Update 10/10/2025: We are OPEN to submissions.
Our autumn reading period start on October 1st. All genres, all topics. Sub cap will be 800. As of Oct 10th, we've received 619 submissions.
WORD COUNT: 500-1,000 (firm)
We know October's open call is un-themed, but we want to be realistic and honest about what is likely to have better chances in our queue.
What might NOT be a good fit for us this time:
- Families – we spent a lot of 2025 exploring family dynamics
- Memory / mind-alteration – seen a lot
- Tooth fairies & other teeth things – seen enough
- Magical markets and stores – seen enough
- Violent scenes, especially guns – just can't right now
What we'd love to see more of right now:
- Colleagues, friendships, mentorships, situationships
- Human vs nature in unique settings
- Stories dealing with land use, food security, agrarian-adjacent, solarpunk that isn't corporatized or pro-capitalist
- Adventures & questing
- Historical fiction with immersive details
- Horror – just don't get a ton of these stories in general
- Literary stories that are more than a scene with a complete character arc (i.e., the character is changed or moved by the action of the story)
- Unexpected narrators and experimentation with POV
- Voice stories that don't rely on an accent
- Stories that end with hope and optimism
The information on this page is accurate: What We're Looking For, and Not
We're always open to marginalized voices, non-Western storytelling formats, and authors from all over the world (as long as the story is in English).
ANONYMOUS SUBMISSIONS: Yes. 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: No, thank you. One story per author per call.
RESUBMISSIONS: If you're story has been rejected by Flash Fiction Online, please do not resubmit unless it's been requested by the editorial team. If it was last seen by us 3 or more years ago (i.e., before the current EIC's tenure), and/or it's been heavily reworked, Rebecca Halsey will consider queries about whether we would consider a resubmission until Oct 5, 2025. You can query by contacting editor@flashfictiononline.com with QUERY in the subject line.
We have now responded to all stories sent to us for the July 2025 open call as well as our special call for Regret stories (either with a final resolution or a "still interested" submission update). If you believe your story fell through the cracks, please double-check your Submittable account. Then, email editor@flashfictiononline.com with QUERY in the subject line.
*** We do not reply to submissions sent via email. Those are deleted unread. ***
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 CAP: To keep our response time as expeditious as possible, this submission form will close when we reach 800 submissions. We may raise the submission cap if we find that we are able to take in additional stories.
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: No. One story per author per call.
RESUBMISSIONS: If you're story has been rejected by Flash Fiction Online, please do not resubmit unless it's been requested by the editorial team. If it was last seen by us 3 or more years ago (i.e., before the current EIC's tenure), and/or it's been heavily reworked, Rebecca Halsey will consider queries about whether we would consider a resubmission. You can query by contacting editor@flashfictiononline.com with QUERY in the subject line.
REPRINTS: Not for this call.
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 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 2025 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.