What Is Short Reads?
Short Reads is a free literary magazine emailed every Wednesday morning featuring flash nonfiction.
Each edition of Short Reads is a snack in your inbox, an invitation to take a little break but not to open yet another tab in your browser. The world throws a lot of information and noise at us and flash can be an antidote for that: a brief time-out that can take you out of yourself.
Short Reads showcases a mix of original essays and previously published pieces—work that appeared only in print or in now-defunct publications, or that we’re excited to bring to a new audience of readers. We hope the work we feature will make you think about something a little differently or see the world through fresh eyes and come back changed.
Subscribe today and join a community of writers and readers who believe in the power of true stories to share ideas and experiences, foster empathy, and help make sense of what can happen in a life.
How can I support Short Reads?
If you like what we’re doing, you can support us by sharing with a friend who might enjoy a bit of art in their inbox or you can upgrade to a supporting or patron level subscription, which helps us pay writers and defray the hard costs of running an online literary magazine.
Beyond the paid subscription, you can always make a one-time donation.
How do I submit my work for consideration in Short Reads?
We open submissions several times per year. Learn more about our submission guidelines.
What do you pay for work?
Our rates increase according to the number of our supporting and patron level subscribers. Currently we are able to pay $100 for original essays and $25 for reprints.
What’s with the donkey?
Our miniature donkey, Oatey, is small but she packs a kick—just like the work we publish.
Questions? You can email us at staff@short-reads.org.
About the Short Reads Team
HATTIE FLETCHER is a freelance editor and creative consultant who also teaches creative writing at the University of Pittsburgh. Find her at hattie-fletcher.com.
CHAD VOGLER fact-checks and proofreads in Pittsburgh.
ANNA HALL is a book designer and illustrator based in Seattle. Find her at annabhall.com.
STEPHEN KNEZOVICH is a marketing strategist for writers and collage artist based in Pittsburgh. More at stephen-knezovich.com.
Board Members
MICHAEL COPPERMAN
DARIEN HSU GEE
BRAD SNYDER
BETH TILLMAN
