The 101 Flash Comp

Big Smoke Writing Factory are excited to announce their annual Flash Fiction Competition "The 101". They have added a new challenge this year by giving you two extra words to play around with.

Every story entered must be EXACTLY 101 words. No more. No less.

They say: ‘With only 101 words on the page there are very few places to hide so send us your best. It can be shocking or touching, brutal or heart wrenching – we want flash that moves the reader. Whether you’re a flash fiction newbie or a total flash expert, this is an evening of creativity and inspiration not to be missed!’

The deadline for 101 submissions is 8th June and 2 stories max can be sent (in separate emails please!) to flash@bigsmokewritingfactory.com.

As always this event is FREE and will be held in Arthur’s Pub, Dublin 8. All are welcome.

HAPPY FLASH FICTION DAY!!

Happy (International) Flash Fiction Day!

I am delighted that my flash chapbook Of Dublin and Other Fictions has received a good review from Kelly Creighton, in New Zealand based journal Flash Frontier. A sample: 'Each fiction is a fresh one: a balance of truth and the surreal. The author makes us laugh (out loud) when we are not expecting to. Anyone who writes flash fiction should read this book; it should be taught! Ní Chonchúir makes brief look effortless, but this is her expertise.' The full review is here.

From 3pm to 6pm today I will be in Arthur's Pub on Thomas Street in Dublin for the Big Smoke Writing Factory's annual flash event. This year: Flash Fury! I'll be reading along with many others and also announcing the winner of the 99 word flash prize. I would love to catch up with some of you there.

I also have a flash called 'Cider and Simnel' in the NFFD anthology, Eating My Words. Which can be bought in paperback at £6.99 or for Kindle at £1.99. Lots of good stuff in there from writers like Tania Hershman, Eabha Rose, Nik Perring, Nigel McLoughlin, Cathy Bryant, Tim Stevenson and Jonathan Pinnock.

FLASH FURY FOR IFFD

I'll be there with my judge's hat on. Hope to see you!

HAPPY (I)NFFD!!

A Shrine for the Mother of Birds - Fidelma Massey

Happy International Flash Fiction Day! It's a day PACKED with short-short story goodness, so it's a matter of take your pick of what to do.

A good place to start is the NFFD website which has info on all the global events. Their 2013 anthology Scraps is now available on Kindle or to order in hard copy. Go here. I have a story in there called 'Treedaughter' inspired by the Fidelma Massey artwork above. Also, the 2012 anthology is free on Kindle today!

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Today is the ONLY day you can submit to my guest-edited Flash Showcase in The Stinging Fly. You can sub your flash to stingingflyflash AT gmail.com. You have 24 hours to sub one flash of up to 500 words!! Send me your zingiest, most beautiful work. Full guidelines here.

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Tonight I'll be reading at Big Smoke Writing Factory's FLASH BULBS event in Dublin - a flash fiction reading with lots of writers taking part. Arthur's Pub, Thomas Street, 6pm to 8pm.

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Meanwhile over at the Flash Mob, the Top 25 list has been announced and the winners will be announced later today. Stay tuned! I really enjoyed the judging process for this with my fellow judges Marcus Speh, Leah McMenamin and Robert Vaughan. We were sent a Top 50 of the more than 100 entries. If it's any comfort to non-finalists, I had a read of many of the other stories and they would have made any list I was making. It's all personal!

Have a fabulous (I)NFFD and, if you can't make an event, there are plenty of online events to take part in. And if that doesn't suit, just write.

FLASH SUBS - STINGING FLY - 22nd JUNE *ONLY*

 
This Saturday - International Flash Fiction Day - is the day to sub your FLASH ONLY to my guest edited issue of The Stinging Fly, which appears spring 2014.

My, some of you are confused, judging by the emails I have been getting. It is quite straightforward. All month you can sub ordinary stories in the ordinary way i.e. by post.

This Saturday, the 22nd June, ONLY, you can sub your flash to stingingflyflash AT gmail.com. You have 24 hours to sub one flash of up to 500 words!!

Send me your zingiest, most beautiful work.

Full guidelines here.

FLASH MOB 2013

Image courtesy of fellow judge Marcus Speh

I am one of the judges for the 2013 Flash Mob, open for entries NOW!

FLASH MOB 2013 is a hybrid blog carnival and competition celebrating International Flash Fiction Day. To enter the mob, post a previously unpublished work of flash fiction (300 words or fewer, not including title) to your own blog sometime between now and June 10 (closing date of contest).

Then send the following (1-4 below)  to flashmobjune22@gmail.com

1. the link to the story

2. the story text in the body of your email without your name attached at the top

3. a brief bio

4. a picture of yourself looking mean or cool or funny or arty–nothing boring, no nudity.