Update 9/1/2026: We are OPEN for submissions on the theme "human-shaped"
Our next General Submission period will begin Oct 1, 2026.
For the latest in our submission schedule, you can follow us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/cw/flashfictiononline
Or, on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/flashfictiononline.bsky.social
GENERAL SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: >> HERE <<
AI POLICY: We do NOT consider submissions generated or polished by LLMs / AI.
- As an arts nonprofit organization, our mission is to uplift humans, and we are committed to publishing stories written and edited by humans.
- We reserve the right to reject any submission that we suspect to be primarily generated or created by language modeling software, Chat GPT, chat bots, or any other AI apps, bots, or software.
- We reserve the right to ban submissions from accounts, emails, or users who we believe or suspect have submitted AI-generated content.
- Because AI-stories cannot be copyrighted, we cannot enter into a contract with submitters (notice I didn't say "authors" here) that use AI to generate fiction.
- As a magazine, we will never knowingly publish writing or artwork created by AI.
QUERIES: You can check on the status of your submission at any time via your Submittable account. If, after 10 weeks, your submission is still marked as "in-progress," you may email editor@flashfictiononline.com with QUERY in the subject line for an update on its status.
*** We do not reply to submissions sent via this email. Those are deleted unread. ***
COMPENSATION: Our 2026 rate is $100 for each original story. $36 for reprints. Our current contract language:
We will NOT consider stories that promote or affirm hatred, prejudice, or violence toward any group of people based on age, race, nationality, religion, sex, gender, political affiliation, disability, neurodiversity, or other social identity.
Love what we publish? Flash Fiction Online is funded through the generosity and support of our readers! Check out our Patreon here.
We are looking for complete 500- to 1000-word stories with crisp prose, well-developed characters, compelling plots, and satisfying resolutions. We want stories that engage our minds and emotions.
We publish across many genres, including speculative (science fiction, fantasy, slipstream, and horror) and literary fiction.
SUBMISSION CAP: Due to the other open calls we have this October, this opportunity is limited to 400 submissions. Otherwise, it is scheduled to close on October 20th.
FORMATTING: Please format your submission in a double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman or similar font (we prefer not to read in Courier), with standard 1" margins and black font on an unadorned, white background. No PDF submissions. No Images and no graphics.
ANONYMOUS SUBMISSIONS: Do not include your name, address, email, or other identifying information on your manuscript (header, byline, file name, etc).
SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS: Yes, we accept simultaneous submissions, but please notify us and withdraw the story as soon as you learn that it has been accepted somewhere else.
MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS: One story per author per call. As in, if you submitted to our themed "Human-Shaped" call in September, you can also submit to this one. But you can't submit twice for either.
RESUBMISSIONS: No. If you have a story that has been rejected by Flash Fiction Online, please do not resubmit unless an edited version has been requested by the editorial team.
REPRINTS: Not for this call.
AI-GENERATED SUBMISSIONS: NO! We are committed to publishing stories written and edited by humans. We reserve the right to reject any submission that we suspect to be primarily generated or created by language modeling software, Chat GPT, chat bots, or any other AI apps, bots, or software.
QUERIES: You can check on the status of your submission at any time via your Submittable account. If, after 10 weeks, your submission is still marked as "in-progress," you may email editor@flashfictiononline.com with QUERY in the subject line for an update on its status. (Submissions sent to this address will be deleted unread.)
COMPENSATION: Our 2026 rate is $100 for each original story.
We are unable to provide personal feedback or critiques.
We will NOT consider stories that promote or affirm hatred, prejudice, or violence toward any group of people based on age, race, nationality, religion, sex, gender, political affiliation, disability, neurodiversity, or other social identity.