Pithead Chapel
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pitheadchapel.bsky.social
Pithead Chapel
@pitheadchapel.bsky.social
3K followers 18 following 75 posts
Pithead Chapel (ISSN 2324-6243) is a monthly online literary journal and small press. We publish gutsy fiction, nonfiction, and prose poetry. Founded 2012.
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Pithead Chapel @pitheadchapel.bsky.social · 10d
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
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
pitheadchapel.bsky.social
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
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
pitheadchapel.bsky.social
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
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
pitheadchapel.bsky.social
Writers, don't wait! Our annual short story contest closes November 1st.
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
pitheadchapel.bsky.social
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
pitheadchapel.bsky.social
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
October 18, 2025 at 2:09 PM
pitheadchapel.bsky.social
Four weeks remain to submit to our annual short story contest! Read more: pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
October 10, 2025 at 6:51 PM
pitheadchapel.bsky.social
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
October 3, 2025 at 5:50 PM
pitheadchapel.bsky.social
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
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
pitheadchapel.bsky.social
Six weeks remain to send us your best short story! Read all details here: pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown/
September 26, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Reposted by Pithead Chapel
mattjakubowski.bsky.social
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/
Text of a flash fiction: Lotion the baby’s scar. Mail widowed aunt a birthday card. Register voters to avoid rise of fascism. Study simple email encryption. Sign up for identity-theft protection. Learn about probate court. Read tips on speechwriting. Consider automatic college-savings deposit increase. Ask around about good tax advisors. Set up wireless printer. Call power company about tree-trimming. Thaw food for tomorrow. Bone up on grant-writing. Throw away rotten peaches. Talk to neighbor about court date. Clear trash from side yard drain. Mail the movies back. Lotion the baby’s scar.
September 25, 2025 at 3:39 PM
pitheadchapel.bsky.social
Please join us in congratulating our Best of the Net 2026 Nominees! Good luck everyone!
September 18, 2025 at 1:30 PM
pitheadchapel.bsky.social
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
September 15, 2025 at 2:44 PM
pitheadchapel.bsky.social
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
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
pitheadchapel.bsky.social
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
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
pitheadchapel.bsky.social
Our annual short story contest is open NOW through October 31st. Send us your best!

Find all guidelines here: pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown
August 6, 2025 at 1:16 PM
pitheadchapel.bsky.social
Congratulations to Siamak Vossoughi for his story “Orange” (from PC 13.1) making Best of the Net 2025!

bestofthenetanthology.com
Best of the Net – Best of the Net Anthology
bestofthenetanthology.com
August 4, 2025 at 11:51 AM
pitheadchapel.bsky.social
Our August issue is live! Read here: pitheadchapel.com/2025/08/01/volume-14-issue-8/

Words:
THOMAS MIXON
@francesorrok.bsky.social
ROSS FEELER
@lesliepwriter.bsky.social
JOSIE BRAATEN
MARY BIDDINGER

Cover art:
ERNEST WILLIAMSON III
Volume 14, Issue 8
COVER ART BY ERNEST WILLIAMSON III   FICTION TEN MILES OF A RIVER BY THOMAS MIXON HAVE YOU SEEN ME? BY FRANCES ORROK DEADBOLT BY ROSS FEELER LUCKY ENOUGH BY LESLIE PIETRZYK   NONFI…
pitheadchapel.com
August 1, 2025 at 12:54 PM
pitheadchapel.bsky.social
Our submission window for our annual short story contest opens this Friday! This year, we welcome @andrewporter01.bsky.social as our guest judge. We're excited to share our Q&A with him on craft, writing, and more!
1. What inspires your craft? So many things! Film, music, visual art. Certainly the work of many writers. I try to draw inspiration from as many places as possible, and I try to be open to inspiration at all times. In terms of more specifics, though, I think I’ve always been drawn toward art—whether it’s film, music, writing, etc.—that places human emotion as its focus. When I think of work that inspires me, it’s usually work that explores certain emotional terrain that I haven’t seen explored before or a particular dynamic between people that I haven’t seen portrayed in quite that same manner. 2. Who are some of your favorite writers? Marilynne Robinson, Elena Ferrante, Rachel Cusk, Stuart Dybek, Kirsten Valdez Quade, James Baldwin, Alexander Chee, Emma Cline, Manuel Muñoz, Sarah Majka, Laura van den Berg, Chang-rae Lee, Joan Didion, Denis Johnson, Danielle Evans, Karl Ove Knausgård, Zadie Smith—I could keep going, but I’ll stop there! 3. Is there anything you have read or written lately that has surprised you? I read a very suspenseful and emotionally intense story by Amber Caron called “Didi” that genuinely surprised me. It was included in last year’s O. Henry Prize Winners anthology, and it’s kind of a hard story to describe without giving too much away, but I’ll just say it had me on the edge of my seat the entire time and genuinely worried for all the characters. When I finished it, I remember sitting for a while and just thinking about it in the way I always do when I’ve just read a really great short story.
July 28, 2025 at 2:04 PM
pitheadchapel.bsky.social
Our annual contest opens for submissions August 1st! This year's guest judge is Andrew Porter. Keep an eye out for our Q&A with Andrew soon.

Find more details about our contest here: pitheadchapel.com/larrybrown/
July 22, 2025 at 6:56 PM
pitheadchapel.bsky.social
Our July issue is live! Read here: pitheadchapel.com/volume-14-issue-7/

Words
@mczyzniejewski.bsky.social
@kimchinquee.bsky.social
RENESHA DHANRAJ
WYLEY FROHLICH JUNGERMAN
TROY ANDERSON
@danbillyc.bsky.social
@theresegleason
@claudiamonpere.bsky.social
BRITTANY REDD
TARA SHEA BURKE

Art
JACELYN YAP
July 1, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Reposted by Pithead Chapel
cwtellstales.bsky.social
Ohmygosh! Thrilled to see my name on the @Wigleaf.bsky.social Top 50 Longlist! Thank you to @pitheadchapel.bsky.social for publishing "Watching Home Decorating Shows In The Hospital Waiting Room." And thank you @samanito.bsky.social, @laughingyeti.bsky.social‬, & all the readers!
June 28, 2025 at 10:42 PM
pitheadchapel.bsky.social
Congratulations to Gwen Kirby, Felicity Landa, Daniel Miller, Claudia Wair, and Addison Zeller for making the Wigleaf Top 50 Longlist!
June 29, 2025 at 1:10 AM
pitheadchapel.bsky.social
Our June issue is live!
pitheadchapel.com/volume-14-issue-6/

Words:
@prissybippus.bsky.social
J.D. STRUNK
STELLA LEI
@thewritelifeliz.bsky.social
PATRICK CHILDRESS
JEN HALLAMAN
NAOMI DEMARINIS
@seanthomasd.bsky.social
@emilymgoldsmith.bsky.social
TIFFANY PROMISE

Cover art: TAMMY HIGGINS
Volume 14, Issue 6
COVER ART BY tammy higgins   FICTION WEB OF COINCIDENCES BY Z.H. GILL THEIR ANGEL FORMS BY J.D. STRUNK SCALES BY STELLA LEI WHEN AN AMAZONIAN QUEEN APPEARS AMONG YOU, RIVERSIDE PARK, 1982 BY E…
pitheadchapel.com
June 1, 2025 at 2:20 PM
pitheadchapel.bsky.social
Correction: Our *May* issue is live :)

Read here: pitheadchapel.com/2025/05/01/volume-14-issue-5/

Words
@lumchanmfa.bsky.social
LAUREN WOODS
@sagetyrtle.bsky.social
ANNABELLE TAGHINIA
SARA SCHIFF
TOPAZ WINTERS
BRIDGET HAYES

Cover Art
COURTNEY BURTON
Volume 14, Issue 5
COVER ART BY COURTNEY BURTON   FICTION Mission Boys Are So Hot by Melissa Llanes Brownlee Proportions by Lauren Woods Ostriches at Sea by Sage Tyrtle   NONFICTION Pomegranate season by An…
pitheadchapel.com
May 1, 2025 at 4:27 PM
pitheadchapel.bsky.social
Our April issue has arrived! Read here: pitheadchapel.com/2025/04/01/volume-14-issue-4/

Words:
NATALIE VILLACORTA
@irrellavent.bsky.social
@melissabowers.bsky.social
CARLY ALAIMO
ALLISON KIRKLAND
@pyontek.bsky.social
OLIVIA BROCHU
AL ORTOLANI
AUGUST REID

Cover art: ALEXANDER LIMAREV
Volume 14, Issue 4
COVER ART BY Alexander Limarev   FICTION RHETORICAL ANALYSIS: RE: PLEASE CALL ME. MOM IS UPSET AND WON’T SAY WHY BY NATALIE VILLACORTA AFTERSHOCK BY ELLA HORMEL TWO CELIAS CROSS PATHS BY MELIS…
pitheadchapel.com
April 1, 2025 at 1:18 PM