New Flash Fiction Review (subs closed)

Thanks for sharing, Dan. It is a gem, isn't it?

Thanks for sharing this one, Dan. Love the way Rachel weaves whales into this story.

Thanks for sharing James. We love the atmosphere in this one, too.

It's so powerful, isn't it?

Thanks for sharing James 👍🏼

Rock, paper, scissors by Rob Walton | Issue #40 On Monday a large stone crashes through the window. It is wrapped in an abusive letter. Eva doesn’t know what to do.

"On Monday a large stone crashes through the window. It is wrapped in an abusive letter. Eva doesn’t know what to do. She worries. Is it a neighbour? Young people? Old people?"

An unexpected event goes in an unexpected direction in this story by Rob Walton.

newflashfiction.com/rock-paper-s...

About the Longevity of Labelling Bell Jars by Mandira Pattnaik | Issue #40 I do understand the way my loving husband labels the bell jars, even though I can see through the glass what they are filled-with—salt, sugar, biscuits, and flour.

"I do understand the way my loving husband labels the bell jars, even though I can see through the glass what they are filled-with—salt, sugar, biscuits, and flour."

Charming story about togetherness in grief and hope by @mandirapattnaik.bsky.social in Issue 40.

newflashfiction.com/about-the-lo...

Bamboo Canes by Tarmo Rajasaari | Issue #40 Yai is praying. She does that every evening around this time. Yai doesn't speak English.

"Yai is praying. She recites a prayer book where the verses are laid out in large print, ancient Sanskrit language. Yai disagrees with the Oncology team and says that the chanting will make Apinya recover."

Don't miss Bamboo Canes by Tarmo Rajasaari in Issue 40.

newflashfiction.com/bamboo-canes...

Train Man by Patience Mackarness | Issue #40 There is a you who still follows the tracks through India, photographing engines with names like Locomotive Sentinel and Last Star.

"Who still looks out from a moving carriage on tea plantations, holy rivers, red-dust fields and red-haze sunsets, not yet believing in your future."

Beautiful sweep through a life, nostalgia for India & all the what ifs, by @patiencemackarness.bsky.social

newflashfiction.com/train-man-by...

Bamboo Silk by Rosaleen Lynch | Issue #40 Pillow talk turns to silk; real or faux. In winter’s lowlight, smoke rises from the bedside ashtray, as the hotel window keeps the lunchtime city at bay.

"She tells him, real silk shimmers, warms in the hand. A shadow of cloud darkens the room’s margins, where earlier they’d cast-off their clothes."

Bamboo Silk by @rosaleenlynch.bsky.social deftly weaves in place, uses white space so well, doesn't waste a word.

newflashfiction.com/bamboo-silk-...

Rodeo, My Way by Tess Kelly | Issue #40 I watched that cowboy through the fog of spray-on sunscreen, sunscreen that oughta be outlawed –up, down and sideways–the way it fucks with oceans, with air, with the sea turtles lolling on the Maui b...

"I heard the laughter of his drunk-at-noon buddies, and watched that cowboy, watched him straddle a turtle, the largest of those who’d flippered across the sand to drowse in the sun..."

Great energy & rage in this story by Tess Kelly

newflashfiction.com/rodeo-my-way...

Beached by Rachel M. Hollis | Issue #40 “I’m a beached whale,” my mom says, tugging at her stomach in the mirror like she’s trying to peel it off.

“Beached means sick. Or hunted. Or lost. It means you drifted too far from home and couldn’t find the tide again."

A powerful tale from @rachelmhollis.bsky.social in Issue 40.

newflashfiction.com/beached-by-r...

Vishnu’s Navel: My Creation Myth by Sherry Duggal | Issue #40 My family friend’s dog tugs on my white frilled cotton dress—saves me from falling down the stairs. I am four years old. My mom says that it didn’t happen.

"My family friend’s dog tugs on my white frilled cotton dress—saves me from falling down the stairs. I am four years old. My mom says that it didn’t happen."

Effective use of fragments, mythology and an unverifiable past in this story by Sherry Duggal.

newflashfiction.com/vishnus-nave...

Exit Wound by Bethany Bruno | Issue #40 The night the sirens came, my mother was labeling leftovers. She used blue painter’s tape and a black marker that bled through plastic.

"The night the sirens came, my mother was labeling leftovers.

She used blue painter’s tape and a black marker that bled through plastic.

Rice-Monday. Chicken-Tuesday."

Brilliant use of external events and pauses in Exit Wounds by Bethany Bruno.

newflashfiction.com/exit-wounds-...

The claw machine by Nadia Born | Issue #40 now offers babies for prizes. limited-edition grow-in-water ones that you can take home. no special instructions.

"the claw machine now offers babies for prizes. limited-edition grow-in-water ones that you can take home."

Read The Claw Machine by @nadiaborn.com in Issue 40 of #NFFR. Wonderfully weird, beautifully written.

newflashfiction.com/the-claw-mac...

It's a very fine craft choice, Rachel!

Delighted that you trusted us with your words, Nadia. Those first two sentences! "the claw machine now offers babies for prizes. limited-edition grow-in-water ones that you can take home." 👏

Issue 40 | New Flash Fiction Review Featuring new work by Nadia Born, Bethany Bruno, Sherry Duggal, Rachel Hollis, Tess Kelly, Rosaleen Lynch, Patience Mackarness, Mandira Pattnaik, Tarmo Rajasaari, and Rob Walton.

It's here 🎉 Welcome to Issue 40, with brilliant stories from:

@nadiaborn.com, Bethany Bruno, Sherry Duggal,
@rachelmhollis.bsky.social Tess Kelly, @rosaleenlynch.bsky.social
@patiencemackarness.bsky.social @mandirapattnaik.bsky.social Tarmo Rajasaari & Rob Walton

newflashfiction.com/issue-40/

On Collaboration and Writing About Love—with Grant Faulkner | New Flash Fiction Review Grant Faulkner speaks with Valerie Fox about Something Out There In the Distance, his new collaborative book with photographer Gail Butensky.

Excited to share this interview with Managing Editor Valerie Fox & @gfaulknerwriter.bsky.social, who judged our 2025 prize.

He talks about his collab book w photographer Gail Butensky, and how aseries of linked short-shorts emerged once he began writing...

newflashfiction.com/on-collabora...

Thank you to all the wonderful writers who have trusted us with your work. We are reading through the subs and will be in touch.

Ack! Hope you found the right one. Apologies!

AWWWW 😍

Submission Guidelines | New Flash Fiction Review

Send us your bold, imaginative, weird, wonderful stories - we are here for them. Just a reminder:

500 words max
Free to enter
We read anonymously
Deadline 15 Jan

newflashfiction.com/submit/

We loved it too, Sumitra! Joining you in the celebrations 🎉

Join us in celebrating the two NFFR stories by @jackmmorris.bsky.social and @writesofkathryn.bsky.social chosen for Best Microfiction 2026!

Links to their stories here:
newflashfiction.com/ernst-is-com...

newflashfiction.com/a-few-words-...

Thanks to the editors @dseuss.bsky.social, Meg & Gary!

Congrats Jack! We're so pleased your story will be in Best Microfictions 2026. Now that's the way to start the year!

And we're open! Send us your bold, imaginative, weird, wonderful stories - we are here for them. Just a reminder:

500 words max
Free to enter
We read anonymously
Deadline 15 Jan

Good luck Kim!

Body as a Single-Family Home | Issue #39 My ribcage must be the foyer, all high ceilings and wasted space and a place for the air to circulate. Small voices echoing off the walls of my lungs.

The long hallways of my arms, where sometimes, I swear I can feel their footsteps, where I look down and expect to see the skin rise up, something pushing against me from the inside." Brilliant unforgettable winning story@karaoakleaf.bsky.social @nffr.bsky.social
newflashfiction.com/body-as-a-si...