The SmokeLong Quarterly Award for Flash Fiction

The SmokeLong Quarterly Award for Flash Fiction, also known as ‘The Smokey’, is organised by SmokeLong Quarterly, an online literary journal dedicated to flash fiction. Now an annual competition, it celebrates and financially rewards excellence in short-form narrative. The contest is open to writers worldwide aged 18 and over, and submissions must be original and previously unpublished.

Writers may submit flash narratives of up to 1,000 words (excluding title), with no minimum word count. Entries may be written in English or in another language provided an English translation accompanies the submission; judging is based on the English version, and any prize money is split equally between writer and translator. Both versions must be previously unpublished. Multiple entries are permitted, but each requires a separate entry fee and, if submitted together, must appear in the same document.

The grand prize winner is automatically nominated for Best Small Fictions, The Pushcart Prize Anthology, Best of the Net, and other prizes at the editors’ discretion. All finalists and placed writers are published in the June 2026 competition issue. Entries close at midnight ET on 10 May 2026.

Is this competition legit?YES! – Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any event, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work.

FAQ
If you are curious how writing competitions work, or it’s your first time entering one, we recommend reading our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page first.