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The Metaworker Literary Magazine

Where great stories are forged.

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  • Home
  • About Us
    • About The Metaworker
    • Editorial Staff
    • Privacy Policy
  • Submit
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Wish List
  • Archives
    • The Metaworker Podcast
    • Gallery of Metaworker Artists
    • The Forge – A Monthly Newsletter
  • Contact Us
    • Volunteer at The Metaworker
    • Donations & Merch

Author: The Metaworker

We are The Metaworker, an online literary magazine where great stories are forged. Our mission is to publish great things to read. Send us the stuff you don’t think will be published anywhere else. We want new ideas, words that make us ponder, narratives that upend stereotypes. We don’t care if you’re an established writer or someone who’s never been published before, if you're a student or returning to writing after a career in something else, if you're 16 or 80, if you live in the United States, in India, in New Zealand, in Mexico – if you’ve got something you think needs to be shared with the world, submit it to us! We publish prose, poetry, art, and more on our website every Monday at noon PST, plus we sometimes post fun extras (like our podcast episodes) on Wednesdays or Fridays.
“The Gift” by E.B. Cotenord
Non-Fiction

“The Gift” by E.B. Cotenord

October 17, 2022January 8, 20240

Trigger Warning: sexual themes …

“Tangled” by Gary Carr
Fiction

“Tangled” by Gary Carr

October 14, 2022March 22, 20240

When I think about …

“On Visiting My Dear Friend” by Martina Reisz Newberry
Poetry

“On Visiting My Dear Friend” by Martina Reisz Newberry

October 10, 2022October 9, 20220

You and I will …

“Heavy Boots on a Sunday Morning” by Lea Murray
Fiction

“Heavy Boots on a Sunday Morning” by Lea Murray

October 7, 2022December 8, 20230

The Mother sifts through …

“Dorset” by J.R. Barner
Poetry

“Dorset” by J.R. Barner

October 3, 2022October 2, 20220

The most beautiful woman …

“Fury from the Skies” by Erin Swann
Fiction

“Fury from the Skies” by Erin Swann

September 30, 2022March 22, 20240

There’s a distinct scent …

“Seeking” by Pearce Green
Poetry

“Seeking” by Pearce Green

September 26, 2022September 25, 20220

my youth has drooped, …

“Ctrl+Z” by Deborah-Zenha Adams
Poetry

“Ctrl+Z” by Deborah-Zenha Adams

September 23, 2022September 25, 20220

(+_+)? A decade lost your …

“The Message Sent Through The Stars” by Catherine Yeates
Fiction

“The Message Sent Through The Stars” by Catherine Yeates

September 19, 2022March 22, 20240

The sky is bigger …

“Blueblack Pier” by Robin Wyatt Dunn
Fiction

“Blueblack Pier” by Robin Wyatt Dunn

September 16, 2022September 24, 20221

Sometimes I come out …

“A Danish Summer Night Spent With My Ghost” by Adam Curt Custock
Poetry

“A Danish Summer Night Spent With My Ghost” by Adam Curt Custock

September 12, 2022September 11, 20220

It’s a blue-lit Danish …

“Out of Body” by Liza Olson
Fiction

“Out of Body” by Liza Olson

September 9, 2022November 27, 20220

I am lying flat …

Three Microfictions by Ashley McCurry
Fiction / Micro

Three Microfictions by Ashley McCurry

September 5, 2022September 9, 20220

My Friends and I …

Five Haikus by Joshua St. Clare
Micro / Poetry

Five Haikus by Joshua St. Clare

September 2, 2022September 20, 20220

sand dollar the boy …

“What the Wind Brought” by Charles Haddox
Fiction

“What the Wind Brought” by Charles Haddox

August 29, 2022March 22, 20240

When dust rolls in …

“Misplaced Affections” by Sinclaire Dickinson
Poetry

“Misplaced Affections” by Sinclaire Dickinson

August 26, 2022September 10, 20220

A golden retriever of …

“Winter Haikus” by Laura Zaino
Micro / Poetry

“Winter Haikus” by Laura Zaino

August 22, 2022August 21, 20220

winter haiku dark lines …

“For Them” by Paul Attmere
Fiction

“For Them” by Paul Attmere

August 19, 2022August 14, 20220

Since our son was …

The Metaworker Podcast | 013 Ink Runs in Our Veins: Editor Chat Part 3
Podcast

The Metaworker Podcast | 013 Ink Runs in Our Veins: Editor Chat Part 3

August 17, 2022March 6, 20240

In this final episode of the special editors chat, Matthew, Elena, Mel and Cerid get personal. They talk about their own writing projects and how they approach their writing, they share what they get up to outside of their fiction lives and to finally wrap things up, they provide a list of great plugs from recent reads they loved.

Three Microfictions by Conor Barnes
Fiction / Micro

Three Microfictions by Conor Barnes

August 15, 2022March 23, 20240

The Dongle You thought …

“Fallen Leaves” by Rhys Lee
Poetry

“Fallen Leaves” by Rhys Lee

August 12, 2022September 3, 20220

Rhys Lee is a …

“The Firelets – A Fireside Tale” by Christiana Thomas
Fiction

“The Firelets – A Fireside Tale” by Christiana Thomas

August 8, 2022March 23, 20240

The wind howled and …

“The Last Atlantean” by David Henson
Poetry

“The Last Atlantean” by David Henson

August 5, 2022November 27, 20221

Atlantis Without Birds Marble …

The Metaworker Podcast | 012 Ink Runs in Our Veins: Editor Chat Part 2
Podcast

The Metaworker Podcast | 012 Ink Runs in Our Veins: Editor Chat Part 2

August 3, 2022March 6, 20240

Episode Description: Matthew, Elena, …

“The Day in Yellow” by Shelley Davenport
Fiction

“The Day in Yellow” by Shelley Davenport

August 1, 2022August 7, 20222

Afternoon. Deep afternoon. Long …

“For Scale” by Daune O’Brien
Poetry

“For Scale” by Daune O’Brien

July 29, 2022September 3, 20221

My mother sayslife is …

“Dart Away” by Jamie Spenser
Poetry

“Dart Away” by Jamie Spenser

July 25, 2022August 27, 20230

Jamie Spenser‘s poetry has …

Microfictions by Ken Poyner
Fiction / Micro

Microfictions by Ken Poyner

July 22, 2022August 14, 20220

FATE Quibble spends the …

Profile: Jeremy Bock
Editorial / Interview

Profile: Jeremy Bock

July 20, 2022October 30, 20230

Jeremy Bock is a …

“Layers” by Matthew Freeman
Poetry

“Layers” by Matthew Freeman

July 18, 2022September 3, 20220

Lots of human brainseventually …

“Susan” by Holly Day
Poetry

“Susan” by Holly Day

July 15, 2022July 10, 20220

I stood and watched …

The Metaworker Podcast | 011 Ink Runs in Our Veins: Editor Chat Part 1
Podcast

The Metaworker Podcast | 011 Ink Runs in Our Veins: Editor Chat Part 1

July 13, 2022March 6, 20240

Matthew, Elena, Mel, and new intern Cerid talk about how they fell in love with reading, then move into a history lesson about how The Metaworker got started, and how Mel and Cerid joined the team.

“Arizona” by Zoë Blaylock
Poetry

“Arizona” by Zoë Blaylock

July 11, 2022September 3, 20220

Emerging writer Zoë Blaylock …

“Seeds of Racism” by Dave Luker
Poetry

“Seeds of Racism” by Dave Luker

July 8, 2022July 10, 20220

At dawn, in the …

“Fireworks” by T.K. Howell
Fiction

“Fireworks” by T.K. Howell

July 4, 2022July 10, 20220

Vincent closed his laptop …

“Mothering” by Jazmine Aluma
Poetry

“Mothering” by Jazmine Aluma

July 1, 2022September 9, 20240

It’s the way I …

Microfiction by Jennifer Novotney
Fiction / Micro

Microfiction by Jennifer Novotney

June 27, 2022August 27, 20231

The Art Gallery I …

“Swamy” by Ranjit Kulkarni
Fiction

“Swamy” by Ranjit Kulkarni

June 24, 2022July 10, 20220

I sometimes wonder if …

“A Fair Deal” by Jon Kemsley
Fiction

“A Fair Deal” by Jon Kemsley

June 20, 2022July 29, 20241

Featuring original art by …

“Shovelling” by Frank William Finney
Poetry

“Shovelling” by Frank William Finney

June 17, 2022July 10, 20220

Hole here.  Hole there.No …

“That Damn Selfie” by Laurel Osterkamp
Fiction

“That Damn Selfie” by Laurel Osterkamp

June 13, 2022June 12, 20221

If only Joyce hadn’t …

“Another Life” by Helen Nancy Meneilly
Poetry

“Another Life” by Helen Nancy Meneilly

June 10, 2022December 10, 20240

Helen Nancy Meneilly is …

“Alligators to Ashes” by Margaret S Mandell
Non-Fiction

“Alligators to Ashes” by Margaret S Mandell

June 6, 2022April 30, 20234

Prologue to a Memoir …

“A Case for Violins” by Frank William Finney
Poetry

“A Case for Violins” by Frank William Finney

June 3, 2022June 23, 20220

Pulled from  the mouth …

“Fever Dream” by Rebecca M Ross
Poetry

“Fever Dream” by Rebecca M Ross

May 30, 2022May 29, 20220

Rona piles rice from …

Four Haikus by Constance Mello
Micro / Poetry

Four Haikus by Constance Mello

May 27, 2022May 22, 20220

When I awake I  …

“The Burial Begins Slow” by Robin Wyatt Dunn
Fiction

“The Burial Begins Slow” by Robin Wyatt Dunn

May 23, 2022May 22, 20221

The burial begins slow, …

“Text Me When You Get Home” by Helen Nancy Meneilly
Poetry

“Text Me When You Get Home” by Helen Nancy Meneilly

May 20, 2022June 5, 20221

night falls like a …

“Inaccessible” by Connie Woodring
Poetry

“Inaccessible” by Connie Woodring

May 16, 2022May 15, 20220

I was afraid of …

“Lava” by Cameron Morse
Poetry

“Lava” by Cameron Morse

May 13, 2022May 8, 20220

From my hurt back …

“The Arc” by Nath Oddson
Fiction

“The Arc” by Nath Oddson

May 9, 2022May 10, 20221

From Atlanta to New …

“How to Use the Supermarket When You Are Losing Your Mind” by Rebecca M Ross
Poetry

“How to Use the Supermarket When You Are Losing Your Mind” by Rebecca M Ross

May 6, 2022May 1, 20220

When in a supermarket …

“Retribution” by Ash Evan Lippert
Poetry

“Retribution” by Ash Evan Lippert

May 2, 2022May 1, 20220

Ash Evan Lippert is …

“What Lay Beneath” by Christine Yount Jones
Non-Fiction

“What Lay Beneath” by Christine Yount Jones

April 29, 2022May 1, 20220

In the sweltering summer …

“I’ve Barely Been to College” by Kailey Tucker
Poetry

“I’ve Barely Been to College” by Kailey Tucker

April 25, 2022April 24, 20220

Autumn snapped my spine like …

“Dog Joy” by Judy Guilliams-Tapia
Non-Fiction

“Dog Joy” by Judy Guilliams-Tapia

April 22, 2022April 17, 20224

I am sitting on …

“Close to the Fire” by Bill Kitcher
Fiction

“Close to the Fire” by Bill Kitcher

April 18, 2022March 23, 20240

Jerry backed the ’68 …

“Plastic Hearts” by Chella Courington
Fiction

“Plastic Hearts” by Chella Courington

April 15, 2022April 10, 20220

At fifteen Anne bought …

“Getting Somewhere” by Cameron Morse
Poetry

“Getting Somewhere” by Cameron Morse

April 11, 2022April 10, 20221

The more times I …

“Mortuary Rites of the Blattidae” by Patrick M Hare
Fiction

“Mortuary Rites of the Blattidae” by Patrick M Hare

April 8, 2022March 23, 20240

The first cockroach appeared …

Nominations and Internships
Editorial

Nominations and Internships

April 6, 2022February 26, 20250

Hello folks! It’s Matthew. …

“A Winter Prayer for Color” by Ash Evan Lippert
Poetry

“A Winter Prayer for Color” by Ash Evan Lippert

April 4, 2022April 3, 20221

Now is the time …

“Hoops” by Stephen Kingsnorth
Poetry

“Hoops” by Stephen Kingsnorth

April 1, 2022March 27, 20221

In vest, short shorts, …

“Rare” by Joanne Howard
Fiction

“Rare” by Joanne Howard

March 28, 2022March 20, 20230

Two a.m., well into …

“Pandemic Yoga” by Judith Beth Cohen
Fiction / Micro

“Pandemic Yoga” by Judith Beth Cohen

March 25, 2022May 16, 20250

At the Senior Center, …

The Metaworker Podcast | 010 Boy, Deer, Chair by Sam Asher
Podcast

The Metaworker Podcast | 010 Boy, Deer, Chair by Sam Asher

March 23, 2022March 6, 20240

Episode Description: Matthew, Elena, …

“The Calling” by Christina Eagen
Poetry

“The Calling” by Christina Eagen

March 21, 2022March 20, 20220

without askingearthquakes rumbled to …

“Undisturbed” by Russell Willis
Poetry

“Undisturbed” by Russell Willis

March 18, 2022December 10, 20240

Ethicist and online education …

“Indistinguishable” by Kenton K. Yee
Fiction

“Indistinguishable” by Kenton K. Yee

March 14, 2022March 23, 20240

When I was in …

“Eyelash Extensions” by Clive Aaron Gill
Fiction / Micro

“Eyelash Extensions” by Clive Aaron Gill

March 11, 2022March 20, 20230

Brittani, the unmarried maid …

“Meditation in an Office Tower” by Dale Cottingham
Poetry

“Meditation in an Office Tower” by Dale Cottingham

March 4, 2022March 15, 20220

Thrusting one creased pant …

“Trenches, Rats, and Watercolors” by Geoff Watkinson
Non-Fiction

“Trenches, Rats, and Watercolors” by Geoff Watkinson

February 28, 2022February 27, 20220

My internship duties in …

“The Art of Remembering Your History” by Christian Ward
Poetry

“The Art of Remembering Your History” by Christian Ward

February 25, 2022February 20, 20220

I do the same …

“Loch Ness Monster in the Rain at Night” by David Henson
Poetry

“Loch Ness Monster in the Rain at Night” by David Henson

February 21, 2022March 23, 20245

A fang of lightning …

“Suburban Complaint #1988—Skunked” by Peter Dabbene
Non-Fiction

“Suburban Complaint #1988—Skunked” by Peter Dabbene

February 18, 2022March 20, 20230

It was late at …

“Scrutiny” by Tim Frank
Fiction

“Scrutiny” by Tim Frank

February 14, 2022March 15, 20220

I played with the …

“So Many Ways to Live” by Victoria Woolf Bailey
Poetry

“So Many Ways to Live” by Victoria Woolf Bailey

February 11, 2022February 13, 20220

When that moment arrives(by …

“In the Willow Garden” by Isabel O’Hara Walsh
Fiction

“In the Willow Garden” by Isabel O’Hara Walsh

February 7, 2022February 13, 20220

Down in the willow …

“Mussel” by Christian Ward
Poetry

“Mussel” by Christian Ward

February 4, 2022August 12, 20220

Every shell is dipped …

“In the Kingdom of Songora” by Linda McMullen
Fiction

“In the Kingdom of Songora” by Linda McMullen

January 31, 2022January 30, 20220

James was a senior …

“Drowned Man Lives Again” by John Grey
Poetry

“Drowned Man Lives Again” by John Grey

January 28, 2022January 23, 20220

There was a lot …

“Abracadabra” by Christina Marable
Fiction

“Abracadabra” by Christina Marable

January 24, 2022March 15, 20220

The man I loved …

“Interrogative Sestina” by Mark J. Mitchell
Poetry

“Interrogative Sestina” by Mark J. Mitchell

January 21, 2022January 16, 20220

Who is the bride …

The Metaworker Podcast | 009 Ruins by Mary Paulson
Podcast

The Metaworker Podcast | 009 Ruins by Mary Paulson

January 19, 2022March 6, 20240

Episode Description: In this …

“Passing Through” by Dale Cottingham
Poetry

“Passing Through” by Dale Cottingham

January 17, 2022March 20, 20230

“There is no answer” …

“Out of the Picture” by Lou H. Second
Poetry

“Out of the Picture” by Lou H. Second

January 14, 2022January 9, 20220

A painter lives in …

Microfiction by Megha Nayar
Fiction / Micro

Microfiction by Megha Nayar

January 10, 2022January 15, 20220

Grievances David calls as …

“Cherry” by Stephen Kingsnorth
Poetry

“Cherry” by Stephen Kingsnorth

January 7, 2022January 2, 20221

Why do I keep …

“An American Experience” by Dale Cottingham
Poetry

“An American Experience” by Dale Cottingham

January 3, 2022January 2, 20220

While I waited at …

“The prison is like a Victorian asylum” by Robin Wyatt Dunn
Non-Fiction

“The prison is like a Victorian asylum” by Robin Wyatt Dunn

December 31, 2021December 26, 20211

The prison is like …

“In My Space” by Anthony Ward
Poetry

“In My Space” by Anthony Ward

December 27, 2021December 10, 20240

I look into my …

“In Between” by Kelly Claytor
Fiction

“In Between” by Kelly Claytor

December 24, 2021March 23, 20242

Are you dead, Maria? …

“Before” by Margaret Krusinga
Poetry

“Before” by Margaret Krusinga

December 20, 2021December 10, 20240

Margaret Krusinga lives on …

“All my Ex-Employees are Crazy” by Joel Robert Ferguson
Poetry

“All my Ex-Employees are Crazy” by Joel Robert Ferguson

December 17, 2021December 16, 20210

The polar bears are …

“Maybe Next Time, Pat” by Mike McLaughlin
Fiction

“Maybe Next Time, Pat” by Mike McLaughlin

December 13, 2021December 16, 20210

The man’s souvenirs were …

The Metaworker Podcast | 008 Rangoli Man by Mina Rozario
Podcast

The Metaworker Podcast | 008 Rangoli Man by Mina Rozario

November 10, 2021March 6, 20240

Matthew, Marina, Melissa, and Elena talk about Mina Rozario’s flash fiction fantasy story, Rangoli Man. We gush about saying a lot in very few words, the utopian fairy-tale tone, and the story’s fascinating dive into Indian culture.

The Metaworker Podcast | 007 Minotaurs by Lane Talbot
Podcast

The Metaworker Podcast | 007 Minotaurs by Lane Talbot

October 6, 2021March 6, 20240

Episode Description: Matthew, Marina, …

The Metaworker Podcast | 002 The Dog in You by Omar Hussain
Podcast

The Metaworker Podcast | 002 The Dog in You by Omar Hussain

July 28, 2021February 1, 20240

Episode Description:  The Metaworker …

The Metaworker Podcast | 001 The Dinner Party by Alexa Hailey
Podcast

The Metaworker Podcast | 001 The Dinner Party by Alexa Hailey

July 25, 2021February 1, 20240

Episode Description:  In this …

“African Stamps” by Brecht De Poortere
Fiction

“African Stamps” by Brecht De Poortere

July 23, 2021July 18, 20211

In my first memory …

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