In honor of the shortest month of the 12 months which incorporates the loving-est day of the 12 months, we’re holding our third annual We Love Quick Shorts Contest for Flash Artistic Nonfiction!

All through the month of February, we’re inviting flash nonfiction writers to submit quick essays (aka flash CNF; aka micro memoir) of as much as 250 phrases; there isn’t any theme. (View earlier 12 months’s winners and runner-ups right here.)

Our winner and two runners-up will probably be featured in a particular We Love Quick Shorts part of our Could-June 2026 difficulty.

Right here’s a full have a look at the small print:

• Submission Interval: Feb. 1–28
• Phrase Restrict: 250 (not together with title)
• No theme!
• Submission Charge: $5
• First Prize: $250, publication + alternative to function opening reader for a future Tales on Sunday occasion
• Two Runners Up: $100 every + publication
• One entry per individual
• Entries learn by members of our flash group; winners chosen by our flash editors
• Selections will probably be despatched to all entrants by the center of April

Observe: You probably have a present submission into account at Hippocampus Journal, you should still enter this contest.

Any entries not chosen for a prize are nonetheless mechanically thought-about for a future common Hippocampus Journal difficulty. We printed two of those honorable point out essays final 12 months. As with all essays we settle for, Hippocampus asks for one-time rights.

Flash CNF Contest Ideas

A number of additional suggestions from our editorial group on what makes an incredible flash essay:

• The narrative brings us someplace / illuminates a change or perception.
• Although quick, the piece delivers which means, not only a second.
• Your phrases present us one thing true about being alive in a uniquely you approach.
• The writing lands simply on this facet of prose vs. poetry (although we do love poetic language).

In case you love writing quick shorts as a lot as we love studying them, get these micro essays prepared! We want everybody love and luck in our third-annual contest for flash CNF!