2023 Brilliant Writing Contest
Judged in-house by Brilliant Flash Fiction editors, our next writing contest has no theme—only a request for brilliant, beautiful writing.
Although we accept international entries, only stories written in English will be considered. Writers of all ages and levels of experience are welcome to submit.
No Entry Fee
Word limit: 400 words, excluding title
Deadline: April 15, 2023
Submissions: email to bffwritingcontest@gmail.com
Awards:
$200.00 first prize
$100.00 second prize
$50.00 third prize
$20.00 and publication on our website for shortlisted stories
For details, click HERE.
Prompt: None, no theme No Entry Fee Word limit: 500 words, excluding title Deadline: April 15, 2022 (WINNERS!) Submissions: email to bffwritingcontest@gmail.com
Prizes:
$200 first prize
$100 second prize
$50 third prize
$20 and publication on our website for shortlisted stories
Judge: Pamela Painter
For details, click HERE.
Write a Story in One Hour
Want a chance to have your original flash fiction published in our January 2021 issue? Invest an hour writing original flash fiction (200-1,000 words) based on a prompt given via Zoom.
Participate from anywhere in the world.
Eventbrite Registration Required. Go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/on-the-spot-writing-contest-tickets-121262313845. For details, click HERE.
Prompt: Lost in the Library
No Entry Fee
Word limit: 300-750 words, excluding title
Deadline: MAY 30, 2020 (WINNERS!)
Submissions: email to bffnonprofit@gmail.com
Prizes:
$100.00 first prize
$30.00 second prize
$25.00 third prize
Judges: Librarians Anne Macdonald and Molly Thompson
For details, click HERE.
Prompt: “Feed Us”
No Entry Fee
Word limit: 300 words, excluding title
Deadline: SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 (WINNERS!)
Submissions: email to bffnonprofit@gmail.com
Prizes:
$100.00 first prize
$30.00 second prize
$20.00 third prize
Judge: Kathy Fish
For details, click HERE.
Prompt: None. Let your imagination run wild
No Entry Fee
Word limit: 300 words, excluding title
Deadline: SEPTEMBER 15, 2018 (WINNERS!)
Submissions: email to
brilliantflashfiction@gmail.com
Prizes:
50 euro first prize (or equivalent amount in your currency)
25 euro second prize
15 euro third prize
Judges: Brilliant Flash Fiction staff
For details, click HERE.
Prompt: Write a story based on Adam Kluger’s art displayed here
No Entry Fee
Word limit: 300 words, excluding title
Deadline: FEBRUARY 15, 2018 (WINNERS!)
Submissions: email to
brilliantflashfiction@gmail.com
Prizes:
50 euro first prize (or equivalent amount in your currency)
25 euro second prize
15 euro third prize
Artist & Judge: Adam Kluger
For details, click HERE.
Prompt: CONCEALMENT
No Entry Fee
Word limit: 300 words, excluding title
Deadline: SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 (WINNERS!)
Submissions: email to
brilliantflashfiction@gmail.com
Prizes:
50 euro first prize (or equivalent amount in your currency)
25 euro second prize
15 euro third prize
Judge: Charles Rammelkamp
For details, click HERE.
Prompt: the dubash
No Entry Fee
Word limit: 500 words, excluding title
Deadline: JUNE 15, 2017 (WINNERS!)
Submissions: email to
brilliantflashfiction@gmail.com
Prizes:
50 euro first prize (or equivalent amount in your currency)
25 euro second prize
15 euro third prize
Judge: KJ Hannah Greenberg
For details, click HERE
Prompt: Overseas Travel
No Entry Fee
Word Limit: 300 words, excluding title
Deadline: MARCH 15, 2017 (WINNERS)
Submissions: email to brilliantflashfiction@gmail.com
Prizes:
50 euro first prize (or equivalent amount in your currency)
25 euro second prize
15 euro third prize
For details, click HERE.
Prompt: “AFTERMATH”
No Entry Fee
Word limit: 500 words, excluding title
Deadline: JANUARY 15, 2017 (WINNERS!)
Submissions: email to
brilliantflashfiction@gmail.com
Prizes:
50 euro first prize (or equivalent amount in your currency)
25 euro second prize
15 euro third prize
Judge: Dr. Abigail Favale
For details, click HERE
Prompt: “It Came in the Mail”
No Entry Fee
Word limit: 500 words, excluding title
Deadline: SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 (WINNERS!)
Submissions: email to
brilliantflashfiction@gmail.com
Prizes:
50 euro first prize (or equivalent amount in your currency)
25 euro second prize
15 euro third prize
Judge: Paul Beckman
For details, click HERE
Second Anniversary Writing Contest
Theme: No Theme
No Entry Fee
Word limit: 750 words, excluding title
Deadline: JUNE 15, 2016 (WINNERS!)
Submissions: email to
brilliantflashfiction@gmail.com
Prizes:
50 euro first prize (or equivalent amount in your currency)
25 euro second prize
15 euro third prize
Judge: Ty Spencer Vossler
For details, click HERE
Springtime Fiction Writing Contest
Theme: The Future
No Entry Fee
Word limit: 500 – 750 words, excluding title
Deadline: MARCH 15, 2016 (WINNERS!)
Submissions: email to
brilliantflashfiction@gmail.com
Prizes:
50 euro first prize (or equivalent amount in your currency)
25 euro second prize
15 euro third prize
For details, click HERE
Science Fiction Writing Contest
No Entry Fee
Word limit: 750
Deadline: JANUARY 15, 2016 (WINNERS!)
Submissions: email to
brilliantflashfiction@gmail.com
Prizes:
50 euro first prize (or equivalent amount in your currency)
25 euro second prize
15 euro third prize
For details, click HERE.
September Freestyle Writing Contest
No Entry Fee
Word limit: 600
Deadline: SEPTEMBER 15, 2015 (WINNERS!)
Submissions: email to
brilliantflashfiction@gmail.com
Prizes:
50 euro first prize (or equivalent amount in your currency)
25 euro second prize
15 euro third prize
For details, click HERE
Theme: EQUALITY
No Entry Fee
Word limit: 300
Deadline: JUNE 15, 2015 (WINNERS!)
Submissions: email to brilliantflashfiction@gmail.com
Judge: Liz Nugent, Author of Unravelling Oliver
liznugent.ie
Prizes:
50 euro first prize (or equivalent amount in your currency)
25 euro second prize
15 euro third prize
PHOTO PROMPT WRITING CONTEST
Submit the best story inspired by this photo and win 100 euro (or the equivalent in your currency).
No Entry Fee
Unlimited Entries
Word limit: 1,000
Deadline: March 15, 2015 (WINNERS!)
Submissions: email to brilliantflashfiction@gmail.com
Winner to be selected by writer/photographer Laurie Scavo.
Theme: Life is Good
No Entry Fee
Word limit: 300
Deadline: January 15, 2015 (WINNERS!)
Submissions: email to brilliantflashfiction@gmail.com
Prizes:
50 euro first prize (or equivalent amount in your currency)
25 euro second prize
15 euro third priz
FINISH THE STORY CONTEST
Provide the best ending for the story below and win 20 euro (or the equivalent in your currency) via PayPal. Second place wins 10 euro; Third Place, 5 euro.
Deadline: 15 September 2014 (WINNERS!)
Total Word Limit for the completed story: 300
Winners will be published in 30 September edition of Brilliant Flash Fiction.
Chicken Soup Ice Cream
She met him at an international student exchange.
He was German—not her first choice. But he was dark and subdued, unlike the Brazilians who talked too much and ran their eyes over every woman in the room.
“Hello. I’m Sharon,” she said.
He stood up. “My name is Hans.”
They drank plastic cups of fruit punch and communicated in simple English phrases until it was time to go, and then Hans grew agitated.
“Will you … can I … “ he began, fighting the language.
“All right,” Sharon said.
She wanted to see a movie but his English wasn’t good enough.
They went for ice cream instead.
“In Germany,” he said, “We have an ice cream shop that sells every flavor in the world … even chicken soup ice cream.”
BRILLIANT FLASH FICTION 
Thank you for that list! Would love to add one more to it:
Write a Book, Rewrite Your Life Contest – Win $100
According to common wisdom, we all have a book inside of us. In honor of our upcoming Rewrite Your Life workshop in San Francisco, we’re asking how you how your life would be better if you wrote your book Write a letter from your future self, maximum 300 words, describing how your life has changed now that you’ve written that book you’re meant to write.
Include items such as describing:
–a description of your book, including a title
–the best part about having that book written
–the kind of support you got to help you write the book
–the ways your life has gotten better since you wrote the book
Email that letter to us at support@womenwellnessretreats.com before midnight CST on April 5, 2017. Your entry qualifies you for a chance to win $100 cash and $100 off your dream writing retreat! Full instructions available here: https://womenwellnessretreats.com/contest.