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Last updated 15th August 2018
This page lists flash fiction, micro fiction, sudden fiction, twitterage, twitterature, dribble, drabble, minisaga, nanotale, micro-story and very short fiction competitions, prizes and awards. Most of the contests listed accept entries from writers residing anywhere in the world, but please check each competition's guidelines on their website before submitting.
The competitions listed on this page used to be included on my short story competitions page, but as flash fiction and micro fiction contests are growing in popularity, I decided to create a separate resource for them.
Flash fiction refers to a story of extreme brevity. Research shows that this is generally regarded as a story containing less than 1,000 words, although there is no exact rule on upper word limits.
So, any competitions with maximum word count limits of 1,000 words or less will be listed here. Any contests with word count limits over 1,000 words will be listed on the short story competitions page (see link above).
If you run a flash fiction competition and would like to be featured on this page, please contact me and provide all of the following information :
If you notice that any of the information on this page is incorrect while using it, please let me know and I'll update the page. I do my best to keep everything up to date, but it's impossible to stay on top of every change made to every competition. Any help with this is very much appreciated.
This list details flash fiction competitions that are run more than once a year.
| Competition | Country | Closing Date | Winners Announced | Max Words | Entry Fee | Top Prize |
| 81 Words Challenge | UK | Never closes | Everyone is a winner | 81 | FREE | See notes |
Notes on 81 Word Challenge: Any style / genre - all entries published on the website - we're using the 81 word challenge to try and set a World Record for the most contributing authors published in an anthology, so by submitting you could become part of publishing history - for full details on all the challenges, see my writing challenges listing below |
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| 101 Words Writing Contest | USA | Monthly | Monthly | 101 | ? | Varies |
Notes on 101 Words Competition: Any style / genre - prizes in the past have been cash (small amounts like $10), Amazon gift vouchers, boxes of books etc. - winners published on the website |
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| 1,000 Word Challenge | UK | Quarterly | Quarterly | 1,000 | £5 | £100 |
Notes on 1,000 Word Challenge Competition: Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - winners published on the website |
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| Ad Hoc Fiction Competition | UK | Weekly | Weekly | 150 | FREE | See notes |
Notes on Ad Hoc Fiction Competition: Any style / genre - run by Bath Flash Fiction Award - winner earns free entry into the Bath Flash Fiction award (usually £9) which offers a £1,000 top prize |
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| Alsina Flash Fiction Contests | UK | Varies | Varies | Varies | FREE | £50 |
| Notes on Alsina Competition: Styles, genres and themes vary - one of the contests is for flash fiction story collections - they also run short story comps - winning stories translated and recorded in multiple languages and distributed electronically through an app | ||||||
| Artificium Short Fiction Competitions | UK | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
Notes on Artificium Very Short Fiction Competition: Any style / genre but themes vary so check website for current details - also run short story competitions |
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| Avid Writers The Sunday Saga Flash Fiction Competition | UK | Weekly | Weekly | 500 | £2.50 | £25 |
| Notes on Avid Writers Competition: Any style / genre, but you have to choose from 3 lines of dialogue every Sunday to include in your story, so see website for current details - winner published in Spotlight | ||||||
| (b)OINK Flash and Micro Fiction Contests | USA | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Notes on (b)OINK Contests: Any style / genre, but some are themed so check website for current details - they run frequent competitions, sometimes as often as monthly - prizes of up to $500 | ||||||
| Cafe Aphra Flash Fiction Fridays | UK | Varies | Varies | 500 | FREE | None |
| Notes on Cafe Aphra: Any style / genre - stories published every two or three weeks on a Friday - always open to submissions | ||||||
| Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge | USA | Varies | Varies | 99 | FREE | None |
Notes on Carrot Ranch Competition: Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - stories must be exactly 99 words in length - winners published on Carrot Ranch website |
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| Chris Fielden's Flash Fiction Writing Challenges | UK | Never closes | Everyone is a winner | Varies | FREE | See notes |
Notes on Chris's Writing Challenges: Any style or genre but each challenge is themed, so check the link for current challenges - word limits vary from 50 to 200 words - ALL entries are published on christopherfielden.com - every time 100 stories are received, Chris publishes an anthology in professional print and eBook formats and distributes them all over the planet - all the proceeds from book sales are donated to different charities - challenges currently running: 1. Adverb Challenge - 2. Nonsense Challenge - 3. Sensory Challenge - 4. 81 Word Challenge - 5. Cliché Challenge - 6. Preposition Challenge |
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| Comps & Calls Flash Weekly | UK | Weekly | Weekly | Varies | FREE | £10 |
| Notes on Comps & Calls Competition: Any style or genre but theme changes each week, so check website for details - story length varies from 100 words to 999 words | ||||||
| Didcot Writers Monthly Competition | UK | Monthly | Monthly | 500 | FREE | See notes |
| Notes on Didcot Writers Competition: Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current theme - prize is publication on the Didcot Writers website | ||||||
| Dorset Fiction Award | UK | Bi-Annually | Bi-Annually | 1,000 | £7 | £500 |
| Notes on Dorset Fiction Award: Any style / genre - winners published in digital anthology - the competition supports a different charity each time it runs | ||||||
| Flash Fiction 500 Competition | UK | Quarterly | Quarterly | 500 | £5 | £300 |
Notes on Flash Fiction 500 Competition: Any style / genre - winners published in Word With Jam magazine |
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| Grindstone Flash Fiction Competition | UK | Quarterly | Quarterly | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Notes on Grindstone Competition: Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - winners published on Grindstone's website - prizes have been up to £250 in the past, but they do vary | ||||||
| Horror Scribes' Flash Contest | UK | Quarterly | Quarterly | 300 | £3 | £100 |
| Notes on Horror Scribes' Contest: Horror - winners published on website and/or in newsletter | ||||||
| London Independent Story Prize | UK | Quarterly | Quarterly | 300 | £7 | £100 |
| Notes on London Independent Prize: Any style / genre - winners published on website and in anthology | ||||||
| UK/USA | Weekly | Weekly | 300 | FREE | See notes | |
| Notes on Microcosms Competition: Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - they sometimes give prizes, like free books - if you win, you are invited to judge the contest the following week - winners published in anthology | ||||||
| Nowhere.Ink's $100 Weekly Writing Contest | USA | Weekly | Weekly | 500 | $2 | $100 |
| Notes on Nowhere.Ink Contest: Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - winner published on website - winner also receives a copy of The Literary Hack, a quarterly magazine, and is considered for publication in it | ||||||
| QuicFic Flash Fiction Writing Contest | USA | Biannually | Biannually | 600 | $5 | $20* |
| Notes on QuicFic Contest: Any style / genre except erotica - winner published on website - prize paid as a $20 Amazon voucher | ||||||
| Reflex Fiction | UK | Quarterly | Quarterly | 360 | £7 | £1,000 |
| Notes on Reflex Flash Fiction Competition: The inaugural competition was free to enter with a £100 prize - there is now an entry fee but the top prize is 10 x bigger, so full details can be found on the big prize list below | ||||||
| Retreat West Themed Flash Competition | UK | Quarterly | Quarterly | 500 | £8 | £100 |
Notes on Retreat West Competition: Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - winners published on the Retreat West website and in monthly newsletter |
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| Senior Travel Expert's Writing Competition | UK | Bi-Annually | Bi-Annually | 750 | FREE | £100 |
Notes on Senior Travel Expert's Competition: Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current theme - fiction and non-fiction entries accepted - winners published on website |
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| Shady Grove Flash Fiction Competition | USA | Quarterly | Quarterly | 300 | FREE | $100 |
| Notes on Shady Grove Competition: Any style / genre - winners published on website | ||||||
| Stirling Robyns Publishing Flash & Micro Fiction Competitions | UK/USA | Quarterly | Quarterly | See notes | $3 | $100 |
| Notes on Stirling Robyns Competition: Any style / genre - winners published in anthology and on website - flash fiction contest has a maximum word count of 1,000 words, micro fiction is 300 | ||||||
| UK | Quarterly | Quarterly | 400 | £5 | £400 | |
Notes on TSS Competition: Any style / genre -
winning stories published online to a significant flash fiction readership -
1st place winners nominated for the Best Small Fiction Awards
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| Third Word Great Eighty Flash Fiction Competition | UK | Biweekly | Biweekly | 80 | FREE | £20 |
| Notes on Third Word Competition: Any style / genre but stories must be exactly 80 words long - winners published in anthology that supports the homeless, but writers also receive a royalty from sales | ||||||
| Sweek Microfiction Competition | Holland | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks | 200 | FREE | See notes |
| Notes on Sweek Competition: Any style / genre - winner receives a masterclass course of their choice + publication on the website | ||||||
| University of Chester Flash Magazine | UK | Bi-Annually | Bi-Annually | 360 | FREE | See notes |
| Notes on Flash Magazine: Any style / genre - this is one of the most respected flash fiction / micro fiction publications on the market - while there is no monetary prize, winners are published in a highly prestigious, industry leading magazine | ||||||
| Wax Poetry and Art Magazine's Flash Fiction Contest | Canada | Monthly | Monthly | 300 | FREE | See notes |
| Notes onWax Poetry And Art Contest: Any style / genre - there is no monetary prize, but winners are published online and in print and will receive royalties from sales | ||||||
| Wild Words Writing Competition | UK | Bi-Annually | Bi-Annually | 1,000 | £7 | See notes |
Notes on Wild Words Competition: Any style / genre - themed, so check the website for the current them - winner receives mentoring session and their story is published on the website |
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| Writing Maps A3 Review Short Fiction Contest | UK | Monthly | Monthly | 150 | $5 | £175 |
Notes on Writing Maps A3 Review Contest: Any style / genre - competition cycle lasts six months - each month, two entries win publication in the A3 Review - three overall winning entries receive cash prizes - yes, entry fee is in dollars, that's not a typo |
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| YeahWrite Super Challenge | USA | Bi-Annually | Bi-Annually | 1,000 | $25 | See notes |
| Notes on YeahWrite Challenge: Any style / genre, but check website for current prompts - prize varies (historically it's been between $85 and $120) - every writer receives feedback on their work - YeahWrite also run free weekly challenges for both fiction and creative non-fiction (word limit: 750) as well as a monthly microprose challenge (under 100) | ||||||
| Zeroflash | UK | Monthly | Monthly | 300 | FREE | £10 |
Notes on
Zeroflash
Competition: Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - winner also receives
an illustration and audio performance of their story, plus an interview with Uprising Review |
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This list contains details of well established, respected flash fiction competitions that offer big monetary prizes and large doses of kudos for winning writers.
| Competition | Country | Closing Date | Winners Announced | Max Words | Entry Fee | Top Prize |
| Bath Flash Fiction Award | UK | Tri-Annually | Tri-Annually | 300 | £9 | £1,000 |
Notes on the Bath Flash Fiction Award: Any style / genre (except children's) - early-bird entry fee of £7.50 for 1 entry, £12 for 2 or £18 for 3 - winners published on website and in an
anthology which includes stories from winners, shortlisted and longlisted entries - published in digital and print formats - some of the organisers are now running a flash fiction festival in Bath |
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| Bridport Prize Flash Fiction Competition | UK | May | November | 250 | £8 | £1,000 |
Notes on the Bridport Prize Flash Fiction Competition: Any style / genre - winners published in anthology |
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| César Egido International Flash Fiction Competition | Spain | November | ? | 100 | FREE | $20,000 |
| Notes on the César Egido Competition: Any style / genre - usually runs every 2 years, but check website as fequency does vary - winners published in anthology - look under 'What We Do' on the website for competition details - when entering, please use the code 48141 so they know you heard about the competition through my website, many thanks! - in 2017, there were 43,185 entries from 172 countries, so competition is somewhat fierce... | ||||||
| Fiction War Competition | USA | Quarterly | Quarterly | 1,000 | $25 | $1,000 |
| Notes on the Fiction War Competition: Any style / genre, but check website for current prompt - 15 finalists are paid and published in Fiction War Magazine, in Kindle eBook and bookstore-quality softcover journal formats | ||||||
| Fish Publishing Flash Fiction Prize | Ireland | February | April | 300 | €14 | €1,000 |
| Notes on Fish Publishing Prize: Any style / genre - winning stories published in the Fish Anthology | ||||||
| Gotham Writers Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize | NY, USA | March | June | 750 | $25 | $1,000 |
Notes on Gotham Writers Competition: Any style / genre - winner receives cash prize plus 10 week writing course through
Gotham Writers' Workshop in NYC or online -
winning story read at the Selected Shorts performance at Symphony Space in June and recorded for possible broadcast on radio |
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| New Millennium Flash Fiction Award | USA | January | March | 1,000 | $20 | $1,000 |
| Notes on New Millennium Competition: Any style / genre - winners published in printed anthology and on website | ||||||
| Quantum Shorts Competition | Singapore | December | March | 1,000 | FREE | $1,500 |
| Notes on Quantum Shorts Competition: Any style / genre but themed around quantum physics, so check website for full details - the competition is Biennial and ran in 2017, so 2019, 2021 etc. - winners published on website and receive illustrations to accompany their stories | ||||||
| Reader's Digest 100-Word-Story Competition | UK | February | March | 100 | FREE | £2,000 |
Notes on Reader's Digest Competition: Any style / genre but entries must be exactly 100 words in length - winners published in Reader's Digest June issue - 1 category for adults and 2 for children, see the children's details on the main short story competitions page |
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| Reflex Fiction | UK | Quarterly | Quarterly | 360 | £7 | £1,000 |
| Notes on Reflex Flash Fiction Competition: Any style / genre - winners (and many of the non-winning entries) are published on the Reflex Fiction website | ||||||
| Ruth Rendell Short Story Competition | UK | December | ? | 1,000 | £15 | £1,000 |
Notes on Ruth Rendell Competition: Any style / genre - winner commissioned to write four more short stories for InterAct Reading Service - opens for submissions around May |
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| SmokeLong Quarterly Award for Flash Fiction | USA | May | June | 1,000 | $10 | $1,500 |
| Notes on SmokeLong Quarterly Award: Any style / genre - $10 entry fee allows 2 entries - they announce free entry days, so check updates regularly - winner and minimum of 14 finalists will be published in SmokeLong Quarterly - run biennially (2018, 2020 etc.) | ||||||
This table lists flash fiction competitions that are run once a year.
| Competition | Country | Closing Date | Winners Announced | Max Words | Entry Fee | Top Prize |
| Arkbound Writing Competition | UK | November | December | 1,000 | £3 | £100 |
Notes on Arkbound Competition: Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current details -
overall winner is featured in Boundless, a printed magazine - Arkbound also run other competitions from time to time |
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| Asymmetry Flash Fiction Contest | USA | Janaury | March | 1,000 | $2 | $40 |
| Notes on Asymmetry Contest: Speculative fiction - themed so check website for current details - winners published on website | ||||||
| Eyelands International Flash Fiction Contest | Greece | March | June | 500 | €5 | See notes |
| Notes on Eyelands Competition: Any style / genre - winner receives a free holiday on the island of Crete - winners and shortlist published in an anthology | ||||||
| Farnham Flash Festival Competition | UK | June | June | 500 | £5 | £100 |
| Notes on FFF Competition: Any style / genre - there are four age categories: 7 to 11, 12 to 14, 14 to 18 and over 18 - winning stories performed at awards ceremony and published in festival book | ||||||
| Fiction Desk Flash Fiction Prize | UK | September | November | 1,000 | £5 | £300 |
Notes on Fiction Desk Competition: Any style / genre - winners published in the Fiction Desk anthology |
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| Field of Words Flash Fiction Competition | Australia | May | June | 1,000 | A$10 | A$200 |
| Notes on Field of Words Competition: Any style / genre - open to Australian and international residents over 18 only - winners published on Field of Words website - runner up receives a cash prize too | ||||||
| Golfwell's Annual Golf Story Writing Competition | New Zealand | February | March | 700 | FREE | $125 |
Notes on Golfwell's Competition: Any style / genre but themed around golf - winners published on the website and in book - they accept fiction and non-fiction entries |
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| Iceland Writers Retreat Writing Contest | Iceland | November | December | 500 | FREE | See notes |
| Notes on Iceland Writers Retreat Competition: Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current theme - top prize is a place at the Iceland Writers Retreat, including accommodation - also accept poetry and non-fiction | ||||||
| UK | September | October | 350 | £2 | £50 | |
Notes on MLF Competition: Any style / genre - themed and written in a week - the theme is released at the end of September and the deadline is a week later - alternates between flash fiction 1 year and poetry the next |
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| Pennine Ink Short Story Competition | UK | July | September | 500 | £3 | £50 |
| Notes on Pennine Competition: Any style / genre - themed, so check website for current details - winner published in Pennine Ink Magazine and on the website | ||||||
| Polar Expressions Publishing Short Story Competition | Canada | July | ? | 750 | FREE | C$500 |
Notes on Polar Expressions Competition: Any style / genre - you must be a Canadian resident to enter - winners published in an anthology |
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| The Prescot Festival Short Story Competition | UK | May | June | 1,000 | FREE | £100 |
| Notes on Prescot Festival Competition: Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - only open to unpublished writers living in the six Merseyside boroughs of Liverpool - winners published in Prescot Parish Magazine | ||||||
| Retreat West Flash Fiction Prize | UK | September | January | 500 | £10 | £250 |
Notes on Retreat West Flash Prize: Any style / genre except children's - 2nd prize £150, 3rd prize £75 - all winning and shortlisted stories published in anthology with independent press, Urbane Publications |
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| Salisbury Literary Festival Story Prize | UK | September | October | 500 | FREE | See notes |
Notes on Salisbury Literary Festival Prize : Any style / genre, but must use a given story title, so see website for full details - winner receives 2 places on the Professional Writing Academy's 'Find Your Writing Voice' course, worth £495 - winners published in Salisbury Journal - also run children's competition (see this page for special offer on PWA's short fiction course) |
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| Segora International Vignette Competition | France | June | August | 300 | £5 | £100 |
| Notes on Segora Competition: Any style / genre - winners published on website and invited to a presentation event in France | ||||||
| Southam Flash Fiction Competition | UK | September | September | 100 | £2 | £50 |
| Notes on Southam Competition: Any style / genre but story must contain a specific phrase, so check website for full details - winner published in local magazine and on website | ||||||
| Stroud Book Festival Writing Competition | UK | July | September | 500 | £5 | £500 |
| Notes on Stroud Book Festival Competition: Any style, subject or theme - winners announced at the festival | ||||||
| Tennessee Williams / New Orleans Literary Festival Very Short Fiction Contest | USA | November | February | 1,000 | $10 | $500 |
| Notes on Tennessee Williams Contest: Any style / genre - winners published in New Orleans Review and receive tickets to Panels and Master Classes at Festival | ||||||
| The Casket of Fictional Delights Flash Fiction Competition | UK | May | October | 300 | £5 | £150 |
| Notes on The Casket of Fictional Delights Competition: Any style / genre - winners published on website - the 10 winning stories will be professionally recorded and broadcast as audio stories on iTunes and other platforms | ||||||
| Wimbledon Bookfest Short Story Competition | UK | July | October | 250 | £10 | £50 |
Notes on Wimbledon Bookfest Competition: Themed, so check website for current theme (look in NEWS section of the site) - winners published in 'Bookfest Book of Stories' anthology - 12 short listed stories are read at Wimbledon Bookfest and audience hold a secret ballot to decide the winner |
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| Women in Comedy Festival Comedy Writing Competition | UK | October | October | 1,000 | £3 | £50 |
Notes on Women In Comedy Competition: Comedy - short stories, sketches and monologues - winners stories performed at the festival and published on the website |
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This table will list one-off flash fiction contests.
| Competition | Country | Closing Date | Winners Announced | Max Words | Entry Fee | Top Prize |
| Link Age Southwark Writing Competition | UK | 31st August 2018 | October | 1,000 | See notes | £200 |
Notes on Link Age Competition: Any style / genre but themed, so check website for details - free entry for ages 11 to 17, adults pay £5 - winners published on website and invited to award ceremony in London |
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| READ Foundation Writing Competition | UK | 10th October 2018 | 13th October 2018 | 500 | FREE | See notes |
| Notes on READ Foundation Competition: Any style / genre but themed, so check website for full details - winner publicly displayed across hundreds of schools and read by tens of thousands of children, plus feedback from writer Qaisra Shahraz - also accept poems and non-fiction | ||||||
| Story Cities | UK | 16th September 2018 | November | 500 | FREE | See notes |
Notes on Story Cities Competition: Any style or genre but themed so check website for full details - winners published in printed anthology and receive a free copy of the book |
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| The Arcanist Ghost Story Contest | USA | 28th September 2018 | 1st October 2018 | 1,000 | See notes | $200 |
Notes on The Arcanist Contest: Ghost stories and hauntings -
$5 early bird, $7 standard and $10 last minute
- winner also receives
a Ghost Stories booklet and a special addition halloween t-shirt - winners published in The Arcanist
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Here are some other useful lists of flash fiction competitions:
This table will contain a history of previously listed flash fiction competitions that have closed.
| Competition | Country | Closing Date | Winners Announced | Max Words | Entry Fee | Top Prize |
| 1,000 Words or Less Flash Fiction | Australia | Varies | Varies | 1,000 | Varies | Varies |
Notes on 1,000 Words or Less Competition: Any style / genre - top prize up to $1,000 - prize money paid in Australian dollars - winners published in printed book and eBook - CLOSED, website not updated since March 2016, so retired listing 2017 |
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| Ann and Dan Very Short Story Contest | USA | March | March | 1,000 | FREE | $25 |
Notes on Ann & Dan Contest: Any style / genre - winning stories published on the Ann & Dan website - limited to 100 entries max (1 per author) - WEBSITE NOT UPDATED SINCE 2016, so removed from lists Jan 2018 |
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| Fun Palaces: WriteScience Competition | UK | July | September | 250 | FREE | See notes |
| Notes on Fun Palaces Competition: Any style / genre but themed around science - open to UK residents only - winners published on website and performed at reading events - competition is judged by a very prestigious panel CLOSED 2016 | ||||||
| Garden Gate Arts Ms Shakespeare Through Time | UK | 3rd January 2018 | 10th January 2018 | 1,000 | FREE | See notes |
Notes on Garden Gate Arts Competition: Any style / genre of prose or dramatic monologue - only open to women who live in Yorkshire - 3 winners commissioned to write monologue, paid £300 and their work will be performed at Huddersfield Literature Festival - CLOSED, was a one-off |
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| Gotham Writers 'A Very Short Story Contest' | USA | 14th May 2018 | 14th June 2018 | 10 | FREE | See notes |
| Notes on Gotham Writers Competition: Any style / genre - winner receives a free class with Gotham Writers - winners published on website CLOSED, was a one-off | ||||||
| Luna Press Publishing Writing Contest | Scotland | April | May | 500 | £1.50 | See notes |
Notes on Luna Press Competition: Science fiction, fantasy & dark fantasy - winners published on website - up to 5 winners have prize pot (generated by entry fees) split between them - NO LONGER RUNNING, removed from lists Jan 2018 |
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| Mash Stories Flash Fiction Competition | USA | Quarterly | Quarterly | 500 | FREE | $100 |
Notes on Mash Stories Competition: Any style / genre, but stories must be based on 3 random objects so see website for current details - winners published on the website - CLOSED October 2016 |
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| Modern Art By Post Competition | Scotland | Monthly | Monthly | 75 | FREE | See notes |
Notes on Modern Art By Post Competition: Any style / genre but must be inspired by a painting, so see the Modern Art website for full details -
winner receives an original painting of their choice (subject to availability) + publication on the website - competition runs monthly, or each time 20 stories are received - CLOSED due to illness, removed from lists Jan 2018 |
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| Modern Art By Post Competition | Scotland | 28th February 2017 | March 2017 | 75 | FREE | See notes |
Notes on Modern Art By Post Competition: Due to the success of the inaugural competition, this has now being run tri-annually, so see the regular competitions list above for full details |
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| Nine Voices Writing Competition | UK | 31st August 2017 | September 2017 | 199 | £5 | £100 |
Notes on Nine Voices Competition: Any style / genre - any proceeds from the competition are donated to
PMR GCA UK - CLOSED, was a one-off |
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| Prescot Festival Short Story Competition | UK | May | June | 1,000 | FREE | £100 |
| Notes on Prescot Festival Competition: Any style / genre but themed so check website for current theme - winner published on the Prescot Festival website - COMPETITION NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing Jan 2018 | ||||||
| Sweek Short Writing Contest | Holland | 25th of June | 12th July 2017 | 500 | FREE | €75 |
| Notes on The Writers in Oxford Competition: Any style / genre - winners published on website - CLOSED, was a one-off | ||||||
| Tethered by Letters 'Don't Blink Or You'll Miss It' Twitter Competition | USA | Monthly | Monthly | See notes | FREE | See notes |
Notes on TBL Blink Competition: Any style / genre - stories must comply with Twitter (under 140 characters) using the hashtag #BlinkTBL - winner receives a copy of F(r)iction and gets a story edited for free by the judge - NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing Jan 2018 |
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| The Useless Beauty of Maupassant Short Story Award | UK | January | March | 10 | FREE | See notes |
| Notes on TUBoM Award: Any style / genre - yes, the word limit is 10, it's not a misprint :-) - winner receives 50 copies of limited edition book containing the winning stories, a bottle of Absinthe designed by a local artist and a 1783 copy of The Arabian Nights (VOL. II) - CLOSED DUE TO POOR QUALITY OF WORKS SUBMITTED, so removed from lists Jan 2018 | ||||||
| The Write Contest | USA | Bimonthly | Bimonthly | 350 | $15 | $100 |
| Notes on The Write Contest: Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current theme - winners are published on The Write Contest website and Facebook group - WEBSITE NO LONGER EXISTS, removed from lists Jan 2018 | ||||||
| The Writers in Oxford Young Oxfordshire Writers Competition | UK | 31st August 2017 | November 2017 | 500 | FREE | £350 |
Notes on The Writers in Oxford Competition: Any style / genre but stories must be inspired by Oxford - winners published on website and in
The Oxford Writer Newsletter - CLOSED, was a one-off |
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| Theatre Cloud's Tell a Tale: Gothic Fiction | UK | 21st April 2018 | 16th May 2018 | 500 | FREE | £300 |
Notes on Theatre Cloud's Competition: Any style / genre but themed, so check website for prompt - winner's published on the Theatre Cloud website - CLOSED, was a one-off |
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| Verbolatry Laugh-a-Riot Short Story Contest | UK | August | October | 500 | See notes | See notes |
| Notes on Verbolatry Laugh-a-Riot Contest : Humorous style, check website for current theme - FREE entry means a top prize of £50; £5 paid entry means a top prize of £100 - winning stories published in Verbolatry newsletter and on website - NOT RUN SINCE 2016, so removed from lists Jan 2018 | ||||||
| Wellness Retreats For Women 'Write A Book, Rewrite Your Life' Contest | USA | 4th April 2017 | 5th April 2017 | 250 | FREE | $100 |
Notes on Wellness Retreats For Women Contest: Any style, but themed so check website for details - all entries published on blog - CLOSED 2017, was a one-off |
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| YSCI-FI Flash Fiction Competition | UK | 28th February 2018 | 13st March 2018 | 1,000 | FREE | $250 |
Notes on YSCI-FI Competition: Any style / genre - CLOSED 2018, was a one-off |
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Kevin C
You may have already heard this from others, but the Mash flash fiction competition has now ceased operating, sadly.
Chris Fielden
Hi Kevin. Oh, that’s a shame.
I didn’t know, so thanks for letting me know.
I’ll update the page accordingly.
Shirley M
Hi Chris, the 1,000 words or less comp page in Australia just seems to go up to 2016, can't find 2017 details, so maybe defunct?
Chris Fielden
Thanks for letting me know, Shirley.
I've contacted the people who run the competition, but retired the listing for now as the site is over 12 months out of date.
I'll reinstate the listing if I hear back.
Jason L
Hi. Do you have a free flash fiction competition?
Chris Fielden
Hi Jason. I run a lot of free flash fiction writing challenges. You can learn about the challenges here.
If that's not what you're looking for, there are quite a few free competitions in the lists above.
Marina N
I've discovered Sweek thanks to your awesome list, sir! And can't thank you enough for that. That is an excellent platform for aspiring writers allowing us to grow via free reading, writing, and sharing. Love their flash fiction contests!
Also, adore Ad Hoc Fiction.
Heartfelt thanks!
Chris Fielden
Thanks, Marina - very kind of you to say so :-)
I hope you're writing is going well!
Samuel N
Thanks for the information.
Chris Fielden
No problem, Samuel :-)
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