News & Features

Prompt #31 — Write Like Gary L. McDowell

The titular confession in McDowell’s story (view here) is never explicitly given. The speaker gives instructions for the appropriate way to confess, providing the breadcrumbs…

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Confession

Do prepare to prepare to say something about the color of the leaves. The badger that lives out back. The geography of the place, or…

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Prompt #30 — The Time Capsule

Time capsules are by nature a random amalgamation of items. We often make them in elementary or middle school by throwing items into a box…

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In the Office of Diamonds

In the fifth floor office, your father the diamond-dealer placed three diamonds along the crease between my middle and ring: marquis, sweetheart, oval. He gave…

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Prompt #29 — Write Like Jenny Gillespie

We usually consider diamond shopping an emotional event, often, though not necessarily, linked to a marriage proposal. In Gillespie’s piece (view story here), this event…

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The Preparer

Direct the bearer to lay the body out on the cold stone table, facing toward heaven. Unwrap the white cloth from the body. Fold it…

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Prompt #28 — Write like Bill Hutchison

Hutchison’s piece (view the story here) proceeds both as a how-to handbook and a complex consideration of a ritualized process. It also approaches an emotionally…

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Celebrate National Short Story Month!

The editors of NANO Fiction spend a lot of time thinking about the flash form. We believe it’s not only our business to publish a…

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It Goes From There

“Ruby,” he says. “You are a goner,” he says. Only he says it this way, “It is between the brainstem and the cerebellum.” He holds…

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I Think He Might

When my sister’s husband and I get drunk, we get grandiose about Texas. We’re drinking Lone Star Light tallboys, even though I’m ditching gluten and…

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