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smokelong.bsky.social
SmokeLong Quarterly
@smokelong.bsky.social
7.2K followers 990 following 1.5K posts
Dedicated to bringing the best flash narratives to the web, by widely published authors or those new to the craft. Est.2003. Paying up to $150. www.smokelong.com. No Trump supporters.
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smokelong.bsky.social
SmokeLong Quarterly @smokelong.bsky.social · 1d
And that's a wrap. Thank you to all who entered The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest. Now we have a ton of micros to read. We'll have a long list soon. Stay tuned!
smokelong.bsky.social
The students of Claudia Monpere's flash fiction course are reading and discussing the SmokeLong queue this week! www.smokelong.com/santa-clara-...
Santa Clara University Students Read the Queue! - SmokeLong Quarterly
This week students from Claudia Monpere’s flash fiction course read our submission queue! Here is our interview with the students: Who are you?  We’re a mix of creative writing minors and business and...
www.smokelong.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Reposted by SmokeLong Quarterly
taniahershman.bsky.social
Honoured to be this year's @bridportprize.bsky.social flash fiction judge! Send me your word-shapes of 250 words & under, the pieces you think only you might love, that might be “too strange” or “not quite enough…” There are no rules! bridportprize.org.uk/the-competit... #flashfiction
Screenshot of the Meet the Judges page from the Bridport Prize with a black and white photograph of a woman with very short hair grinning, and the following text: "Tania Hershman Flash Fiction Judge Line Break Tania Hershman is a queer writer of odd things, the author of three collections of short stories and flash fiction, four books of poetry and two hybrid books. Tania’s creative-non-fiction hybrid book on Time is forthcoming from Guillemot Press. Tania is editor of Fuel: An Anthology of First-Prize-Winning Flash Fictions Raising Funds to Fight Fuel Poverty, offers monthly writing prompts/provocations/exercises through Unbox Your Words – Give Yourself Permission to Play on Substack, and has a PhD in creative writing inspired by particle physics.  www.taniahershman.com Instagram: @tania_hershman_writes “What I am always looking for is a voice that grabs me right from the first words so that I have no choice but to carry on reading. This might be a character, or a narrator, but what I want is freshness of language. No need for long fancy words or complicated plots, just write what only you can write in the way you want to write it. And send me the pieces you think only you might love, that might be “too strange” or “not quite enough…” There are no rules!” Tania Hershman, Flash Fiction Judge What I wish someone had told me when I was starting out: That everyone does it differently, this writing thing. That there definitely isn’t “one way” to write, and that each writer probably has more than one way. You find what works for you, and no-one else can tell you what you “should” or “shouldn’t” do. There are no rules! When I’m stuck, this is what helps me move forward: I don’t ever think of myself as “stuck”, I call it a “creative pause”, and for me that really is how it feels. I don’t write every day, sometimes a few weeks will go by. I let it be, I don’t feel bad about it. I feed myself – by reading, watching TV, films, going for a walk. "
November 17, 2025 at 6:00 PM
smokelong.bsky.social
Counting is hard!
welkinprize.bsky.social The Welkin Writing Prize @welkinprize.bsky.social · 13h
I don't want to alarm anyone, but it's now just TWO WEEKS until entries open for the #WelkinWritingPrize 2026!!!

However, if you count like @smokelong.bsky.social (this is a thing apparently), it may also be 13 days, 71 elephants or 0.035 rotations around the sun...
welkinprize.bsky.social The Welkin Writing Prize @welkinprize.bsky.social · 16d
**ATTENTION WRITERS** This is your ONE MONTH warning. Entires open for the #WelkinWritingPrize 2026 on the 1st Dec. 100 words. Rolling subs. Free entry. Publication for shortlistees. Prizes for top 5.
November 17, 2025 at 3:41 PM
smokelong.bsky.social
Yay!!!! Congratulations, Liz!
November 17, 2025 at 3:37 PM
smokelong.bsky.social
Congratulations, Belinda!!
belindarowe.bsky.social Belinda Rowe @belindarowe.bsky.social · 1d
We Are Dingo Pack
open.substack.com/pub/westword...

Huge thanks to Amanda Saint at @retreatwest.bsky.social for publishing my story & @smokelong.bsky.social editors where this story began, including SLF crew who provided feedback. Honoured to be in such GREAT company in the Threshold Edition!
We Are Dingo Pack
A Flash Fiction by Belinda Rowe
open.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:08 PM
smokelong.bsky.social
Yay!!!!
tracieadams.bsky.social Tracie Adams @tracieadams.bsky.social · 1d
Y’all!

“Our Lives in Pieces” is a FINALIST for the 2025 IAN BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS!

Many thanks to the judges and to all my @smokelong.bsky.social groupies who helped me so much. At 58, it was my first published book, and I hope to keep on rolling…💃🏼
November 16, 2025 at 11:31 AM
smokelong.bsky.social
And that's a wrap. Thank you to all who entered The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest. Now we have a ton of micros to read. We'll have a long list soon. Stay tuned!
November 16, 2025 at 5:01 AM
smokelong.bsky.social
20 minutes left! Deadline: midnight ET. www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest 2025 - SmokeLong Quarterly
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest (The Mikey) is now an annual competition celebrating and compensating the best micro fiction and nonfiction online. The grand prize winner of The Mikey is automatical...
www.smokelong.com
November 16, 2025 at 4:35 AM
smokelong.bsky.social
One hour. That's 60 minutes. That's enough time to get your killer micros in. Get on this and get it done. Midnight ET. www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest 2025 - SmokeLong Quarterly
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest (The Mikey) is now an annual competition celebrating and compensating the best micro fiction and nonfiction online. The grand prize winner of The Mikey is automatical...
www.smokelong.com
November 16, 2025 at 3:57 AM
smokelong.bsky.social
You kind of officially have like 1.5 hours to get your micro in. The Mikey awards at least $2500 in prize money to great work under 250 words. www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest 2025 - SmokeLong Quarterly
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest (The Mikey) is now an annual competition celebrating and compensating the best micro fiction and nonfiction online. The grand prize winner of The Mikey is automatical...
www.smokelong.com
November 16, 2025 at 3:29 AM
smokelong.bsky.social
You've got this. Send us something you love 250 words or fewer. You have less than 2 hours now. www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest 2025 - SmokeLong Quarterly
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest (The Mikey) is now an annual competition celebrating and compensating the best micro fiction and nonfiction online. The grand prize winner of The Mikey is automatical...
www.smokelong.com
November 16, 2025 at 3:15 AM
smokelong.bsky.social
4.7219 hours left!!! Micros for money! www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest 2025 - SmokeLong Quarterly
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest (The Mikey) is now an annual competition celebrating and compensating the best micro fiction and nonfiction online. The grand prize winner of The Mikey is automatical...
www.smokelong.com
November 16, 2025 at 12:47 AM
smokelong.bsky.social
Five hours!!!!! The Mikey! $1000 grand prize. www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest 2025 - SmokeLong Quarterly
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest (The Mikey) is now an annual competition celebrating and compensating the best micro fiction and nonfiction online. The grand prize winner of The Mikey is automatical...
www.smokelong.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:53 PM
smokelong.bsky.social
Just 6.1927 hours left to enter. You've got this! $1000 grand prize for 250 or fewer! Previously published or unpublished, fiction or cnf. www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest 2025 - SmokeLong Quarterly
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest (The Mikey) is now an annual competition celebrating and compensating the best micro fiction and nonfiction online. The grand prize winner of The Mikey is automatical...
www.smokelong.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:46 PM
smokelong.bsky.social
7.512 hours left to enter! Word limit: 250. Grand Prize: $1000. www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest 2025 - SmokeLong Quarterly
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest (The Mikey) is now an annual competition celebrating and compensating the best micro fiction and nonfiction online. The grand prize winner of The Mikey is automatical...
www.smokelong.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:28 PM
smokelong.bsky.social
Something like 8.4231 hours left! Midnight ET tonight! Get your 250 or less micros in before the bell tolls. Grand prize $1000. www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest 2025 - SmokeLong Quarterly
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest (The Mikey) is now an annual competition celebrating and compensating the best micro fiction and nonfiction online. The grand prize winner of The Mikey is automatical...
www.smokelong.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Reposted by SmokeLong Quarterly
smokelong.bsky.social
Deadline!!!!! Midnight ET tonight! www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest 2025 - SmokeLong Quarterly
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest (The Mikey) is now an annual competition celebrating and compensating the best micro fiction and nonfiction online. The grand prize winner of The Mikey is automatical...
www.smokelong.com
November 15, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Reposted by SmokeLong Quarterly
smokelong.bsky.social
Day zero or day one, today is the deadline for the SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest. Ends midnight tonight. Send your best 250 words (or fewer). #TheMikey. ❤️
smokelong.bsky.social SmokeLong Quarterly @smokelong.bsky.social · 5d
#TheMikey deadline is this Saturday Nov. 15, midnight NYC. However you count the days (you can see how bad we are at it), you can't choose your own ending for this, sadly, but you CAN choose to send us your 250-word story—top prizes $1,000/$500/$300; finalists $100; all published in December's SLQ.
Choose-your-own-adventure style fake book cover. Text reads: Choose your own countdown TM. The adventure ends this Saturday, midnight NYC (however we count it). The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest. Deadline this Saturday. Closing November 15 midnight NYC. In the arch shaped space in the middle where the CYOA graphic usually sits, there is a collage of whatsapp messages between two SmokeLong editors who are best friends, arguing quite intensely about how to calculate contest countdowns and saying it's out by 8 days/it ended two days early last time, etc. ending with 'love you. love you too. We'll fix it somehow.'
November 15, 2025 at 10:23 AM
smokelong.bsky.social
Deadline!!!!! Midnight ET tonight! www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest 2025 - SmokeLong Quarterly
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest (The Mikey) is now an annual competition celebrating and compensating the best micro fiction and nonfiction online. The grand prize winner of The Mikey is automatical...
www.smokelong.com
November 15, 2025 at 3:51 PM
smokelong.bsky.social
Yay!!!!
November 15, 2025 at 1:02 PM
smokelong.bsky.social
Day zero or day one, today is the deadline for the SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest. Ends midnight tonight. Send your best 250 words (or fewer). #TheMikey. ❤️
smokelong.bsky.social SmokeLong Quarterly @smokelong.bsky.social · 5d
#TheMikey deadline is this Saturday Nov. 15, midnight NYC. However you count the days (you can see how bad we are at it), you can't choose your own ending for this, sadly, but you CAN choose to send us your 250-word story—top prizes $1,000/$500/$300; finalists $100; all published in December's SLQ.
Choose-your-own-adventure style fake book cover. Text reads: Choose your own countdown TM. The adventure ends this Saturday, midnight NYC (however we count it). The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest. Deadline this Saturday. Closing November 15 midnight NYC. In the arch shaped space in the middle where the CYOA graphic usually sits, there is a collage of whatsapp messages between two SmokeLong editors who are best friends, arguing quite intensely about how to calculate contest countdowns and saying it's out by 8 days/it ended two days early last time, etc. ending with 'love you. love you too. We'll fix it somehow.'
November 15, 2025 at 10:23 AM
smokelong.bsky.social
We are writing with abandon. Promptember. Sign up and start writing with us next week. It's free. This one's on us. www.smokelong.com/ready-for-pr...
Ready for Promptember 2025? - SmokeLong Quarterly
Join the SmokeLong community for Promptember, a mysterious intermonth happening between November and December of live write-in events designed to light a fire under your writing life. Participate in o...
www.smokelong.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:48 AM
smokelong.bsky.social
Just a day and some change left to enter! www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest 2025 - SmokeLong Quarterly
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest (The Mikey) is now an annual competition celebrating and compensating the best micro fiction and nonfiction online. The grand prize winner of The Mikey is automatical...
www.smokelong.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:37 PM
smokelong.bsky.social
There are a few ways to participate in SmokeLong workshops these days. You can jump into Promptember (free) or test SmokeLong Fitness in December and January. Or both! Come write with us! www.smokelong.com/ready-for-pr...
Ready for Promptember 2025? - SmokeLong Quarterly
Join the SmokeLong community for Promptember, a mysterious intermonth happening between November and December of live write-in events designed to light a fire under your writing life. Participate in o...
www.smokelong.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Reposted by SmokeLong Quarterly
smokelong.bsky.social
"She feeds them to be on their good side..." Sagar Nair from Sydney is our featured author this week. www.smokelong.com/interviews/s...
Smoke Signals with Sagar Nair - SmokeLong Quarterly
I love how this child, like most kids, disregards her mother’s warnings to stay away from the raccoons. A fearless and feral child, very similar to the raccoons already—but her uncle shares this simil...
www.smokelong.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:09 AM