Roadkill Bill, by Jennifer Lai
Shotgun in hand, I inch toward the contorted deer. Behind me, breath reeking of whiskey, Pa hisses, “It’s suffering, boy. Put it out of its misery.” I rest my cheek against the stock and aim the barrel at the buck, my finger curling around the trigger. I take a deep breath and slit my eye. The buck twitches and jerks, then starts bleating. Over and over. Crap. My heart thumps out of rhythm. Bile rises up my throat. I can’t swallow. “Goddammit!” Pa snatches the gun from me and
Fun Gus was a fungus.
The vast majority of fiction writers include humans in their stories (or include humanoid aliens). Less fiction writers include non-human animals in their stories (or include n0n-humanoid alien animals). Still fewer fiction writers include plants in their stories, whether these plants be terrestrial or alien. And the writers who include fungi in their stories? I'm one of them. Check out these fantastic fungi facts,,, then get to writing!
If you can make it here...
New York wants your soul! Or rather, The New Yorker wants your fiction (and your poetry, and your letters to the editor, and also your "Shouts & Murmurs" and "Daily Shouts" (whatever those are), and furthermore your cartoons and cartoon captions)! Clickity-click here for specs and directs. Pay is secret, but bragging rights are valuable (or invaluable, depending on your GAFs).
Landlubber Loves Mermaid
Prompt: Here’s a poem prompt. I’d love to read some of y’all’s art 💋 Write a 5 line poem about a mermaid who is in love with a human. (YouTuber Amberlynn Reid) *** Ask the mermaid how she's doeeeennn Ask her how she's doen Ask the human how he's doen Ask him how he's doeeeennn Ask her how she's doen (YouTuber Blinding End)