Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Critique.
Self-Editing Epiphany: A Creative Odyssey
Writing is a tightrope stretched over a chasm of doubt—every word a step, every edit a glance backward to see if you’ve fallen. It’s a solitary act of courage, where the writer spills their soul onto the page, then turns a ruthless eye on the mess they’ve made.
By Ramesh Mahato 11 months ago in Critique
False Nobles Through Fake Papers: María Gloria de Valenzuela Cossío & María de las Mercedes de Sancristoval y de Valenzuela
News in Spain: The title of María Gloria de Valenzuela Cossío and María de las Mercedes de Sancristóbal y de Valenzuela was obtained through fraud and deceit, supported by falsified documents from their grandparents. The most outrageous part is that, even knowing this, they continue to dispute it! More impostors, shamelessly clinging to something that does not rightfully belong to them.
By Ryan Webster11 months ago in Critique
Flash of... Brilliance?
Flash fiction has never really been my “thing”. The type of fiction I tend to gravitate to is more extended, chapter-like fiction—gritty, lengthy stories, full of sub-context and side plots. So, flash fiction presents a challenge for me, one that I have started to tackle more frequently. I’ll be critiquing one of my most recent pieces Survival Rate. The goal was to end in a twist and subvert the reader’s expectations in some groundbreaking way. The side quest goal was to make it only five hundred words.
By Sarah Massey11 months ago in Critique
Dissecting Frog Songs. Runner-Up in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge.
For the Self-Editing Epiphany challenge, I’ve decided to revisit my “Frog Songs” story. It’s a story which taught me the importance of reading aloud as I write, because reading aloud helps me hear the focal point of the story. When I first read “Frog Songs,” at my local library's open mic night, it made me realize how dreadfully boring it was because it lacked a clear focal point.
By Judah LoVato11 months ago in Critique
Dervish: Potential Space. Runner-Up in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge.
Creative risk? I venture to rail against the theocracy that enslaves half of an entire population. How many da Vincis, Edisons, Hemingways, Gödels, Mozarts, or Rembrandts are surrounded by the black cloud of divinely ordained propriety? How our world progresses at only half potential!
By Gerard DiLeo11 months ago in Critique
Astrocartography, The Medium's Veil. AI-Generated.
Astrocartography is the latest buzzword in the never-ending search for destiny shortcuts. The concept is simple: certain planetary lines supposedly influence your success, love life, and personal growth, depending on where you live.
By lawrence Njihia11 months ago in Critique
Why Do We Celebrate Wine Moms but Shame Stoners?
Imagine, A mother pours herself a glass of wine after a long day and posts about it on social media with a caption like, "Mommy juice to the rescue!" The comments flood in with laughter and support. Now, imagine another mother unwinding by smoking a joint instead. The reaction? Judgment, side glances, and quiet disapproval.
By Get Glass Distribution11 months ago in Critique
Breaking the Rules: A Bold Self-Edit of My Riskiest Writing Choice
Taking the Leap into Creative Uncertainty Every writer faces a moment of doubt when pushing the boundaries of conventional storytelling. This article is both a confession and a guide—a deep dive into my own risk-taking as a writer. I will share an excerpt that I once considered both flawed and full of potential. Then, I will analyze my editing choices, the risks I took, and how they reshaped my creative approach. If you have ever hesitated before breaking a rule in writing, this exploration might offer the encouragement you need.
By Alain SUPPINI11 months ago in Critique
Who remembers....
Who remembers going on Easter egg hunts when they were little kids? I remember going on a few. The one that I will always remember is the one when I first started school, and the high school had an Easter egg hunt on the hill beside the baseball field. Now the hill is tall with pine trees, but back then they were small, and the adults were able to hide the eggs for us little ones to find easier. If I remember right, I did find a few of those eggs, but even now I still remember that hunt: 1970.
By Mark Graham11 months ago in Critique
