Writers should be paid for their work – whether it is through competitions or submitting to literary magazines. This is my updated list of flash and short story competitions open to international submissions for 2019. The competitions are listed in time order of the deadline.
It is worthwhile for emerging writers to enter these competitions to practice writing to deadlines and rules, tighten their prose and hopefully get their name out there. I am based in New Zealand and it is difficult to find these opportunities in a small country. That is why I decided to summarize the international short story and flash fiction competitions that people from around the world can enter.
Read more about me here.
The updated list for Nov 2019 / 2020 can be found here.
This page is updated often so check back for new contests.
Short Story Competitions:
All are open to international entries!
Grindstone International Short Story Competition
Fee: 12 GBP
Word limit: 3000
Genre: Any
Deadline: 28 July 2019
Aesthetica Creative Writing Award
Fee: 18 GBP
Word limit: 2000
Genre: Any
Deadline: 31 August 2019
Manchester Fiction Prize
Fee: 17.50 GBP
Word limit: 2500
Genre: Any
Deadline: 20 September 2019
Woollongong Short Story Prize
Fee: 15 AUD
Word limit: 2500
Genre: Theme is ‘All lit up’.
Deadline: 1 October 2019
Flash Fiction Competitions:
The main difference between short stories and flash fiction is word count. Flash generally falls between 500-1000 words but some can be less or more. It is a self-contained, punchy story that describes a moment or series of moments. Its style falls halfway between prose and poetry, evoking a feeling of something other than what is written, by word choice and also by what is left out. Flash is not a condensed short story, a chapter of a novel or a poem. Its plot should be introduced with a great hook and completely resolved by the end.
Reading a lot of flash fiction is a really great way to learn what it is and how to craft it. I really enjoy writing flash – it is a great challenge condensing the big themes into such a small framework.
Fiction Factory Flash Fiction Competition
All type of stories are welcome
Word limit: 500 words
Fee: 6 GBP
Prize: 150 GBP
Deadline: 31 July 2019
AWC Furious Fiction
Australian Writers Centre competition open to writers all over the world for 55 hours only, happens monthly.
Word limit: 500
Fee: free
Next competition live first Friday in August 2019
Reflex Fiction (quarterly flash competition)
Fee: 7 GBP
Prize: 1000 GBP
Words: 180 – 360
Genre: Any
Deadline: 31 August 2019
Bath Flash Fiction Award
Fee: 9 GBP
Prize: 1000 GBP
Words: 300
Genre: Any
Deadline: 13th October 2019
Deadlines throughout the year
Sweek Flash Fiction Challenges
Weekly challenges based on reader likes with cash prizes
Flash 500 – 1000 words
Participants are challenged to create original stories, screenplays, or films using assigned elements under time constraints
Four annual competitions
Paying Markets
I believe writers should be paid for their work. Here are some paying markets for flash fiction and short stories that I have found. They all accept international submissions.
Flash Fiction Online – Fiction any genre 500-1000 words
Everyday Fiction – Fiction any genre up to 50 words
Crannog – Fiction up to 2000 words
Shooter Lit Mag – Literary fiction, creative non-fiction and narrative journalism should fall between 2,000 and 7,500 words.
Helios Quarterly – Submissions of sci fi, fantasy and horror in January, April, July, October – Flash up to 1000 words, Short stories up to 1500 words.
The Dark Magazine – Horror and dark fantasy up to 6000 words
Pixie Forest Publishing – Fantasy short stories
Malahat Review – Short stories and flash fiction
Useful Posts for submitting work
Writing A Proper Cover Letter for a Short Story
Best Book for Writers to Read – Bird by Bird
There are always more flash fiction and short story competitions open to international submissions becoming available for entries in 2019. I do try and keep this up to date. If you wish to list a competition that is open to writers everywhere, please contact me.
If you found my content useful, please give it a share on the social media buttons below. Thanks!
Thank you! This is very appreciated and I was just digging around for something like this 😊
No worries. Glad I could be a help.
😊
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I think this is fantastic… very thoughtful of you to share…thank you so much, I’ve never done anything like this but I think I want to try my hand at this…
I hope you give it a go. I find writing flash fiction a fun challenge. 🙂
I don’t know the first thing about it… hahah… im up for the challenge though…😊
Thank you for sharing, would be nice to try a few
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