Our Mission
In Short: A Journal of Flash Nonfiction is an independent literary magazine for short-form creative nonfiction. We publish flash nonfiction of 1,000 words or fewer, micros of 400 words or fewer, and short-shorts of 100 words or fewer.
By publishing short-form work, we aim to provide a platform for writers who lack the time and resources typically needed for publication. Our goal is to become a leading outlet for flash nonfiction, known for our commitment to quality, diversity, and access.
Read more about our flash focus on our “Why Flash?” page and what we’re looking for in “Submissions.”
Our Staff
Founder & Editor in Chief
Steph Liberatore (she/her) is a writer and professor in the English Department at George Mason University, where she teaches creative nonfiction, literature, and advanced composition for undergraduates. Her writing has appeared in River Teeth, Short Reads, Cream City Review, Inside Higher Ed, and elsewhere.
When she isn’t writing or editing or chasing after her two young kids, Steph is working on her first book, an investigative memoir.
Managing Editor
Drew Hunter (she/her) is in her first year at George Mason University’s MFA program in Fiction. Originally from Southern Virginia, she graduated from George Mason in 2026 with a BFA in Creative Writing and a minor in American Sign Language. She is now a graduate professional assistant and assistant fiction editor for Mason’s So to Speak. You can usually find her reading when she should be writing and writing when she should be reading.
Our Readers
Cynthia Ajuzie (she/her) is a Nigerian American writer from Baltimore, Maryland. She is a former high school English teacher and an MFA graduate from Rutgers University-Newark and her work can be found in the literary magazines, Quarter After Eight, Brittle Paper, The Ekphrastic Review, and The Citron Review.
Erica M. Dolson (she/her)’s nonfiction has been published in Culinate.com (now defunct), Full-Stop Magazine, Critical Read, Hippocampus (“Writing Life”), Inside Higher Ed, Bright Flash Literary Review, and, most recently Five Minutes. She enjoys practicing yoga, doing aqua-cise, reading, and walking her dog Miss Daisy.
Brittany V. Miles (she/her) writes fiction and creative nonfiction exploring motherhood, mental illness, and generational silence within Black families. Her essay “Feral,” published in MUTHA Magazine, was nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and her fiction has been shortlisted for The Letter Review Prize. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in Newsweek, Business Insider, The Seattle Times, Raleigh Review, The Bookends Review, Five Minutes, and 88 Unashamed Black Mental Health Stories. More at morethanguardians.com.
K.R. Mullins (she/her) is a writer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in Brevity, New England Review, Gulf Coast, and others. She is the fiction editor of Phoebe and serves on the board of Nimrod International Journal. She lives in Washington, DC. Follow her writing at www.krmullins.com.
After a long career in public education and youth advocacy, Deb Fenwick (she/her) lives and writes just outside Chicago, in Oak Park, Illinois. Her work has appeared in Hippocampus, Pithead Chapel, Cleaver, and elsewhere.
Mya Martin (she/her) served as Editorial intern in Spring ’26. She is currently a senior at George Mason University, pursuing a BA in English with a concentration in creative writing. Outside of short stories, she’s drawn to writing that makes complex information accessible to all. Off the page, she’ll never turn down an opportunity to eat out, mostly because it gives her more recipes to try at home.
Megan Cobb (they/them) served as Editorial Intern in Fall 2025. They graduated from George Mason University in Spring 2026, with a BA in English, a concentration in Writing and Rhetoric, and a minor in Dynamic Publishing. In their free time, Megan loves to bake, craft, and obsess over vampires.
Llalan Fowler (she/her) is a writer, hiker, back-seat driver, trombone player, craft beer drinker, tree hugger, cat lover, heavy napper, and lifelong bookseller.
Rochelle L. Harris Cox (she/her) is from Northwest Georgia. Her essays and poetry have appeared in Wild Roof Journal, Crab Orchard Review, Rappahannock Review, Fourth Genre, and elsewhere. She lives on a smallish mountain in the foothills of the Appalachians with just enough cats, a fledgling vineyard, and impending chickens.
Chris McGlone (he/him/y’all) has an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from George Mason and a PhD in Photogrammetry from Purdue. His CNF has appeared in several journals and he has published a memoir, Book of Days: Two Years, Two Dogs, Two Cancers. Interests include his dog Darla, Irish guitar, and gluten-free baking.
Shellie Kalinsky (she/her) is a writer and editor living in New Jersey. She holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from George Mason University. Her work has appeared in Seaside Gothic, Feminine Collective, Literary Mama, Madison Review Extended Cut, and has been recognized in the Rinehart Nonfiction and the Shelley A. Marshall Fiction Contests.
Elena Macdonald (they/she) is a lesbian writer from Northern Virginia. They are a co-editor for Aftertouch Magazine. They received their MFA in Creative Writing from George Mason University. Their work has been featured in Kitchen Table Quarterly, The Ekphrastic Review, and elsewhere. You can find more about them at www.elenamacdonald.com.
The author of essays in the New York Times Magazine, Ms., Next Avenue and NPR, Marcia Yudkin (she/her) advocates for introverts through her newsletter, Introvert UpThink. Literary magazines showcasing her work include Tiny Molecules, Stillpoint Arts Quarterly, The Mackinaw, and Kitchen Table Quarterly. She lives in Goshen, Massachusetts (population 960).
Kim Ruff (she/her) is an Air Force Veteran and published essayist with 11 years of experience in proposal management. Her background includes roles at Literary Mama, the Wetumpka Herald, The Franklin Institute, and Better Said Than Done storytelling troupe. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from George Mason University, where she was a writing fellow and graduate instructor.
Lyn Hainge, MS, (she/her) is a newly-minted fiction writer and longtime writer of non-fiction. The daughter of an immigrant, her professional life (managing health care organizations) has focused on services to the uninsured, language minorities, or those otherwise struggling to access care. She’s a lover of music from opera to jazz, a GMU Distinguished Alumnus (2012) and a resilient great grandmother with a thirst for new beginnings.
Serena Grant (she/her) is a senior at George Mason University pursuing a BFA in Creative Writing. You can find her work in the Diamond Gazette and Volition, and you can find her in the library or on a hiking trail.
Former Interns
Editorial Intern
Mya Martin (she/her) served as Editorial intern in Spring ’26. She’s currently a senior at George Mason University, pursuing a BA in English with a concentration in creative writing. Outside of short stories, she’s drawn to writing that makes complex information accessible to all. Off the page, she’ll never turn down an opportunity to eat out, mostly because it gives her more recipes to try at home.
Editorial Intern
Josephine Slayter (she/her) was Editorial Intern in Spring ’26. She received her BA in English from George Mason University with a minor in Dynamic Publishing. In addition to her work at In Short, Josephine was Lead Publicist for Stillhouse Press, a student-run, indie press based in Fairfax, VA. She is currently pursuing an MFA in Fiction. If she’s not at work, she’s probably: A) playing D&D, B) wishing she was playing D&D, or C) wistfully watching other people play D&D online.
Editorial Intern
Megan Cobb (they/them) served as Editorial Intern for In Short in Fall 2025. They are a senior at George Mason University studying English with a concentration in Writing and Rhetoric and a minor in Dynamic Publishing, an editor for The Forge, and a Writing Center consultant. In their free time, Megan loves to bake, craft, and obsess over vampires.
Senior Editorial Intern
Camille Rimbawa (she/her) served as Editorial Intern for In Short in Fall 2024 and as Senior Editorial Intern in Spring 2025. She graduated from George Mason University in 2025 with a BA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. She enjoys reading, cooking and beading in her free time.
Senior Editorial Intern
Jasmine Haskins (she/her) served as an Editorial Intern in Spring 2023 and then as Senior Editorial Intern in the Fall 2024. She earned her BA in English with a Concentration in Creative Writing from George Mason University, with a minor in Professional and Technical Writing. While she works to continue to pursue her passions for Publication, Editing, and Program Management she is excited to watch and see what the future of the magazine will look like. Working with the In Short team has been a college experience she will never forget, and she is so grateful for everything Steph and her fellow interns have taught her.
Editorial Intern
Dan Piper (he/him) served as an Editorial Intern for In Short in Spring 2023. His weakness for memoir brought him to the magazine, and working with Steph and Jasmine easily became the highlight of his senior year. Dan is forever juggling manuscripts, now working as the Editorial Assistant for the Council on Social Work Education.
