Matt Barrett
@mbarrettwriter.bsky.social
Writer. Stories in: The Sun, Threepenny Review, TriQuarterly, Cincinnati Review, West Branch, Wigleaf, Baltimore Review, The Forge, Cutleaf, Best Microfiction, & Best Small Fictions. Soon: Prairie Schooner
https://mbarrettwriter.wixsite.com/stories
https://mbarrettwriter.wixsite.com/stories
Reposted by Matt Barrett
‘…she’d just hung there with her hair sweeping the woodchips and eyes shut tight like she was sleeping.’
What a central image to this fantastic flash from @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social in @fracturedlit.bsky.social 🦇
fracturedlit.com/first-they-f...
What a central image to this fantastic flash from @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social in @fracturedlit.bsky.social 🦇
fracturedlit.com/first-they-f...
First, They Fall | Fractured
fracturedlit.com
November 1, 2025 at 5:59 PM
‘…she’d just hung there with her hair sweeping the woodchips and eyes shut tight like she was sleeping.’
What a central image to this fantastic flash from @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social in @fracturedlit.bsky.social 🦇
fracturedlit.com/first-they-f...
What a central image to this fantastic flash from @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social in @fracturedlit.bsky.social 🦇
fracturedlit.com/first-they-f...
I have a micro in @fracturedlit.bsky.social today! Thank you so much to the editors for picking up "First, They Fall": fracturedlit.com/first-they-f...
First, They Fall | Fractured
fracturedlit.com
October 30, 2025 at 7:16 PM
I have a micro in @fracturedlit.bsky.social today! Thank you so much to the editors for picking up "First, They Fall": fracturedlit.com/first-they-f...
Reposted by Matt Barrett
new issue of Cutleaf! Featuring short fiction by @ladiwoods.bsky.social, nonfiction from @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social, and poetry courtesy of @taylorfthiel.bsky.social
cutleafjournal.com/issue/5-19
cutleafjournal.com/issue/5-19
October 2, 2025 at 4:59 PM
new issue of Cutleaf! Featuring short fiction by @ladiwoods.bsky.social, nonfiction from @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social, and poetry courtesy of @taylorfthiel.bsky.social
cutleafjournal.com/issue/5-19
cutleafjournal.com/issue/5-19
Grateful to Cutleaf Journal for publishing my essay, "The Reunion," today! It was inspired by walks with my son on the Gettysburg battlefield and the impossible task of teaching a 5 year old about good and bad. cutleafjournal.com/content/the-...
The Reunion - Cutleaf Journal
Our five-year-old son asks us for forgiveness. He apologizes for what he did this morning. He hangs his head and paces before our TV, even with his favorite
cutleafjournal.com
October 2, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Grateful to Cutleaf Journal for publishing my essay, "The Reunion," today! It was inspired by walks with my son on the Gettysburg battlefield and the impossible task of teaching a 5 year old about good and bad. cutleafjournal.com/content/the-...
Reposted by Matt Barrett
This is a wonderful story.
The August issue of @thesunmagazine.bsky.social features one of my stories which I have been so excited to share for months! Grateful to Finn Cohen and all of the editors for helping me get this piece ready for publication. I'd be honored if you checked it out! www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/sea...
The Seafood Stand
Once, my father drove from New Jersey to California by siphoning gas from strangers’ cars, then sent his van off the Pacific Coast Highway by laying a brick on the accelerator. His mother almost died ...
www.thesunmagazine.org
August 3, 2025 at 9:28 AM
This is a wonderful story.
Reposted by Matt Barrett
‘Once, my father drove from New Jersey to California by siphoning gas from strangers’ cars…’
The Seafood Stand by
@mbarrettwriter.bsky.social
www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/sea...
The Seafood Stand by
@mbarrettwriter.bsky.social
www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/sea...
The Seafood Stand
Once, my father drove from New Jersey to California by siphoning gas from strangers’ cars, then sent his van off the Pacific Coast Highway by laying a brick on the accelerator. His mother almost died ...
www.thesunmagazine.org
August 3, 2025 at 9:47 AM
‘Once, my father drove from New Jersey to California by siphoning gas from strangers’ cars…’
The Seafood Stand by
@mbarrettwriter.bsky.social
www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/sea...
The Seafood Stand by
@mbarrettwriter.bsky.social
www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/sea...
The August issue of @thesunmagazine.bsky.social features one of my stories which I have been so excited to share for months! Grateful to Finn Cohen and all of the editors for helping me get this piece ready for publication. I'd be honored if you checked it out! www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/sea...
The Seafood Stand
Once, my father drove from New Jersey to California by siphoning gas from strangers’ cars, then sent his van off the Pacific Coast Highway by laying a brick on the accelerator. His mother almost died ...
www.thesunmagazine.org
August 1, 2025 at 12:52 PM
The August issue of @thesunmagazine.bsky.social features one of my stories which I have been so excited to share for months! Grateful to Finn Cohen and all of the editors for helping me get this piece ready for publication. I'd be honored if you checked it out! www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/sea...
Reposted by Matt Barrett
Huge thank you to our Blue Frog Guest Artist @jiksuncheung.bsky.social !! Each of these three pieces is absolutely stunning! 🙏🏼💙
April 5, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Huge thank you to our Blue Frog Guest Artist @jiksuncheung.bsky.social !! Each of these three pieces is absolutely stunning! 🙏🏼💙
Reposted by Matt Barrett
Gulls of the Algarve - #fiction by UNCG Creative Writing alum Matt Barrett at Flash Frog buff.ly/TkIVd0t #UNCGAlumni #UNCGEnglish #UNCG #UNCGWay #FindYourWayHere @mfagreensboro.bsky.social
April 4, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Gulls of the Algarve - #fiction by UNCG Creative Writing alum Matt Barrett at Flash Frog buff.ly/TkIVd0t #UNCGAlumni #UNCGEnglish #UNCG #UNCGWay #FindYourWayHere @mfagreensboro.bsky.social
Reposted by Matt Barrett
Carved this piece out of me, and I’m excited to finally share it. Thank you @flashfrog.bsky.social @ericscottryon.bsky.social Gina Chung and @jiksuncheung.bsky.social for giving this the home of my dreams!
Materials Needed by Kyle Weik
*THE BLUE FROG 1st PLACE WINNER* Introduction by Guest Judge GINA CHUNG In the deeply affecting “Materials Needed,” an adolescent protagonist gradually comes to an understanding of thei…
flash-frog.com
March 31, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Carved this piece out of me, and I’m excited to finally share it. Thank you @flashfrog.bsky.social @ericscottryon.bsky.social Gina Chung and @jiksuncheung.bsky.social for giving this the home of my dreams!
Reposted by Matt Barrett
Only it didn’t have a broken wing, it was just too tired to fly, which happens sometimes, even to gulls who otherwise look okay, even when nothing seems wrong with their wings at all.
Quiet, beautiful story of compassion 💙
@mbarrettwriter.bsky.social @flashfrog.bsky.social
Quiet, beautiful story of compassion 💙
@mbarrettwriter.bsky.social @flashfrog.bsky.social
NEW STORY⚡️🐸
🥉The Blue Frog 3rd Place Winner!🥉
“Gulls of the Algarve” by @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social is now up!
Art by @jiksuncheung.bsky.social
flash-frog.com/2025/03/17/g...
🥉The Blue Frog 3rd Place Winner!🥉
“Gulls of the Algarve” by @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social is now up!
Art by @jiksuncheung.bsky.social
flash-frog.com/2025/03/17/g...
Gulls of the Algarve by Matt Barrett
*THE BLUE FROG 3rd PLACE WINNER* At the end, our father existed in two places at once: the first was where he was, in bed with a nurse tending to his whims and my mother bringing him water and my s…
flash-frog.com
March 18, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Only it didn’t have a broken wing, it was just too tired to fly, which happens sometimes, even to gulls who otherwise look okay, even when nothing seems wrong with their wings at all.
Quiet, beautiful story of compassion 💙
@mbarrettwriter.bsky.social @flashfrog.bsky.social
Quiet, beautiful story of compassion 💙
@mbarrettwriter.bsky.social @flashfrog.bsky.social
Reposted by Matt Barrett
A absolutely stunning, bittersweet piece by @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social in @flashfrog.bsky.social. Go read it now! So honored to contribute a watercolor to this story 🙏 The original painting will be on the way to you soon, Matt!
NEW STORY⚡️🐸
🥉The Blue Frog 3rd Place Winner!🥉
“Gulls of the Algarve” by @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social is now up!
Art by @jiksuncheung.bsky.social
flash-frog.com/2025/03/17/g...
🥉The Blue Frog 3rd Place Winner!🥉
“Gulls of the Algarve” by @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social is now up!
Art by @jiksuncheung.bsky.social
flash-frog.com/2025/03/17/g...
Gulls of the Algarve by Matt Barrett
*THE BLUE FROG 3rd PLACE WINNER* At the end, our father existed in two places at once: the first was where he was, in bed with a nurse tending to his whims and my mother bringing him water and my s…
flash-frog.com
March 17, 2025 at 3:43 PM
A absolutely stunning, bittersweet piece by @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social in @flashfrog.bsky.social. Go read it now! So honored to contribute a watercolor to this story 🙏 The original painting will be on the way to you soon, Matt!
Reposted by Matt Barrett
“which had been a goal of ours for years, to run so fast we actually caught one, only to realize we’d never get this close if things were actually right.”
This one. A must-read. Congratulations to @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social for winning 3rd place in @flashfrog.bsky.social!
This one. A must-read. Congratulations to @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social for winning 3rd place in @flashfrog.bsky.social!
NEW STORY⚡️🐸
🥉The Blue Frog 3rd Place Winner!🥉
“Gulls of the Algarve” by @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social is now up!
Art by @jiksuncheung.bsky.social
flash-frog.com/2025/03/17/g...
🥉The Blue Frog 3rd Place Winner!🥉
“Gulls of the Algarve” by @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social is now up!
Art by @jiksuncheung.bsky.social
flash-frog.com/2025/03/17/g...
Gulls of the Algarve by Matt Barrett
*THE BLUE FROG 3rd PLACE WINNER* At the end, our father existed in two places at once: the first was where he was, in bed with a nurse tending to his whims and my mother bringing him water and my s…
flash-frog.com
March 17, 2025 at 3:51 PM
“which had been a goal of ours for years, to run so fast we actually caught one, only to realize we’d never get this close if things were actually right.”
This one. A must-read. Congratulations to @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social for winning 3rd place in @flashfrog.bsky.social!
This one. A must-read. Congratulations to @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social for winning 3rd place in @flashfrog.bsky.social!
Reposted by Matt Barrett
"So much of life is about waiting, I think, for what you know will happen next."
My lord. This story! I love, love, love this story by @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social (Congrats, Matt!) in @flashfrog.bsky.social 💙💙💙
My lord. This story! I love, love, love this story by @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social (Congrats, Matt!) in @flashfrog.bsky.social 💙💙💙
NEW STORY⚡️🐸
🥉The Blue Frog 3rd Place Winner!🥉
“Gulls of the Algarve” by @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social is now up!
Art by @jiksuncheung.bsky.social
flash-frog.com/2025/03/17/g...
🥉The Blue Frog 3rd Place Winner!🥉
“Gulls of the Algarve” by @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social is now up!
Art by @jiksuncheung.bsky.social
flash-frog.com/2025/03/17/g...
Gulls of the Algarve by Matt Barrett
*THE BLUE FROG 3rd PLACE WINNER* At the end, our father existed in two places at once: the first was where he was, in bed with a nurse tending to his whims and my mother bringing him water and my s…
flash-frog.com
March 17, 2025 at 5:53 PM
"So much of life is about waiting, I think, for what you know will happen next."
My lord. This story! I love, love, love this story by @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social (Congrats, Matt!) in @flashfrog.bsky.social 💙💙💙
My lord. This story! I love, love, love this story by @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social (Congrats, Matt!) in @flashfrog.bsky.social 💙💙💙
Reposted by Matt Barrett
Huge congrats, Matt! Such a beautiful story!
NEW STORY⚡️🐸
🥉The Blue Frog 3rd Place Winner!🥉
“Gulls of the Algarve” by @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social is now up!
Art by @jiksuncheung.bsky.social
flash-frog.com/2025/03/17/g...
🥉The Blue Frog 3rd Place Winner!🥉
“Gulls of the Algarve” by @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social is now up!
Art by @jiksuncheung.bsky.social
flash-frog.com/2025/03/17/g...
Gulls of the Algarve by Matt Barrett
*THE BLUE FROG 3rd PLACE WINNER* At the end, our father existed in two places at once: the first was where he was, in bed with a nurse tending to his whims and my mother bringing him water and my s…
flash-frog.com
March 17, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Huge congrats, Matt! Such a beautiful story!
My story, "Gulls of the Algarve," is live! Thank you so much to @flashfrog.bsky.social, @ericscottryon.bsky.social, Gina Chung, and @jiksuncheung.bsky.social for helping make this piece special to me.
NEW STORY⚡️🐸
🥉The Blue Frog 3rd Place Winner!🥉
“Gulls of the Algarve” by @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social is now up!
Art by @jiksuncheung.bsky.social
flash-frog.com/2025/03/17/g...
🥉The Blue Frog 3rd Place Winner!🥉
“Gulls of the Algarve” by @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social is now up!
Art by @jiksuncheung.bsky.social
flash-frog.com/2025/03/17/g...
Gulls of the Algarve by Matt Barrett
*THE BLUE FROG 3rd PLACE WINNER* At the end, our father existed in two places at once: the first was where he was, in bed with a nurse tending to his whims and my mother bringing him water and my s…
flash-frog.com
March 17, 2025 at 3:32 PM
My story, "Gulls of the Algarve," is live! Thank you so much to @flashfrog.bsky.social, @ericscottryon.bsky.social, Gina Chung, and @jiksuncheung.bsky.social for helping make this piece special to me.
Reposted by Matt Barrett
🚨EXCITING NEWS!
The BLUE FROG 3rd place winner — “Gulls of the Algarve” by @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social — will publish tomorrow!! 👀
The BLUE FROG 3rd place winner — “Gulls of the Algarve” by @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social — will publish tomorrow!! 👀
March 16, 2025 at 6:10 PM
🚨EXCITING NEWS!
The BLUE FROG 3rd place winner — “Gulls of the Algarve” by @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social — will publish tomorrow!! 👀
The BLUE FROG 3rd place winner — “Gulls of the Algarve” by @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social — will publish tomorrow!! 👀
Always an honor to have a story in The Forge -- some of the nicest people around! And thank you to Fiona McPhillips for helping me edit this piece and for the great interview questions!
Our story of the week is If This Were One of Those Stories by @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social
If This Were One of Those Stories - The Forge Literary Magazine
If This Were One of Those Stories, a short fiction by Matt Barrett
forgelitmag.com
March 3, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Always an honor to have a story in The Forge -- some of the nicest people around! And thank you to Fiona McPhillips for helping me edit this piece and for the great interview questions!
Truly grateful to be on this list, and I can't wait to read the other stories!
They're here!! Huge congrats to the winners of the 4th annual Blue Frog flash fiction contest, as chosen by our fabulous Guest Judge, Gina Chung!
@kyleisamu.bsky.social, Alison Morretta, @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social
@kyleisamu.bsky.social, Alison Morretta, @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social
February 26, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Truly grateful to be on this list, and I can't wait to read the other stories!
Reposted by Matt Barrett
First post on here and it’s a big one! Thank you @flashfrog.bsky.social and Gina Chung for this honor. Big congrats to Alison Morretta and @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social too! I can’t wait to read all the stories 💙🐸
They're here!! Huge congrats to the winners of the 4th annual Blue Frog flash fiction contest, as chosen by our fabulous Guest Judge, Gina Chung!
@kyleisamu.bsky.social, Alison Morretta, @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social
@kyleisamu.bsky.social, Alison Morretta, @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social
February 25, 2025 at 11:48 PM
First post on here and it’s a big one! Thank you @flashfrog.bsky.social and Gina Chung for this honor. Big congrats to Alison Morretta and @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social too! I can’t wait to read all the stories 💙🐸
Excited to be on the list! Can't wait to read the winning stories!
February 11, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Excited to be on the list! Can't wait to read the winning stories!
I've been submitting to West Branch since 2012, so it is a true thrill to be included in the latest issue. I had to read the acceptance email about six times before I believed it. Thank you so much to the wonderful editors!
February 2, 2025 at 6:06 PM
I've been submitting to West Branch since 2012, so it is a true thrill to be included in the latest issue. I had to read the acceptance email about six times before I believed it. Thank you so much to the wonderful editors!
Reposted by Matt Barrett
THE NEIGHBORS - #flash #fiction by UNCG Creative Writing alum Matt Barrett at Wigleaf https://buff.ly/4aemypF @mfagreensboro.bsky.social #UNCGAlumni #UNCGEnglish #UNCG #UNCGWay #FindYourWayHere
January 22, 2025 at 5:00 PM
THE NEIGHBORS - #flash #fiction by UNCG Creative Writing alum Matt Barrett at Wigleaf https://buff.ly/4aemypF @mfagreensboro.bsky.social #UNCGAlumni #UNCGEnglish #UNCG #UNCGWay #FindYourWayHere
So very happy to have a story up at Wigleaf -- thank you to Scott and the whole team!
New on the Wigleaf mainpage: “The Neighbor,” by Matt Barrett: wigleaf.com
w i g l e a f : (very) short fiction
An online journal of very short fictions -- under 1000 words.
wigleaf.com
January 8, 2025 at 1:16 AM
So very happy to have a story up at Wigleaf -- thank you to Scott and the whole team!
Reposted by Matt Barrett
Good stuff from the excellent @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social, he doesn't miss
New on the Wigleaf mainpage: “The Neighbor,” by Matt Barrett: wigleaf.com
w i g l e a f : (very) short fiction
An online journal of very short fictions -- under 1000 words.
wigleaf.com
January 7, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Good stuff from the excellent @mbarrettwriter.bsky.social, he doesn't miss