We accept submissions of flash fiction, short stories, poetry, and creative nonfiction on a bimonthly basis. If your writing screams and writhes, incandescent, or if it’s hot in your hands like a fresh Molotov cocktail, we want to read it.
We currently do themed issues. The theme for Issue One is Convenience Store Quarterly.
“Tell us your stories of angels smoking under flickering fluorescents. Sing us your songs of midnight clerks selling lotto tickets in exchange for secrets. This issue will be a love letter to liminal spaces and the people we meet within them.”
Submissions for Convenience Store Quarterly will be open through February 28, 2026. We hope to publish the issue in April 2026.
General information and submission guidelines that span across submission categories are as follows:
- Any writing that endorses bigotry, sexism, racism, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, or otherwise targets marginalized communities will be declined without full consideration.
- Any writing utilizing AI generation will be declined without further consideration.
- Submissions are open internationally.
- Submissions to all categories are free of cost.
- Please submit pieces through the Google Forms links included below.
- Please submit pieces written primarily in English – however, code-switching or the inclusion of other languages in a primarily-English piece is welcome. For poetry, poems in other languages are acceptable as long as they are accompanied by an English translation.
- We do accept previously published work, as long as you retain full rights to the piece. If you are submitting previously-published work, please include the name of the publication in which the work was featured, so we can give credit upon acceptance.
- We accept simultaneous submissions. If part or all of your submission is accepted elsewhere, please reply to your original submission email informing us of your acceptance (we’d love to say congrats!).
- Please submit only once to each category per submission period at maximum. Multiple submissions will be declined without further consideration.
- Please refrain from including identifying information (e.g. name, contact information) on the document containing your writing. This information is best included in your cover letter and bio.
- We unfortunately are not in a place to offer payment to contributors. As we gain an audience and carve a niche in the literary scene, we hope to change this down the line.
- We hope to reply to submissions within one month.
- If you are writing about sensitive topics (e.g. violence, assault, mental health, gore, etc.), please include a trigger warning in your cover letter. We are open to even the grittiest work, but a heads up is appreciated.
FLASH FICTION GUIDELINES:
- Flash fiction must be anywhere from 400-1,000 words. Anything with a higher word count should be submitted as short fiction.
- Please submit 1-3 flash fiction pieces in one document.
- Please use double-space and 12-pt Times New Roman font.
- Please upload your submission document as a .doc, .docx, or .pdf file.
- We primarily read for literary fiction, but we are open to work of any genre.
SHORT FICTION GUIDELINES:
- Please submit 1 short story anywhere from 1,001-5,000 words long.
- Please use double-space and 12-pt Times New Roman font.
- Please upload your submission document as a .doc, .docx, or .pdf file.
- We primarily read for literary fiction, but we are open to work of any genre.
POETRY GUIDELINES:
- Please submit 1-3 poems in one document, totaling no more than nine pages.
- Please upload your submission document as a .doc, .docx, or .pdf file.
- At this time, Flash & Dazzle does not accepted translated poems unless you are the author of both the original poem and the English translation.
CREATIVE NONFICTION GUIDELINES:
- Please submit 1 nonfiction piece anywhere from 500-3,000 words long.
- Please use double-space and 12-pt Times New Roman font.
- Please upload your submission document as a .doc, .docx, or .pdf file.
Submit creative nonfiction here.
Thank you for your interest in submitting to Flash & Dazzle! We look forward to reading your finest.
Flash & Dazzle 