MC-Guide
Content Writing
Website 84: flashfictionmagazine.com
How Can You Earn Money Writing For “flashfictionmagazine.com” Website
This guide shows you, step by step, how a beginner can learn to pitch and sell stories to flashfictionmagazine.com.
You will learn what flashfictionmagazine.com wants, how to test your idea, how to write a pitch, and how payment roughly works. You can use this like a small SOP.
Guide: How to Write for Flash Fiction Magazine — A Beginner’s Roadmap
This long-form guide walks you through everything you need to know to write, polish, and submit flash fiction to Flash Fiction Magazine — including how to use their free submissions, how their contest and anthology routes can earn you money, and practical writing & revision steps you can follow tonight.
Links in the guide point directly to the magazine’s pages (submissions, contest, books, and forms) and to trusted external resources that collect market/payment info. Read the sections in order or jump to the parts you need.
Section 1 · Quick facts
What Flash Fiction Magazine is — the basics (short)
Flash Fiction Magazine is an online magazine dedicated to daily flash fiction — short, complete stories that deliver a narrative punch in a very small number of words. The site publishes flash pieces in a wide range of genres and emphasizes a clear plot, compelling imagery, and concise character work.
Open the magazine’s official pages and read 5–10 recent stories on the site. This helps you learn the tone and the kind of endings the editors prefer. The main site and submission pages are the authoritative sources for rules and forms.
Official links you should keep open while reading this guide:
The magazine typically publishes a story every day, so they run a high-volume, daily flash schedule. That means editors often look for stories that are immediately engaging and tidy in structure.
Section 2 · Submission rules (what they actually want)
Core acceptance rules: word count, style limits, and hard no’s
Before you write a single sentence for this market, read their official submission page. Below is a concise, practical summary of the rules you must obey (derived straight from their site).
Accepted length: Flash fiction between 300 and 1,000 words. Any genre is usually welcome — literary, speculative, horror, romance, humor — as long as the piece reads like a complete story rather than a vignette or prose poem.
- No poetry. No children’s fiction. No erotica.
- No previously published work — stories must be unpublished.
- No AI-written stories (the editors explicitly say they do not accept stories generated by AI tools such as ChatGPT).
- Simultaneous submissions are allowed — but if your story is accepted elsewhere, notify them immediately.
A couple of additional operational points: submission is free (they say they do not charge submission fees), and they take a non-exclusive archival right to publish stories on the site while you retain overall copyright to your work.
Section 3 · How to craft a tight flash story (300–1000 words)
Structure — what to aim for in ultra-short fiction
Flash fiction is not “short novel” — it is a compressed, self-contained narrative that still delivers emotional or intellectual impact. Below is a practical approach that works predictably well for 300–1,000 word pieces.
Lead with an immediate, specific situation
Open with action, a small revelation, or a striking line that puts the reader into a moment worth staying in. In flash, every sentence counts. Avoid long setup. Example openings: a single sentence about a broken object, a phone call, a betrayal, a small but significant failure.
Introduce one or two characters with clear wants
Focus on a single protagonist or two characters in sharp contrast. Show what they want (even a tiny goal), and let that desire shape the conflict. You don’t need backstory; use small, telling details—a gesture, a glance, a worn object—that reveal character.
Create a single problem that matters
Flash thrives on one compact conflict. It might be an interior decision, a social embarrassment, a practical problem, or a small moral dilemma. Keep the stakes clear: what happens (even small) if the character chooses one path over another?
Include a twist, reversal, or meaningful detail
The “turn” doesn’t have to be twisty, but the ending should reframe the beginning — a new light on the action, a bittersweet implication, or an emotionally resonant small moment. Prefer implication over full explanation; leave the reader with a clear, decisive image or line.
Practical micro-structure (use this template while drafting):
- Opening (1–3 paragraphs): immediate scene + character + small goal.
- Middle (3–6 paragraphs): escalation — decisions, complications, or revealing details that increase the emotional weight.
- Ending (1–3 paragraphs): one decisive image, line, or action that reframes everything.
Section 4 · Revision & polishing
Concrete edits you can do in one hour
Flash benefits more than most forms from ruthless line-editing. Here is a practical one-hour revision checklist that will elevate your piece.
Remove every unnecessary word
Read each sentence and ask: “Does this sentence move the story forward or reveal character?” If not, cut it. Replace long noun-phrases with verbs. Shorten attributions. Flash needs surgical trims.
Replace abstract summary with small, sensory moments
Instead of “She was nervous,” show the trembling hands, the rustled paper, the refusal to sit. Sensory specifics anchor a flash piece quickly.
Check names, timeline, and POV
Tiny inconsistencies—switching a name, a day, or a pronoun—kill trust. Make a single pass to confirm details are constant.
Make the last line count
Read only the last three sentences. If they don’t create a surprise, image, or emotional pivot, rework them until they do. The final line in flash often carries the emotional weight.
Section 5 · Submission workflow (step-by-step)
Exactly what to do when you’re ready to submit
Follow this step-by-step SOP the first few times you submit to Flash Fiction Magazine. It reduces errors and increases your chance of acceptance.
Read the official Submissions page
Always start with the magazine’s official submissions page before preparing your file. It contains current limits and the submission link you must use.
Format your document
Use a simple .docx or paste into the form (follow the form field rules). Include your name, contact email, story title, and the story text in the correct box. Avoid unusual fonts or heavy formatting — plain, readable text is best.
Write a short cover note
Keep it 1–2 short lines: your byline (what you do), a very short sentence about the story’s origin (optional), and a note about simultaneous submissions if relevant. If the form allows, attach links to your author site or other samples.
Submit via the form
Use the magazine’s submission form (the general submission form) and paste your story into the correct field or attach the file if they request attachments. Make sure you receive a confirmation email (they typically send one).
Track & be patient
Record the submission date in a tracking spreadsheet and wait. Response times vary; if you paid for priority/feedback, follow those instructions. If you don’t hear back within their stated window, a polite follow-up is acceptable.
Section 6 · Contests, anthologies & getting paid
How you can earn money via Flash Fiction Magazine
Flash Fiction Magazine runs a paid contest and sells anthologies. There are three realistic money routes you should know:
The magazine runs a contest that includes professional feedback and cash prizes (prizes range by place). The contest typically charges an entry contribution that includes the editorial feedback; this is a paid service that combines critique + consideration for prizes and publication in the magazine.
The magazine produces periodic anthology books (paperback / Kindle) featuring selected stories. Historically, they have paid a small fee for stories selected for those anthologies — many market lists report an anthology payment (a modest one-time fee) rather than payment for each website-published story.
Important: For most online publication on the magazine’s website, there is either no payment or only the anthology payment applies. If you’re primarily submitting to earn immediate money, check the contest dates (those can be a direct way to pay for detailed editorial feedback and a chance at prizes).
| Route | Typical cost/payment | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| General website publication | No fee to submit / usually no payment for website posting | Exposure, byline, and portfolio credit (useful for later opportunities) |
| Anthology inclusion | Small one-time payment historically reported by market lists | Book sale royalties or flat fee; contract provided if selected |
| Contest & feedback | Entry fee covers professional feedback; top prizes pay cash | Detailed critique + exposure + prize money for winners |
Section 7 · Rights & reprints
What you keep and what they ask for
Simple rights rules you should expect and confirm for each acceptance:
- Your copyright: You retain copyright to your story; the magazine usually asks for a non-exclusive archive right to publish on their site.
- Anthology contract: If your story is selected for an anthology, you will be sent a contract — read it carefully for payment, rights granted, and exclusivity periods.
- Reposting: If you want to repost your story on your own site later, check the editor’s instructions or contract. Many magazines allow reposting after an exclusive window, but procedures vary.
Section 8 · Micro-SOP (a weekly practice plan)
How to become production-ready in 8 weeks
If you want to build a steady clip file and increase your chances of acceptance, treat the next two months as a production sprint. The micro-SOP below helps you produce multiple polished pieces and learn from feedback.
Read examples & outline 6 story ideas
Read 12 recent stories from the magazine. For each, note the opening line, the turn, and the ending. Then write 6 one-sentence story ideas you could write in 1–3 days.
Draft and revise 3 stories
Write three separate 300–800 word stories. Use the one-hour revision checklist on each. Let each rest 24 hours, then rewrite with fresh eyes.
Get feedback
Trade critiques with two peers, or pay for a single editorial read if you plan to enter the magazine’s contest (the contest includes feedback). Incorporate the most useful suggestions.
Submit & track
Submit your strongest piece to Flash Fiction Magazine via the official form. Submit others to other flash markets to maximize your chance of paid publication.
Analyze responses & repeat
Record acceptances/rejections and revise your weak pieces. Keep a shortlist of better markets and consider anthology/contest options for work that benefits from paid feedback.
Section 9 · Final checklist & FAQ
Before you click submit — the final 12-point check
Section 10 · Resources & useful links
Official pages, submission forms, and trusted market lists
These third-party market lists compile payment info and historical notes (useful for context; always verify with the magazine itself):