If you’re struggling with a story, agonising over an article or gnashing your teeth about the novel, why not take a short break to recharge your batteries and have a go at some flash fiction instead? Spending a short time playing around with just a few hundred words (or less) will get the brain cells working again, send you back to the magnum opus refreshed and also give you that lovely satisfied feeling that comes from finishing a piece of work and submitting it.
Flash fiction seems to be growing in popularity and here are just a few of the competitions and markets for it:
Flash Fiction World runs quarterly FREE to enter competitions – plus the site contains details of other competitions and helpful advice for the writer.
Emerald Writing Workshops runs quarterly 500 word story competitions with cheap entry fees – I’ve extolled the virtues of Eddie Walsh and his competitions before, so I won’t go on and on again.
Real People Magazine pays £25 each week for a 60 word story – most of which tend to have a twist in the tail.
And don’t forget the ‘Win a Book’ competitions which appear each month in Writing Magazine. They usually ask for around 250 words on a particular theme. I find them great for kick starting the grey matter and for trying a genre I might not otherwise consider – I recently won the ‘Paranormal’ competition and have had a go at ‘Pitching a SitCom’. These competitions are a quick and easy way to step outside your comfort zone.
If you know of any other extremely short fiction markets then let me know – I’m always looking for reasons to deviate from my current project!
Sally Jenkins 
#1 by susanjanejones on March 12, 2012 - 7:10 pm
I agree Sally, these flash fictions are a great way to deviate from something which we should be working on…but….keep putting off. Will check out these links. Thanks.
#2 by Sally Jenkins on March 12, 2012 - 8:31 pm
Don’t deviate too much, Susan!
#3 by Vikki (The View Outside) on March 13, 2012 - 1:10 pm
Thanks for the links 🙂
http://www.flash500.com hold 4 competitions a year
xx
#4 by Sally Jenkins on March 13, 2012 - 1:15 pm
Hi Vikki – many thanks for the link, will have a look.
#5 by Vikki (The View Outside) on March 13, 2012 - 1:24 pm
youre very welcome 🙂
xx
#6 by Vic on March 13, 2012 - 8:55 pm
Wise words, Sally
FFW is now running a new competition under the banner of National Flash Fiction Day, to be held on May 16. If you or any of your visitors are interested the details are here http://www.flash-fiction-world.com/flash-fiction-famous-phrase-competition.html
Oh, you asked anyone who knows about any short fiction markets to let you know. Well … Flash Fiction Chronicles – http://www.everydayfiction.com/flashfictionblog/flashmarkets/ – lists hundreds of markets. You can distract yourself for a whole day ;0)
All the best, Sally
Vic – editor Flash Fiction World
#7 by Tracy Fells on March 14, 2012 - 5:36 pm
Thanks Sally – Flash fiction competitions can be great fun, a chance to experiment with your writing and often offer great prizes (or £ per word!). I’d not come across Flash Fiction World so that one is definitely going on my list!
🙂
#8 by Sally Jenkins on March 15, 2012 - 5:20 pm
Vic – thanks for dropping by with the extra information. I hadn’t heard of National Flash Fiction Day and am certainly tempted by your new competition.
Tracy – Agreed, the £ per word for flash fiction can work out good!
#9 by robinnis on April 1, 2012 - 7:39 pm
Yes the http://www.flash500.com/ is orhanised by Lorraine Mace – well known contributor to Writing magazine and Words with Jam magazines and also Writers Bureau.