Update 2/16/2025: We are CLOSED for submissions!

As of February 15th we met our submission cap, and we have to close in order to give our volunteer staff time to catch up. We will open again on April 1st. Here is our estimated reading schedule for the first part of 2025:

• March 1st - open to paid patrons only. Become a patron via our Patreon >>here<<
• April 1st - special call for "Wilderness Horror" for Oct 2025 issue guest edited by C.R. Langille; all other genres accepted in general sub call
• May 1st - special call for "Spec Fic with focus on family" for Nov 2025 issue guest edited by Emma Burnett; open for Reprints

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.

FORMATTING: Please format your submission in a double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman or similar 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: 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: We accept ONE story / per reading period.

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

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.

Love what we publish? Flash Fiction Online is funded entirely through the generosity and support of our readers! Check out our Patreon here.