“If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them.”
― George Orwell
Writer Advice’s
Flash PROSE Submissions
WRITER ADVICE enjoys stories with a discovery, maybe a surprise, and a tone that 
rings true. Enlighten, dazzle, and delight us.
This year we’re open to any flash fiction, flash essay, flash memoir, short-short story, microfiction, or work that blends genres as long as it grabs our attention and/or makes us think. Write about whatever’s on your mind or share a piece that was rejected elsewhere as long as you still believe in it.
So many people lost their employment or their businesses in 2020 that we’re keeping our reduced price significantly 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. It’s a good bargain and a worker is worthy of her hire. Thank you for understanding.
WriterAdvice seeks your best short prose, a story, memoir, essay or cross genre piece running 750 words or less. We want to love or hate the characters. We want them to change and make us think. Hopefully, your story will touch or move readers in some way.
Please don’t try to cut a longer story down to 750 words. Instead, submit to a contest with a longer word limit.
Finalists who paid the $14 fee 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. Enlighten, dazzle, and delight us.
DEADLINE: The last day we’ll accept submissions is Thursday, September 2, 2021. Early submissions are encouraged. Scroll down to find the Submittable button. The fee helps us pay the expenses of the contest.
JUDGES: will be selected from previous prizewinners. Read recent winners by clicking on Archives if you’d like.
PRIZES: First Place earns $150; Second Place earns $75; Third Place earns $40; Honorable Mentions will also be listed. Prizes have not changed despite the lower fees. Enjoy the bargain.
FOR BEST RESULTS:
- Include your name, contact information, and title in the cover letter, but include only your title in the submission so it remains anonymous.
- Since we judge these anonymously, you don’t need a cover letter that includes more than your contact information including your e-mail address. If you are a finalist, we’ll ask for a bio.
- 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.
- You own the copyright. If we publish your work, the rights still belong to you.
- Simultaneous submissions accepted. You may submit up to 3 pieces to us, but each one must be submitted separately.
- We prefer unpublished work, though we do accept stand-alone excerpts from work seeking a publisher or agent. If it doesn’t work as a stand-alone, it’s best to submit it elsewhere.
- If you have questions, please click on the contact button and ask.
We look forward to reading your work. 🙏✍️
COMMENTS FROM PREVIOUS CONTESTANTS:
“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
“Just a quick note to say THANK YOU for this feedback. It’s such a refreshing experience to have some exchange — as most submissions disappear into the either like rogue satellites.” –Charles Watts
“Thank you so much for your detailed feedback!! 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
“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
“Thank you so much for your feedback! I really appreciate you taking the time to give me your thoughts. 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
“Thank you so much for your feedback, it always makes me feel inspired and motivated.” –Elizabeth Cockle
“Thanks for the wonderful feedback, never, never, got that before in thirty years.” –Jenny Hickinbotham
SUBMISSIONS:
All entries should be submitted through Submittable,
Winners will be announced on WriterAdvice, www.writeradvice.com at the beginning of October 2021 or—worst case — later.
