**Update** for competition 13 onwards 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 (no poetry) that’s up to 200 words with a twist (no minimum word count). 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.
Please read the competition details at the bottom of the page.
Entry is free via our email: fusilli-writing@outlook.com or our contact page, however, we offer feedback plus our 47 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.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 inbox).
You can purchase ‘Fundamentals of Flash Fiction’ without feedback by sending £3 via PayPal to fusilli-writing@outlook.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 approximately 8,000 words, 47 pages long and includes 14 examples of my own flash fiction to illustrate points made in the document. Each of these pieces having either been placed in the results of a competition or published.
- 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
- 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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13th Competition now open. Current story count: 11/100
1st Young writer competition now open. Current story count: 2/100
Past winners:
| Competition | Winner | Runner up / Short list |
|---|---|---|
| Comp 12 | Virginia 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 Charlie | Jenny 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 Watchers | Jenny 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 Statue | James 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 – Torture | Vicki 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 Final | Chris 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 Return | Warren 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 2020 | Shiv Saywack: White Christmas | Sue Dawes: Keeping the wolf from the door Niles Reddick: Vertigo |
| June 2020 | Dan McQuain: Father and Son | Sera Worrall: Time for Tea Sue Dawes: Final Illusion |
| December 2019 | Rhiannon Cousins: Runaway Groom | Sue Dawes: Our father who art in Clapham |
| June 2019 | Sue Dawes: Battle Dress | Neil 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.
- 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.
- Any theme including disturbing, erotic etc, although publication of the winning stories on our page is at our discretion.
- The story needs a twist / good reveal.
- 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.
Fusilli Writing 