Top in Fiction was created in July 2024 out of a call from readers in search of fiction on the Substack platform and writers of fiction in search of readers for their work. In that time Top in Fiction has built various foundations to make its mission even more evident to anyone looking for fiction or writing fiction.
The TiF Library - A full archive of all fiction stories ever submitted for issues past and present. The Library is as robust a representation as can be found of the thousands of stories we’ve seen since Top in Fiction existed.
TiF Press - The place where fiction is published. Welcoming fiction writers of any experience to participate in Top in Fiction writing events. Then select participants will be invited to be a part of the subsequent anthology. With goals to publish at least two anthologies per year.
TiF Studio - A platform with tools built by a fiction writer, for fellow fiction writers and readers looking for the best and most robust discovery capabilities. Create your own profile that lets you share your work, your social media, and write Beats that can be read by everyone on the platform.
TiF Originals - It took us nearly 3 years to get here but we finally made it. Top in Fiction will finally start paying writers for their work that we’ll share exclusively to paying subscribers before making the work free for everyone. It’s through having the courage to turn on paid subscriptions and your continued support.
$10/M → Click Here!
As a subscriber to Top in Fiction, here is what you can expect:
We ONLY feature fiction work from Substack publications.
We encourage self-promotion.
We ONLY share NEW work. Meaning the stories you read in our emails will never be more than one week old! Monthly Recaps & Quarterly Reviews are the only exceptions.
This list of recommendations are put together by the people who know what good fiction can be found here: YOU! We DO NOT use algorithms in any way shape or form to curate our lists. Nor are we influenced by audience size in our decisions.
THE EMAILS WE SEND (AND WHEN)
WEEKLY ISSUES - Every Monday we feature ~10 stories from the following categories: Cartoon/Comic, Poetry, Micro/Flash Fiction, Short Story, Short Serial, & Serial. A majority of the selections come from our internal Submissions process.
MONTHLY RECAP - On the first Wednesday of every month we share stories that appeared in the previous 4-5 weeks and some new stories not previously featured but written within the last calendar month.
QUARTERLY REVIEWS - Every quarter a Guest Curator will select their favorite from each of the following 4 Categories (Poetry, Micro/Flash Fiction, Short Story, Serial) to write a short 2-3 sentence review.
TiF DISRUPTIONS - Every now and then there is an event that happens within the fiction community that brings writers together to write a story and release it either on the same day or in a succession of days. Some of these events might be organized by Top in Fiction but also by other groups who’ve entrusted TiF to help them get the word out. These events can happen at any time in a calendar year, hence why we like to call them a “disruption.”
TiF NOTIFICATIONS - [For Writers] Receive a reminder email when our Submit a Story form opens on Fridays at 7am and a follow-up reminder up to 2hrs before the form closes on Sundays. This is also where any calls for submissions are happening for special TiF Disruption or annual events where writers might want to participate.
[Anything labeled For Writers is OPT-IN, meaning you must choose to receive these emails by going to Manage Subscriptions.]
So, whether you’re looking for a great story or perhaps you’ve written one that you want more people to know about, there’s room here for everyone’s story!
REMINDER: We will never, ever, ever, not ever, include a non-fiction post in any of our weekly, monthly, or quarterly emails! However, we do acknowledge that many fiction writers we share may also write non-fiction within their own publications.
You’re under no obligation to subscribe to our many recommended newsletters, we just ask that you give them a try! You never know, you may discover something/someone you never heard of before!
TESTIMONIALS
