A SPECIAL HOLIDAY EDITION

CLOSED TO SUBMISSIONS

Things have been a little quiet around Death Knell Press, so let’s spike this egg nog and make things interesting. And since it’s the season for giving, we’re giving you not 2 days, but 7 days to write a 300-word story. No fee to enter. $50 prize.

A HORROR MICROFICTION WRITING CONTEST

WINDOW CLOSED

DECEMBER 10 – 17, 2023

Genre: HORROR (open to all subgenres)

Theme: WINTER HOLIDAY

Write a HORROR story, 200 to 300 words (FIRM LIMITS) that fits the theme: Winter Holiday. We are open to any interpretation of the theme.

EDITED TO CLARIFY: Not everyone on the globe celebrates those December/January holidays in the winter. Our southern hemisphere friends celebrate in the summer! So, to clarify…. what we’re looking for are stories about Festivus, Saturnalia, Hannukah, Christmas, New Years… those (typically) December holidays, OR stories set in the icy grip of winter are fine too.

(Submit no later than 11:59pm on December 17, any time zone)

Please keep reading for full guidelines!

(Please note: “Flash on the Fly” means flash fiction–in this case microfiction–written quickly & without much preparation. It does not mean flash fiction about The Fly.)

• Stories should be previously unpublished, written in standard manuscript format, and sent as a .docx file attachment

• Name your .docx file with your story title and your last name, then attach it to the email.
• In the subject box, type: SUBMISSION, YOUR STORY TITLE, & YOUR LAST NAME.
• Send to flashonthefly@gmail.com

Stories will be judged on adherence to the theme, quality of storytelling, and originality. Given the speedy nature of this challenge, minimal judging will be based on minor spelling errors and typos.

• I will aim to select a winner within 1 week of the closing deadline and will announce the winner publicly on our website and across social media.
• Due to the fast turnaround of this contest, only the author of the winning story will receive a response.
• The author of the winning story will receive $50.00 USD via PayPal or Zelle.
• Publisher will receive nonexclusive rights to publish the story on our website. Author will retain all rights to their story. Please review this sample publishing agreement prior to submitting: Flash on the Fly Publishing Agreement.
• Stories will be judged by RED LAGOE.

TIPS based on Red’s personal preferences:

• Be original. Don’t be afraid to be weird, gross, smart, violent, funny, gory, sexy, or subtle… so long as these things have a purpose to the story and fit the theme.
• Red loves a story that steals her breath, or punches her in the gut, pierces her heart, or leaves her jaw on the floor.

Best of luck to all who enter!