in 2025, X-R-A-Y published 169 things ! we read 2,808 submissions & accepted 114. here are some favorites for u to sample.
but first, a big thank u to all the editors & readers !
Joshua Heppburn / short story editor / joshuahebburn.wordpress.com
Rebecca Gransden / interviews & reviews editor / rebeccagransden.wordpress.com
Claire Hopple / fiction editor / clairehopple.wordpress.com
Alice M / short story editor / instagram: @notveryalice / bodyfluids.org
Tex Gresham / fiction editor / squeakypig.com
Michael Todd Cohen / creative nonfiction editor / michaeltoddcohen.com
Jo Varnish / creative nonfiction editor / jovarnish.com
Chris Dankland / managing editor, founding editor /
Jennifer Greidus / founding editor / american-lit.com
shorts (2,000 to 7,500 words):
- Solitude by Sebastian Castillo
- Mrs. Beatrix by Glenn Orgias
- Luke by Sam Berman
- The Consulation by Zac Smith
- Wonder Meadow by David Hayden
- The Adventurers by Z. H. Gill
interviews:
- Dennis Cooper & Zac Farley
- Paul Reidel of Blood Incantation
- Emmalea Russo
- Naomi Falk
- Amy DeBellis
- Elizabeth Hall
- Kyle Seibel
- Emily Costa
- Chris Kelso
recommends:
creative nonfiction:
- Nobody’s Daughter by Ryan-Ashley Anderson
- Swallow by Hannah Grieco
- The View from Bethlehem by Robbie Maakestad
flash (300 to 2,000 words):
- His Body by Amy DeBellis
- Pocket Universe by DT Robbins
- Coaguloid by Hank O’Neil
- Avalon by Saoirse Bertram
- Would You Tremble in the Presence of the Virgin Should She Come to Your Town? by Cortez
- Mutual by Caroline Porter
- We Found an Enormous Hole by Quinn Adikes
- ORCAS, or LIFE & ART & MAGIC & BEAUTY by Aaron Burch
- What I Did for Love by Catherine Spino
- One Girl by Sacha Francis
- I’ll Do by Sacha Francis
micros (up to 300 words):
- The Rooster That Screams by Laura Shell
- I See the Beauty by Diego Lama, Translated from Italian by Rose Facchini
- Mike Topp by Mike Topp
