Some unsolicited advice from an editor:
In short fiction, especially on the internet, you've only got a couple of sentences to convince a reader to keep reading.
Those first sentences are what the theorists call "the promise to the reader," letting them know if this is a story they want to read.
Today from Hell Itself: What happens when the wrong people travel and the right people stay at home. "Pearl Anniversary" by Deneffew Gordon
We just have to say that it's hilarious watching the facebook algorithm try to figure out whether it should be feeding us horror content or Christian nationalist content.
Writers, please read the guidelines.
April Fools!
Hell Itself will be posting an April Fools joke later today. Stay tuned.
New from Hell Itself, J.R. Blanes put a new spin on classic adventure horror in "Mouth of the Cave"
Hell itself is moving to an every-other-week format, so you can enjoy this as our lead story for two weeks!
hellitself.com/mouth-of-the...
Hell Itself is going to be shifting to a new schedule. We will be posting one story every two weeks following our March 27 post.
The rate of submissions has slowed down, and we want to keep the quality of the stories high.
We'll pick it back up again if we find ourselves with another backlog.
This week from Hell Itself, @badwriter.bsky.social brings us a tale of the pure of heart. (Sort of.)
One week left to nominate for @thehugoawards.bsky.social
Don't forget these great short stories: hellitself.com/awards-eligi...
Congratulations to all the @sfwa.org Nebula Award finalists, and a particular shout-out to @davidanaxagoras.com, whose most recent story, "Gumba Cuddles" is this week's Hell Itself story.
hellitself.com/gumba-cuddles/
NEW STORY OUT NOW! A boy accompanies his grandfather in the NICU to cuddle infants from war-torn lands—but there’s more to the old man's healing touch than meets the eye.
> His cuddles are curtains of sun on your bare brown skin, soaking through your muscles, until your bones are warm and glowing.
There are some stories that, when you ask me what it's about or to describe it, I pause and then say, "You know what, just read it."
When this one came in, I knew it was one of those. Just read it. You'll be glad you did.
One advantage to having a publication dedicated to one thing—say weird westerns or dark fantasy—is that readers who like whatever that niche is will find it.
One of the challenges of stories that blur the lines is they don't really fit in any of those magazines.
Even when the story is beautiful.
Today from Hell Itself, a dark Western fantasy from D. Thomas Minton, "Shadows of Bitterwood"
hellitself.com/shadows-of-b...
My story “Float” published in Hell Itself @hellitself.bsky.social is on the nebula reading list! I’d love if you’d consider it when it comes to voting.
hellitself.com/float/
You should check out my new story.
There's something visceral about the imagery and concept that'll probably suck you in.
When this story first landed in front of me, I was struck by the strength of the imagery in it. It's not much like anything @hellitself.bsky.social has published before, but to say our tastes are eclectic would be an understatement. I enjoyed this one, and I hope you do, too.
Because short stories should be inspired by 18 minute long songs.
My latest story.
We have no idea why it didn't post automatically, but it's up now.
Mike A. Rhodes brings us a story of that quiet time when everything is changing. "Migrations."
Hugo nominations are open.
Here's a list of what we published that is eligible:
hellitself.com/awards-eligi...
Today from Hell Itself, @chasej.xyz brings us magic, scandal, and technological changes in "OPINION: Ragnar Is a Disgrace to the Wizarding Community, but He Was Right by Frederico the Frozen"
Today from Hell Itself, when you're not as young as you used to be, but those banks aren't going to rob themselves, it can get harder and harder to get past the wards and curses...
"Transition Period" by S. L. Johnson:
hellitself.com/transition-p...
I was trying to avoid working in solidarity with the people of Minnesota on Friday, and I apparently never cycled back to hype last Friday's story.
And it's a good one.
We would just like to casually point out that the @sfwa.org Recommended Reading List currently contains Hell Itself stories by @rachiea.bsky.social, @crboltz.bsky.social, @deborahldavitt.com, @reggiekwok.bsky.social, @gerrileen.bsky.social, @tedmorrissey.bsky.social, @ktwagner.bsky.social, and more!
Since I just noticed that posted the link to the listing, and not my story -- if you want to read my story see here:
hellitself.com/the-tell-tal...