Update 04/04/2024: Submissions CLOSED

As of April 17, 2024, our weird horror submission call reached the submission cap of 1,000 stories and is now CLOSED. We are reading submissions as fast as we can. The next submission windows are as follows: 

May 1st -- Open for REPRINTS, all genres

May 1st -- Opening a special call for "RURAL FANTASY" (guest editor: Jason Bartles)

July 1st -- Open to ORIGINALS, all genres, all themes

All summer submissions calls will be free to submit.

GENERAL SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

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. For more information on the type of stories we enjoy, please read a few issues and check out our "What We're Looking For" page.

SUBMISSION WINDOW: The Weird Horror special call will be open until April 21st.

FORMATTING: Please format your submission in a double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman or other serif-type font (NO 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: We will 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: For our "Weird Horror" submission call, please wait for a determination on your first submission before submitting another.

AI-GENERATED SUBMISSIONS: 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.

QUERIES: You can check on the status of your submission at any time via your Submittable account. If, after 8 weeks, your submission is still marked as "in-progress," you may email flashfictiononlineeditor@gmail.com with QUERY in the subject line for an update on its status. (Submissions sent to this address will be deleted unread.)

COMPENSATION: Our 2024 rate is $100 for each original story.

We are unable to provide personal feedback or critiques.

We do NOT accept resubmissions of stories previously rejected by Flash Fiction Online, unless requested by the editorial team.

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 entirely through the generosity and support of our readers! Check out our Patreon here.