This Modern Writer: Ideas of Order in Chronology by Nathan Huffstutter

Trust me on this: you’re going to read The Chronology of Water. Superlatives in its reviews will scratch where you itch, discussions in lit forums will demand your engagement, someone will press a copy into your hands. Here, read this. … Continue reading →

Ask the Author: Frankie Romano

Frankie Romano’s Oscar the Normal is a great part of the February issue. She talks to us about what she would live without, breaking news about her imaginary missing arm, growing up, and how poetry slams have helped her voice. … Continue reading →

Huckster: The Catholic Church—Advertising Medium Of The Future

Currently, there’s a huge medium that’s being ignored by advertisers, and that medium is the Catholic Church. But this will change in the future—specifically, it will change on Maypril 45, 2123 AD. I learned this from a friend of mine … Continue reading →

If It Will Never Be Warm, These Words Are All We Have

You can enjoy two poems by Christopher Phelps at The Awl. Night Train is going on hiatus until February 2012 but until then you can browse the archives and check out work in the new issue which includesDaniela Olszewska, Sheldon Lee Compton, Heather … Continue reading →

Birther Control or Ol’ Clementine Got Some Questions About The President’s Birth Certificate

Eds. note: At 236-years-old, Ol’ Clementine is the oldest man in the world. He worked as a slave in most of the Confederate states and has continued the profession long after Emancipation. Occasionally, he shares his unique perspective on the … Continue reading →

Ask the Author: Kristina Born

Kritina Born’s The Village Called Hurty was a finalist in our most recent writing contest. She talks with us about her hurty place, the magic she wants and her favorite werewolf. 1. Where is your hurty place? I bruise like … Continue reading →

Spilt Milk Issue 1 (blue-eyed boy bait) – A Review by Ally Nicholl

Spilt Milk describe themselves as “collectors & distributors of word joy”, and their first magazine ‘blue-eyed boy bait’ is a handsome collection of short stories, flash fiction and poetry which aims to do just that. Thirty different writers have contributed … Continue reading →

This Modern Writer: How to Write a Reading Passage for a Standardized Test by Kathryn Houghton

After graduating with my MFA in fiction this past June, after working two years on the management staff of Willow Springs, I figured I had a bright future ahead of me. I applied for jobs at presses and literary journals, … Continue reading →

Ask the Author: Hilary King

Hilary King evokes William Carlos Williams in the February issue. She talks with us about how that poet might react, theories about the original and its imitations, and interoffice romance. 1. How would William Carlos Williams react after reading your … Continue reading →

Short Story Markets in the UK and the US, by Jarred McGinnis

Every morning from the age of five until I was eighteen, they made me pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America; so I’m duty bound to think, like rock and roll and spray cheese in a … Continue reading →

14

My son’s first girlfriend was Alyssa Milano. He was three. She was twenty-seven. Alyssa was on the cover of Cosmopolitan Magazine that year and my son cut her out with his child-safe scissors then stuck her to the refrigerator with a couple of … Continue reading →

On Writing Memoir (Or The Lying Game)

I have a friend on Twitter. Well, I have 104 friends on Twitter as of today–a nice number given my account lockdown–but anyway, I have a friend who, last year, sent me some direct messages. I publicly vented my frustrations … Continue reading →

Vote Bull!

Jarrett Haley, editor of BULL, needs your help: BULL is now one of five finalists up to win 100K in funding through Dockers’ (Levi’s) “Wear the Pants” Contest. It’s an unprecedented sum for a lit journal, and an unprecedented chance … Continue reading →

Ask the Author: Eliza Tudor

Eliza Tudor’s wonderful Shells is featured in the March issue. She talks with us about what can break her easily, the problem of love, medical conditions and slow dances. 1. How is love a problem worse than cars? Trust me … Continue reading →

Ask the Author: Eric Nguyen

Enjoy Eric Nguyen’s “We Are Here” in the February 2011 issue of PANK. He talks with us about why we are here, Anne Rice’s fighting style and spacecrafts as time capsules. 1. What is Anne Rice’s fighting style? Capoeira. 2. … Continue reading →

This Modern Writer: “Let’s get down to brass tacks, here…how much for the ape?” by Pablo D’Stair

the first is a series of investigations of costs and considerations for the indie author INTRODUCTION I just saw it again, a particular comment about reasons not to set up through POD channels—it is an argument I have seen more … Continue reading →

Buzznet Poetry Contest

In honor of poetry month, Buzznet, the web’s largest social magazine written for youth by youth, has partnered with BUST Magazine and actress and author Amber Tamblyn, to launch a poetry competition which invites aspiring young writers, poets and creatives to … Continue reading →

Ask the Author: Megan Williams

Two poems by Megan Williams appear in the March issue. She talks with us about the kind of cathedral woman she is, which comes first, the poem or the title, and the lines that impact her most. 1. What kind … Continue reading →

Ask the Author: Richard Thomas

Richard Thomas allows us to choose our own adventure, sort of, with Splintered in the March issue. He talks with us about the structure of that story, awkward breakups and breakup mixes. 1. How did you figure out that “Choose … Continue reading →

Becoming British: An Essay by Sara Henkin

After nearly five years in London, one wedding, three different types of visas, and a pact that my husband and I would not give in and pay an immigration lawyer, I found myself registering to take the United Kingdom’s citizenship … Continue reading →

Moses and God Compose the 10 Commandments

We’ve reached the holiest time of the year, where Jews celebrate their escape from bondage in Egypt and Christians celebrate the torture and brutal murder of Jesus Christ. This holy moment for the Jews culminated in Moses the Law Giver, … Continue reading →

A Woman’s Touch

Bull is looking for stories with a woman’s touch. Editor Jarrett Haley writes Last week my wife and I had our second child, a daughter.  This is the biggest of deals for me, coming from a family where men outnumber … Continue reading →

Ask the Author: Sandra Simonds

Sandra Simonds’s Sketch of Early Life does a fine job of capturing early motherhood. She talks with us about the gifts left by the fetus hairy, nautical transportation, and how she might answer the questions, “Is there a doctor in … Continue reading →

Huckster: First Lines Of Classic Novels, Written As If Their Authors Had Worked In Advertising

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the age of opening a job, it was the age of closing the job, followed by reopening the job, but with a tighter deadline. It was … Continue reading →

Of course, there’s the amazing April issue. Start with that if you haven’t already and congratulations to all the PANK writers who were recognized for having a notable story in the 2010 storySouth Million Writers Award. We would especially like … Continue reading →

Letter to Shin Sang-ok

Dear Shin Sang-ok, I keep thinking about you. When I was at university, I wrote a short story—-which was not a short story because it ended up being fifty pages, one of the first indications of my future failure as … Continue reading →

Brendan Connell’s The Life of Polycrates & Other Stories for Antiquated Children: A Review by JL Williams

I’m loath to summarise each story in this fascinating and sensual collection as at least one other has already done it very well, and because they’re just so good you ought to read them yourself. If you do, prepare to indulge, to savour, … Continue reading →

Hint Fiction, Part Trois

Robert Swartwood says: Hint Fiction is two years old. Hard to believe that what originally started as a not-so-serious essay which was intended to be read by only a handful of people turned into something this big. After all, Hint Fiction: An … Continue reading →

Long Live the Queen’s Head Pub: An Essay by Danica Green

Sport is a large part of living in Britain, and everyone is expected to stand up and support their country when the time comes. Football belongs to the English, rugby to the Welsh, and Scotland has such unclassifiable sports as … Continue reading →

Novel Zombie

I’d like to tell you about my novel. The dead one. The one which stirs in its grave. gaussian blur It started in 2002. I lived in Prince George’s County, Maryland–about ten miles from the DC border–and I had a … Continue reading →

the unfirm line – M. Kitchell

“The images produced by dead men are the greatest mystery of my life.” M. Kitchell, ‘the text of death’ There are two dead men that mean the world to me. They produced words and stories that stabbed directly, not forceful … Continue reading →

Ask the Author: James O’Brien

James O’Brien’s Travelers is included in the March issue.  He talks with us about his preferred (or not) mode of travel, atrocious acts, nameless characters and more. 1. How do you prefer to travel long distances? I don’t. If I … Continue reading →

Ask the Author: Joseph Michael Owens

Contemptibly, A Hair, in our March issue, is guaranteed to make you laugh. The author, Joseph Michael Owens, talks with us about free coffee at work, how he takes his coffee and much more. 1. What is your theory on the … Continue reading →

The April Issue of PANK Will Break You Down

The April issue of PANK is pretty massive in every way.  There’s a lot to talk about so let’s get to it, shall we? I have a little story about Laura Adamczyk. I saw Lindsey Drager read at Stories and … Continue reading →

Huckster: The Progression Of Job Titles In Various Agency Departments

Account Services Department Account Coordinator Account Executive Assistant to the Barista Barista Head Barista Account Supervisor Director of Account Services (Mystery Title, Determined By The Wheel Of Thou Fair Moniker) Assistant to the Barista …………………… …………………… Public Relations Department Public … Continue reading →

Want to Read in Minneapolis?

PANK contributor (and trusty reader) Brett Elizabeth Jenkins has set up a reading that is sure to be kick ass in Minneapolis at moto-i (OMG A SAKE BREWERY) on Friday, May 13th, 8 pm. She’s looking for a few good … Continue reading →

Mucous Was Involved in the Making of This List. You’re Welcome.

Don’t do anything until you read this essay by Chloe Caldwell at The Rumpus. Todd McKie has a short story in the new issue of Molotov Cocktail. Over at Hot Metal Bridge, you will find Eric Beeny, JA Tyler, Sherman … Continue reading →

In Search of the Perfect Ending

About ten miles from my job, there’s a park where I like to visit when, upon lunch time, I have nowhere else to go. My job, a manufacturing plant, has a cafeteria struck dead by austerity: white rectangular tables with … Continue reading →

Fractured West #2: A Review by Tania Hershman

It took me far longer to read this magazine of flash fiction than it usually does to read most novels, and that is testament to the power and intensity of an excellent piece of flash fiction. I carried it around … Continue reading →

Ol’ Clementine Remembers the War of Yankee Aggression

Eds. note: On the 150th anniversary of The Civil War, that chapter in the country’s history remains a controversial one. To gain perspective, we turn to the world’s oldest man, former Alabama slave, Ol’ Clementine. At 236 years old, he … Continue reading →

Light

Jeff and I used to go to the gay clubs in Denver. I was a model then; Jeff was a model too. That was how we met. Anyway, we recognized each other right away. At clubs, we were brother and sister. Jeff was … Continue reading →

Ask the Author: Joseph A.W. Quintela

Joseph A.W. Quintela’s poem I Am appears in the February issue and he does a lot of answering our questions with questions in today’s interview. 1. What implement of destruction are you really? Why is an axe thought to be … Continue reading →

Literary Scenes in Britain, Nashville and Amsterdam: An Essay by Avery Oslo

BritPANK is coming! It’s like Christmas in July, but instead of milk and cookies, Santa’s sipping Irn Bru and eating…toad-in-the-hole? Laver bread? Champ? This special issue is necessary, like tea or like air because modern British literature is one of … Continue reading →

Ask the Author: Susan Slaviero

Susan Slaviero’s poetry appears in the February issue. She talks with us about hiding the body, poetry brothels and the cast of the sequel to her life. 1. Where did you hide the body? The body is hidden in a … Continue reading →

Ask the Author: Libby Cudmore

Libby Cudmore finds a Personal Jesus in the March issue. She talks with us about continental breakfasts, the structure of her body and what Jesus listens to while he watches. 1. What would be served at the Continental breakfast at … Continue reading →

Huckster: How To Inverview For A Job In Advertising

Looking for a job in advertising? Plenty of people are, that’s for sure. Here’s a little trick: open up any phone book and, chances are, someone in that book is looking for a job in advertising. Just kidding. There’s no … Continue reading →

We Didn’t Start the Showers But The Rain Keeps Falling and the World Keeps Turning

Mud Luscious 15 includes Sarah Rose Etter, Troy Urquhart, and Andrea Kneeland. Thunderclap 5 features many PANK favorites such as Len Kuntz, Sheldon Lee Compton, Matt Salesses,  Tim Jones-Yelvington, Jesse Bradley and others. Purchasing information here. In Guernica, poetry from … Continue reading →

Open Letter to James Franco so if you are not Jimmy Franco Please Stop Reading. Thanks.

Dear Jimmy, Forgive me for being so informal. My initial draft began, “Dear Mr. Franco,” but after you read this, we’re going to become good buddies and nothing as formal as “Mr. Franco” will do. You’ll call me on my … Continue reading →

Lidia Yuknavitch’s The Chronology of Water: A Review by Dawn West

I am not what people mean when they say good woman. By people, I mean the good Christian kind. Sarah Palin calls them real Americans. I have lied (especially to hide) and cheated (twice). I smoke and swear and drink. I’m not … Continue reading →

Two

I saw the film, “Showgirls,” with a friend in 1995. We were alone in the theater. I loved the movie from the get go, my instant-fierce love. The film received terrible reviews though; everyone said how bad Elizabeth Berkley was as Nomi Malone. I’ve seen … Continue reading →

the unfirm line – Morrissey

“And all those lies, written lies, twisted lies well, they weren’t lies, they weren’t lies, they weren’t lies I never said. I never said.” Morrissey, Speedway I’ve never confessed to a priest. Tight-lipped, tight-lipped and evasive. There are no horrible … Continue reading →

On Audrey Hepburn, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tura Satana, Gregory Peck, racist cookies, and not being an American writer.

My father used to say that I was an American made of Filipino raw materials, so for a long time I’ve thought of my body as composite and cybernetic (cybernetic because my American part is definitely electronic—which is to say, … Continue reading →

A Short, Springtime Invocation Dedicated To Writers + Snooki

Living in NJ means I have to deflect vitriol and chides deriving from the thing called Jersey Shore. As if I gave the thumbs up on that show, as if Jersey Shore applies to the entire state; funny, I don’t … Continue reading →

Ask the Author: Erik Hanson

Erik Hanson’s Vision Quest is a favorite from the February issue. He talks with us about sad stories that begin in bars, Scotch for sipping, and staring into the stars among other matters. 1. What have you found in the … Continue reading →

Dzanc Day 2011 + Collagist Chapbook Contest

On April 9th, Dzanc will be hosting its second annual National Workshop Day, with workshops in 20+ cities all over the country (and one in Canada!). Most workshops are just $30, and are being taught by a variety of professional … Continue reading →