About flashquake:
flashquake is an independent, quarterly, web-based
publication that focuses on works of flash fiction, flash memoir, flash
plays and poetry. Each issue is organized around a theme (see "Publication
Schedule" for a list of themes), but non-themed work is also considered for
publication.
It is our aim to make flashquake a top quality
paying venue for literary writers. We do not currently take advertising
or subsidies from sponsors. In order to fund the stipends for our contributors,
we require a $2 reading fee for each submission. Currently, we plan to award
the top three contributors of theme-related work in each category, but may be able to expand the number of contributors we can compensate if we receive sufficient submissions.
What we're looking for:
We are defining "flash" as works of under 1000 words in length. However, we admire brevity and will
receive shorter works favorably. For poetry, our uppermost limit is 35 lines per poem.
flashquake welcomes your submissions in each of five categories:
- Flash fiction
- Flash memoir
- Flash plays
- Poetry
- Artwork
We're open to any type of writing within those categories, and specifically, we're looking for original stories,
essays, plays and poems with strong, clean, concise writing. We want to see pieces that readers will think about
after they have finished reading them.
Although each issue of flashquake is centered around a theme (see our publication schedule for information on the theme for each issue), we also accept open submissions for each issue. However, only themed submissions are considered for compensation at this time.
Rights Sought:
The author/artist submitting their work retains the copyright to his or her work. We seek first publication
rights and request the following permissions from the author:
Permission to include your work in the issue of flashquake for which it's accepted.
Since flashquake is a quarterly publication, your work will be featured on the
flashquake site for three months.
After that period your work will be moved to our online archives, where it will remain indefinitely
unless you request that we remove it. Your work will also be included in the CD version of
flashquake which is presented to uncompensated contributors. flashquake.org retains the copyright on the publication as a
whole; we reiterate, however, that the author/artist retains all rights to their individual work. If your work is published elsewhere after its debut in flashquake,
we request that you credit flashquake as the venue where it was originally published.
Publication Schedule and Reading Periods:
As mentioned above, flashquake publishes quarterly, and our publication schedule for the
2001-2002 year is as follows:
Fall issue - Published September 1, 2001
- Theme - Betrayal
- Submissions Accepted - June 15 to August 1
- Contributor Notification Deadline - August 24, 2001
Winter issue - to be published December 1, 2001
- Theme - Sacrifice
- Submissions Accepted - September 15 to November 1
- Contributor Notification Deadline - November 23, 2001
Spring issue - to be published March 1, 2002
- Theme - Weapons
- Submissions Accepted - December 15, 2001 to February 1, 2002
- Contributor Notification Deadline - February 22, 2002
Summer issue - to be published June 1, 2002
- Theme - Confession
- Submissions Accepted - March 15 to May 1
- Contributor Notification Deadline - May 24, 2002
How to Submit:
General Submission Information:
Proof your work thoroughly! Typographical and grammatical errors may disqualify
your submission, and will certainly make a less than favorable impression on our editors.
We do accept simultaneous submissions. Please be sure to tell us immediately if your work is
accepted elsewhere. We do not accept multiple submissions in our fiction, nonfiction or play categories.
Submissions are restricted to one per author/artist per reading period.
Poets may submit up to three poems of no more than 35 lines each as one submission, but must
not submit more than one set of three poems per reading period.
Your reading fee must be received before your work will be forwarded to our reviewers.
Submitted work for which the reading fee has not been received by our deadline will be destroyed unread. Electronic Submission:
Prepare your submission as plain ASCII text.
For fiction or nonfiction: Your story should be single-spaced with one blank line between paragraphs. DO NOT include your name in your submission; that information is collected in other fields of the form. Keep in mind our limit of 1000 words. Excite us! Surprise us! Make us think!
For poetry: Enclose your submission of up to 3 poems of 35 lines each formatted single-spaced. If you have special formatting requirements, please make note of them in the "Comments" section of the form. DO NOT include your name in your submission.
For plays: Please see The Passion Peddler for an example of the format we prefer. We're looking for plays that would not exceed ten minutes in duration when performed on the stage or radio. That means no more than ten pages in the standard format. If in doubt, allow for approximately 150 words per minute. Better still, read your play aloud with appropriate-length pauses for stage directions to determine its length.
We're looking for pieces that are profound, funny, dramatic and original. Remember — these aren't short stories, they're PLAYS, and that means ACTION, whether physical or psychological. There is no limit to the number of props and characters allowed. However, the more you can do with less, the more impressed we'll be!
Then, paste it into our electronic submission form. You will also need to include the following information:
- Your name;
- The title of your piece;
- The category in which you're submitting;
- Whether your piece concerns our theme or is an open submission;
- Your e-mail address;
- Your land mail address;
- The copyright date of your piece;
- A brief (50-60 word biography);
- Whether or not your piece has been published elsewhere; and,
- Whether or not you would like us to include an e-mail link on your piece that readers can use to contact you with their comments.
There is also a space on the form for you to include any comments for us.
The electronic submission form also includes a link to PayPal for electronic payment of your $2 reading fee, so have your credit card handy.
NOTE: Your submission will not be forwarded to our reviewers unless your
reading fee is received before the closing date for the issue in question.
Submissions received after the deadline will automatically be carried over as open submissions for the next issue. Traditional (snail mail) submission:
All hardcopy submissions should be accompanied by a cover letter.
For fiction or nonfiction: Enclose your submission printed double-spaced on 8.5" X 11" paper. Make sure that your title and page number is on each page of your submission, but DO NOT include your name on your submission. Keep in mind our limit of 1000 words. Excite us! Surprise us! Make us think!
For poetry: Enclose your submission of up to 3 poems of 35 lines each printed single-spaced on 8.5" X 11" paper. Make sure that your title is on each page of your submission, but DO NOT include your name on your submission.
For plays: Please be sure to use standard play format: single-spaced dialogue, plus a blank line between dialogue, character names and stage directions, on 8.5" X 11" paper. We're looking for plays that would not exceed ten minutes in duration when performed on the stage or radio. That means no more than ten pages in the standard format. If in doubt, allow for approximately 150 words per minute. Better still, read your play aloud with appropriate-length pauses for stage directions to determine its length.
We're looking for pieces that are profound, funny, dramatic and original. Remember — these aren't short stories, they're PLAYS, and that means ACTION, whether physical or psychological. There is no limit to the number of props and characters allowed. However, the more you can do with less, the more impressed we'll be!
Do be sure to include the following information in your cover letter:
- Your name;
- The title of your piece;
- The category in which you're submitting (fiction, nonfiction, play, poetry);
- Whether your piece concerns our theme or is an open submission;
- Your e-mail address;
- Your land mail address;
- The copyright date of your piece;
- A brief (50-60 word biography);
- Whether or not your piece has been published elsewhere;
- Whether or not you would like us to include an e-mail link on your piece that readers can use to contact you with their comments; and,
- Any comments you have for us.
Be sure to include your check (made payable to RIVER ROAD STUDIOS, and put the title of your submission in the "Memo" section) to cover the $2 reading fee. Send it to:
flashquake
ATTN: (Fiction, Nonfiction, Play, Poetry, Artwork) Editor
PO Box 2154
Albany, NY 12220-0154 Submission Guidelines for Plays:
Plays can be submitted by electronic submission or hardcopy submission but don't forget your $2 reading fee in either event. Submission Guidelines for Photographs and Artwork:
We welcome submissions from photographers and artists in all disciplines. We ask for one time
publication rights, permission to archive the image on our site, and permission to include your work on the CD version of the issue which is presented to contributors. We will
consider previously published art as long as the artist has retained the rights.
Unfortunately, flashquake cannot pay for art at this time.
Because artwork will be published without possibility of compensation, there
is no reading fee required. The artist/photographer will receive a CD copy of
the issue in which the work appears. Artwork will be removed from our archive
upon request of the artist.
Artwork/photographs should not be sexually explicit or violent. We will
accept submissions outside the parameters of the announced theme of the issue.
Only those images which are marked as theme oriented will be considered for the
coveted spot on the Banner Page.
Electronic Submission: Send artwork in JPEG or GIF file format as
an attachment to an e-mail message. Our maximum size for display of artwork is 600 pixels wide by 400 pixels high (500 pixels wide by 350 pixels wide is optimum), and file size should be no more than 50 Kb to ensure acceptable download times. Include the heading "Art/Photo Submission:" in the subject
line along with the title of your piece, and indicate whether it is a "Theme" or "Non-theme" submission. Include
your name, address, e-mail address and telephone number in the message portion
of the e-mail together with a very brief biography (no more than 50 words). We also request that you
include a brief (2-3 sentence) written description of your work. This will be used to describe your work to
those readers with visual impairments.
Send the e-mail to artwork@flashquake.org. Those
artists selected for publication will be notified prior to publication date.
(See our Publication Schedule)
Payment:
The submissions in each writing category will be judged by our editors. Payment will be
made upon acceptance as follows:
- First place - $25
- Second place - $10
- Third place - $5
If enough submissions of exceptional quality are received, we may also elect
to publish three stories which deserve honorable mention. Authors of honorable
mention stories and contributing artists will receive CD versions of the issue
in which their work was published.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Mailing Address:
flashquake
PO Box 2154
Albany, NY 12220-0154
Telephone Number: 518.424.4550
E-Mail Addresses:
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