Heads up, all you young (and old) Hemingways, Fitzgeralds and Bradburys, the Chattanooga Writers Guild 2013 Flash Fiction Contest is upon us.
Flash fiction, a style of fictional literature or fiction of extreme brevity, usually 1,000 words or less, has become an increasingly popular format for short story contests. Brevity, as they say, is both the soul of wit and the great charm of eloquence.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any multimillion-dollar flash fiction book contracts, but the first place prize is $100, with $50 and $25 going to second- and third-place winners, respectively. For writers, no amount of cash is to be scoffed at.
The contest deadline is Wednesday, March 20, and is open to anyone over the age of 18, excluding members of CWG directors, contest committee and their families.
A few basic guidelines apply: Manuscripts must not exceed 1,500 words, be unpublished, typed in a clear black 12-point font (you might stay away from Comic Sans) on a white background. Stories should be single-spaced and double-spaced between paragraphs, with no names or other identifying information on them.
More details, entry fees and rules can be found on the guild’s website at chattanoogawritersguild.com.