Pithead Chapel
@pitheadchapel.bsky.social
Pithead Chapel (ISSN 2324-6243) is a monthly online literary journal and small press. We publish gutsy fiction, nonfiction, and prose poetry. Founded 2012.
Pinned
Volume 14, Issue 12
COVER ART BY deems ortega FICTION A Bestiary of Immortal Creatures by J. Condra Smith The Great Miss Valentina Speaks by Rebecca Turkewitz Mr. Palm Beach by Will Willoughby Awe by Nick Rees …
pitheadchapel.com
Our December issue is live! Read here: pitheadchapel.com/volume-14-is...
Words:
J. CONDRA SMITH
@rebecca-turkewitz.bsky.social
@willwilloughby.bsky.social
NICK REES GARDNER
MAX LIN
JASON FRALEY
Cover art:
DEEMS ORTEGA
Words:
J. CONDRA SMITH
@rebecca-turkewitz.bsky.social
@willwilloughby.bsky.social
NICK REES GARDNER
MAX LIN
JASON FRALEY
Cover art:
DEEMS ORTEGA
January 1, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Reposted by Pithead Chapel
All my other favorite stories, in order of reading...
Four Words by @mbvalente.bsky.social in @pitheadchapel.bsky.social
pitheadchapel.com/four-words/
Four Words by @mbvalente.bsky.social in @pitheadchapel.bsky.social
pitheadchapel.com/four-words/
Four Words
MB Valente Her tattoo parlor is the only thing like it still open, at least on this side of the lake. A pink neon sign in the window shares its glow with the sidewalk; a sawed-out square in the d…
pitheadchapel.com
December 31, 2025 at 12:02 PM
All my other favorite stories, in order of reading...
Four Words by @mbvalente.bsky.social in @pitheadchapel.bsky.social
pitheadchapel.com/four-words/
Four Words by @mbvalente.bsky.social in @pitheadchapel.bsky.social
pitheadchapel.com/four-words/
We are thrilled to announce our 2025 Larry Brown Short Story Contest Results! Judge @andrewporter01.bsky.social
Congratulations to all the winners:
1st: Anju Sharma
2nd: MC Schmidt
3rd: Cathy Adams
4th: Lyndsay Hall
5th: Jennifer Popa (@jenpopa.bsky.social)
Congratulations to all the winners:
1st: Anju Sharma
2nd: MC Schmidt
3rd: Cathy Adams
4th: Lyndsay Hall
5th: Jennifer Popa (@jenpopa.bsky.social)
December 15, 2025 at 3:42 PM
We are thrilled to announce our 2025 Larry Brown Short Story Contest Results! Judge @andrewporter01.bsky.social
Congratulations to all the winners:
1st: Anju Sharma
2nd: MC Schmidt
3rd: Cathy Adams
4th: Lyndsay Hall
5th: Jennifer Popa (@jenpopa.bsky.social)
Congratulations to all the winners:
1st: Anju Sharma
2nd: MC Schmidt
3rd: Cathy Adams
4th: Lyndsay Hall
5th: Jennifer Popa (@jenpopa.bsky.social)
Reposted by Pithead Chapel
“Mr. Palm Beach” may be my weirdest story yet, but it’s a good kind of weird, I promise. What do you think?
Thanks to @kimmagowan.bsky.social and everyone else at @pitheadchapel.bsky.social for giving it a great home!
#AmWriting #ShortStories #MagicalRealism
pitheadchapel.com/mr-palm-beach/
Thanks to @kimmagowan.bsky.social and everyone else at @pitheadchapel.bsky.social for giving it a great home!
#AmWriting #ShortStories #MagicalRealism
pitheadchapel.com/mr-palm-beach/
Our December issue is live! Read here: pitheadchapel.com/volume-14-is...
Words:
J. CONDRA SMITH
@rebecca-turkewitz.bsky.social
@willwilloughby.bsky.social
NICK REES GARDNER
MAX LIN
JASON FRALEY
Cover art:
DEEMS ORTEGA
Words:
J. CONDRA SMITH
@rebecca-turkewitz.bsky.social
@willwilloughby.bsky.social
NICK REES GARDNER
MAX LIN
JASON FRALEY
Cover art:
DEEMS ORTEGA
Volume 14, Issue 12
COVER ART BY deems ortega FICTION A Bestiary of Immortal Creatures by J. Condra Smith The Great Miss Valentina Speaks by Rebecca Turkewitz Mr. Palm Beach by Will Willoughby Awe by Nick Rees …
pitheadchapel.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:07 PM
“Mr. Palm Beach” may be my weirdest story yet, but it’s a good kind of weird, I promise. What do you think?
Thanks to @kimmagowan.bsky.social and everyone else at @pitheadchapel.bsky.social for giving it a great home!
#AmWriting #ShortStories #MagicalRealism
pitheadchapel.com/mr-palm-beach/
Thanks to @kimmagowan.bsky.social and everyone else at @pitheadchapel.bsky.social for giving it a great home!
#AmWriting #ShortStories #MagicalRealism
pitheadchapel.com/mr-palm-beach/
Our December issue is live! Read here: pitheadchapel.com/volume-14-is...
Words:
J. CONDRA SMITH
@rebecca-turkewitz.bsky.social
@willwilloughby.bsky.social
NICK REES GARDNER
MAX LIN
JASON FRALEY
Cover art:
DEEMS ORTEGA
Words:
J. CONDRA SMITH
@rebecca-turkewitz.bsky.social
@willwilloughby.bsky.social
NICK REES GARDNER
MAX LIN
JASON FRALEY
Cover art:
DEEMS ORTEGA
Volume 14, Issue 12
COVER ART BY deems ortega FICTION A Bestiary of Immortal Creatures by J. Condra Smith The Great Miss Valentina Speaks by Rebecca Turkewitz Mr. Palm Beach by Will Willoughby Awe by Nick Rees …
pitheadchapel.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Our December issue is live! Read here: pitheadchapel.com/volume-14-is...
Words:
J. CONDRA SMITH
@rebecca-turkewitz.bsky.social
@willwilloughby.bsky.social
NICK REES GARDNER
MAX LIN
JASON FRALEY
Cover art:
DEEMS ORTEGA
Words:
J. CONDRA SMITH
@rebecca-turkewitz.bsky.social
@willwilloughby.bsky.social
NICK REES GARDNER
MAX LIN
JASON FRALEY
Cover art:
DEEMS ORTEGA
We're chiming in today to announce our Best Small Fictions nominees! Congratulations and good luck everyone!
November 27, 2025 at 5:22 PM
We're chiming in today to announce our Best Small Fictions nominees! Congratulations and good luck everyone!
Please join us in congratulating our Pushcart nominees! Good luck everyone!
November 22, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Please join us in congratulating our Pushcart nominees! Good luck everyone!
We're proud to announce our nominations for Best Microfiction 2025! Please join us in congratulating these stellar writers. Good luck everyone!
November 16, 2025 at 7:16 PM
We're proud to announce our nominations for Best Microfiction 2025! Please join us in congratulating these stellar writers. Good luck everyone!
It's an honor to make top 10 in flash fiction and in the top 100 overall! Thank you for your work, Brecht, and thank you to our amazing writers and readers who make this possible.
The 2026 lit mag rankings are now available from my website! They include an overall ranking, as well as separate rankings for fiction, flash fiction, non-fiction and poetry. If you find these helpful, please show your support by liking & sharing 🙏
November 14, 2025 at 10:17 PM
It's an honor to make top 10 in flash fiction and in the top 100 overall! Thank you for your work, Brecht, and thank you to our amazing writers and readers who make this possible.
Our November issue is live! Read here: pitheadchapel.com/volume-14-is...
Words:
NINA Y. MORAGON
HAL WRIGHT
@meliseliz.bsky.social
RACHEL EPHRAIM
MAGGIE LEVANTOVSKAYA
@mooninabucket.bsky.social
JENNY CHU
CAROL ROSE LITTLE
Cover art:
SUSAN POLLET
Words:
NINA Y. MORAGON
HAL WRIGHT
@meliseliz.bsky.social
RACHEL EPHRAIM
MAGGIE LEVANTOVSKAYA
@mooninabucket.bsky.social
JENNY CHU
CAROL ROSE LITTLE
Cover art:
SUSAN POLLET
Volume 14, Issue 11
COVER ART BY SUSAN POLLET FICTION CABBAGE SOUP WEEK BY NINA Y. MORAGON ONE OF GOD’S FAVORITES BY HAL WRIGHT CREEPS BY MELISSA BENTON BARKER THE NEED IN HER EYES BY RACHEL EPHRAIM NONF…
pitheadchapel.com
November 1, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Our November issue is live! Read here: pitheadchapel.com/volume-14-is...
Words:
NINA Y. MORAGON
HAL WRIGHT
@meliseliz.bsky.social
RACHEL EPHRAIM
MAGGIE LEVANTOVSKAYA
@mooninabucket.bsky.social
JENNY CHU
CAROL ROSE LITTLE
Cover art:
SUSAN POLLET
Words:
NINA Y. MORAGON
HAL WRIGHT
@meliseliz.bsky.social
RACHEL EPHRAIM
MAGGIE LEVANTOVSKAYA
@mooninabucket.bsky.social
JENNY CHU
CAROL ROSE LITTLE
Cover art:
SUSAN POLLET
Hello dear writers! Today is the last day to submit to our annual short story contest (submissions close at midnight EST). We can't wait to read your work with this year's judge
@andrewporter01.bsky.social!
pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
@andrewporter01.bsky.social!
pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
The Larry Brown Short Story Award
We’re pleased to announce the tenth annual Larry Brown Short Story Award. The winners will receive the following prizes: 1st $500 USD, 2nd $50 USD, 3rd $50 USD, and 4th and 5th will receive a…
pitheadchapel.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Hello dear writers! Today is the last day to submit to our annual short story contest (submissions close at midnight EST). We can't wait to read your work with this year's judge
@andrewporter01.bsky.social!
pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
@andrewporter01.bsky.social!
pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
Writers, don't wait! Our annual short story contest closes November 1st.
pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
a clock on a white wall shows that it is almost eleven o'clock
ALT: a clock on a white wall shows that it is almost eleven o'clock
media.tenor.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Writers, don't wait! Our annual short story contest closes November 1st.
pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
Time flies! Less than one week remains to send us your best short story. Details here: pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
October 27, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Time flies! Less than one week remains to send us your best short story. Details here: pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
Less than two weeks remain to submit your best unpublished short story to our contest!
There are two fee-based submission options that support prizes and costs of running Pithead Chapel (and our general submissions are *always* free!).
pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
There are two fee-based submission options that support prizes and costs of running Pithead Chapel (and our general submissions are *always* free!).
pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
October 18, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Less than two weeks remain to submit your best unpublished short story to our contest!
There are two fee-based submission options that support prizes and costs of running Pithead Chapel (and our general submissions are *always* free!).
pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
There are two fee-based submission options that support prizes and costs of running Pithead Chapel (and our general submissions are *always* free!).
pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
Four weeks remain to submit to our annual short story contest! Read more: pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
October 10, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Four weeks remain to submit to our annual short story contest! Read more: pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
There's still plenty of time to submit to our annual short story contest!
If you're curious, submission fees support winning prizes, guest judge honorarium, and the cost of running the journal (and as always, general submissions are open and free).
See all details at pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
If you're curious, submission fees support winning prizes, guest judge honorarium, and the cost of running the journal (and as always, general submissions are open and free).
See all details at pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
October 3, 2025 at 5:50 PM
There's still plenty of time to submit to our annual short story contest!
If you're curious, submission fees support winning prizes, guest judge honorarium, and the cost of running the journal (and as always, general submissions are open and free).
See all details at pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
If you're curious, submission fees support winning prizes, guest judge honorarium, and the cost of running the journal (and as always, general submissions are open and free).
See all details at pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
The October issue is live! Read here: pitheadchapel.com/volume-14-issue-10/
Words:
@bizzycoy.bsky.social
@katieburgess.bsky.social
@johnwaddy.bsky.social
JEFFREY FEINGOLD
SARAH HARLEY
ELIZABETH HASHIMURA
BETH GILSTRAP
SARP SOZDINLER
YASHASVI VACHHANI
Art:
NATALIE NEE
Words:
@bizzycoy.bsky.social
@katieburgess.bsky.social
@johnwaddy.bsky.social
JEFFREY FEINGOLD
SARAH HARLEY
ELIZABETH HASHIMURA
BETH GILSTRAP
SARP SOZDINLER
YASHASVI VACHHANI
Art:
NATALIE NEE
Volume 14, Issue 10
COVER ART BY NATALIE NEE FICTION ANY MAN’S BETTER THAN NO MAN AT ALL BY BIZZY COY DOG DOG DOG DOG DOG DOG DOG DOG DOG DOG DOG DOG DOG DOG DOG DOG DOG DOG DOG BY KATIE BURGESS HIGH DESE…
pitheadchapel.com
October 1, 2025 at 12:46 PM
The October issue is live! Read here: pitheadchapel.com/volume-14-issue-10/
Words:
@bizzycoy.bsky.social
@katieburgess.bsky.social
@johnwaddy.bsky.social
JEFFREY FEINGOLD
SARAH HARLEY
ELIZABETH HASHIMURA
BETH GILSTRAP
SARP SOZDINLER
YASHASVI VACHHANI
Art:
NATALIE NEE
Words:
@bizzycoy.bsky.social
@katieburgess.bsky.social
@johnwaddy.bsky.social
JEFFREY FEINGOLD
SARAH HARLEY
ELIZABETH HASHIMURA
BETH GILSTRAP
SARP SOZDINLER
YASHASVI VACHHANI
Art:
NATALIE NEE
Six weeks remain to send us your best short story! Read all details here: pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown/
September 26, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Six weeks remain to send us your best short story! Read all details here: pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown/
Reposted by Pithead Chapel
Not sure why but I started thinking about this flash I wrote, “Summer Break,” published years ago by @pitheadchapel.bsky.social in Volume 5, Issue 12. Maybe it’s that 3rd line that stings?
pitheadchapel.com/summer-break/
pitheadchapel.com/summer-break/
September 25, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Not sure why but I started thinking about this flash I wrote, “Summer Break,” published years ago by @pitheadchapel.bsky.social in Volume 5, Issue 12. Maybe it’s that 3rd line that stings?
pitheadchapel.com/summer-break/
pitheadchapel.com/summer-break/
Please join us in congratulating our Best of the Net 2026 Nominees! Good luck everyone!
September 18, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Please join us in congratulating our Best of the Net 2026 Nominees! Good luck everyone!
If you're proficient in social media and possess a love for literary writing, get involved by volunteering for Pithead Chapel!
Find application details at pitheadchapel.com/social-media-editor
Find application details at pitheadchapel.com/social-media-editor
September 15, 2025 at 2:44 PM
If you're proficient in social media and possess a love for literary writing, get involved by volunteering for Pithead Chapel!
Find application details at pitheadchapel.com/social-media-editor
Find application details at pitheadchapel.com/social-media-editor
Our September issue is live! Read here: pitheadchapel.com/2025/09/01/v...
Words:
@aaronburch.bsky.social
@dawnwriter.bsky.social
CHARLES GROSEL
@patrickobrienstrickland.com
@gsmithgoodin.bsky.social
ALLISON ZHANG
E. FERRELL
CHRISTOPHER NOTARNICOLA
Cover art:
AL KRATZ
Words:
@aaronburch.bsky.social
@dawnwriter.bsky.social
CHARLES GROSEL
@patrickobrienstrickland.com
@gsmithgoodin.bsky.social
ALLISON ZHANG
E. FERRELL
CHRISTOPHER NOTARNICOLA
Cover art:
AL KRATZ
Volume 14, Issue 9
COVER ART BY AL KRATZ FICTION THE BOWLING STORY BY AARON BURCH BLUR BY DAWN MILLER MOM-G BY CHARLES GROSEL UNCLE HURT BY PATRICK STRICKLAND NONFICTION ADOPTING FROM FOSTER CARE IN EIG…
pitheadchapel.com
September 1, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Our September issue is live! Read here: pitheadchapel.com/2025/09/01/v...
Words:
@aaronburch.bsky.social
@dawnwriter.bsky.social
CHARLES GROSEL
@patrickobrienstrickland.com
@gsmithgoodin.bsky.social
ALLISON ZHANG
E. FERRELL
CHRISTOPHER NOTARNICOLA
Cover art:
AL KRATZ
Words:
@aaronburch.bsky.social
@dawnwriter.bsky.social
CHARLES GROSEL
@patrickobrienstrickland.com
@gsmithgoodin.bsky.social
ALLISON ZHANG
E. FERRELL
CHRISTOPHER NOTARNICOLA
Cover art:
AL KRATZ
Do you have a short story you're proud of and want to submit? Consider sending your piece to the Larry Brown Short Story Awards! Open now through October 31st.
-First prize is $500.
-Submission fee is $10 (or $5 for BIPOC writers)
Full guidelines here: pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
-First prize is $500.
-Submission fee is $10 (or $5 for BIPOC writers)
Full guidelines here: pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
The Larry Brown Short Story Award
We’re pleased to announce the tenth annual Larry Brown Short Story Award. The winners will receive the following prizes: 1st $500 USD, 2nd $50 USD, 3rd $50 USD, and 4th and 5th will receive a…
pitheadchapel.com
August 31, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Do you have a short story you're proud of and want to submit? Consider sending your piece to the Larry Brown Short Story Awards! Open now through October 31st.
-First prize is $500.
-Submission fee is $10 (or $5 for BIPOC writers)
Full guidelines here: pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
-First prize is $500.
-Submission fee is $10 (or $5 for BIPOC writers)
Full guidelines here: pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
Our annual short story contest is open NOW through October 31st. Send us your best!
Find all guidelines here: pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
Find all guidelines here: pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
August 6, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Our annual short story contest is open NOW through October 31st. Send us your best!
Find all guidelines here: pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
Find all guidelines here: pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
Congratulations to Siamak Vossoughi for his story “Orange” (from PC 13.1) making Best of the Net 2025!
bestofthenetanthology.com
bestofthenetanthology.com
Best of the Net – Best of the Net Anthology
bestofthenetanthology.com
August 4, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Congratulations to Siamak Vossoughi for his story “Orange” (from PC 13.1) making Best of the Net 2025!
bestofthenetanthology.com
bestofthenetanthology.com