“If you want to know who your friends are, get yourself a jail sentence.”

Another Bukowski quote above to kick this writing challenge off.

I gave my newborn baby daughter the name of a friend who I know for a fact would hide me from the law and angry crowds of pitchfork wielding villagers if things ever came to that.

That’s the best kind of friend in my book.

What I’m saying is —

Friends do come and go. The good ones stick around. The fake ones fade fast. In the writing scene this fact of life can be a tad more extreme I sometimes feel.

Chino Moreno put it best on Cypress Hill’s Rock Superstar,

We’ve got a lot of sharks out there… try’na take a bite of somethin’.

What’s hot… lot of chameleons out there… try’na change up,
Anytime somethin’ new comes along…

Everybody wants a bite
Don’t happen overnight.

And so, the month of MAY is dedicated to all the shams, all the fakes and all the fraudsters. The users and the manipulators.

“Champagne For My Real Friends, Real Pain For My Sham Friends.”

Word Limit: 300 words

Submissions Open: April 1st until April 25th

Submit below

punknoirmag@yahoo.com

Stephen J. Golds

Stephen J. Golds was born in North London, U.K, but has lived in Japan for most of his life. He speaks the language pretty well and makes great takoyaki.

He writes primarily in the noir and dirty realism genres and is the editor-in-chief of Punk Noir Press. Some of his writing influences are Charles Bukowski, John Fante, James M. Cain, Tobias Wolff, Sarah Kane and Jim Thompson.

He enjoys spending time with his daughters, reading books, traveling the world, boxing and listening to old Soul LPs. His books are Say Goodbye When I’m Gone, I’ll Pray When I’m Dying, Always the Dead, and Shadows Slow Dancing in Derelict Rooms. His poetry collections are Poems for Ghosts in Empty Tenement Windows I Thought I Saw Once, and Half-Empty Doorways and Other Injuries. He also has a short story and poetry collection titled Love Like Bleeding Out With an Empty Gun in Your Hand.

Stephen J. Golds Website

Damn, it’s already nearing the midpoint of February. Where does all the time go? I don’t know.

My apologies for being absent as of late. I’m sure you know how it is. Work and life and everything in between.

My wife will be giving birth at any moment (My 3rd daughter. Very chuffed) but I’d like to try a theme in March if I can.

The theme is as the title suggests

“Find What You Love and Let It Kill You”

Bukowski wrote that line in a letter to Sherri Martinelli, I believe, correct if I’m wrong.

Anyhow, Bukowski was the one writer who inspired this North London dropout that didn’t know his alphabet until the age of 11 to start writing, and although my fiction has been severely lacking somewhat lately, I’m still in the ring, albeit in the corner for now.

I digress, take the title and the theme and do what you all do best — make it your own.

Word Limit: 300 words

Submissions Open: Now until February 25th

Stephen J. Golds

Stephen J. Golds was born in North London, U.K, but has lived in Japan for most of his life. He speaks the language pretty well and makes great takoyaki.

He writes primarily in the noir and dirty realism genres and is the editor-in-chief of Punk Noir Press. Some of his writing influences are Charles Bukowski, John Fante, James M. Cain, Tobias Wolff, Sarah Kane and Jim Thompson.

He enjoys spending time with his daughters, reading books, traveling the world, boxing and listening to old Soul LPs. His books are Say Goodbye When I’m Gone, I’ll Pray When I’m Dying, Always the Dead, and Shadows Slow Dancing in Derelict Rooms. His poetry collections are Poems for Ghosts in Empty Tenement Windows I Thought I Saw Once, and Half-Empty Doorways and Other Injuries. He also has a short story and poetry collection titled Love Like Bleeding Out With an Empty Gun in Your Hand.

Stephen J. Golds Website

Extrajudicial

by

Stephen J. Golds

The cops got everything out of me, except how you broke my heart and the place you’re buried.

That’s it right there, ladies and gentlemen — One Shot Kill. The December theme. Easily the most difficult writing challenge I’ve ever put out.

Can you write a crime story in a single sentence like I’ve done above?

A single sentence.

If you’re familiar with my poetry, you’ll know there’s nothing I love more than a one punch knock out. So, I thought, why restrain that just to poetry? Hell, let’s put it out there as a crime writing prompt.

Of course we’ve got BF Jones doing the CLOWN theme in October and ME Proctor’s TIGHTROPE in November but I wanted to put this out there now so everyone has time to practice and send in their best submission — because it’s one shot – one chance.

Submissions open November 1st until November 29th.

One Shot Kill Submissions sent outside of that window will be deleted unread.

SUBMIT HERE

(punknoirmag@yahoo.com)

Editor

Stephen J. Golds

Stephen J. Golds was born in North London, U.K, but has lived in Japan for most of his life. He speaks the language pretty well and makes great takoyaki.

He writes primarily in the noir and dirty realism genres and is the editor-in-chief of Punk Noir Press. Some of his writing influences are Charles Bukowski, John Fante, James M. Cain, Tobias Wolff, Sarah Kane and Jim Thompson.

He enjoys spending time with his daughters, reading books, traveling the world, boxing and listening to old Soul LPs. His books are Say Goodbye When I’m Gone, I’ll Pray When I’m Dying, Always the Dead, and Shadows Slow Dancing in Derelict Rooms. His poetry collections are Poems for Ghosts in Empty Tenement Windows I Thought I Saw Once, and Half-Empty Doorways and Other Injuries. He also has a short story and poetry collection titled Love Like Bleeding Out With an Empty Gun in Your Hand.

Stephen J. Golds Website

SUBS OPEN OCTOBER 15!

Tightrope … what comes to mind?

Maybe you’re thinking of a song (Leon Russell, Janelle Monáe, Stevie Ray Vaughan …), a movie with Clint Eastwood, a highwire artist walking over Niagara Falls, or anybody on the edge of disaster.

“Tightrope” is your theme for November. Have at it!

Our editor this month is M.E. Proctor and she’d love to read your TIGHTROPE inspired stories, in 1000 words max.

Please send your pieces in a Word document along with a 3rd person bio. And please do add some kind of a greeting, folks!

Subs will open October 15 and close October 21. Can’t wait to read your words

SUBMIT HERE

(punknoirmag@yahoo.com)

—Editor—

M.E. Proctor

M.E. Proctor writes the Declan Shaw PI series, Love You Till Tuesday & Catch Me on a Blue Day. She’s the author of a short story collection, Family and Other Ailments, and the co-author of a retro-noir novella, Bop City Swing. She’s a Derringer and Shamus award short story nominee.

NOW OPEN

Yes, it’s that time again. PUNK NOIR Magazine throwing another flash theme out there to sharpen your writing teeth on!

We all love our mothers… don’t we?

Those givers of life, and often a dying man’s last words.

Mother.

Mom.

Mummy.

Ma.

I want your mother related flash stories. Take the word and run with it. Have fun.

I’m going to choose the best stories and will publish them in Punk Noir during September. There’s not much time to get your submissions in, so get to it, folks.

Remember though, 200 words MAX!

(All pieces MUST be in a
Word Doc w/a 3rd person BIO)

Please give me some kind of a greeting, folks. Don’t just rudely attach your submission to an empty email and expect me to read it like you’re some kind of a literary megastar beyond simple salutations. I hate that.

Subs OPEN UNTIL SEPTEMBER 31st

SUBMIT HERE

(punknoirmag@yahoo.com)

Image obviously from the beloved Hitchcock movie Psycho so all credit there

—Editor—

Stephen J. Golds

Stephen J. Golds was born in North London, U.K, but has lived in Japan for most of his life. He speaks the language pretty well and makes great takoyaki.

He writes primarily in the noir and dirty realism genres and is the editor-in-chief of Punk Noir Press. Some of his writing influences are Charles Bukowski, John Fante, James M. Cain, Tobias Wolff, Sarah Kane and Jim Thompson.

He enjoys spending time with his daughters, reading books, traveling the world, boxing and listening to old Soul LPs. His books are Say Goodbye When I’m Gone, I’ll Pray When I’m Dying, Always the Dead, and Shadows Slow Dancing in Derelict Rooms. His poetry collections are Poems for Ghosts in Empty Tenement Windows I Thought I Saw Once, and Half-Empty Doorways and Other Injuries. He also has a short story and poetry collection titled Love Like Bleeding Out With an Empty Gun in Your Hand.

Stephen J. Golds Website

WE’RE OPEN TO SUBMISSIONS.

Yes, it’s that time again. PUNK NOIR Magazine throwing another flash theme out there to sharpen your writing teeth on!

What’s your sin of choice? Is it Sloth? Perhaps you’re partial to a little Wrath? Or maybe your weakness is that lovely Lust? Whatever it may be, choose one of the seven deadly sins and write a crime caper about it in under 200 words.

I’m going to choose 14 of the best and publish them in Punk Noir during the seventh month. So get to it, folks.

Remember though, 200 words MAX!

(All pieces MUST be in a
Word Doc w/a 3rd person BIO)

Please give me some kind of a greeting, folks. Don’t just rudely attach your submission to an empty email and expect me to read it like you’re some kind of a literary megastar beyond simple salutations. I hate that.

Subs Open NOW until JUNE 27th

SUBMIT HERE
👇
(punknoirmag@yahoo.com)

Series Editor: Stephen J. Golds

Stephen J. Golds was born in North London, U.K, but has lived in Japan for most of his life. He speaks the language pretty well and makes great takoyaki.

He writes primarily in the noir and dirty realism genres and is the editor-in-chief of Punk Noir Press. Some of his writing influences are Charles Bukowski, John Fante, James M. Cain, Tobias Wolff, Sarah Kane and Jim Thompson.

He enjoys spending time with his daughters, reading books, traveling the world, boxing and listening to old Soul LPs. His books are Say Goodbye When I’m Gone, I’ll Pray When I’m Dying, Always the Dead, and Shadows Slow Dancing in Derelict Rooms. His poetry collections are Poems for Ghosts in Empty Tenement Windows I Thought I Saw Once, and Half-Empty Doorways and Other Injuries. He also has a short story and poetry collection titled Love Like Bleeding Out With an Empty Gun in Your Hand.

PUNK NOIR, the online literary and arts magazine that looks at the world at its most askew, casting a bloodshot eye over the written word, film, music, television and more.

Subscribe now

Subscribe for a regular dose of hard-boiled flash fiction, straight to your inbox.

THIS SUBMISSION DEADLINE HAS NOW CLOSED. You can read the entire Dystopia series, here.

It’s that time again. Time to prove you’ve got real writing chops. You may not have a big deal with one of the top five but hell, you can write like a legend.

Let’s fucking go!

No matter what side of the political spectrum you sit on, it’s obvious to see we’re all living in pretty bleak times. Crashing birthrates, constant surveillance, overcrowded populations, chemicals in the food, propaganda from a gaslighting press, corrupt officials and that’s just for the moment. How about the future?

Can you write a gripping story about a dystopian future in just 200 words?

200 words MAX! A little more meat on the bone this time around. How about it?

BUT, BUT, BUT

People, please keep the fiction dystopian. I don’t want to know your political opinions or leanings at all and those pieces will be rejected. Nothing takes me out of great fiction faster than having to read the author’s real life opinion or hatred. You’ve got 200 words to write a kick arse story. Do that instead.

(All pieces MUST be in a Word Doc w/a 3rd person BIO)

Please give me some kind of a greeting, folks. Don’t just rudely attach your submission to an empty email and expect me to read it like you’re some kind of a literary megastar beyond simple salutations. I hate that.

Subs Open April 1st until April 14th, 2025

SUBMIT HERE
👇
(punknoirmag@yahoo.com)

Series Editor: Stephen J. Golds

Stephen J. Golds was born in North London, U.K, but has lived in Japan for most of his life. He speaks the language pretty well and makes great takoyaki.

He writes primarily in the noir and dirty realism genres and is the editor-in-chief of Punk Noir Press. Some of his writing influences are Charles Bukowski, John Fante, James M. Cain, Tobias Wolff, Sarah Kane and Jim Thompson.

He enjoys spending time with his daughters, reading books, traveling the world, boxing and listening to old Soul LPs. His books are Say Goodbye When I’m Gone, I’ll Pray When I’m Dying, Always the Dead, and Shadows Slow Dancing in Derelict Rooms. His poetry collections are Poems for Ghosts in Empty Tenement Windows I Thought I Saw Once, and Half-Empty Doorways and Other Injuries. He also has a short story and poetry collection titled Love Like Bleeding Out With an Empty Gun in Your Hand.

PUNK NOIR, the online literary and arts magazine that looks at the world at its most askew, casting a bloodshot eye over the written word, film, music, television and more.

Subscribe now

Subscribe for a regular dose of hard-boiled flash fiction, straight to your inbox.

THIS SUBMISSION DEADLINE HAS NOW CLOSED. You can read the entire Windmills series, here.

Don’t ask why … We just want to see what you can say about windmills in less than 1000 words. Any kind of windmill – Don Quixote, Dutch tulip fields, Mykonos, big wind turbines, metal ones pumping water, gym routines, Windmills of your Mind (remember Faye and Steve?). Real or imaginary. Old or new. All genres. Go for it!

(All pieces MUST be in a Word Doc w/a 3rd person BIO)

Subs Open February 20 (not a day sooner) and close February 27, 2025

SUBMIT HERE
👇
(punknoirmag@yahoo.com)

Series Editor: M.E Proctor

M.E. Proctor was born in Brussels and lives in Texas. The first book in her Declan Shaw PI series, Love You Till Tuesday (2024), came out from Shotgun Honey, with the follow up, Catch Me on a Blue Day, scheduled for 2025. She’s the author of a short story collection, Family and Other Ailments, and the co-author of a retro-noir novella, Bop City Swing. Her fiction has appeared in Vautrin, Tough, Rock and a Hard Place, Bristol Noir, Mystery Tribune, Shotgun Honey, Reckon Review, and Black Cat Weeklyamong others. She’s a Derringer nominee.

PUNK NOIR, the online literary and arts magazine that looks at the world at its most askew, casting a bloodshot eye over the written word, film, music, television and more.

Subscribe now

Subscribe for a regular dose of hard-boiled flash fiction, straight to your inbox.

THIS SUBMISSION DEADLINE HAS NOW CLOSED. You can read the entire My Bloody Valentine series, here.

Well, naturally. It’s February, the month for crimes of passion. Can you write about a Crime of passion in under one hundred words?

Yep, 100 words MAX.

This month is doubling down and leveling up.

(All pieces MUST be in a Word Doc w/a 3rd person BIO)

Subs Open April 1st until January 30th, 2025

SUBMIT HERE
👇
(punknoirmag@yahoo.com)

Series Editor: Stephen J. Golds

Stephen J. Golds was born in North London, U.K, but has lived in Japan for most of his life. He speaks the language pretty well and makes great takoyaki.

He writes primarily in the noir and dirty realism genres and is the editor-in-chief of Punk Noir Press. Some of his writing influences are Charles Bukowski, John Fante, James M. Cain, Tobias Wolff, Sarah Kane and Jim Thompson.

He enjoys spending time with his daughters, reading books, traveling the world, boxing and listening to old Soul LPs. His books are Say Goodbye When I’m Gone, I’ll Pray When I’m Dying, Always the Dead, and Shadows Slow Dancing in Derelict Rooms. His poetry collections are Poems for Ghosts in Empty Tenement Windows I Thought I Saw Once, and Half-Empty Doorways and Other Injuries. He also has a short story and poetry collection titled Love Like Bleeding Out With an Empty Gun in Your Hand.

PUNK NOIR, the online literary and arts magazine that looks at the world at its most askew, casting a bloodshot eye over the written word, film, music, television and more.

Subscribe now

Subscribe for a regular dose of hard-boiled flash fiction, straight to your inbox.