Literary Magazines to Submit Flash Fiction

Flash fiction is typically a story within 750 or 1,000 words. Instead of describing a whole plot, it centers on one event or aspect of the human experience. I once read that great flash fiction is when most of the story is “off the page,” meaning that flash fiction is only a tiny window into a much larger and meaningful story, the rest of which is up for interpretation.

When a story is so small, its “matter” requires more size. It leaves you dwelling on its themes for days. So, how do you do that? Short answer: symbols. Flash fiction combines symbols in brand-new ways and explores associations to plant the seed of an idea.

How to Write Flash Fiction

Before we dive into literary magazines, it’s important to say that flash fiction can be as short as even 6 words. There’s the 6-word story, the dribble (50 words), the drabble (100 words), microfiction (up to 400 words), and general flash fiction (up to 1,000 words). It is an art. At this length, every word has a purpose. Don’t put a loaded rifle on the stage if it’s not going to be fired. This is a skill you will acquire with practice. At first, just stick to the word limit and make sure you still tell a story. Then, as you revise your piece, make sure to edit wordy sentences or take out unnecessary details.

If you want your flash fiction career to be longer than a few stories you wrote here and there, read flash fiction. Lots of it. I can’t stress this enough. Wherever you plan to submit, always read at least three pieces to get a sense of what they’re looking for. Every magazine is different, and you will notice more techniques the more you read: contrast, stream of consciousness, upended symbols, etc. Add these to your toolbox and try them out in new stories.

Where to Submit Flash Fiction

1. 50-Word Stories: As the name suggests, this site only accepts stories that are exactly 50 words long. One story submission per month. Most stories have a fresh insight or a new take on a familiar topic or object. My favorites include “A Prescription” by Jinjia Grace Hu and “Morning in Rapunzel’s Tower” by Bob Thurber.
2. Flash Fiction Magazine: A lot of flash fiction pieces on this site discuss unexpected scenarios. A piece I enjoyed is “Zen and the Art of Appliance Maintenance” by Keenan J. Sands.
3. Brilliant Flash Fiction: The goal is to tell a story in 1,000 words or less, and you can submit a piece no more than twice quarterly. They have a variety of surreal stories, such as “Elmwood” by Dirk Kortz.
4. Short Beasts: They are looking for microfiction stories of 5-50 words and flash fiction of less than 1,000 words, with one submission allowed every six months. Many stories explore deep human emotions. Check out “Transubstantiation” by Deborah Ross.
5. Ghost Parachute: The stories might be a little more difficult to understand since it’s hard to follow the plot and interpret the symbols, but it’s interesting to explore their style and techniques. A remarkable one is “The Wait” by Amy Marques.

Challenge Literary Magazines

While it’s best to start off with more accessible literary magazines, it’s also good to aim higher once in a while.

1. New Flash Fiction Review: They publish four issues a year, with a maximum word count of 500 words. One of my favorites is “The claw machine” by Nadia Born.
2. Flash Frog: They’re extremely competitive, but submissions are open year-round. Their motto is “Small. Brightly colored. Deadly to the touch.” A great piece to see the author’s techniques in action is “Five Eulogies for Goldie” by Bethany Bruno.

Practical Tips

When exploring literary magazines, make sure to check:

• Their submission window and how many times you’re allowed to submit every certain period of time (e.g., once a month, quarterly, etc).
• Whether they allow simultaneous submissions (i.e., submitting the same piece to multiple magazines at once).
• Fees. As a teenage writer, it’s best to submit to magazines that don’t require you to pay.

When to Submit

Now.

Don’t wait until you “get better” at writing. Submitting to literary magazines can lead to tremendous growth because you know what’s out there and how you can use it to improve your own writing. After a few months, you’ll be an expert in submission language and tips.

Now, this doesn’t mean submitting blindly. Do still check submission guidelines, read a few examples, and make the effort to write something you believe they will accept. But don’t let this process discourage you. You’ll be rejected most of the time; keep going.

More, More, More Literary Magazines

There are many other curated lists on the internet with all sorts of literary magazines. Some of my favorites are “Where to Submit Your Writing” from SubClub in ChillSubs, and the many Authors Publish magazine lists (i.e., 30 Magazines Accepting Flash Fiction, etc). Most lists on these websites are free and include a variety of literary magazines, not just for flash fiction. Whenever you explore a magazine on any list, make sure to still Google it and go to the actual lit mag to see what it’s like. Keep a running list of literary magazines you’ve submitted to or would like to submit to.

And now?

You’re ready!

About the author

Angelica Jimenez is a writer who currently serves as editor-in-chief for her high school's literary magazine, Sin Fronteras. She has also been published in 50-Word Stories and Friday Flash Fiction, including a story in their book, Editor's Choice: Friday Flash Fiction Favourites. Angelica began writing creatively in tenth grade and, shortly after, found Write the World, where she is still a young writer and encourages others to submit their work to literary magazines.