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Magazine Stand :: Brilliant Flash Fiction – March 2024

The March 2024 issue of Brilliant Flash Fiction’s tenth year of publication is an oddball mixture. (And please note that one must scroll down through the issue to read the stories, exactly as one scans a menu of tasty dishes.) Ever wonder what your pancreas does when it steps out of your body? Scroll down to read “La Dolce Vita,” by Jedediah Smith. And, in case you’re wondering, the strange artwork illustrating the March issue consists of photos taken inside a car during an automated carwash.

“Marion Checks In,” by Norwegian Kjetil Jansen, explores a bit of what-if Psycho movie territory, and speaking of Psycho, “DINNER SERVICE” by Suzanne Johnston is every waitress’ nightmare. The top story, “Softee,” by Elizabeth Gassman, involves a bewitching ice cream truck driver. “Allerednic” (Cinderella spelled backwards) by Rachel Rodman is a never-ending hard-luck story, and there is so much high-quality flash fiction here to read, including the off-beat “Miss Purse” by Ezra Solway, and “Poppy is My Half-Sister” by Zach Murphy; “Minotaur Dresses in the Dark” by Emma Goldman-Sherman, and “Neil” by Ende Mac. Oh yes, and that story about a crow’s text messages, by George Walker. Read it all and feel your imagination s t r e t c h …

Magazine Stand :: Brilliant Flash Fiction – September 2023

Brilliant Flash Fiction September 2023 cover image

Brilliant Flash Fiction online quarterly for September 2023 opens with original flash fiction by Pamela Painter, “You Are Like Me,” followed by Sharon A. Pruchnik’s Kafkaesque and delightful “Extinct.” A fabulous Halloween story by Charles Rammelkamp, “Houdini Seance,” is must-read material, as well as Oumaima H’s long-titled story about learning to ride a bike. The September issue is all good, solid flash fiction by talented authors, and visitors to the website can find information about BFF‘s Pop-Up Writing Contest.

Discover loads more great lit mags with our Guide to Literary Magazines, Big List of Literary Magazines, and Big List of Alternative Magazines. If you are a publication looking to be listed in our monthly roundup or featured on our blog and social media, please contact us.

Magazine Stand :: Brilliant Flash Fiction – March 2023

Brilliant Flash Fiction literary magazine logo

The most recent quarterly issue of Brilliant Flash Fiction (March 2023) is an eclectic mix of stories. In “A Bottle Cap” by Sean Burke, a dysfunctional family party illustrates how badly we can hurt the ones we love. “Yasmin” by Lucy Hooft hauntingly describes a Damascus emigrant’s yearning for her native land. “Across the Bay” by Bayveen O’Connell is the story of a daughter‘s struggle for independence. “Where the Light Killed the Stars” by Aston Lester is the depiction of a boy’s love/hate relationship; “the writer’s voice is phenomenal,” remark the editors. “On Hold” by Jennifer Lai is a witty and melancholy snapshot of life as a single divorced mother. “They Will Feel Lucky” by Slawka G. Scarso is a tale with a twist, clever and moving. Leah Mueller’s “To the Sword-Swallowing Woman in Uranus, Missouri,” is a great fun piece of flash, well-summarized in the last line: “… I never cared much for normal folks.” “Constant Vigilance” by Matt Goldberg is a tongue-in-cheek look at violence in America and our tragic lack of viable solutions. “Four Square and Ray-Ban” by Rashmi Agrawal is a first-person account of a ‘have and have-not’ friendship. Brilliant Flash Fiction is a nonprofit organization celebrating minimalism at its finest.

Magazine Stand :: Brilliant Flash Fiction – September 2022

Brilliant Flash Fiction online literary magazine September 2022 cover image

Publishing quarterly online on the last day of January, March, June, and September, there’s still plenty of time to enjoy the newest Brilliant Flash Fiction, featuring works by CJ Erick, Emma Louise Gill,  Karthik G. Nambiar, Abha Iyengar, John Salter,  Mary Sloat, Barbara Kurzak, Danny Riordan, Joe Baumann, and Michael Harper. Brilliant Flash Fiction welcomes submissions of stories of1000 words or less and pays $20 per piece accepted.

Magazine Stand :: Brilliant Flash Fiction – June 2022

Brilliant Flash Fiction online literary magazine June 2022 cover image

The June 2022 issue of Brilliant Flash Fiction online literary magazine offers readers a variety of subjects to choose from. Just check out this lineup of stories that adhere to the ‘not more than 1000-word” limit: “Gorilla vs Dogs” by David M. Rubin; “Brown Bear, Brown Bear” by Lauren Voeltz; “Good Neighbors” by Tim Frank; “Far Enough” by Sai Shriram; “Act One, Scene Five” by Rajiv Moté; “My Whole Life” by Elizabeth Kerlikowske; “Love” by Ernesto B. Reyes; “Whiskey” by Sam Selvaggio; “Hockey Night, 1963” by Debra Bennett; and “Wherein the Labyrinth the Fridge Lie” by Nic Arico. It just seems there has to be a story in here for every reader. Check it out today, and if you’ve got your own story to share, BFF is open year-round and is a paying market.

Event :: Brilliant Endings for Flash Fiction Writing Workshop

Author Todd Mitchell and his dog photo

Brilliant Flash Fiction is offering Brilliant Endings for Flash Fiction Writing Workshop with Todd Mitchell on Saturday, July 30, 2022, from 12:00noon – 1:00pm (Mountain Time/Denver, CO, USA). The workshop aims to help writers “learn about creating dazzling endings for your flash fiction stories.” Mitchell is an award-winning author and director of the Beginning Creative Writing Teaching Program at Colorado State University. The suggested donation to attend is $10.

Brilliant Flash Fiction 2022 Writing Contest Results

Brilliant Flash Fiction logo

Online literary magazine Brilliant Flash Fiction announced the winners of their Welcome 2022 Writing Contest judged by Pamela Painter on June 1. This year’s contest saw over 1,000 international entries that kept the editors busy for months.

First place was awarded to L. Michelle Souleret’s “Marsh Omen Augury” in which the narrator is called upon to figure out what thirty-three egrets appearing in an area means.

Helen Chamber’s “Granny Holds Me to Account” won second place as the judge enjoyed the humor and the surprises while A.K. Cotham’s “Driving by Moonlight” won third place for its opening dramatic ride “running full tilt into the future with another wild, and oddly life-affirming, ride.”

Read the stories and view the complete Shortlist at Brilliant Flash Fiction‘s website.

Magazine Stand :: Brilliant Flash Fiction – March 2022

Brilliant Flash Fiction logo

Brilliant Flash Fiction Publishes quarterly at the end of January, March, June, and September, and this quarter’s issue features writers Jessika Grewe Glover, Wim Hylen, Annabel White, Lindsey Harrington, Simon J. Plant, Roberta Beary, Daniel DeRock, Helen Sinoradzki, and Salvatore Difalco. All content is free to read online with subscriptions (also free) providing email updates with individual stories. The archives are also easy to access, and there is a no-fee, cash-prize writing contest that closes on April 15, 2022, judged by Pamela Painter. What are you waiting for? Go check them out!

Contest :: Brilliant Flash Fiction’s Welcome 2022 Writing Contest with Pamela Painter

headshot of a woman with gold hair and a black shirt smiling

Deadline: April 15, 2022
No prompt or theme. No Entry Fee. Word limit: 500 words, excluding title. Submit entries via email. Prizes: $200 first prize, $100 second prize, $50 third prize. Shortlisted stories receive $20 and publication. Judge: Pamela Painter. Contest Rules: One entry per author. Send your entry pasted into the body of an email and also as a Word attachment with the story title in the subject line. Double-spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman. No name on entries. Submit an author bio in a separate attachment. Results announced June 30, 2022. View full guidelines here.

Brilliant Flash Fiction Releases Branching Out

book leaning against trunk of a tree surrounded by leavesOnline literary magazine Brilliant Flash Fiction has released is second print anthology! Branching Out: International Tales of Brilliant Flash Fiction is a collection of stories – all 300 words or less. These unique tales will entertain you while inspiring your own writing.

The anthology includes authors from Australia, Canada, England, India, Ireland, Malta, New Zealand, Nigeria, the Philippines, Scotland, and the United States.

Want a copy? Submit a $12 donation via the button on their homepage.

Get Ready to Write Brilliant Flash Fiction

Brilliant Flash FictionIf you’ve been wanting to strengthen your flash fiction skills, Brilliant Flash Fiction has you covered.

Join presenter Cindy Skaggs on Saturday, March 13, 2021 for a virtual flash fiction fundraiser workshop. The one-hour workshop will take you from zero to finished flash fiction. Find out more about Skaggs and registration at Brilliant Flash Fiction‘s website.

Master your flash fiction now and have something to submit to the journal’s next print anthology, submissions open until May 14.

Brilliant Flash Fiction Offers Flash Fiction Workshop

Brilliant Flash Fiction is currently offering a rare 5-session Zoom flash fiction workshop with Assistant Editor Ed Higgins. Don’t miss this opportunity to improve your flash writing with a master teacher, open to international students at all levels. The workshop is limited to 20 students.

The workshop will take place January 23, January 30, February 6, February 13, and February 20 at noon PST.

About the : Professor Emeritus and Lifetime Writer in Residence Ed Higgins has been teaching at George Fox University, Oregon, for over four decades. His classes have covered poetry, the modern novel, world literature, science fiction, and much more. Officially retired now, he submits and publishes flash fiction and poetry in numerous literary journals.

Learn how to enroll at Brilliant Flash Fiction‘s website.

Help Brilliant Flash Fiction Fund 2021 Anthology

Brilliant Flash FictionBrilliant Flash Fiction wants writing to thrive, and they want to showcase flash fiction at its best. To do that, they need your help.

Visit Kickstarter to pledge even a small amount of money—and earn rewards including stickers, pens, editors’ flash fiction tips, T-shirts, and reviews of your work.

All money goes toward funding the printing process for a 2021 anthology featuring original work solicited from writers around the world. Pledges close December 11.

In 2019, Brilliant Flash Fiction, a 501(c)3 charitable organization, published a high-quality print anthology of flash fiction stories entitled Hunger: The Best of Brilliant Flash Fiction, 2014-2019.

(Note: no one on the editorial board or board of directors receives payment for their services. BFF’s funding comes strictly from donations.)