Flash Fiction Competition


We are now running two competitions – one for young writers of 16 and under and one for everyone else. If 16 or under, please indicate by email when you enter.

For both competitions, all we want is your story that’s up to 200 words with a twist. Maximum of one entry per person per competition round, any theme. We will announce a short list and winner once we receive 100 entries (see story count below), with the winner getting publication on our winners page. Entry is free via our email: fusilli-writing@outlook [dot] com (Dot removed in an attempt to reduce spam) or our contact page.

Please read the competition details at the bottom of the page.

We offer feedback plus our 50 page PDF: ‘Fundamentals of Flash Fiction’ for a fee of £5, either click on the blue button below to pay via STRIPE or send £5 via PayPal to fusilli-writing@outlook [dot] com (other currencies calculated at time of payment or contact us for a figure). Please let us know when you submit your story that you have opted for feedback. The PDF will then be emailed to you soon after payment (up to two days but often sooner) and feedback sent once the competition has closed (check your junk box).

You can purchase ‘Fundamentals of Flash Fiction’ without feedback by sending £3 via PayPal to fusilli-writing@outlook [dot] com or clicking on the STRIPE button below. The PDF will then be emailed to you soon after payment (up to two days but often sooner and check your junk inbox). Please also email to let us know you have purchased the PDF.

‘Fundamentals of Flash Fiction’ contains the sections listed below, is over 8,000 words, 50 pages long and includes 13 examples of my own flash fiction to illustrate points made in the document.

  • Is creative writing art?
  • Key aspects of a good flash fiction story
  • Micro fiction: Beginning, middle and end – a theory of micro fiction construction
  • ‘Show’ don’t ‘Tell’ (new section June 2022)
  • Titles
  • Headline Illustrations (new section April 2023)
  • Writing plot twists in flash fiction
  • Entering writing competitions – six top tips

Our free article ‘Entering writing competitions – six top tips’ can be seen for here.

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14th Competition now open. Current story count: 79/100

1st Young writer competition now open. Current story count: 45/100

Past winners:

CompetitionWinnerRunner up / Short list
Comp 13Joel O’Flaherty – The Stranger and her ShoeboxThomas McLeod – Atomic Time
Jenny Drury – Worst Case Scenario
Varda Tully – The Worm Turns
Nicki Nance – Guitar Play
Comp 12Virginia Crow – Did You See It?Elizabeth McGinty – Free To a Good Home
Varda Tully – Whistling in the Wind
Kathryn Hefford – Disparity
Glenys Adams – Bed
Comp 11
(Sept 2022)
Jeff Taylor – Fishing with CharlieJenny Drury – The Graveyard Slot
Ken Tracey – Pawn to Knight
Lee Ciasullo – The Moving Day
Jenny Mena – Her Mighty Sword
Antonio Jimenez – I Never Heard the Shot
Comp 10
(June 2022)
Julia E Sands – Bird WatchersJenny Drury – Making Memories
Lemur – Danced in the park
James Seviour – A String Theory Cocktail
Jeff Taylor – Dashboard Dynasty
Comp 9
(April 2022)
Rosa Carr – The Unknown StatueJames Vodrey – Homecoming
David O’Keefe – Hunger
Mark Frederick – School Routine
Rosemary Gemmell – The Anniversary Envelope
Paul Beckman – A Bump in the Night
Michele Walls – The last dance
Garry Dubey – The two tailed beauty
Andrew Newall – Crimes of the Past
Comp 8
(Feb 2022)
Fred Mcllmoyle – TortureVicki Leigh – The Write Words
Jacqueline Bartle – His Day in Court
Alun Evans – We need to have a conversation
Tom J Herron – Voodoo Twins
Son Le – The scoulding
Morgan Forbes – Hungry Red Eye
Comp 7
(Nov 2021)
Chris Ryder – The FinalChris Ryder – Cataclysm
Danny Harvey – Trapped
Rachel Cadwallender – Deja vu
Yvonne Clarke – Rites of Passage
Zach Keenan – Passive
Comp 6
(October 2021)
Shirley Bold Trott: All Service and No ReturnWarren Tang: She Loves Me Not
Jeff Taylor: Predators
Debbie Jarvie: My Demise
Martha Lane: Culpability Maturation
June 2021 Claire Loader: Roleplay James Mason: Best served cold
Jeff Taylor: Big Apple
Charise de Becker: Whiskey Wicked
Ellie Herda-Grimwood: She is Mine
Ruth Dear: On Cloud Nine
December 2020Shiv Saywack: White ChristmasSue Dawes: Keeping the wolf from the door
Niles Reddick: Vertigo
June 2020Dan McQuain: Father and SonSera Worrall: Time for Tea
Sue Dawes: Final Illusion
December 2019Rhiannon Cousins: Runaway GroomSue Dawes: Our father who art in Clapham
June 2019Sue Dawes: Battle DressNeil Phillips: Lucid Nightmares
Alex Entwisle: Soon

Competition rules / details

  • Email your story/stories to: Fusilli-writing@outlook.com copied into the body of an email. NO ATTACHMENTS OR LINKS.
  • The competition is open to writers of any nationality writing in English.
  • No poetry (whilst we like poetry, we don’t consider ourselves expert).
  • Young writer competition open for writers of 16 years old and younger at time of submission.
  • The maximum number of words is 200, not including title. No minimum word count.
  • Any theme including disturbing, erotic etc, although publication of the winning stories on our page is at our discretion.
  • The story needs a twist.
  • The deadline is when we receive the 100th entry.
  • Entries must be the writers original work and not have been previously published in print or online, been broadcast or have won a prize (also relates to ‘revised’ works).
  • Maximum of one entry per person per competition round.
  • The judge’s verdict is final.
  • The writer retains the rights to the story although we may use the story for future promotion.
  • Your entry will be acknowledged by email, but this may take up to a week.
  • If you pay for feedback, you can send your story at any point in the future, not necessarily for the current competition round (but remind us when you enter).
  • Entry is taken to be acceptance of these rules.

Data Protection / GDPR information

As ‘Data Controller’ we need to ensure it is clear how your personal data will be used:

  • Entry to the competition is considered as consent to hold your personal information (social media profiles and email address) until the competition winner/s is/are chosen and announced (unless you win / runner up – see below).
  • If not a winner we will only contact you to acknowledge receipt of your story(s) and to answer any queries you may have.
  • Unless a winner / runner up, you will only receive information from us via our social media pages as a follower or from groups we are both members of.

If you are one of our winners or runner-ups:

  • We will not pass your information to a third party except in publishing / promoting the winner/s names and stories on our social media pages and website.
  • Your name and story may be published and remain on our social media pages and website.
  • We will retain your contact details for future correspondence.
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