Welcome to the Flash 500 competition! When it comes to prizes, it often seems as though flash fiction is the poor relation of competitions. The time seems right to inaugurate a flash fiction competition where the prize money reflects the skill required to encapsulate an entire story in just 500 words.
This quarterly open-themed competition has closing dates of 31st March, 30th June, 30th September and 31st December. The results will be announced within six weeks of each closing date and the three winning entries each quarter will be published on this website.
Entry fee: £5 for one story, £8 for two stories
Optional critiques: £10 per story
Prizes will be awarded as follows:
First: £250 plus publication in Words with JAM
Second: £100
Third: £50
Highly commended: A copy of The Writer’s ABC Checklist
Payment options and entry instructions can be found on the Competition Entry Page
General Rules
· Entries must be in English.
· Entries must be the work of the entrant and must not have been accepted for publication elsewhere.
· Entries may have appeared online in peer review sites, but should not have been published in any commercial online form.
· The competition is open to anyone over the age of 18, including non-UK entrants.
· Copyright remains with the author.
· Entries cannot be returned.
· The decision of the judge is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
· The closing date for entries is midnight (UK time) on the 31st March, 30th June, 30th September and 31st December. Winners will be notified by email within six weeks of each closing date.
· The results of the competition will be published on the competition website.
· A word count must be given at the end of the story.
· Manuscripts must not show the name or address of the entrant, but must include the title.
· Entries should be submitted as an email attachment in either Word or PDF format.
· In the body of the email please ensure that you include the title of your story, your name and contact email address, if different to that used to submit the entry.
· Entries will not be accepted without prior payment.
· Only manuscripts which are within the 500-word limit will be accepted. This means any story up to and including 500 words.
· The title does not form part of the word count.
· No corrections will be accepted or refunds given.
· Entries not complying with competition rules will be disqualified.
Payment options and entry instructions can be found on the Competition Entry Page
