Flash

Flash — short fiction, typically 1,000 words or fewer. 14 currently open of 14 total.

Geist 21st Annual Literal Literary Postcard Story Contest

Open

payFirst Prize: $500; Second Prize: $250; Third Prize: $150; winning entries published in Geist and on geist.com

window— - October 30, 2026*

fee$25 (includes one-year Geist subscription; digital for international); additional entries $5

verified2026-10-26

sourceSource

Details

window noteDeadline extended: 'Deadline: October 30, 2026 at 11:59PM PST.' Submittable Ends on 2026-10-31 07:00Z (= Oct 30, 11:59 PM Pacific). Postal entries must be postmarked by the deadline. Blind judging.

pay whenunknown

genrefiction or non-fiction postcard story (story + postcard image with a clear connection)

wordsmaximum length is 500 words

simultaneousunknown (not stated on contest page)

flagSubmittable form text still says 'The deadline is October 16, 2026'; contest page and Submittable end date show the extension to October 30.

Visit

Orion's Belt

Open

pay8 US cents per word for prose; US$40 flat per poem

windowSeptember 1, 2026 - October 31, 2026*

feenone ("accepting free submissions via DUOSUMA")

verified2026-10-26

sourceSource

Details

window noteAutumn window 1 September – 31 October (Publishing in December). Page also: Story and poem submissions are open until October 31, 2026.

pay whenafter publication (via PayPal)

genreliterary speculative micro/flash fiction; poetry

wordsmicro up to 400 words; flash 401–1,000 words; poetry up to 5 poems / 10 pages

simultaneousyes ("Simultaneous submissions are welcome")

flagSubmit via Duosuma only (not email) for fiction/poetry.

Visit

Raleigh Review Flash Fiction Prize (2027 contest)

Open

payFirst Prize includes $300 USD and publication in the Spring issue; finalists receive the standard $15 payment along with publication (winners outside the USA are paid in copies)

windowOctober 1, 2026 - October 31, 2026*

fee$7 USD

verified2026-10-26

sourceSource

Details

window note"Opens via Submittable on October 1. Deadline is October 31." Submittable form "2027 RR Flash Fiction Contest | Up to 2 Works" Ends on 2026-11-01 04:00:00Z (11:59 PM Eastern Oct 31).

pay whenunknown

genreflash fiction (up to two unpublished works per entry); judged by the Raleigh Review Fiction Team

wordsno longer than 1000 words each; up to 2 works per entry, combined in one file

simultaneousyes ("Simultaneous submissions are acceptable.")

flagSubmittable header still says "Fee Free Submissions for our Flash Fiction Prize will be open August 1 - Oct 31", but the prize page and the live form charge $7 and say it opens October 1.

Visit

Split Lip Magazine

Open

pay$100 per author for poems, memoirs, flash, fiction, art, and interviews/reviews (web issues); $50 for mini-reviews

windowOctober 1, 2026 - October 31, 2026*

fee$3 Tip Jar in October (free for Black writers year-round; free months Jan/Mar/May/Sep/Nov)

verified2026-10-26

sourceSource

Details

window noteOctober is a Tip Jar-only month (Tip Jar Flash form live; Ends 2026-12-16 05:00Z). Free categories for Black writers live all year (except July and second half of December). Next free month: November.

pay whenunknown

genreflash fiction; micro fiction

wordsflash under 1,000 words; Submittable also: micro fiction under 400 words

simultaneousyes (We accept simultaneous submissions.)

flagGuidelines: "As much as we like sci-fi, romance, mystery and adventure, please, no genre fiction" — literary flash market, not speculative.

Visit

The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest 2026

Open

payGrand Prize $1000; Second Place $500; Third Place $300; Finalists $150; all published in the December 2026 issue

window— - November 15, 2026*

fee$14 for two micros / $23 for up to four micros

verified2026-10-26

sourceSource

Details

window noteSubmittable Ends on 2026-11-16 05:00:00Z (midnight Eastern, end of Nov 15). Up-to-4 form: https://smokelong.submittable.com/submit/363778/the-smokelong-grand-micro-contest-2026-up-to-4-micros. Free-entry request offer ended August 20, 2026. Prizes paid via PayPal or Zelle.

pay whenunknown

genremicro narratives (fiction, non-fiction, hybrid that lean poetic; no lineated poetry); previously published micros considered; translations welcome

words250 words or fewer for each micro (excluding title); 2 micros per entry (separate up-to-4 form), all in one document

simultaneousconsidered (withdraw immediately if accepted elsewhere)

Visit

Fractured and Fused Prize

Open

payWinner $3,000 + publication; 2nd $300; 3rd $200 (contest labeled Prize $3500); all entries considered for publication

windowSeptember 21, 2026 - November 22, 2026*

fee$20 reading fee per entry; free for historically marginalized writers until cap of twenty-five free submissions

verified2026-10-26

sourceSource

Details

window noteSubmissions open from September 21, 2026, to November 22, 2026. Shortlist within twelve to fourteen weeks of close.

pay whenunknown

genreflash fiction; Guest Judge Richard Mirabella

wordsup to two stories ≤1,000 words each per entry (single document)

simultaneousyes ("Simultaneous submissions are okay"; notify/withdraw if placed elsewhere)

Visit

LitMag's Anton Chekhov Award for Flash Fiction (2026)

Open

payFirst Prize: $1,250 + publication in LitMag + agency review; three finalists will receive $100 each

window— - November 30, 2026*

feeContest Fee: $18 per story

verified2026-10-26

sourceSource

Details

window note"Deadline: November 30, 2026". Submittable Ends on 2026-12-01 05:00:00Z (end of Nov 30 Eastern). litmag.com/submit: "The contest is open." Results announced summer 2027.

pay whenunknown

genreflash fiction (only previously unpublished short stories); judged by the editors of the magazine

wordsbetween 500 and 1,500 words (Word doc or PDF)

simultaneousyes (litmag.com/submit: "Yes, of course. But please withdraw your submission immediately via Submittable if another publication beats us to your work.")

Visit

Hawthorn & Ash (Iron Faerie Publishing)

Open

pay0.01c per word (between $1AUD and $5AUD)

windowJanuary 15, 2026 - December 18, 2026*

feenone (submission guide: "you will never pay to have your work published with us")

verified2026-10-26

sourceSource

Details

window noteSubmissions are accepted every year from January 15 – December 18 (11:59pm AWST; UTC+08:00). Email ironfaeriepublishing@yahoo.com; subject Hawthorn & Ash – [Story Title] – [Author Name].

pay whenunknown

genreFantasy, Speculative Fiction and Horror short stories; No Science Fiction; Briar & Bracken (Hawthorn & Ash Vol 8, 2026)

wordsBetween 100 and 500 words, excluding title (Maximum of 1 500 word story and 5 drabbles per author)

simultaneousno ("Simultaneous Submissions : No")

Visit

NUNUM

Open

pay$20 (CDN) upon acceptance (Submittable: payment is $20 for both flash fiction and art, excluding Done in a Hundred and Opolis anthologies)

window— - December 21, 2026*

fee$3 (USD) (Winter 2026 Issue - Flash Fiction form)

verified2026-10-26

sourceSource

Details

window noteSubmittable: NUNUM's Winter 2026 Issue - Flash Fiction ($3) Ends on Dec 21, 2026 11:59 PM (2026-12-22 05:00Z, adjust-midnight). Also live: Winter Visual Art (Ends Dec 23), Feedback + 3 Day Response ($20) and Done in a Hundred / Opolis anthology forms (Ends Oct 31, 2026).

pay whenupon acceptance

genreflash fiction

words500 words max

simultaneousyes (Simultaneous Submissions no worries, just let us know)

flagDone in a Hundred and Opolis anthology forms on the same Submittable are excluded from the $20 payment (digital contributor copies only).

Visit

Chestnut Review

Open

payUS $120 per piece

windowOctober 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026*

feenone stated on the Flash block (Prose category on the same page is $5; Poetry lists free submissions)

verified2026-10-26

sourceSource

Details

window noteSubmittable reading periods: Oct 1-Dec 31: reading for Spring Issue (April 15th release). Flash form live with Submit 2026-10-19 (no Ends-on date).

pay whenon publication (delivered on publication)

genreflash fiction and flash creative nonfiction

wordsone piece of up to 1000 words

simultaneousyes (Simultaneous submissions are encouraged)

Visit

Fish Flash Fiction Prize 2027 (Fish Publishing)

Open

pay1st: €1,000; 2nd: Online Writing Course; 3rd: Online Writing Course; top ten stories published in the FISH ANTHOLOGY 2027

window— - February 28, 2027*

fee€16 online / €11 subsequent entries (post €19 / €11); optional critique €45

verified2026-10-26

sourceSource

Details

window noteSummary: Open. Closes: 28 Feb '27. Results: 18 April '27. Anthology published July '27. Online entry (login) or post.

pay whenunknown

genreflash fiction; no restriction on theme or style; any nationality writing in English; judge Jeremy Desmon

words300 words maximum (title not included)

simultaneousunknown

Visit

Bridport Prize 2027: Flash Fiction

Open

pay1st: £1,000; 2nd: £500; 3rd: £250; Highly Commended 5 x £100; publication in the Bridport Prize Anthology

window— - May 31, 2027*

fee£12 per flash fiction

verified2026-10-26

sourceSource

Details

window note"The deadline date for entries is 23:59 (UK time) on 31 May 2027." Submittable form Ends on 2027-05-31 23:00:00Z and is live now. Homepage copy: "The 2027 competition opens on 15 November 2026."

pay whenunknown

genreflash fiction, any subject; writers of any nationality writing in English aged 16+; anonymous judging

words250 words maximum (title not counted); no limit on number of entries

simultaneousyes ("Simultaneous submissions are allowed but will become ineligible should they win a prize elsewhere, be published...")

flagStart date conflict: bridportprize.org.uk says the 2027 competition opens on 15 November 2026, but the Submittable entry form is already live.

Visit

CRAFT

Open

pay$100 for original flash

windowYear-round.

feenone ("We do not charge submission fees")

verified2026-10-26

sourceSource

Details

pay whenunknown

genreflash fiction; flash creative nonfiction

wordsup to 1,000 words

simultaneousyes ("We review simultaneous submissions")

Visit

Flash Frog

Open

pay$25 per story

windowYear-round*

feeunknown

verified2026-10-26

sourceSource

Details

window noteexcept January (contest only) and July (ghost story only)

pay whenupon publication

genreflash fiction

words1000 maximum

simultaneousencouraged

Visit

Fractured Lit

Open

pay$50 original micro; $75 original flash

windowYear-round.

feenone ("we do not charge any submission fees")

verified2026-10-26

sourceSource

Details

pay whenunknown

genremicro fiction; flash fiction

wordsmicro 400 words or less; flash 401–1,000 words

simultaneousyes ("We accept simultaneous submissions")

Visit

Okay Donkey

Open

pay$25 honorarium for each flash fiction or poem ("as of August 2026 we pay contributors a $25 honorarium for each flash fiction or poem that we publish on the site")

windowYear-round*

feeFree regular submissions open on the 1st of each month (except December) until the cap; when capped (as on 2026-10-19), paid Tip Jar ($2.50) and Expedited ($4.00) forms stay open

verified2026-10-26

sourceSource

Details

window noteWe're open for free submissions on the 1st of every month but December and stay open until we hit our submissions cap.

pay whenunknown

genreflash fiction; poetry

wordsflash maximum 1,200 words (one piece or one batch of micros totaling up to 1,200); one poem per author per period (no strict poetry word limit; they tend to like poems that fit on one page)

simultaneousokay ("Simultaneous submissions are okay, but we do not accept multiple submissions.")

Visit

SmokeLong Quarterly

Open

pay$100/story or $150/story with audio

windowYear-round*

feeGeneral Submissions $4.40 during the current paid-submissions reading period (free during unpaid windows; dates not stated); Multiple Submission $12.00; with Feedback $30.00

verified2026-10-26

sourceSource

Details

window noteSubmittable 2026-10-19: 'now in a paid-submissions reading period'; General Submissions form live ($4.40) with no end date.

pay whenupon publication in the quarterly issue

genreflash narrative (fiction, nonfiction, hybrid)

wordsup to 1000 words

simultaneousconsidered

Visit

Flash Fiction Online

Closed

pay$100 for each original story; $36 for reprints (2026 rate)

windowUnknown*

feenone stated on this form

verified2026-10-26

sourceSource

Details

window noteSubmittable 2026-10-19: no open calls. Update 10/6/2026: CLOSED for general submissions; the Oct '26 General Submission period was capped at 450 submissions and closed Oct 6. Next period not stated (schedule announced on Patreon/Bluesky). Prior Human Shaped themed call ran Sept 1–30, 2026.

pay whenunknown

genrespeculative flash fiction

words500-1,000 words (firm)

simultaneousyes (SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS – YES)

Visit