Submitting Flash Fiction to Markets without a Specific Flash Category

Niggle · Jan 24, 2007

I'm shopping round a few flash fiction pieces, and am beginning to run out of markets in the genre that specifically request flash pieces. So now I am looking for other options. There are a number of other genre-appropriate magazines that don't specifically request flash but which don't place a minimum word limit on submissions. It seems a little strange to send a 500 word story to somewhere that asks for stories under 10,000 words. I have tried this a couple of times, and got responses back to the effect that the story seems unfinished. So I'm wondering whether flash fiction might just look under-developed when sent to editors who aren't specifically looking to see how much story can be crammed into a few words.

Obviously, if I were a genius flash fiction writer, they wouldn't be thinking that. But I'm just an idiot newbie writer turning over stones in the hope I'll eventually find a clue.

Any thoughts from the more experienced members of this forum?

PeeDee · Jan 24, 2007

I can answer this with my editor cap on, and that may not be useful.

I get flash fiction sometimes, at BBT. On the one hand, if you write 500 words, then I'm going to read the whole thing, even if it doesn't blow me away. There's not much room to screw up, so you can get me with whatever you wanted to say pretty easily.

AND they (BBT, or anyone else) might be more willing to publish something that's short, and cheap.

On the other hand....in five hundred words, if you haven't totally won me and sent shivers (or the equivalent emotion) down my spine, I'm probably not going to buy it, because....it's 500 words. It won't necessarily stick in my head.

But yes, you can definitely submit to markets that don't specifically SAY flashfiction. Just be aware of your potential problems, AND your potential advantages.

*takes off editor's cap, which is sort of greasy anyway*

pdr · Jan 24, 2007

You could try...

developing your skills by writing 1000 word fiction. It's not much longer than your 500 word flash fiction and it will help you learn how to develop story and characters.

Niggle · Jan 31, 2007

Thanks for that perspective, PeeDee. I'll bear that in mind.

And thanks for your advice, too, pdr. In fact, I'm busy writing at all the short fiction lengths at the moment - though I still have a lot to learn about each of them.

Stijn Hommes · May 21, 2007

Yes, I'd certainly try those if you run out of specific flash markets. Just make sure there's no bottom word count limit. It's probably a good idea to check if they published flash before too.

Submitting Flash Fiction to Markets without a Specific Flash Category

Niggle

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

pdr

Niggle

Stijn Hommes

Know what you write...