Flash 405
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Our June 2026 Flash 405 Contest will be guest judged by Chelsea Sutton!
The Theme: Loop
From Chelsea:
“Loops of string and rope. Loops on belts and shoelaces. Loops on a DJ track, repeated notes and beats and chorus lines. Loops of thoughts, memories, ghosts, that argument in our head we can’t turn off. Loops of time, the days and months and years we repeat sometimes without ever noticing.
Write a story or a memoir or a poem or a word art that feels never-ending. Tell me about the time loop you’re stuck in or about that delicate swirl in the pattern of your grandma’s couch, or the repeated phrases that have never left your heart. Don’t be afraid of being too spooky or gruesome or magical or sentimental. In fact, break that loop you're in and get weird with it.”
The Guidelines
- Fiction. A complete story, up to 405 words (get it?).
- Nonfiction. A complete story, up to 405 words.
- Poetry. One poem, up to 5 lines (including prose poems).
- Stage & Screen. A complete scene, up to 4 pages. Please format according to the standard unpublished playwriting or screenwriting format.
- Experimental. A complete short-form narrative utilizing innovative techniques and/or hybrid forms. Consider the spirit of flash as well as the limits of other categories for length guidelines.
The Prizes
The winners will all receive publication on the website. Our first and second place winners will also receive a cash prize, but here’s the fun part—there’s no limit to how much you could win. The more entries we receive, the larger the prize! Here’s a breakdown:
- 1st prize: Online publication + 40% of all entry fees.
- 2nd prize: Online publication + 20% of all entry fees.
- Honorable Mention: Online publication.
Concealed submissions
Flash 405 entries are judged anonymously: please remove your name, contact information, or any other all identifying information from your submission document.
We still require your name and a brief bio with your Submittable submission cover letter, but this will not be shared with the judge.