By Bacopa Literary Review 2025 Fiction Editor Wendy Thornton
For this genre, it’s important for stores to be self-contained, not part of a larger piece. Please try to write clearly, using proper grammar, unless you are subverting conventions for deliberate emphasis. The language you use should pull the reader in, so try to use interesting literary descriptions, but beware of going on too long. Try to use creative language without overcomplicating it—take a look at the writings of Ernest Hemingway. Simple but powerful.
Your characters should be complicated, but their stories should be told in the text by dialogue and action, not solely by descriptions. Their stories should encourage the reader to get involved in the story. In other words, don’t say the protagonist “was strong”—describe how they were strong. Great authors to read in this genre include Alice Monroe, Joyce Carol Oates, Raymond Carver or James Baldwin.
Works that are racist, sexist, homophobic, or otherwise bigoted towards marginalized groups will not be accepted. Works that critique these structures of oppression and depict their impact on characters are welcomed. Finally, try to craft a thoughtful, intentional ending for a story that is, as a whole, concise and complete.
Fiction Editor Wendy Thornton has been published in Riverteeth, Epiphany, MacGuffin and many other literary journals and books. Her latest books, Arrested Motion and Hanging On, were published in 2023 and 2024 respectively. She has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, has won many literary awards, and started the Writers Alliance (www.writersalliance.org).
