Contests for Your Gems

Most charge an entry fee, but in return you’re guaranteed a blind, careful read. This is my short-list of contests for micros and flashes. There are many more, if you’re game for a more crowded schedule.

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A few tips…

• Don’t rely on my information. ALWAYS check the linked website for updated guidelines.
• Often you’ll find guidelines both at the website and at the submissions page (typically at Submittable) where you’ll upload your work. Usually it’s the same information (often exactly the same text) but occasionally there’s additional submissions information you need to know. So: Assume nothing and read everything.
• Triple-check the file containing your story before you upload it, to ensure you followed directions. Almost all contests ask you to strip identifying information from the file, and you’ll eliminate yourself if you forget to do that.

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Deadline 01/31. Kenyon Review’s Short Fiction Contest

One short, 1200 words max. Available only to writers who have not yet published a book. Simultaneous submissions not allowed.
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Deadline 02/22. New Flash Fiction Review’s Microfiction Contest

In 2016, guidelines requested one micro exactly 183 words “about something lost.” I assume theme, and maybe word length, will be different each year.
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Deadline 06/01. Mid-American Review’s Fineline Competition

Submit 1 to 3 shorts, each 500 words max.
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Deadline 07/31. The Crazyhorse Crazyshorts! Short-Short Fiction Contest

Submit 1 to 3 shorts, each 500 words max.
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Deadline 11/15. Quarter After Eight’s Robert J. DeMott Short Prose Contest

Submit 1 to 3 shorts, each 500 words max. Will consider micro fictions and essays, as well as prose poems.
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Deadline 12/15. Redivider’s Blurred Genre Contest

One short, 750 words max. “This contest explores the porous genre boundaries between flash fiction, flash nonfiction, and prose poetry. We also welcome other experimental forms including, but not limited to, brief drama, graphic narrative, illustrated poetry, and more.”
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Deadline 12/31. The River Styx Schlafly Beer Micro-Fiction Contest

Submit 1 to 3 shorts, each 500 words max.
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* I created the submissions word cloud using Tagul.
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