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

Lit Mags in Wigleaf's Top 50

Flash fiction meets speculative worlds. Science fiction, fantasy, supernatural, futuristic—anything that transcends reality in very short form.

Speculative Magazines Looking for Flash Fiction

We asked, you guys answered. This time we switched it up a little bit, so we're bringing you the community's top picks for the strange, bold, and experimental.

Want to check out our previous crowdsourced themed lists? We've un-paywalled them for you guys, so get them before they're gone.
Part 1: https://www.chillsubs.com/lists/cool_kids_3
Part 2: https://www.chillsubs.com/lists/Cool_kids_2
Part 3: https://www.chillsubs.com/lists/cool_kids_pt3
Part 4: https://www.chillsubs.com/lists/cool_kids_4

Where Our Favorite Weirdos Are Sending Their Writing

Explore the all-time most competitive fiction literary magazines. These magazines are revered in the fiction world for their editorial rigor.

Most Competitive Fiction-Only Literary Magazines of All Time

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

Most Competitive Literary Magazines of All Time

Check out the all-time most popular fiction literary magazines. These publications have a long-standing reputation for quality fiction.

Most Popular Fiction-Only Literary Magazines of All Time

Explore the all-time most submitted-to fiction literary magazines. These outlets are the top destination for fiction writers worldwide.

Most Submitted-To Fiction-Only Literary Magazines of All Time

Explore the most submitted-to fiction literary magazines this year. These outlets are the top destination for fiction writers worldwide.

Most Submitted-To Fiction-Only Literary Magazines This Year

The Molotov Cocktail

Please paste all submissions. No attachments.

Submissions must not exceed 1000 words unless those extra words are fucking genius. Even so, you'd be wise to keep it under 1000, with priority given to fiction that tells the most engaging and self-contained story in the fewest words (average length of accepted pieces is around 300-600).

Include a clever two-sentence bio in the space provided. You can list all the publications in which your previous work has been featured if that gets you off, but we prefer insight into who you are or imagine yourself to be.

Flash Fiction - Regular Issue Submission (FREE to submit)

Follow these guidelines, and you just might get some extra dough, and some bragging rights as the Flash Monster 2026 winner.
– All submissions must absolutely be no more than 1,000 words, and we tend to look more kindly on 750 or fewer because… TOXIC-WASTE-MUTATED-SQUIRREL!
– All contest submissions will be read with authors' names concealed, so we won’t be playing favorites.
– Please paste your submission into the corresponding field. Do not list your name anywhere in your submission or we’ll assume that you don’t know how to read.
– Entry fee of $12 (Sorry, no refunds.)
– No A.I.-generated content of any kind, because who wants to read that.
– We reserve the right to extend deadlines if necessary (and you can expect our usual week-ish Slacker Special—with corresponding increase in submission fee for you procrastinators).
– Submissions must be previously unpublished work, and you will retain copyright. By entering this contest you give us permission to publish your work if it's selected for our Top 10
– No limit on how many entries you can submit, but you must submit them one at a time. Don’t just mash them all in there.
– Contest soft deadline is Sunday, October 18th. Winners announced on October 30th, and we'll unleash the Flash Monster 2026 mega-issue on Halloween!
– And, most importantly, this is a FLASH MONSTER contest, so you must include some sort of literal or figurative monster. But again, this can be in any form imaginable.ollow these guidelines, and you just might get your hands on some extra dough, and some bragging rights as the Flash Monster 2026 winner.
– All submissions must absolutely be no more than 1,000 words, and we tend to look more kindly on 750 or fewer because… TOXIC-WASTE-MUTATED-SQUIRREL!
– All contest submissions will be read with authors' names concealed, so we won’t be playing favorites.
– Please paste your submission into the corresponding field. Do not list your name anywhere in your submission or we’ll assume that you don’t know how to read.
– Entry fee of $12 (Sorry, no refunds.)
– All entries must be your own original work. No A.I.-generated content of any kind, because who wants to read that.
– We reserve the right to extend deadlines if necessary (and you can expect our usual week-ish Slacker Special—with corresponding increase in submission fee for you procrastinators).
– Submissions must be previously unpublished work, and you will retain copyright. By entering this contest you give us permission to publish your work if it's selected for our Top 10
– No limit on how many entries you can submit, but you must submit them one at a time. Don’t just mash them all in there.
– Contest soft deadline is Sunday, October 18th. Winners announced on October 30th, and we'll unleash the Flash Monster 2026 mega-issue on Halloween!
– And, most importantly, this is a FLASH MONSTER contest, so you must include some sort of literal or figurative monster. But again, this can be in any form imaginable.

The Molotov Cocktail

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Flash Fiction - Regular Issue Submission (FREE to submit)

Appears in collections