Barely South Review, a literary magazine with a commitment to contemporary fiction, opens a call for a single short story to be featured in its Fall 2026 issue. The journal seeks narratives that demonstrate formal control and imaginative depth, offering a platform for voices that resonate beyond regional boundaries. This opportunity is defined by its clarity: one story, under 4,000 words, submitted without fee. The review's editorial stance favors work that is both accessible and artful, prioritizing prose that earns its effects through precision and emotional truth. While the magazine has historical ties to the South, it publishes writers from anywhere, looking for stories that engage with the complexities of place, identity, and human experience. The selected story will appear in a curated issue alongside other distinguished fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. For the writer, this is a chance to place a story in a respected literary journal with a national readership. The absence of a reading fee underscores the magazine's dedication to equitable access. The review's editorial team reads submissions with care, seeking narratives that linger in the mind long after the final sentence.