Iota Short Forms Writing

08/22/2026

What can you do in six words?

William Faulkner famously said that a novelist is a failed short story writer, and a short story writer is a failed poet. Hemingway, with his creation of the six-word story, combined poetry and drama into a short form that has grown in popularity while remaining difficult to achieve. Narrative is lo...

08/21/2026

Submit your short fiction by Oct. 1!
Finalists Announced: NOV/06/2026
Winner Announced: DEC/18/2026
Contest Judge: Zak Jones

MoonLit Getaway's annual short fiction contest is open for submissions from July 1 to October 1. Winners are announced in December.

08/20/2026

"It doesn’t seem fair, does it? Since you can read a short story in one sitting—that’s how Poe defined the short story in his essay “The Philosophy of Composition”—shouldn’t that make people more eager to consume them, like Modern Love columns or Gossip Girl rewatch podcasts?" - Jess Row

Every so often—sometimes in October, when the annual Best American Short Stories anthology is published, or on the infrequent occasions when an iconic short story writer like George Saunders, Alice…

08/19/2026

Curious about the Iota Short Forms Writing Conference, co-sponsored by Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance Oct. 15-18, optional retreat 18-22, both in beautiful Down East Maine? We posed some questions about it to returning participant Kristine Snow Millard of Maine:

Why did you come to the conference?
I knew it was something special:
Penny and Suzanne are such good writers and equally good people. And the setting! I was so excited to travel to this part of Maine. This fall will be my third time attending the conference.

What did you expect and what did you receive?
I expected a community of writers coming together to share their passion and commitment. I received that and so much more. I knew I would learn a great deal and I did.

How would you describe it to someone who’s not attended?
Imagine being in a beautiful setting -- rustic and gorgeous -- where you have the chance to write, learn, and meet people from all over the country. There is an instant bond that forms among the group and the directors make you feel so comfortable and welcome. Plus, the teaching quality is top-notch.

What surprised you about the conference?
How relaxed I felt. I was anxious and excited and the moment I walked in the door and Suzanne greeted me I was immediately at ease. That sense of peace stayed with me the entire time.

What part did the surroundings play in the experience you had/did you take in any of the local sites of interest and what was that like?
I loved Lubec and went there a few times while I was attending the conference. I also hiked on the trails and went to the West QuoddyHead lighthouse. Next on my list is Campobello!

Has anything from your time at Iota remained in your mind or work since? If so, what?
I am now such a fan of flash! Plus, I met people who have achieved goals that I now believe are in my reach -- book publication and simply a writing life.

Anything else you’d like to say about the conference and/or your experience?
It's a wonderful experience!

***Many thanks to Kris. If she has inspired you to attend, register here! https://cobscookinstitute.org/iota/the-conference

08/18/2026

Thank you, .

08/17/2026

This Sunday! August 23! Penny Guisinger leads our Sunday Writing Session! Free! Online! 4 to 5:15 p.m. EST! Get a prompt or other bit of inspiration and run with it! Write in silence with fellow wordsmiths from across the country! Register here for the Zoom link! https://cobscookinstitute.org/events?e=iota-sunday-writing-sessions

08/17/2026

Thank you, Jayne Anne Phillips.

08/14/2026

We're delighted that Laurie Gruhn will be taking the helm of this weekend's Sunday Writing Session. Join Laurie and writers from coast to coast, and maybe beyond, Aug. 16 from 4 to 5:15 p.m., online and free, for some inspiration, then an hour of writing in silence with others.
We send many thanks to Laurie, who was born and raised in New York City and spent 41 years in education before retiring last year. Over the past year, she has returned to her love of writing and has been part of the Iota Sunday Writing Sessions since December. In another lifetime, she was the editor of a small educational theatre magazine and has had a few pieces in the NYT Metropolitan Diary, a favorite part of the Times for many Iotians.
Laurie says that, thanks to Iota, writing has once again become a daily habit, and she looks forward to it becoming a large part of her life. She and her daughter live on the Upper West Side with a Chihuahua who generously allows mother and daughter to reside in the apartment with her.
To join Laurie on Sunday, get the link by registering here: https://cobscookinstitute.org/events?e=iota-sunday-writing-sessions And remember that we're always looking for Sunday Writing Session volunteer leaders, like Laurie. If you've been part of a session and would like to lead one, let us know!