Break From Reality. Daily.
There is a lot going on in the lives of the Short Fiction Break Regular Contributors. Here are a few things we think you might be interested in checking out: Regular Contributor, the fantastically fabulous Bishop Garrison has a new novella out. Go and grab a copy of Felix, Upon His Bench now by clicking here….
Walter was a short, extremely thin, balding man with white hair, a scholarly beard, and thin round glasses. He looked to be in his late 60’s. His office was a small room full of books. There were books everywhere: books on the shelves, books on the window sill, books on the floor. The abundance of books struck me…
Run as fast as you can! There is only three hours left to register for our contest with Becoming Writer and The Write Practice. Click here to register for the contest. This contest is unlike any other. There are cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Every story submitted will be published by Short…
In case you haven’t heard, Short Fiction Break, The Write Practice, and Becoming Writer are holding a writing contest together! The first place story will win $300. Second and third place will win $100 each. And best of all… Every story submitted will be published! Even if you don’t win, this is your chance to…
Our friends at Becoming Writer became one-year-old today! Becoming Writer is a membership community that turns aspiring writers into daily writers. We are so excited for them that they’ve reached their first anniversary. In celebration of their one year anniversary, we are hosting a contest with them. The top story will win a $300 cash prize,…
Tommy could smell their anxiety. It moved through the air like food coloring through water. He didn’t know what his roommates were planning, but he was certain they were uncertain and afraid. They prepared for the coming engagement like soldiers preparing for battle, each silently searching the room for gear. Bible? Check. Prayer journal? Check….
There’s a lot happening at Short Fiction Break. Here are seven things we think you might want to check out: 1) If you are looking for some writing inspiration, check out our December Theme Week. We are looking for submissions on the theme “Festive Reunions.” To learn more about the theme and how to submit…
Every high school football game was the same. We’d come out of the gate playing hard, trying to set the tone in the first quarter. By the end of the first half we were spent, having gave all we had to the game. At half-time, we’d meet in the end zone where the Junior Varsity…
It’s hard to watch my son lose. That’s what his soccer team has been doing all season, losing. They’ve had eight games, and haven’t been close to victory once. There are lots of reasons for it. The other teams have been playing together longer. Many are club teams that have been together for four or…
Hello Short Fiction Break Readers! There’s a lot going on in the life of Short Fiction Break. Here are some things we think you might be interested in: On Wednesday, November 11th we will run our first Break Time. In the post we will have a micro fiction prompt. Read the prompt and then leave…
“So why did you wait so long to get a lawyer?” Jacob Rosenstein said without taking his eyes away from his laptop. He had a slight New York accent and seemed to be in his mid-sixties. He was bald on top. The hair clinging to the sides of his head was silver. He squinted over the…
The following story is part of the Defense of Reality. For more Defense of Reality, click here. Jose scraped his ribs on the side mirror of a gold car as he squeezed between it and a silver mini-van. The blow slowed him a step. He pressed on, knowing that if he paused for more than…
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I yelled nervously out the passenger side car window as I watched my wife waddle toward the hospital entrance. She supported her belly with both hands. “I’m fine,” she yelled back without looking over her shoulder. “Go park and meet me inside.” “Okay,” I yelled. “I’ll be right there.” She…
Hello SFB Readers, There’s a lot of great stuff happening at Short Fiction Break. Here’s nine things we’re excited about: 1) On Writing Starting this week, every Saturday the Short Fiction Break Regular Contributors will share their thoughts, tips, tricks, and insights about writing. Check out these posts if you are interested in learning and discussing…
The night was alive around them. Three blocks south, cars flew down Franklin Street. Two blocks north a small crowd chatted on the stoop of the corner store. But all Jose could hear was the powerful breathing of the beast hiding in the abandon rowhome in front of him. The rhythm rumbled in his head: a…
Saturday, 3:00pm “Do you know a garage nearby?” I asked the two gas station attendants. Both stood behind the counter and were playing on their phones. The first, a brunet in her fifties, made eye contact with me and then retreated into the back of the store. The second, a teen in a tank top…
“I told you we should’ve just taken the beltway. I told you.” The voice of the woman in the passenger seat next to Bryan was shrill and full of fear. The nasal intonation pierced his skull like a metal rod. “I knew we’d get mugged. I told you we’d get mugged. But you, big strong…
Here are 6 things we want you to celebrate with us! 1. June was Short Fiction Break’s one-year birthday. To celebrate this momentous occasion, the SFB Regular Contributors have been hard at work on a new book. It’s a compilation of never before seen short stories. We will publish it at the end of July….
Nat nervously climbed the crumbling, concrete steps. He hoped this place would be different. He hoped they would let him stay. He paused at the church’s double doors. Using the windows as a mirror, he smoothed back his hair, twisted his mustache, and straightened his monocle. Satisfied with the reflection, he pushed the church doors…
Exciting news Short Fiction Break readers! As you know, we are currently holding a writing contest in partnership with the blog The Write Practice. Submissions to the contest were due last Sunday. We received 86 entries. A team of our regular contributors are in the midst of judging the submissions. Next week we will begin counting…
Hello Short Fiction Break Tribe Members! We are excited to announce that we will be holding a writing contest! We are holding the contest in partnership with the fantastic writing workshop Becoming Writer and the blog The Write Practice. It’s our first context, and we are super pumped. This contest is going to be different…
Before the ring, I thought of her as a predator. She is there every day, all day, at the same corner. Her cargo pants are black, having long ago become saturated with filth. Mats of brown hair ooze from her black stocking cap. She appears to wear at least two heavy shirts: a black hoodie and a…
Happy New Year! To kick off 2015, we’ve got some big news. The newest Short Fiction Break Quarterly is here. Each SFB Regular Contributor selected his or her favorite story from the Fall of 2014, and we jammed them into one great work. 12 fantastic stories by 12 amazing authors in one volume! It’s live…
It was quiet. Beside the breeze intermittently rattling through the leaves, there was nothing. Just the two men: one thinking and the other waiting. Carl shifted his weight, interrupting the solitude with the creaking wood of his chair. “I always loved it here,” he said as he took another sip from the red, plastic cup….
“What an asshole,” he ranted to himself as he pounded out an email on his laptop. He sat at the kitchen table, his laptop jammed between the cluttered remains of dinner. It was spaghetti night. Four small, plastic, bright-colored, kid’s plates filled with hardening, half-eaten noodles were scattered about. Each accompanied by a red stained…
I watched him from across the crowded bar. He was a small man with a thin, pointed nose. He wore a brown and blue plaid suit coat with patches on the elbows, a white dress shirt, blue pants, and ragged fedora. The close cut hair around his ears was greying, and his bow tie was…
(photo by Stuart Heath via Creative Commons) “I knew it was a mistake the moment it was over. I’ll never understand what you saw in that man.” “Really, mom? I think everyone knew it was a mistake when it was over. I knew it was a mistake. James knew it was a mistake. Even James’…
Dear Drug Dealing Neighbor Five Houses Down, While you and I have had only passing encounters, I consider you a friendly acquaintance. On occasion I’ve smiled and tossed a nod your way. You’ve shown signs of recognition. Once you even stopped my kid’s ball from rolling into the street. It saddens me that we’ve never…
I’ve got some exciting news. The Quarterly has arrived. You can find paperback copies and Kindle versions at Amazon by clicking here. You can grab a free e-copy from StoryCartel.com in exchange for an Amazon review by clicking here. Go and grab a copy, tell your friends, leave us a review on Amazon, and enjoy…
“I’m confused,” Tuck said, his mouth hanging open in astonishment. “You just let him walk out? Where did he go?” “How I’m supposed to know. He’s grown. He does what he likes,” David’s mother said without looking away from the flat screen TV hanging on the wall in front of her. Her hair was in…
