Monday, July 13, 2009

Call for Flash Fiction Submissions/Anthology

What I find particularly attractive about this publication opportunity for this Microfiction/Prose Poetry Anthology, which will be edited by Holly Howitt and Jan Fortune-Wood, is that writers may submit pieces that have been published online or in journals/magazines--as long as they own full copyright.

Deadline: August 15th, 2009

Payment: All those whose work is selected will receive a copy of the anthology.

Submit pieces of flash/micro fiction that are no longer than 600 words—no minimum length.

See full guidelines at Microfiction/Prose Poetry Anthology - Call for Submissions!

Friday, May 29, 2009

Revenge-Lit Flash Fiction Contest

I apologize for the short notice on this flash fiction contest opportunity, but it sounds like fun--and there is NO ENTRY fee :-)

DEADLINE : June 12, 2009
Revenge-Lit Contest
http://revengelit.blogspot.com/

In celebration of the launch of Terry Griggs's "Thought You Were Dead", Biblioasis and Seen Reading are teaming up to help writers unleash the proverbial murder in their heart.

Write a flash fiction piece of 250 words or so on the (fictional) literary critic whose body once filled the chalk outline and what he or she did to get there and send it to
http://revengelit.blogspot.com/ by June 12.

The best of the entries will be published as they are received at Revenge-Lit Contest http://revengelit.blogspot.com/ Winning entry receives $100 (presumably in Canadian funds), publication in *CNQ: Canadian Notes & Queries*, and about $1,000 worth of Biblioasis books.

Check the site for details. Revenge-Lit Contest
http://revengelit.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

The Bulwer-Lytton Contest--give it a try!

The Bulwer-Lytton Contest

DEADLINE: April 15, 2009

GENRE: Short stories within a 50-60 word limit

DETAILS: Edward Bulwer-Lytton wrote "It was a dark and stormy night..." and this competition seeks the best (as in worst) opening lines in any genre of fiction. The line must be a single sentence as long as you wish, but a limit of 50 - 60 words is recommended.

You may enter as many times as you wish.

PRIZE: "a pittance"
URL: http://www.bulwer-lytton.com/

Give it a try. Who knows where it could lead . . .

All the way back in 1996, I entered the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest, and my piece was selected for inclusion in the Ol’ Blue Wasn’t Much of a Huntin’ Dog chapter.

I wasn’t really thinking, Oh, I think I’ll write a flash fiction piece for the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest. Back then, I had never even heard of flash fiction. And more importantly, my only writing credit to date had been a letter to the editor of the Vincent Bros. Review, but it wasn’t for lack of trying to get my work published. I tried. And tried. And tried. And then I tried some more.

Then I heard about the Bulwer contest, and I figured, why not. Why not try to get my work published—under the false pretense that I was trying to write something bad. When truly, at the time, I was beginning to think everything I wrote was destined to be bad.

And of course, with having my story placed in the Dark and Stormy Rides Again Anthology of 2006, I had the confirmation I needed . . . I could write badly, and more importantly with little to no effort!

This was my winning entry in 1996 . . .

On that dusty day when the Wild Thing Diner surrendered its access road to the new Route 9 interchange, Gus the cook, and Fritzy the waitress, got it on across the cigarette-scarred top of table 8, while the spoon and fork dials on the grease-splattered wall clock served up the noonday special—and afterwards they toasted to better times, and vowed to squeeze the juice out of life, and keep their smiles sunny-side up, while Ramos, the dishwasher, filled his jittery vein to the brim with a rich Columbian brew.

Geeze! That piece is even worse then I remembered it, but what followed after I entered the Bulwer contest, was a steady stream of additional contest wins and more publication of my work.

But why? Why do I keep getting my work published? Maybe it is because I am a writer—good or bad—who keeps trying. And trying. And trying. And trying some more!

So go ahead . . . TRY! I dare ya :-)

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Writer Advice Flash Prose Contest

As featured on the Writer Advice site . . .

Writer Advice is searching for flash fiction, memoir, and creative non-fiction that grabs, surprises, and mesmerizes readers in fewer than 750 words. If you have a story or memoir with a strong theme, sharp images, a solid structure, and an unexpected discovery, please submit it to the WriterAdvice Flash Prose Contest.

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I’m not familiar with this contest, but I felt it was notable in that entries will include flash memoirs, a prose form I am currently working in, and a topic I hope to cover here . . . in one of my upcoming blog entries.

I don’t see many flash fiction contests that include the category of memoir, and I welcome any additional flash memoir contest leads that can be sent my way.

As always, I'd love to receive news from anyone who enters and wins this contest.

Monday, February 16, 2009

The Best of Every Day Fiction 2008 (Anthology)

Check this out . . .

One hundred flash fiction pieces selected from Every Day Fiction's first year of publication.



Authored by writers from around the world, and encompassing several genres and literary styles, this is a great way for writers and readers of flash fiction to review contemporary accomplishments in the flash fiction form.

Update on The Binnacle's Sixth International Ultra-Short Competition

BUMPING THIS BACK TO THE TOP OF THE BLOG WITH AN EXTENDED DEADLINE UPDATE . . .

The deadline has been extended to March 15th.

The Binnacle: Sixth International Ultra-Short Competition
I entered this contest in 2004 and received an honorable mention. All of the winning stories were published in a unique bookmark/flashcard-like boxed collection, making it one of my favorite “think outside of the box” anthology collections of flash fiction--or as UMM has labeled the form "Ultra-Short".

The Binnacle: Sixth International Ultra-Short Competition
The University of Maine at Machias (UMM) Literary & Arts Magazine, The Binnacle will sponsor its Sixth International Ultra-Short Competition in the 2008-2009 academic year.

No submission feeDeadline for submissions: February 15, 2009Accepting submissions of prose work (150 words or less) & poetry (sixteen lines or less)A minimum of $300 in cash prizes will be awarded, with a minimum prize of $50. Complete submission guidelines are located at http://www.umm.maine.edu/ultra-short-competition.html

Sunday, February 01, 2009

Call for Romance Themed Flash Fiction

The Long and the Short of It is now a paying market for flash fiction romance stories with a HEA (Happily Ever After) ending.

Payment for stories of approximately 1000 words, is $5 (payable on acceptance via Pay Pal) and a free one month book cover or banner ad (a $10 value). The author will also receive a link on The Long and the Short of It website to their personal webpage and/or blog.

Also, for an interesting and very informative look at HEA (Happily Ever After) endings read Happily Ever After? an article written by Anne Marble, a reviewer and list moderator, at All About Romance: The Back Fence For Lovers of Romance Novels, a comprehensive resouce and active site for romance readers, writers and serious collectors.


Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Ten Reasons to Try Flash Fiction + One More

In Kay Marie Porterfield’s article, 10 Reasons to Write Flash Fiction she states, “In addition to being fun to write, flash fiction boosts your writing skills.” It’s a good article, with some very fine points regarding the benefits writers garner when they write flash fiction, but . . .

I think the root of the problem of why I receive so many poor submissions in the slush pile of the flash fiction zine I help edit, is the perception that writing flash fiction is fun.

Writers may indeed enjoying writing flash fiction, but they need to be mindful before they submit their creations—mindful that their work has more substance than the mere joy of creation.

Camille Renshaw’s article The Essentials of Micro-Fiction contains one more essential element of writing flash fiction that writers need to address that isn't fully addressed in 10 Reasons to Write Flash Fiction. In The Essentials of Micro-Fiction, Renshaw refers to a key requirement of literary short short fiction: implication. “There’s no room for life stories. Just enough for resonance,” she writes. And she’s right!

I see far too many life stories disguised as flash fiction in my submission files. And what is worse, these life stories or slices-of-life vignettes don’t even display a “resonance” or have any sense of implication—an implied meaning; implicit significance; an indirect indication: something that is suggested . . .

Greater than scene . . . is situation. Greater than situation is implication. Greater than all of these is a single, entire human being, who will never be confined in any frame.—Eudora Welty

When writing flash fiction, it’s fine to have fun, but the end result of enjoying the process has to be the creation of a piece that resonates.