The Best Flash Fiction Writing Contests of 2023
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
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Showing 114 contests
Writer Advice's Flash Fiction Contest
Writer Advice
Dazzle, delight, and entice us. We offer tiered fees, cash prizes, publication, and optional feedback.
Top prize
$150
Additional prizes
2nd: $75 | 3rd: $40
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: June 02, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Flash Fiction
View contestThe Chilling Pen Award
Chilling Pen Horror Writers Assosiation
Unveil the complexities of betrayal in this year's Chilling Pen Competition for horror flash fiction. We invite writers to submit their original, unpublished works exploring the theme of betrayal in all its forms. Submissions should be under 1,000 words.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
2nd: $300 | 3rd: $200
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: October 01, 2023
Genres
Flash Fiction, Horror
View contestNot Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction
Not Quite Write Podcast
A flash fiction writing competition with a twist. Entrants will be given two writing prompts and one ""anti-prompt"" and will have 60 hours to write and submit a 600-word piece of flash fiction. Open to all ages and abilities.
Top prize
$300 AUD
Additional prizes
Publication on podcast and website
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: July 16, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestAnthology Short Story Award
Anthology Magazine
The Anthology Flash Fiction Competition is open to original and previously unpublished flash fiction on any theme in the English language by writers of any nationality. We are looking for writing that is clever and unique, inspires us, and crafts a compelling story. Max 250 words.
Top prize
€300
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: October 31, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Short Story, Flash Fiction
View contestVoice.Club - Flash Fiction Writing Contest
Voice.Club
This contest is timed to end just before for Earth Day. As writers, we can celebrate our beautiful blue-green world, imagine solutions, grieve losses or express ourselves in a myriad of ways. As we write our stories this Earth Day, let’s keep in mind the concept of balance – for ourselves, our leaders, and our shared global world. We invite you to experience Earth Day this year by writing a flash fiction story of 350 words or less.
Top prize
$50 Amazon Gift Card + Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: April 15, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestA Warm Mug of Cozy Anthology
Warm Mug of Cozy
Do you like writing short cozy mysteries? If so, we would love to invite you to submit your work for potential inclusion in our first Warm Mug of Cozy Anthology. Theme: No restriction, as long as your story follows the classic rules of Cozy Mystery.
Top prize
2% royalties per published story ($)
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: May 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Flash Fiction, Mystery, Short Story
View contest100 Word Writing Contest
Tadpole Press
100 words per entry. Submit as many entries as you’d like. All ages. All genders. All nationalities. All writers welcome. The theme is using humor as healing.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
2nd: writing coach package 3rd: developmental or diversity editing package.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: April 30, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult, Children's, Poetry, Romance, Short Story, Suspense, Travel
View contestThe Scribes Prize
Fairfield Scribes
The Scribes Prize is looking for fiction & creative nonfiction stories of 90-110 words. Prizes include publication, award seals, and cash: $250 for gold, $125 for silver, $60 for bronze & 15 honorable mentions for $20 each. Simultaneous submissions & reprints welcome. Max 3 submissions per author. All entries will receive feedback from 2 editors.
Top prize
$250
Additional prizes
2nd: $125 | 3rd: $60 | Publication | Editor's deedback
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: September 01, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller
View contestBlurred Genres Flash Contest
Invisible City
Theme: Levity. The world around us continues to move, spin and bring chaos. Levity helps ground us, keep us sane. What does “levity” mean to you? How has it made an impact in your life? We would love to read how you interpret “levity,” through prose or poetry, or some combination of the two. All genres and themes are welcome.
Top prize
$750
Additional prizes
2nd: $350 | 3rd: $100 | Publication for top 5
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: April 07, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Flash Fiction, Poetry
View contestQueer Sci-Fi Flash Fiction Contest
Queer Sci-Fi
Every year, QSF holds a flash fiction contest to create an amazing new anthology of queer speculative fiction stories. We ask authors to do the nearly-impossible – to submit a sci fi, fantasy, paranormal or horror LGBTIQA story that has no more than 300 words.
Top prize
$100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: May 01, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Flash Fiction, LGBTQ, Science Fiction
View contestThe UNO Writing Center's Writing Contest
The University of Nebraska, Omaha: Writing Center
The University of Nebraska, Omaha's Writing Center is hosting their 1st annual writing contest, open to Nebraska state residents (or remotely enrolled Nebraska university students.) It has three categories available in flash fiction, flash creative non-fiction, and poetry (up to 750 words.) The theme for the contest is: What it means to be a Maverick, and whatever your creative interpretation of that may be.
Top prize
Certificate | UNO Writing Center merch
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: April 10, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestGemini Magazine Short Story Contest
Gemini Magazine
Entries may be any subject, style, or length. Entries must be previously unpublished but those from personal blogs will be considered.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
2nd: $100 | 3 honorable mentions: $25 | Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $8
Deadline: March 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestBacopa Literary Review
Bacopa Literary Review
Bacopa Literary Review is an annual international print journal published by the Writers Alliance of Gainesville. Our Bacopa Literary Review Editors’ blog shows the quality of writing we seek by highlighting work we respect from previous Bacopa issues as well as other sources.
Top prize
£200 in 6 categories
Additional prizes
$100 Honorable mention in 6 categories
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: April 16, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story, Essay, Flash Fiction, Humor
View contestGeminga: $250 for Tiny Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, or Art
Sunspot Lit
Geminga is a neutron star so small it was difficult to detect. It was named, in part, for a transcription of gh’è minga, meaning “it’s not there.” With Geminga: $500 for Tiny Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, or Art, Sunspot Lit honors the power of the small. No restrictions on theme or category. Word limit is 100 for fiction and nonfiction. Micropoetry is limited to 140 characters. Graphic novelsshould be 4 pages or less.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication in digital and print
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: March 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Script Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestThe 2023 Ink Across Borders Prize
The European Society of Literature
This competition is seeking out literary talent in Africa, Asia, and other typically underrepresented parts of the world. We want to build bridges between the West and the East, the North and the South. To ensure writers from these places have the opportunity to gain international attention, we’re launching The 2023 Ink Across Borders Prize.
Top prize
€200
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $2
Deadline: May 14, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestWrite By The Sea Writing Competition
Write By The Sea
Flash Fiction (700 words), Short Story (2,500 words), Poetry (40 lines) Memoir/Personal Essay (1,000 words). The winner of each category will receive a cash prize of €500, a beautiful hand-crafted WBTS 2023 Writing Competition trophy and a free weekend pass to Write By The Sea festival 2023. All four winning pieces will be published on the Write By The Sea website.
Top prize
€500
Additional prizes
2nd: €200 | 3rd: €300
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $11
Deadline: June 04, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Poetry, Short Story
View contestDesperate Literature Prize for Short Fiction
Desperate Literature
The aim of the Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize is both to celebrate the best of new, boundary-pushing short fiction and to give winners the most visibility possible for their writing. This year, the stories of 2000 words or fewer will be judged by Ottessa Moshfegh, Tiffany Tsao, and Mariana Enriquez.
Top prize
€1,500 + a 7-day stay at the Civitella Ranieri artist’s residency in Umbria, Italy
Additional prizes
2nd and 3rd place: €750
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $22
Deadline: April 16, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestWriting MAGIC
Sadie Tells Stories
Write a short story, under 500 words that is all about magic. It can be for any age group. It can be fiction or non-fiction. Get creative. Have fun. And share your magic with the world!
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
$150 USD for second prize
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: April 01, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Short Story, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Young Adult
View contestFolly Journal Open Short Story Prize
Folly Journal
Folly is a new independent literary and arts journal from New Zealand, drawn to satirical takes on the social scene, dark humour and starkly honest account of ordinary life. The inaugural issue will be published late 2023 and will feature shortlisted submissions to the Folly Journal Open Short Story Prize. We are seeking international submissions that take risks, scream with honesty and celebrate life’s extraordinary moments.
Top prize
$1000 NZD
Additional prizes
2nd: $500 NZD | 3rd: $200 NZD | Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $3
Deadline: May 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestThe Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize
Alpine Fellowship
Awarded for the best piece of writing on the theme of the Alpine Fellowship 2023 - Flourishing. The winner of the Writing Prize will receive a cash prize, and the runners up will receive travel expense support that must be used to attend our 2023 symposium which will be held from 10th-13th August 2023 in Fjällnäs, Sweden
Top prize
£3,000 cash grant
Additional prizes
2nd: £1,000 travel expense | 3rd: £1,000 travel expense
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: March 01, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestParsec Short Story Contest
Parsec Inc.
2023 Contest Theme is: Preserve or Purge. We ask that authors try and incorporate both concepts into their speculative work. This can be conveyed in the setting, plot, characters, dialogue; the only limit is your imagination. The theme must be integral to the story in some way and not just mentioned in passing.
Top prize
$200
Additional prizes
2nd: $100 | 3rd: $50
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: May 01, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Science Fiction, Short Story
View contestThe Lascaux Prize in Flash Fiction
The Lascaux Review
Stories may be previously published or unpublished, and simultaneous submissions are accepted. True stories and prose poetry are welcome as long as they’re written in a narrative style. Winner receives $1,000, a bronze medallion, and publication online in The Lascaux Review. The winner and all finalists will be published in the annual print journal.
Top prize
$1,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: June 30, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction
View contestFusilli Flash Fiction
Fusilli Writing
Free flash fiction competition for stories up to 200 words with a twist. Competition always open, with a winner announced and published online after 100 entries received (story count on website). Feedback and the PDF ‘An introduction the writing good flash fiction’ offered for (£5 or equivalent).
Top prize
Publication on website
Additional prizes
Social media promotion
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: December 31, 2023
Genres
Flash Fiction
View contestHispanic Culture Review Contest 2022-2023
Hispanic Culture Review
As the Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano once said, "the best that the world has is in the many worlds that the world contains." Therefore, this year we invite you to reflect on the following questions: How do you or your community celebrate these connections? How do you value those experiences with those people who leave a mark on your life? 1 work will be awarded in each category: 1) photography & visual arts, 2) poetry, and 3) narrative/essay/academic investigation.
Top prize
$100 for photography, poetry, and essay winners
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: February 01, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story, Flash Fiction
View contest2022 Paranormal Flash Fiction Challenge
Globe Soup
For this short story challenge, all participants will be randomly assigned a paranormal entity. As soon as you receive your assignment, you'll have until the closing time to write and submit a short story of no more than 1,000 words. All we ask is that your story has your assigned paranormal entity woven into the plot somehow. How much prominence you give to the assigned paranormal entity is up to you, but it must be part of the plot.
Top prize
$1,226
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $18
Deadline: December 12, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction
View contestStringybark Open Short Story Award 2023
Stringybark Publishing
Our annual flagship competition, the Stringybark Stories Open Short Story Award 2023, is now bigger than ever! Thanks to Graeme Simpson and Anne Buist, a record prize pool of over $1300 is on offer. The theme is open, the only constraint is that there must be a reference to Australia somewhere in the story. It doesn't matter how small a link there is (it could be a jar of vegemite on the counter), there just needs to be one!
Top prize
$560
Additional prizes
2nd: $360 | 3rd: $210 | 4th: $110
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: February 12, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Mystery, Short Story, Crime, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestBridport Flash Fiction Prize
Bridport Arts Centre
It may be the sprint of creative writing but that doesn’t mean you can rush the creative process. Take us somewhere fast then let your story marinade in the reader's mind. Make every one of your 250 words count. There is no minimum number of words, just like there is no limit to your imagination. They say lightning doesn't strike twice but we want to feel the electricity in your story right from the beginning through to the very end.
Top prize
£1000
Additional prizes
£500 for 2nd, £250 for 3rd
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: May 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction
View contestThe Screw Turn Flash Fiction Competition
The Ghost Story
We’re interested in flash fiction pieces of between 250 and 1,000 words. We’re seeking the finest work we can find that incorporates an uncanny element. Ghost stories are welcome, of course—but your submission may involve any paranormal or supernatural theme, as well as magic realism. What we’re looking for is superb writing, fresh perspectives, and maybe a few surprises.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
print and online publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: January 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Short Story, Thriller
View contestStories Through The Ages - Baby Boomer Plus
Stories Through The Ages
Stories Through The Ages - Baby Boomers Plus 2023 is open to people born 1966 or earlier. The deadline for entries is June 15, 2023. There is no prompt for the contest. Authors may write about any topic. The entry fee is $20 ($15 if submitting more than one story). The word count for this contest is 900 - 5000 words. Cash prizes of $500, $200 and $100 will be awarded. There will be a minimum of 15 finalists whose story will appear in the book.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
2nd: $200 | 3rd: $100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: June 15, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Short Story, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction
View contestMinds Shine Bright Writing Competition
Minds Shine Bright
As we adjust to new realities, inflationary pressures, geo-political tensions, environmental challenges and more it’s time to imagine and explore. The Minds Shine Bright writing competition Confidence 2023 is open and calling for entries of short stories, short scripts, flash fiction and poetry which explore the theme of confidence in some way.
Top prize
$1,080
Additional prizes
$540 for each category winner | $118 for commended entries
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $4
Deadline: February 28, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Poetry, Script Writing, Short Story
View contestPulp Fictional Writing Competitions
Pulp Fictional.com
Our Flash contest is now open and will run until 1st January 2023. The Short Story contest begins on the same date and will run until 31st May 2023.
Top prize
$452
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: May 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Short Story, Thriller
View contestEthos Literacy Annual Short Short Story Contest
Ethos Literacy
The challenge: write a story using 100 words on one of four topics. Open to all ages with a special prize for authors 14 years or younger. The contest supports nonprofit literacy programs.
Top prize
$200
Additional prizes
6 cash prizes of $100 each; publication in digital magazine, inclusion in webcast
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: January 15, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestMum Life Stories Micro Fiction Writing Competition
Mum Life Stories
Win cash prizes and publication in an anthology. This is the 6th and final round of the second series of micro fiction competitions on the blog 'Mum Life Stories'. Just 500 words around the them 'Empty Nest', which can be interpreted any way you like, as long as it includes a mum somewhere in the story. There will be an anthology release early to mid 2023 including the shortlists (Top 10) from each round.
Top prize
$31
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $2
Deadline: November 06, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestLeiby Chapbook Contest
The Florida Review
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Florida Review is given annually for a chapbook of short fiction, short nonfiction, or graphic narrative. Submit a manuscript of up to 45 pages with a $25 entry fee by December 31. All entries are considered for publication. All entrants receive a 1-year subscription. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: December 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novella, Short Story
View contestWriting MISCHIEF
Sadie Tells Stories
For Sadie's final writing competition of 2022 she wanted to inspire you to have a little fun, mischievous fun that is. One of the definitions of mischief is: irresponsibly playful. Writing MISCHIEF is a 500 word short story contest. The story can be fiction or non-fiction as long as it includes an element of mischief. As usual, it does not need to be about mischief, it just needs to have an element of it somewhere in the story.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
2nd: $150
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: November 15, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Mystery, Non-fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Young Adult
View contest
