- The Flash Fiction Challenge is currently closed -
(PLEASE SEE THE IN THE BLOG)
Are you up for a challenge?
Homer was able to write about the Trojan War in ten epic novels, the Iliad being one of them. He covered it all: religion, love, war, fantasy, myth, and horror. Now it’s your turn to carry on the tradition and create your own epic story; but there’s a catch… It must be done in 1,000 words or less. That’s roughly 2 pages, which is 3/1000 of the size of the entire Homeric collection!
All the entries will be reviewed blind (no author names are on the review copies) by a panel of reviewers and the very best will be selected for publication in the next Flash Fiction Challenge anthology. Multiple entries are allowed, however please remember that the intention of the Challenge is that you write a story based on the theme given during the 6 week period that it is open to submissions.
Winning authors will be paid $20 per story, as well as receive a free ebook copy (in the format of their choice) and a discount on purchasing paper book copies.
The Current Challenge:
Check back on August 1st to find out what the next theme will be.
NOTE: all stories submitted to the Flash Fiction Challenge must fit within the genres of Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror.
The Schedule:
Submissions will be accepted up to midnight PST on the closing date of the challenge.
- Session One opens on December 1st and closes on January 15 (to be published on March 31).
- Session Two opens on April 1st and closes on May 15 (to be published on July 31).
- Session Three opens on August 1st and closes on September 15 (to be published on November 30).
How to submit:
Please paste your story into an email (no attachments) and use standard fonts (Times, Arial, Courier) at 12 point size.
The subject should read: Flash Fiction Challenge – YOUR NAME, TITLE. Please send your entries to submissions@absolute-x-press.com.
Do not include a traditional cover letter/introduction. Instead, only include the following before pasting your story into the email.
Name
Title of Work
Word Length
Genre
<Paste your story here>
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Previous Challenges:
Inhuman: Flash Fiction Challenge #4
There are other beings out there. Demons, fae, aliens, robots and more. Creatures that have been watching us for a long time. They know us. For this challenge, write from the point of view of something “Inhuman”; an exterior point of view that is able to see what it really means to be Human.
Thieves and Scoundrels: Flash Fiction Challenge #3
Would your characters try to swindle a dragon out of his treasure? Perhaps they’d try to steal the fastest spaceship in the galaxy? Or are they after something a little more sinister that’s in need of taking? Where ever and when ever they take place, the stories of these Thieves and Scoundrels will take hold of your imagination and ransom it back to you.
Creatures of the Night: Flash Fiction Challenge #2
What’s in the shadows? Hiding behind every corner? Under the bed? Dive deep into your imagination and pull out the Creatures of the Night. Let them roam free in your story. What will take over? Vampires, werewolves, demons or something else that is hiding in the cover of darkness.
Seven Deadly Sins: Flash Fiction Challenge #1
Envy? Lust? Greed? We all have a vice, what’s yours? Let your sinful side out to play and write about the Seven Deadly Sins. Your character is caught, trapped by the sinful web they weaved. Will you let them out, or will they suffer the consequences?
