Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 3h“It is worth noting what Anders did not remember, given what he did remember.” 110
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 28/09/2026kinda a spoiler, I guess, but this is such a great little mini-lesson in revision. try to make as much as possible (everything) more active, more intentional. close the distance around the tension and conflict. 041
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Really dug this Sarah Anderson story in this week's NYer.newyorker.com“Dark Horse,” by Sarah AndersonAt least once a day I press the Thought like a bruise, and if I don’t it eventually starts to play anyway. 030
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Planning on opening up Short Story, Long submissions mid-October. (Probably the 15th? But maybe a skosh earlier. And then they'll stay open thru the end of the year.) If you’ve got a killer 3k–8k word story, get ‘er ready! (I'll also be in need of a couple submission readers; hmu if interested!)ashortstorylong.substack.comShort Story, Long | Aaron Burch | SubstackLonger short stories, published biweekly. Click to read Short Story, Long, by Aaron Burch, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers. 0164
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 23/09/2026This story does this narrative move ~halfway through that I found really interesting and really liked. Kinda grabbed and shook me up while reading, an experience I really enjoy while reading a short story. 160
Reposted by Aaron BurchAaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 22/09/2026SO excited to feature this new @nickreesgardner.bsky.social on Short Story, Long today. It's my fave story I've read in a bit. "I’ve been working twelves since I finished clinicals and was hired full time, but my shift at MedMark’s dragged on over fifteen hours when the snakebite victims come in."ashortstorylong.substack.com“Believer” by Nick Rees Gardner“It’s not like I’m calling this a miracle because the real miracle is not being bit.” 082
Reposted by Aaron BurchJoey Hedger @joeyhedger.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Nick's short stories never fail to blow me away. This one's, unsurprisingly, fantastic! 021
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 22/09/2026SO excited to feature this new @nickreesgardner.bsky.social on Short Story, Long today. It's my fave story I've read in a bit. "I’ve been working twelves since I finished clinicals and was hired full time, but my shift at MedMark’s dragged on over fifteen hours when the snakebite victims come in."ashortstorylong.substack.com“Believer” by Nick Rees Gardner“It’s not like I’m calling this a miracle because the real miracle is not being bit.” 082
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 17/09/2026Yall think Mark from Home Improvement is stoked about Aaron Turner joining Neurosis? 020
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 16/09/2026I am a very good, smart teacher, who does deep, thoughtful prep for classes... 050
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 15/09/2026DTF ST. LOUIS!! (Almost no one else I know really loved it as much as I did, but together with Widow's Bay, it was my fave of the year) 150
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 14/09/2026I ask this every year or three, but… often find myself curious: fave lit journals for short stories? (Not flash, 3k words and longer.) 110
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 13/09/2026Dark Wizard is the best thing I've seen in a while, and also I'm not sure I should be watching it. 020
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 13/09/2026Holy shit, Reacher just pulled a dude’s head through jail bars. Reacher Is so dumb, and so the best. 141
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 12/09/2026Been a couple weeks since it was published. If you haven’t already, I recommend you spend a little time this weekend reading my newest short story.doric-literary.comExecutivesI’d never heard the phrase before—nostalgia tour—but I knew what he meant. I’d been on a few myself. 041
Reposted by Aaron BurchAustin Ross @austinross.bsky.social · 10/09/2026tfw you publish a new story online 1346
Reposted by Aaron BurchSarp Sozdinler @sarpsozdinler.bsky.social · 08/09/2026Working with @aaronburch.bsky.social is always a big cheer and I'm stoked to be able to do that again with this new story of mine in his wonderful SSL project. I’d be really happy if you read & shared "Bad Samaritans," a story about…exploding spouses and grief counseling at Applebee's. 🔗 below. 271
Reposted by Aaron BurchAaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 01/09/2026Really excited to see this one out in the world today, with such a great home at @doricliterary.bsky.social. Wrote the first draft of this a few years ago. Still feels like it’s one of the best stories I’ve written.doric-literary.comExecutivesI’d never heard the phrase before—nostalgia tour—but I knew what he meant. I’d been on a few myself. 1328
Reposted by Aaron BurchStephanie Austin @stephanieaustin.bsky.social · 03/09/2026Why is this the most perfect line? "'I bet you have a habit of falling for women who have a habit of falling for you on their breaks from falling for guys who need to be saved,' Summer said, shaking me out of feeling like a judgmental asshole." 061
Reposted by Aaron BurchDoric Literary @doricliterary.bsky.social · 01/09/2026"The groom-to-be was gone by the time the rest of us woke up" With "Executives" @aaronburch.bsky.social becomes the 1st writer with 2 stories on Doric Literary! His nostalgic, male-bonding romp mixes marijuana with caffeine & golf-& shows exactly what can go right! doric-literary.com/2026/09/01/e...doric-literary.comExecutivesI’d never heard the phrase before—nostalgia tour—but I knew what he meant. I’d been on a few myself. 065
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 02/09/2026Love this one, Kristine!! "One afternoon, Emily and I see the episode about the ultra-Christian couple who’ve never kissed each other. We can’t get over how the girl could date this guy for three years and is ready to marry him without ever having kissed him. What if he sucks at kissing?"forget.coolGirls in White Dresses – MahlerGirls in White Dresses by Kristine Langley Mahler The summer that we’ll turn sixteen, my best friend Emily and I seem put-on-pause, drooped over her living room couches, dreaming of our future husb… 111
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 02/09/2026🚨 new @stephanieaustin.bsky.social! 🚨 "I was in my chaos phase, so I cut off all my hair and showed up to our second class a new person. My family was mortified, and my friends had mixed reactions, but not Ben. Ben said he liked girls with short hair." forget.cool/issue-1/issu...forget.coolCrash – AustinCRASH by Stephanie Austin I met Ben in a night class. Humor Writing 101. I needed a final elective, and I thought humor writing was about essays but instead it was about crafting late night jokes. … 011
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 01/09/2026Really excited to see this one out in the world today, with such a great home at @doricliterary.bsky.social. Wrote the first draft of this a few years ago. Still feels like it’s one of the best stories I’ve written.doric-literary.comExecutivesI’d never heard the phrase before—nostalgia tour—but I knew what he meant. I’d been on a few myself. 1328
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 01/09/2026Great new @mmkaufman.bsky.social story on @doricliterary.bsky.social today! Fun POV, all culminating in a really effective, beautiful ending. "This movie stub is a memory from my first kiss. That dirty menu is the best burger I ever had in my entire life. That book—well, that’s just a great read."doric-literary.comHow to Hold a Memory in Your HandsIt’s silly but I think it’s important we make up lore for our own lives. Our own mythologies, folk tales, origin stories, what have you. If you don’t romanticize your own life, who the hell will?… 072
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 01/09/2026Really excited to see this one get released out into the world tomorrow and get to share it! "...a story about nostalgia, male-bonding... and experiencing a sheer stroke of magic" is 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘺 "back on my bullshit" shit, but also maybe the best version of that I've written yet? 0123
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 31/08/202611 acts you’ve seen as support acts Artie Lange (Norm Macdonald) Mitch Hedburg (Jon Stewart) Botch (Neurosis) Converge (Botch) Full of Hell (Converge) Blood Incantation (Full of Hell) Blink 182 (Voodoo Glow Skulls) The Roots (Rage Against the Machine) RAtM (U2) Beck (Neil Young) Rihanna (Eminem) 010
Reposted by Aaron BurchDoric Literary @doricliterary.bsky.social · 29/08/2026September is going to be awesome because it will begin with two brand new stories, each one filled with magic and memories, by two of the best writers out there: @aaronburch.bsky.social & @mmkaufman.bsky.social 087
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 26/08/2026An important part of handwriting first drafts: identifying for your future self bad ideas for possible titles. 150
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 25/08/2026New on Short Story, Long today. "My wife told me in bed this morning that she had dreamed she was having an affair with an actor. Which was strange. Not for her to dream but for her to say. Because I have it on good authority that she is in fact having an affair with an actor." —Michael O’Brienashortstorylong.substack.com“Labyrinth” by Michael O'Brien“I haven’t always enjoyed this degree of honesty, but it beats secrecy.” 0143
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 23/08/2026“I’d certainly never do it again. But, somehow, there are still parts I miss.” — Tyler Dempsey somewords.boards.net/thread/161/t...somewords.boards.net 010
Reposted by Aaron BurchBen Niespodziany 📚🎪 @neonpajamas.bsky.social · 22/08/2026email your heroes 0121
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 22/08/2026here’s the dumb, goofy, fun story we launched the site with, 6 years ago todayhavehashad.comInterrobang by Aaron Burch“Why would you do that, question mark exclamation point.” Kelly did that sometimes—she speech-to-texted so often that sometimes it slipped into her regular speech. Comma, period, lol, question mark... 0123
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 21/08/2026forgot I added this to my google calendar as a reminder to myself, just got the notification reminder email 1244
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 18/08/2026Like 12 minutes into Reacher s4 and immediately remembering what a total treat this dumb show it. And Kevin Carrigan on it is too good for me to have even dreamcast. 060
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 16/08/2026(re)read this Tyler Dempsey essay last night. it's such a banger. farewelltransmission.net/2025/07/loca...farewelltransmission.netLocating By Tyler Dempsey - Farewell TransmissionTyler Dempsey is the author of four books and the host of Another Fucking Writing Podcast. He lives in Utah with his wife and dogs. 010
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 16/08/2026had a dumb idea, spent a little too long this morning making it... 2120
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 15/08/2026“American movies will cheerfully spend millions of dollars on explosions and chases to avoid those moments when people are talking seriously and honestly to one another. After all, writing good dialogue takes some intelligence.” — Roger Ebert on About Last Night (1986) 0111
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 12/08/2026bsky sucks compared to peak twitter for crowdsourcing like this, but... any fave recent(ish) NYTimes Modern Love essays? and/or "personal pop culture" essays (define as you see fit)? 620
Reposted by Aaron BurchElizabeth Fletcher @esfletcher.bsky.social · 11/08/2026Sprawled on a beach towel with waves lapping 10 feet away & the ambient noise of young beachgoers storing up vitamin D for the lean days & reading Tacoma by @aaronburch.bsky.social as a lone pelican pierces the blue sky & I can’t help but appreciate magic & beauty & wonder. 1231
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 11/08/2026After taking the summer off, we've got a new short story on SSL today. A really great one. A fun one! Out first graphic/comic story!! "Lake of the Gulfs" by Nathan Holicashortstorylong.substack.com“Lake of the Gulfs” by Nathan Holic"It's a story that's been told a thousand times. Daddy leaves early morning, goes out to the pier. Spends the day fishing with his buddies..." 0136
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 04/08/2026Listened to this interview with Matt Johnson like 5 months ago, and loved it, then finally saw Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie a couple weeks ago and so relistened to the interview just now and loved it even more. Would love to listen to some more great interview with Johnson. Any faves?podcasts.apple.comParamount Wins Warner Bros. Now What? Plus: ‘Scream 7,’ Heat 2,’ and ‘Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie’ With Matt Johnson!Podcast Episode · The Big Picture · February 27 · 2h 12m 030
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 03/08/2026Finally saw The Odyssey, *mostly* just so I could listen to all these podcasts eps about it that have been stockpiling on my drive to WriterCamp in a couple days... 060
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 26/07/2026love this rave for @jsavrankelly.bsky.social's great story! ashortstorylong.substack.com/p/man-next-d... 170
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 24/07/2026friendfiction: the hottest, most fun genre goin'! loved this piece. not only because “I” pop in for a kind of cameo, tho that certainly helps 041
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 20/07/2026New Short Story, Long tagline just dropped! "Tell your friends! Some wonderful tales and 'hidden gems,' as they say!" 0110
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 20/07/2026have been in Tacoma for ~48 hours and phone camera roll is approximately 120 photos of Mount Rainier, the Puget Sound, and the Olympics 170
Aaron Burch @aaronburch.bsky.social · 18/07/2026Me, about the short stories and essays I’ve published: 0182