Latest Contest Information

“Flash memoirs give you an intense thrill ride through a short moment in a person’s life or a memory. They have a heavier emotional context and impact for the most part.”    ~~Author Unknown

Writer Advice’s Flash MEMOIR Submission Information

In view of the world’s challenging economy, we’re keeping our reduced price for anyone who does not want feedback. Your work will still be considered for a prize, but you won’t receive a detailed evaluation of your writing.

If you’d like to know what’s working in your writing and what trips an award-winning writer up, I’m happy to send a personalized, detailed letter, but I have to ask that you pay an additional $9 fee. You’d pay the $5 submission fee and add the $9 feedback option on Submittable.

If you have the money, I strongly recommend it. Please remember that a worker is worthy of her hire. Thank you for understanding.

That said, WriterAdvice seeks flash memoir, a personal life story running 750 words or less. Enlighten, dazzle, and delight us. Focus on a moment that changed you. Memoir is a slice or sliver of your life. Hopefully, your story will touch or move readers in some way.

Finalists receive responses from all judges. Everyone who pays the supplemental fee receives a detailed response from award-winning author B. Lynn Goodwin.

We enjoy stories with a discovery, maybe a surprise, and a tone that rings true.

DEADLINE: Submit to the WriterAdvice Flash Memoir Contest by March 2, 2023. Early submissions strongly encouraged.

JUDGES will be selected from previous prizewinners. Their names will be announced soon and you can read their pieces by clicking on Archives.

PRIZES: First Place earns $150; Second Place earns $75; Third Place earns $40; Honorable Mentions will also be listed.

FOR BEST RESULTS:

1. Include your name, contact information, and title in the cover letter, but include only your title in the submission so it remains anonymous.
2. Since we judge these anonymously, you don’t need a cover letter that includes more than your contact information. If you are a finalist, we’ll ask for a bio.
3. Please double-space your submission. We recommend that you use a 14-point font that is easy to read. Cambria, Ariel, and Verdana are all good. If you forget, we can fix it for you.
4. You own the copyright. If we publish your work, the rights still belong to you.
5. Simultaneous submissions accepted.
6. We prefer unpublished work, though we accept stand-alone excerpts from memoirs seeking a publisher or agent.
7. Be sure you’re sending us memoir—not fiction. Our next contest is for fiction.

 

SUBMISSIONS: All entries should be submitted through the Submittable link at the bottom of the page. 

You may enter UP TO THREE stories. Each is a separate submission with a separate fee.

We accept simultaneous submissions, but please let us know immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.

Names of all winners will be announced on WriterAdvice, www.writeradvice.com in early April or—worst case —later.

Questions? Please use the Contact button.

 

COMMENTS FROM PREVIOUS CONTESTANTS:

“Thank you for your great advice. I appreciate it and will use it to improve my writing.”  –Shelley Malicote

 

“Your suggestions for improvement rock.”  –Shelley Stutchman

 

“WriterAdvice.com is one of my all-time most reliable and accessible sites for writers. I use it—and recommend it to my clients.” ~Carolyn Howard-Johnson, multi award-winning author of the HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers (http://howtodoitfrugally.com), poetry and fiction

 

“I can’t tell you how many people I’ve told about the great feedback you give to folks no matter how many entries you get.”   –Bill Buschel

 

“It’s such a refreshing experience to have some exchange — as most submissions disappear into the either like rogue satellites.” –Charles Watts 

 

“Your insights are excellent” –Dan Dubelman

 

“You are the first professional to offer feedback and your encouraging words have given me additional motivation!  It is reassuring to know that I was on the right track; you have a remarkable ability to give constructive feedback in a positive way (and you are absolutely correct). I look forward to submitting more stories and continuing to improve.” –Jamie Fouty

 

“I learned about this contest from the Submittable page. I then checked out your website and felt comfortable submitting my story as you seem like someone who genuinely wants to help and advise others.” –Roger Yetzer

 

“I’m always striving to improve my writing, and feedback from editors like you make it much easier to do so.”  –Margarite R. Stever

 

“Many thanks for your response, from it, I can tell you’re very good at what you do.” –Kisa, Visually Versed

 

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to read and analyze my work . . . It’s not every day a contest gives you comprehensive feedback instead of a simple yes/no!” –Lena Crown

 

“Thanks for the wonderful feedback, never, never, got that before in thirty years.” –Jenny Hickinbotham