Welcome to my running list of short story news, calls for submission, and writing opportunities. (Updated June 3, 2026)
Short Story News
- The winning story of the 2026 Commonwealth Prize is suspected to have been written using AI.
- Louise Harnby (one of my fave editors) wrote about controlled misdirection.
- Janelle Drumwright brought you Publishing Diaries with Cate Gallivan.
- Nick Arvin’s writing a short story every week and publishing it on his Substack. Here’s twenty-two.
Calls for Submission
- Erica Verillo posted 95 paying markets and 57 contests for June, plus 10 mags accepting reprints.
- Subs open for Kilter and Rammel’s Small Town Weirdness anthology. (Jun 30)
- The Philippine Love Stories Anthology, edited by Mica De Leon, is open for subs. (Jul 31)
- The Library Science Fiction Short Story Competition is open for subs. (Sep 1)
- Thinking Ink Press is seeking speculative fiction, poetry, and art for The Neurodiversiverse: Bridging Worlds anthology. (Oct 1)
- Ps & Qs Publishing are calling for several anthology subs (speculative and holiday). (Dates vary)
- Reading2Connect is looking for 4000-word mystery and romance story submissions to adapt for readers with dementia (paid). Query Susan for more info. (Ongoing)
- The CLMP curated submission calls.
- Chill Subs’ lists for submitting short memoir, flash spec fic, and micro fic.
- Check out these June Authors Publish lists for: themed calls, paying journals.
- Participate in the Writers HQ weekly Flash Face Off.
- Girlie On The Edge has a weekly call for six-sentence stories.
Writing Opportunities
- FFM is hosting Nina Schuyler for their famous Ask, Write, Repeat sessions. (Jun 20)
- The VPL & Editors Canada 2026 Blue Pencil slots are open for registration.
- ChillSubs will read your writing and make a custom submission recommendation list. They will also teach you how to submit.
- Flash Fiction Magazine is looking for volunteer slush readers.
- Looking for jobs with publishers? CLMP has your back.
News Archives
- Authors Publish released the 2026 edition of Submit, Publish, Repeat.
- Electric Lit has made an Author AI scams bingo card!
- In case you are as pained as I am to not receive the longform Canadian census, Tod made one. (Tod also hosted a great short-story-in-disguise podcast.)
- Janelle Drumwright wrote about the makings of a contest-winning story from the perspective of a contest reader.
- Aeryn Rudel’s rejection streak returns.
- Mandira Pattnaik wrote about acing the rejection game.
- Isha Jain wrote about thinking of your story as a screenplay.
- Recently discovered letters from JD Salinger express concern about publicizing his Jewish heritage.
- The 2026 Agatha Award winners have been announced.
- Michael Bracken talks to Sisters in Crime about what makes a great short story (YouTube).
- Itto Outini wrote about how she published in 50 lit mags in less than a year.
- ES Raye wrote about his hopes for science fiction in the wake of the Artemis II voyage.
- Not strictly short story related, but Helen DeWitt’s story of refusing a $125 000 prize has gone viral.
- The winners of the 2026 O Henry Prize for Short Fiction were announced.
- WordWorks published my first paid article this month! Check out 5 resources to improve your short story craft.
- Sabyasachi Roy wrote about constraint as a creative engine.
- Ratika Deshpande wrote about how flash and non-fic can boost your creativity.
- Aeryn Rudel wrote about how those who reject you make you stronger.
- John Floyd wrote about finding new markets for your short stories.
- Julie Shackman wrote about creating chemistry between characters.
- Catriona McPherson wrote about “A Fistfull of Angry Women” on Trace Evidence.
- Janelle Drumwright brought you Publishing Diaries with Rachel McCarron.
- Some researchers wrote about their Sci Fi Sci method of behavioural science using Ted Chiang’s short story “The Lifecycle of Software Objects.”
- Hank Green posted a great video about what pulls people out of stories.
- Nick Arvin’s writing a short story every week and publishing it on his Substack. Here’s thirteen.
- Aeryn Rudel wrote about reaching 1000 submissions.
- Michael M——— wrote about the triggering prose of Rucy Cui.
- Janelle Drumwright brought us Richie Smith‘s publishing diary and an interview withthe editor from Chicago Story Press (CNF!).
- Authors Publish put out their 2026 Guide to Manuscript Publishers.
- Jeffrey Segir declares the 10 best short mystery stories ever. EVER.
- Sabyasachi Roy wrote about the perfection of the wrong word.
- Margaret Luke wrote about not writing at 5 am.
- Janelle Drumwright talks with Evelyn Griffith, from Barely South Review, about her favourite story this year.
- Teresa Inge talked about twenty years of short stories on the Sisters in Crime Podcast.
- WordWorks Magazine published a special retrospective issue.
- Astronomy magazine featured an Arthur C Clarke story in its recent article on Earth transits as seen from Mars.
- Chill Subs published a free mini workshop on setting and forgetting your social media.
- PJ Parrish wrote about the link between author and story during procrastination.
- Janelle Drumwright brought us Nicole R. Zimmerman’s publishing diary.
- David Ebenbach wrote about why AI is unhelpful at every stage of the writing process.
- Andrea A Firth wrote about expediting the submission process.
- ES Raye wrote a great piece on the reading yips: how to break a reading slump.
- Elena Smith at the Short Mystery Fiction did an interview with Cheryl Head.
- Janelle Drumwright has another publishing diary for us (this time from a story written jointly).
- Marcel Dube on using rage and fear as writing inspiration.
- If you’re looking for something good to read, Michael M—— reviewed a bunch of shorties from various collections.
- FFM posted an article by Finnian Burnett on rants that start with, “You’re not a real writer if …“
- Janelle Drumwright breaks down submitting to After Dinner Conversation.
- The Doctor Who Companion is giving away free Doctor Who stories for National Storytelling Week.
- Sabyasachi Roywrites wrote about Metaphor Fatigue and How the Page Thinks.
- Roman Mars does a deep dive on the em dash on 99% Invisible podcast.
- Michael M—— reviewed the best stories of January 2026.
- Olympic figure skater Hannah Lim wrote a short story based on her program.
- Aeryn Rudel wrote about three things he learned from 100 short story sales.
- Bergita Bugarija sheds light on The Beautiful Dance of Literary Translation.
- Michael M’s The State of the Short Story Collection Part 1 and Part 2. (TL;DR What YOU read matters.)
- Janelle Drumwright’s latest edition of Publishing Diaries is up. (If you want to submit your publishing journey, she’s accepting submissions.)
- Malice Domestic announced the 2026 Agatha Award nominees.