Category: Side A

The rule: send ONE standalone poem, essay, story, comic, manifesto, anomaly to “Side A.” Published works appear alongside short-form interviews and, if possible, YouTube audio.

Original Short Comic for Side A: “My Life” by Dominik Slusarczyk

Mini-interview with Dominik Slusarczyk HFR: Can you share a moment that has shaped you as a writer (or continues to)? DS: Early on in my writing career I wrote a poem called “Grey Fish Sea.” The poem is strange but beautiful. Every time I write I try to emulate what I did with that poem.…
Side A Flash Fiction by Keith Woodruff: “Thunderstorms 101”

Thunderstorms 101 That red alert dot on your weather app? That’s us. As a couple, we’re textbook toxic. Our bitter resentment and anger churning up the atmosphere. Expect torrents, damaging winds. Lightning, striking thrice times in some cases. We’ll pick our teeth with the wire bones of your Walmart umbrellas. We have a chemistry, but…
New Flash Fiction for Side A: “dangerous humans” by John Sara

dangerous humans The newspapers will remark on how he was born just before Christmas; December 24, the time doesn’t really matter. His mother, a Catholic, will visit a psychic for reassurance. The old woman will tell her only great men are born so close to Christ. She will take this as a sign of his…
Original Side A Flash Fiction: “Plugs” by Sudha Balagopal

Plugs Years ago, ahead of my work trip to London, you went to RadioShack to purchase the type G plugs needed in the U.K. “Must you insist on this much preparation?” I asked and you raised your brows. The plugs had three rectangular prongs, different from the ones we use in the States. “The Brits…
Side A: Two Poems by Peter Leight

Escapism in Pictures Lifting my headlike a passengerdrawing picturesin the airin front of me This one is a pictureof not being here In this one I’mopening the doorwith the tipof my tongueand walking out with my tonguein my hand Not even waitinguntil it’s timewhen is it time? Lifting my headand leaning into the air as…
Original Side A Poetry by Brenton Booth: “Whispers”

Whispers I gave away our old clothesdryer for free a few hoursearlier to a young happy couple.Carefully helping them load itinside their sleek new metallic grayvan. Remembering the day wefirst bought it. You delicatelystroking its clear unblemisheddoor like a newborn childin the light freshly renovatedbathroom of our just rentedseventh-floor city apartment.Feeling nothing but totaloptimism for…
New Poem for Side A: “Migraciones: A Triptych” by Yvette Saenz

Migraciones: A Triptych Triptych I: ApologeticBandidos There is somethinginnocent about theapologetic bandido,that over-told story ofmachismo.It’s the desire to returnpeople to earlier forms,to nudge him gently with abroom into the pastBoy fooling his motherdiscovers she’d never lovehimthe way she lovedAmerica:without a mask. His mother is America. Allof it.How funny that this truthcan never be proven?Proof is…
Side A List Poem by Tracy Royce: “Things That Remain Suspended (Handsfree) When Wedged Beneath My Breast”

Things That Remain Suspended (Handsfree) When Wedged Beneath My Breast Mini-interview with Tracy Royce HFR: Can you share a moment that has shaped you as a writer (or continues to)? TR: I took a class on innovative poetic forms with Charles Jensen, and it blew my mind. We read and wrote centos, erasures, hermit crabs,…
New Fiction for Side A: “The Dog’s Absent Bark” by Sean Thomas Dougherty

The Dog’s Absent Bark The neighbor’s dog across the highway and the tree line barks on and off all day. She is a big dog. Some kind of Shepherd mixed with something else, out on a chain, there in the cold. But no, it isn’t that story. They bring her in when they get home…