, Kendra Cardin, @garetherees.bsky.social, @nonabiding.bsky.social, @erinkeane.bsky.social, @kleopatraolympiou.bsky.social, Lleyton Michael Kane, and Warren Stoddard II. necessaryfiction.com/stories/poin...
December 24, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Day 2 of our solstice gathering features writing by @mizuki-yama.bsky.social, Catherine Reedy, Kendra Cardin, @garetherees.bsky.social, @nonabiding.bsky.social, @erinkeane.bsky.social, @kleopatraolympiou.bsky.social, Lleyton Michael Kane, and Warren Stoddard II. necessaryfiction.com/stories/poin...
Some excellent contributor news!
NEWS! My story collection I'm Glad You Didn't Drown Yourself will be published with BOA Editions in 2027.
December 22, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Some excellent contributor news!
Reposted by Necessary Fiction
Fun new series run by our friends at @necessaryfiction.com
I've had a great time selecting some pieces to mark the solstice and year's end at @necessaryfiction.com, and am grateful to the writers who shared their work. Here is the first gathering of lights, with three more to follow in the days ahead.
Points of light, day 1 – Necessary Fiction
necessaryfiction.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Fun new series run by our friends at @necessaryfiction.com
Reposted by Necessary Fiction
A FICTIONAL INQUIRY by Daniele del Giudice, tr Anne Milano Appel (@newvesselpress.bsky.social). Reviewed by Noelle McManus. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/a-fi...
December 22, 2025 at 2:10 PM
A FICTIONAL INQUIRY by Daniele del Giudice, tr Anne Milano Appel (@newvesselpress.bsky.social). Reviewed by Noelle McManus. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/a-fi...
A FICTIONAL INQUIRY by Daniele del Giudice, tr Anne Milano Appel (@newvesselpress.bsky.social). Reviewed by Noelle McManus. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/a-fi...
December 22, 2025 at 2:10 PM
A FICTIONAL INQUIRY by Daniele del Giudice, tr Anne Milano Appel (@newvesselpress.bsky.social). Reviewed by Noelle McManus. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/a-fi...
Reposted by Necessary Fiction
I've had a great time selecting some pieces to mark the solstice and year's end at @necessaryfiction.com, and am grateful to the writers who shared their work. Here is the first gathering of lights, with three more to follow in the days ahead.
Points of light, day 1 – Necessary Fiction
necessaryfiction.com
December 21, 2025 at 2:10 PM
I've had a great time selecting some pieces to mark the solstice and year's end at @necessaryfiction.com, and am grateful to the writers who shared their work. Here is the first gathering of lights, with three more to follow in the days ahead.
THE INNER HARBOUR by Antoine Volodine, tr. Gina M. Stamm (@uminnpress.bsky.social). Reviewed by @taniamalik.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/the-...
December 22, 2025 at 2:05 PM
THE INNER HARBOUR by Antoine Volodine, tr. Gina M. Stamm (@uminnpress.bsky.social). Reviewed by @taniamalik.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/the-...
Reposted by Necessary Fiction
Day One of our solstice gathering features writing by @rosaleenlynch.bsky.social, @travisflatt.bsky.social, @raymondbrunell.bsky.social, @eileentomarchio.bsky.social, @janewords.bsky.social, Talya Byrd, Carol M. Quinn, Tanya Kornilovich, and Joe Kalovac. necessaryfiction.com/stories/poin...
December 21, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Day One of our solstice gathering features writing by @rosaleenlynch.bsky.social, @travisflatt.bsky.social, @raymondbrunell.bsky.social, @eileentomarchio.bsky.social, @janewords.bsky.social, Talya Byrd, Carol M. Quinn, Tanya Kornilovich, and Joe Kalovac. necessaryfiction.com/stories/poin...
Day One of our solstice gathering features writing by @rosaleenlynch.bsky.social, @travisflatt.bsky.social, @raymondbrunell.bsky.social, @eileentomarchio.bsky.social, @janewords.bsky.social, Talya Byrd, Carol M. Quinn, Tanya Kornilovich, and Joe Kalovac. necessaryfiction.com/stories/poin...
December 21, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Day One of our solstice gathering features writing by @rosaleenlynch.bsky.social, @travisflatt.bsky.social, @raymondbrunell.bsky.social, @eileentomarchio.bsky.social, @janewords.bsky.social, Talya Byrd, Carol M. Quinn, Tanya Kornilovich, and Joe Kalovac. necessaryfiction.com/stories/poin...
Reposted by Necessary Fiction
He looked at the dead dog, Cherry. She was off the road, on a pile of leaves that were composting against the fence. She was stretched out, mouth open. There was nothing wrong with her, except she was dead.
Every story @glennorgias.bsky.social writes is a stunner... @necessaryfiction.com
Every story @glennorgias.bsky.social writes is a stunner... @necessaryfiction.com
This week's story, chosen by guest editor @nicholas-claro.bsky.social, is "Waiting to say goodbye." by Glenn Orgias. necessaryfiction.com/stories/wait...
December 20, 2025 at 4:56 PM
He looked at the dead dog, Cherry. She was off the road, on a pile of leaves that were composting against the fence. She was stretched out, mouth open. There was nothing wrong with her, except she was dead.
Every story @glennorgias.bsky.social writes is a stunner... @necessaryfiction.com
Every story @glennorgias.bsky.social writes is a stunner... @necessaryfiction.com
Reposted by Necessary Fiction
Every Friday afternoon since July, I’ve held a two-hour, online writing accountability group. Since my time at Versal, I’ve been missing the literary community a journal creates locally. Though not as nearly ambitious, and a lot less work, this group is becoming something like that.
December 19, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Every Friday afternoon since July, I’ve held a two-hour, online writing accountability group. Since my time at Versal, I’ve been missing the literary community a journal creates locally. Though not as nearly ambitious, and a lot less work, this group is becoming something like that.
Reposted by Necessary Fiction
This week's story, chosen by guest editor @nicholas-claro.bsky.social, is "Waiting to say goodbye." by Glenn Orgias. necessaryfiction.com/stories/wait...
December 17, 2025 at 2:39 PM
This week's story, chosen by guest editor @nicholas-claro.bsky.social, is "Waiting to say goodbye." by Glenn Orgias. necessaryfiction.com/stories/wait...
Reposted by Necessary Fiction
“The responsibility of the dog had fallen to the man even though he’d never asked for, nor wanted, a dog. Because the last thing he wanted was more responsibility when he felt daunted by responsibility.”
I loved Glenn’s story from the first amazing sentence to the last. Give this one a read!
I loved Glenn’s story from the first amazing sentence to the last. Give this one a read!
This week's story, chosen by guest editor @nicholas-claro.bsky.social, is "Waiting to say goodbye." by Glenn Orgias. necessaryfiction.com/stories/wait...
December 17, 2025 at 2:48 PM
“The responsibility of the dog had fallen to the man even though he’d never asked for, nor wanted, a dog. Because the last thing he wanted was more responsibility when he felt daunted by responsibility.”
I loved Glenn’s story from the first amazing sentence to the last. Give this one a read!
I loved Glenn’s story from the first amazing sentence to the last. Give this one a read!
This week's story, chosen by guest editor @nicholas-claro.bsky.social, is "Waiting to say goodbye." by Glenn Orgias. necessaryfiction.com/stories/wait...
December 17, 2025 at 2:39 PM
This week's story, chosen by guest editor @nicholas-claro.bsky.social, is "Waiting to say goodbye." by Glenn Orgias. necessaryfiction.com/stories/wait...
Reposted by Necessary Fiction
Check out my story, “Conflagration Kills Five” in the new issue of @smokelong.bsky.social ! Thank you, @kplumhoff.bsky.social for sharing your favorite line. Can’t wait to read your story (and the others in this issue) once I’m done grading!
“You see how the earth’s shadow eats the moon? your father said. We live in that shadow.” - Wyatt Bonikowski
www.smokelong.com/stories/conf...
www.smokelong.com/stories/conf...
Conflagration Kills Five - SmokeLong Quarterly
You thought you used to live in this house. You thought you used to laugh in a corner. There were sticks piled on the living room floor and a can of kerosene. You thought your father put them there wh...
www.smokelong.com
December 16, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Check out my story, “Conflagration Kills Five” in the new issue of @smokelong.bsky.social ! Thank you, @kplumhoff.bsky.social for sharing your favorite line. Can’t wait to read your story (and the others in this issue) once I’m done grading!
Reposted by Necessary Fiction
Hey, hey, novelists and aspiring novelists:
I'm teaching novel revising in the spring. Sign up!
www.litcleveland.org/classes-work...
I'm teaching novel revising in the spring. Sign up!
www.litcleveland.org/classes-work...
Advanced Novel Revision - Classes & Workshops | Literary Cleveland
Congratulations! You’ve finished a draft of your novel—or you’re sooo close. That’s a really big deal. Now what? It’s time to revise!
www.litcleveland.org
December 16, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Hey, hey, novelists and aspiring novelists:
I'm teaching novel revising in the spring. Sign up!
www.litcleveland.org/classes-work...
I'm teaching novel revising in the spring. Sign up!
www.litcleveland.org/classes-work...
Reposted by Necessary Fiction
ALIENS ATTACK! is available for pre-order! This is the story of an alien invasion fr the perspective of a bunch of failing humans and also some sad aliens. Spaceships shooting lasers plus quiet desperation! Pre-orders are important for books like this, so I hope you'll consider ordering it up!
Get ready for ALIENS ATTACK! Told through the men and women—and aliens—who experienced it firsthand, Dave Housley's sci-fi novel ALIENS ATTACK! presses us with the big question: what would you do at the end of the world? Preorder your discounted copy today! masonjarpress.com/chapbooks-1/...
Aliens Attack! (Preorder now!) — MASON JAR PRESS
Now available for preorder! Told through the men and women—and aliens—who experienced it firsthand, Dave Housley's sci-fi novel ALIENS ATTACK! presses us with the big question: what would you do at t...
masonjarpress.com
December 15, 2025 at 11:24 PM
ALIENS ATTACK! is available for pre-order! This is the story of an alien invasion fr the perspective of a bunch of failing humans and also some sad aliens. Spaceships shooting lasers plus quiet desperation! Pre-orders are important for books like this, so I hope you'll consider ordering it up!
Reposted by Necessary Fiction
SMALL SCALE SINNERS by Maureen Sohail (Public Space Books). Reviewed by @sarahholloway.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/smal...
December 15, 2025 at 2:30 PM
SMALL SCALE SINNERS by Maureen Sohail (Public Space Books). Reviewed by @sarahholloway.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/smal...
SMALL SCALE SINNERS by Maureen Sohail (Public Space Books). Reviewed by @sarahholloway.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/smal...
December 15, 2025 at 2:30 PM
SMALL SCALE SINNERS by Maureen Sohail (Public Space Books). Reviewed by @sarahholloway.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/reviews/smal...
Reposted by Necessary Fiction
Let’s work together in January! This online workshop is for writers at all levels. Join me to get reacquainted with yourself & your practice. We will write, share, & draw inspiration from another.
Why I Write: An Autobiographical Exploration
larksongwritersplace.org
December 11, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Let’s work together in January! This online workshop is for writers at all levels. Join me to get reacquainted with yourself & your practice. We will write, share, & draw inspiration from another.
Reposted by Necessary Fiction
Thank you to @buzzpoole.bsky.social for guesting on this week's Library Pizza! It was really fun to catch up and learn about his work at @sandorfpassage.bsky.social. Incidentally, books in translation (and even annual subscriptions to the publishers of such) make great gifts!
This week @buzzpoole.bsky.social, cofounder of @sandorfpassage.bsky.social and the person most responsible for Mike's first book being published in a defensible state, visited the library for a discussion of publishing literature in translation and more. Listen anywhere that pods are known to pod.
The Ministry of Culture with Buzz Poole
Podcast Episode · Library Pizza · 12/11/2025 · 1h 45m
podcasts.apple.com
December 11, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Thank you to @buzzpoole.bsky.social for guesting on this week's Library Pizza! It was really fun to catch up and learn about his work at @sandorfpassage.bsky.social. Incidentally, books in translation (and even annual subscriptions to the publishers of such) make great gifts!
Reposted by Necessary Fiction
Linen Press is looking for submissions: www.linen-press.com/submissions/
December 11, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Linen Press is looking for submissions: www.linen-press.com/submissions/