FlashFic 2020

Dark Fiction Contest

FlashFic 2020
About
Rules
Enter
IMAGE CREDIT: Pixabay on Pexels.com

Not many very short story competitions specifically welcome the darker genres. This one does.

We are seeking beautifully crafted stories of 1000 words or less that are not only artfully worded but satiate that hunger for a story. In literary fiction, this latter requirement is often overlooked. A very short story should be rounded enough to leave the reader satisfied and even surprised with the resolution, even if the resolution is not on the thread we were expecting or hoping for. The best very short stories though, leave an echo, something else that continues long after the narrative is finished.

How short is short?


Earnest Hemmingway famously combined all of the above in his story of just six words: For sale: baby shoes. Never worn. Short, eloquent and infers so much more than those short simple words ever could say. However, six words is quite a challenge and although we have no minimum requirement, a story of closer to 1000 words may give us more to chew on.

What are we looking for?


If your piece fits into crime, horror, slipstream, dark fantasy or thriller then we want to read it. If it doesn't slot into any of these genres or slides along the edge - even better.

We especially love genre-bending, humour, risk-taking, flawed characters, teeth-smarting emotional honesty, unreliable narrators and a firm command of language.

What is the prize?


£100 (or equivalent in your currency) and publication on this website and our inaugural online magazine.

Can I submit a story for the magazine?


Yes! Currently we are unable to offer remuneration for published stories (other than the FlashFic2020 prize) but if you would like your story to be considered for publication anyway, then please tick the relevant box when submitting. You will still be considered for the prize just as you would anyway.





“If you expect to succeed as a writer, rudeness should be the second-to-least of your concerns. The least of all should be polite society and what it expects. If you intend to write as truthfully as you can, your days as a member of polite society are numbered, anyway.”

Stephen King
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft





Rules and Terms


1. Entry fee is £1.50 (or equivalent in your currency) and payable via PayPal upon submission.

2. Your entry may be withdrawn at any time by emailing flashfiction2020@gmail.com using the subject line "Withdrawal" but refunds are not available.

3. You may enter more than one story. Payment is required for each entry.

4. Competition closes at 11:59pm BST 31st October 2020. Entries received after this date will not be considered.

5. Stories will be judged on narrative quality and satisfaction value in line with "What are we looking for?" above. The judges' decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.

6. We collect data on your submission but will never share it.

7. The contest is not genre specific, but poetry and fanfiction will not be considered.

8. We understand the need for truth of language so will never reject a story for profanity alone. However, if language is used in such a way it detracts from the narrative, it will be rejected merely because it doesn't constitute "good writing".

9. Similarly, violence and gore may be necessary parts of a story, but even writing contest judges have taste and if your story's nastiest parts don't have a valid base then we probably won't like it.

10. Maximum word count is 1000 words, not including the title.

11. Stories must be written in English. Our judges are British but have no objection to American/Australian/South African or any other dialect of English. We encourage quirky and culturally diverse stories that appeal to everyone.

12. You must be the author of the story and own the rights to it.

13. No person associated with FlashFic2020 or the judges either professionally or personally shall be entitled to submit entries.

14. FlashFic2020 reserve the right to announce winners within 3 months of the end of the contest.

15. Submission must be made on the submission form ONLY. Any other format (including email) will not be admitted to the competition nor will they be acknowledged or returned.

16. Entries will not be returned (so entrants are advised to keep a copy) and no corrections or changes will be permitted once the short story has been submitted.

17. Worldwide copyright of each entry remains with the author.

18. It is the intention of the organisers that the winning entry will be published by FlashFic2020 on their website. FlashFic2020 or its associates will have the unrestricted right to publish the winning entry in any format for up to 12 months after first publication by FlashFic2020, and/or use any part or the whole in any relevant promotional material.

19. FlashFic2020 will have the right to edit, make corrections and set submitted entry in ‘house style’ for the purpose of publication or marketing.

20. The judges will be Wendy Booth - Director of FlashFic2020, Dusty Rhodes, Author and Travel Writer and another judge (TBA). FlashFic2020 reserves the right to change the panel of judges without notice.

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