I’m a short story writer based in Osaka, Japan. I love exploring the dark edges of fiction, then slowly backing away before things get a bit too dark.

My words have appeared in Sky Island Journal, Elegant Literature, WestWord , Literary Veganism and many other journals and magazines.

When not writing, procrastinating, or feeling guilty for procrastinating instead of writing, I spend my time creating escape rooms and performing close-up magic at a weekly theater show.

Hi, I'm Ben Daggers.

Publications

I, Shinigami Sky Island Journal

Murmurs Elegant Literature

Louder than Words Crepuscular

Have You Seen Pinkie? Literary Veganism

Kowloon PRISM International (forthcoming)

Lost Letters Does It Have Pockets? (forthcoming)

One Piece at a Time Black Hare Press

Washed Away WestWord Prizewinners Anthology

At One with Nature Crepuscular

Advent Weird Christmas

Closing the Loop Fabula Argentea Magazine

Reporter Notes for the Artisanal Vendor of the Year Contest Egg+Frog

Augmenta Elegant Literature

Moonstarved Wild Greens

A Place in the Skies Intrepidus Ink

Night Shift Elegant Literature

It's Beginning to Smell a Lot Like Christmas Rat Bag Lit (forthcoming)

Miracle Blue Beyond the Quill (forthcoming)

A Prophecy Which Bears Fruit Foofaraw (forthcoming)

Alette in Lane Six is a Self-Righteous Bitch Foofaraw (forthcoming)

Awards and Accolades

2025 Winner, Writing Battle Microfiction Contest

2025 Shortlist, Flash 500 Q3 Contest

2025 Finalist, NYC Midnight 500 Word Contest

2025 4th place, NYC Midnight Rhyming Story (4/1700+)

2025 Longlist, NQW October Contest

2025 Shortlist, Flash 500 Q2 Contest

2025 Finalist, Wergle Flomp Humorous Poetry Contest

2025 Longlist, NQW February Contest

2024 Finalist, NYC Midnight Short Story Contest

2024 Finalist, Wergle Flomp Humorous Poetry Contest

2024 Finalist, WestWord Micro Contest

2024 Finalist, NYC Midnight Screenplay Contest

2023 6th place, NYC Midnight 250 Word Contest (6/4400+)

2023 Finalist, WestWord Hermit Crab Prize

2023 Longlist, Globe Soup Horror Contest

2024 Runner-up, Summer Writing Battle

2022 Runner-up, NYC Midnight Flash Fiction (2/3000+)

2022 3rd place, Autumn Writing Battle

"The voice in this piece is damn near perfect... I'd point out all the sentences I loved, but I'd just be repeating the entire story--this is 249 words that feel like MORE, but the pace is still breakneck and we land with my favorite last line of a story (one of the best I've ever read, honestly.)"

"The language is really wonderful, atmospheric and evocative, packing so much into little space."

"I, Shinigami is stellar flash fiction. It resists the temptation to get in its own way, and the transport it provides is astonishing. Your craft is tight; your pacing is perfect, and kinetic imagery saturates every layer of this narrative."

"The stakes are excellent. The story reads gloriously fast, demonstrating your keen understanding of structure and drama. There's no 'fat' here, just good, good reading."

Trey Dowell, Industry judge for my Writing Battle winner It Takes a Village

Jeff Somerfeld, Sky Island Journal editor

Ken Liu, Industry judge for my Writing Battle winner It Takes a Village

Rhonda Schlumpberger, Editor in Chief, Intrepidus Ink

"The voice in this piece is damn near perfect... I'd point out all the sentences I loved, but I'd just be repeating the entire story--this is 249 words that feel like MORE, but the pace is still breakneck and we land with my favorite last line of a story (one of the best I've ever read, honestly.)"

Trey Dowell, Industry judge for my Writing Battle winner It Takes a Village

"I, Shinigami is stellar flash fiction. It resists the temptation to get in its own way, and the transport it provides is astonishing. Your craft is tight; your pacing is perfect, and kinetic imagery saturates every layer of this narrative."

Jeff Somerfeld, Sky Island Journal editor

"The language is really wonderful, atmospheric and evocative, packing so much into little space."

Ken Liu, Industry judge for my Writing Battle winner It Takes a Village

"The stakes are excellent. The story reads gloriously fast, demonstrating your keen understanding of structure and drama. There's no 'fat' here, just good, good reading."

Rhonda Schlumpberger, Editor in Chief, Intrepidus Ink