Lost Balloon publishes flash fiction, flash nonfiction, and prose poetry (1,000 words or less)

Lost Balloon launched on February 1st, 2017. The site’s name was inspired by those small and sad but whimsical moments in life: the birthday balloon that slips from your fingers and floats into the horizon, or the dropped ice cream cone.

Pieces from the magazine have been anthologized in Best Small Fictions (Sonder Press), and Best Microfiction (Pelekinesis Press). They have been long-listed for the Wigleaf Top 50 (Very) Short Fictions and for Best of the Net.

Your life flashing before your eyes in brief glimpses. These magazines want short-short memoir—snapshots, fragments, and compressed life stories.

Lit Mags That Want Short & Sweet Memoir

Publications with stories in this respected annual flash fiction showcase. Perhaps the most prestigious flash-specific recognition.

Lit Mags in Wigleaf's Top 50

Because we've all written something raw and real in a moment of emotion that turned out surprisingly good.

Where to Publish That Piece You Wrote Crying in Your Car

Digital publications chosen for Best of the Net. These journals demonstrate consistent excellence in identifying digital fiction that deserves wider recognition and readership.

Fiction Magazines Featured in Best of the Net Anthologies

Story-focused publications with works chosen for Pushcart Prize anthologies. Less than 5% of nominated fiction typically makes the anthology.

Fiction Magazines Featured in Pushcart Prize Anthologies

Online publications putting forward exceptional short stories for Best of the Net.

Fiction Magazines That Nominate for Best of the Net

A targeted resource for short story placements with potential for Pushcart recognition.

Fiction Magazines That Nominate for the Pushcart Prize

Specialized publications that recognize exceptional brief fiction through Pushcart nominations.

Digital publications advancing very short fiction for Best of the Net consideration.

Flash Fiction Magazines That Nominate for Best of the Net

Publications with ultra-short stories under 400 words selected for this anthology series. The definitive collection for the microfiction form.

Lit Mags Featured in Best Microfiction Anthologies

Digital publications with work selected for inclusion across genres. These journals consistently publish online work of exceptional quality that stands out in the digital literary landscape.

Lit Mags Featured in Best of the Net Anthologies

Publications with narratives under 1,000 words selected for this anthology series. These journals consistently identify short-short fiction, exemplifying the artistry possible in compact narratives.

Lit Mags Featured in Best Small Fictions Anthologies

Publications with pieces chosen for Pushcart Prize anthologies. Recognition of exceptional quality across poetry, fiction, and nonfiction.

Lit Mags Featured in Pushcart Prize Anthologies

Best Microfiction, edited by Meg Pokrass and Gary Fincke, celebrates the art of the extremely brief narrative. These publications have editorial teams with particular sensitivity to the craft.

Literary Magazines That Nominate for Best Microfiction

Identifies publications that put forward outstanding online work for this respected digital anthology established in 2006.

Literary Magazines That Nominate for Best of the Net

Publications that nominate work for this respected anthology series founded in 2015 by Tara Masih to celebrate fiction under 1,000 words.

Literary Magazines That Nominate for Best Small Fictions

A comprehensive guide to journals that regularly nominate work for the Pushcart Prize.

Literary Magazines That Nominate for the Pushcart Prize

All-time most competitive literary magazines. Getting published in these is a significant achievement for any writer.

Most Competitive Literary Magazines of All Time

Explore the most popular literary magazines of all time. These long-established publications are a staple in the literary world for writers of all genres.

Most Popular Literary Magazines of All Time

Digital publications chosen for Best of the Net. These journals consistently publish digital essays and memoirs that exemplify the best of what's possible in online creative nonfiction.

Nonfiction Magazines Featured in Best of the Net Anthologies

Essay-focused publications with works selected for Pushcart Prize anthologies. These journals have repeatedly identified nonfiction that resonates with Pushcart editors and readers.

Nonfiction Magazines Featured in Pushcart Prize Anthologies

Digital publications nominating outstanding essays and creative nonfiction for Best of the Net.

Nonfiction Magazines That Nominate for Best of the Net

Highlights publications that regularly put forward essays, memoirs, and other creative nonfiction for Pushcart consideration.

Nonfiction Magazines That Nominate for the Pushcart Prize

Verse-centered publications with poems chosen for Pushcart Prize anthologies. These journals have consistently identified poems that stand out in this intensely competitive field.

Poetry Magazines Featured in Pushcart Prize Anthologies

Online journals that specifically champion poetry for Best of the Net consideration.

Poetry Magazines That Nominate for Best of the Net

Focuses specifically on poetry journals with established histories of Pushcart nominations.

Poetry Magazines That Nominate for the Pushcart Prize

Digital publications with poems chosen for Best of the Net. These journals consistently identify exceptional verse that represents the highest quality of poetry published online.

Poetry Mags Featured in Best of the Net Anthologies

Lost Balloon

Submit your best prose poetry of 750 words or under!
--Please use a 12 point, readable font such as Times New Roman. (Double-spaced preferred.)
--Submit only one piece at a time and do not submit in more than one genre.
--Simultaneous submissions are wonderful and totally expected, but please withdraw your work immediately if it's picked up elsewhere.
--Work must be original and unpublished.
**IMPORTANT! We do not publish traditional, lined poetry. Your submission must be in prose form (i.e. in paragraph form rather than in lines with breaks). You can find a definition of prose poetry at the Academy of American Poets: https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/text/prose-poem-poetic-form

Prose Poetry Submission

Submit your best nonfiction of 750 words or under!
--Please use a 12 point, readable font such as Times New Roman. (Double-spaced preferred.)
--Submit only one piece at a time and do not submit in more than one genre.
--Simultaneous submissions are wonderful and totally expected, but please withdraw your work immediately if it's picked up elsewhere.
--Work must be original and unpublished.

Flash Nonfiction Submission

Submit your best flash fiction of 750 words or under!
--Please use a 12 point, readable font such as Times New Roman. (Double-spaced preferred.)

--Submit only one piece at a time. Do not submit in more than one genre.

--Simultaneous submissions are wonderful and totally expected, but please withdraw your work immediately if it's picked up elsewhere.

--Work must be original and unpublished.

Lost Balloon

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