We hold four contests a year. Click on the Current or Latest Contest box on www.writeradvice.com for details.
Questions? Please ask. Thanks!
Seeking Dribbles, Drabbles, & Micro Fiction
https://writeradvice.com/seeking-flash-prose/ for additional details
Welcome to our Micro Fiction Contest. We’re looking for concise, impactful writing. We’ll assume it’s fiction even if it’s based on real life.
Terminology:
- A dribble is a story of exactly 50 words.
- A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.
- Micro fiction can run up to 500 words.
What We’re Looking For:
We’re looking for short, short pieces that makes a point and makes us think or react. You can submit up to 3 dribbles or 3 drabbles if you like in one entry. If you submit more than one piece of micro fiction, please be sure the total number of words is less than 500.
What makes a dribble or drabble effective?
- Be clear.
- Be concise.
- Make a point.
- Let readers think, feel, and react.
- Start as far into the story as possible.
- Use as few characters as possible.
- Have a conflict and resolution—maybe an unexpected resolution.
- Use descriptive nouns and verbs.
- Make the title count.
- Surprise us with something new and refreshing.
- Please double space and use a readable font.
- Read it out loud. Fix any glitches & SUBMIT. If your work is published you’ll earn $35.
What if you’d prefer to submit a longer story?
Go to the Contests & Markets page. You’ll find lots of places seeking longer submissions.
What if you were looking for the Scintillating Starts Contest?
Write to me and I’ll explain how I’m doing that now.
“I like to let the most mundane things that catch my attention have the chance to be flashes of lightning.” ~~Unknown
PRIZES? PUBLICATION? ABSOLUTELY! for the best 3 to 8 pieces. All can call themselves winners in Writer Advice’s 2025 Flash Memoir Contest. We no longer rank as first, second, and third place. There are small cash prizes for everyone who is published.
You can find some samples of Micro Fiction in Prior Winners
How do you enter? Use this Submittable link or the one at the bottom of the page. The contest will close on December 2 at midnight ET.
Want to see the rubric that guides us? You’ll find it on the Writing Advice page.
We want to share your stories about your publishing journey and your writing life here. Write to entertain, to enlighten, and to advise (but not preach). Write to share your gratitude, amazement, and disbelief.
Share the good, the bad, and the silly, but don’t share them all in one submission. Think of a blog post or a short-short story. No epics.
No fiction here. These are real-life stories ranging from 250 to 750 words. Less is more. Make your point clearly and move on.
Who knows what your experience might inspire?
New submissions will be added quarterly. Send through Submittable, <!-- Link to the Writer Advice submission manager. --->
<a target = _blank href="https://writeradvice.submittable.com/submit"><img src="//manager.submittable.com/Public/Images/submittable-submit-button.png" alt="submit" border="0" /></a>
$6 submission fee covers our time, possible editing, and the
decision-making process.
You get a credit for your resume plus a brief bio and the satisfaction of sharing your experience Sorry that we do not have the income to pay you at this time.