Why Flash Fiction?
This year marks our ninth annual flash fiction contest at QueerSciFi.com and our eight annual anthology – the first year, we only received 17 stories, so there weren’t enough to put together a whole book.
So why did we decide to do it?
When I launched Queer Sci Fi in 2014, I was looking for a way to help the site stand out. Someone suggested doing a fiction contest. And being the lazy guy that I am, I did *not* want to read through hundreds of thirty-page stories. I’d never finish!
So I talked with our crew, and we hit upon the idea of flash fiction.
For those who aren’t aware, flash fiction is basically a super short story, usually between a couple hundred and a thousand words. It can be fiendishly difficult to write a good flash fiction tale. You have to do everything that you do in a longer work – plot, characterization, and worldbuilding – but do it with one (or maybe both) of your arms tied behind your back.
Many first-timers fall into the mistake of writing a scene in a larger tale – often one that reads like the start of a great adventure. But without an ending, it’s not what I’d call “real” flash fiction.
Others write longer stories, and then spend days (or even weeks) paring them down to meet the word limit – in our case 300 words.
But for us, it was a no brainer – 300 word stories are easy to digest (even if we do recommend that judges read no more than 10 a day so they don’t all merge together in their heads) and they generally fit neatly on two pages in a print paperback.
And for the reader, they are bit-sized little bits of fiction goodness – perfect for a bathroom read or in line at the movies.
So why flash fiction? It just seemed to make sense at the time. And we’ve been thrilled to see all the wonderful stories that have come our way ever sense.
I hope you enjoy them too!
Clarity (noun)
Four definitions to inspire writers around the world and an unlimited number of possible stories to tell:
1) Coherent and intelligible
2) Transparent or pure
3) Attaining certainty about something
4) Easy to see or hear
Clarity features 300-word speculative flash fiction stories from across the rainbow spectrum, from the minds of the writers of Queer Sci Fi.
About the Series:
Every year, Queer Sci Fi runs a one-word theme contest for 300 word flash fiction stories, and then we choose 120 of the best for our annual anthology.
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QSF is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card + Innovation / Ink eBooks with this tour:
For our ninth year and eighth anthology, we chose the theme “Clarity.” The interpretations run from an “Aha!” moment to the bubbling laughter of water to a private, life-changing realization. There are little jokes, big surprises, and future prognostications that will make your head spin.
I’m proud that this collection includes many colors of the LGBTQ+ (or QUILTBAG, if you prefer) universe—lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and asexual characters populate these pages—our most diverse contest yet. There’s a bit of romance, too—and a number of stories solidly on the “mainstream” side. Flash fiction is short, fun, and easy to read. You may not fall in love with every story—in fact, you probably won’t. But if you don’t like one, just move on to the next, and you’re sure to find some bite-sized morsels of flash fiction goodness. There are so many good stories in here—choose your own favorites.
We chose three winning stories, fiver judges’ choice picks, and one director’s pick, all marked in the text. Thanks to our judges—Angel Martinez, B.A. Brock, Ava Kelly, Lexi Ander, and J.M. Dabney—for selflessly giving their time, love, and energy to this project. And to Ryane Chatman too, for editing.
At Queer Sci Fi, we’re building a community of writers and readers who want a little rainbow in their speculative fiction. Join us and submit a story of your own next time!
- A Acosta – Stuck in the Space Elevator
- A. B. Encarnacion – Arene, 27F Invisible
- A.H. Lykke – Fresh
- A.J. Clarke – Shinigami
- Abbie Bernstein – Kids Know
- Alden Loveshade – Clouds
- Alex Blanc – Death by Siren
- Alex Liddell – Telegram From the Netherland
- Alex Silver – Smile
- Alison J. McKenzie – Happy to Help
- Allan Dyen-Shapiro – Oysters and Other Slimy Creatures
- Alma Nilsson – Meet Me at the South Gate
- Amanda Meuwissen – Willows
- Andrea Stanet – Bathtub Gin
- Anne Smith – A Glimpse
- Anton Kukal – Detonation
- Antonia Aquilante – Through the Glass
- Avery Vanderlyle – Taking the Plunge
- Barbara Krasnoff – Age Cannot Wither Her
- Beáta Fülöp – The Unicorn Handler
- Belinda McBride – The Choice
- Blaine D. Arden – No Crime Unseen
- C.T. Phipps – The Chase Was Enough
- Camryn Burke – Burden of the Blurred
- Caro Soles – The Truth Sayer
- Catherine Yeates – Outpouring
- Chloe Schaefer – Matthias
- Crysta Coburn – The Ghost Maid
- D.M. Rasch – Crystal Clear
- Daria Richter – Make Me Real
- Darrell Z. Grizzle – The Vampire and the Werewolf Priest
- David Viner – The Best Solution
- Derwin Mak – Software Update
- Devon Widmer – Post-Apocalyptic Goo
- Drew Baker – The Only Question I Could Ask
- E. W. Murks – Earth Day
- Elizabeth Hawxhurst – Inflection Point
- Emmy Eui – Sunset
- Gina Storm Grant – Clearing the Heir
- Ginger Streusel – Lovers’ Letters
- Gordon Bonnet – Refraction
- Isa Reneman – The Furthest Horizon
- Isabel McKeough – The Art of Not Blowing Up
- Isobel Granby – Sea-Glass
- Izzy Tyack – Magically Induced Clarity
- J Sigel – Hindsight
- J.S. Gariety – Bloom
- Jaime Munn – Impulse
- James Dunham – Brain of Theseus
- Jamie Lackey – The Cursed Princess
- Jamie Sands – Remote Working Gothic
- Jana Denardo – Unexpected
- Jane Suen – Bowls of Steaming Noodles
- Jason Sárközi-Forfinski – ACAB
- Jaymie Wagner – Harmony
- Jendayi Brooks-Flemister – Heartsbeats
- Jennifer Haskin – Cold Conviction
- Jess Nevins – Stagecoach Mary Versus the Ghost of Cascade
- Joe DeRouen – The World Around Her
- Jordan Ulibarri – Franklin
- Josie Kirkwood – The Blue Capsule Experience
- Julie Bozza – Verity
- K.L. Noone – The Unicorn’s Knight
- K.S. Murphy – Looped
- Kaje Harper – Beneath the Surface
- Kayleigh Skye – Blue
- Kim Fielding – Shared Language
- Kiya Nicoll – The Satyr and the Wishing Pond
- Kora Knight – Sunrise
- Kris Jacen – Visus
- Krystle Matar – My Poppy Fields Are Burning
- Lloyd A. Meeker – Ruti’s Prayer
- Lori Alden Holuta – Magic Mirror
- M. X. Kelly – Muddy the Waters
- Marie Victoria Robertson – As Foretold
- Mary Kuna – Late Bloomer
- Megan Baffoe – Ribbon Thread
- Megan Diedericks – The Closet is Made of Mahogany
- Megan Hippler – The Gift
- Mere Rain – With Clear Eyes
- Minerva Cerridwen – Secundum Artem
- Monique Cuillerier – Through This Window
- Nathan Alling Long – The Shadow of Doubt
- Nathaniel Taff – The Gauntlet
- Nicole Dennis – Orange Dust
- Oskar Leonard – Murcorpio
- Patricia Loofbourrow – There’s Something Weird About Joe
- Phoebe Ching – The Killer Cupid
- R.L. Merrill – The Sitter
- Rainie Zenith – Crystal Clear
- Raven Oak – Wrinkled
- Rdp – Alice!
- RE Andeen – Male Female Nonbinary Other
- RE Carr – A Woman’s Reward
- Rie Sheridan Rose – The Night Witch
- Rin Sparrow – Never Alone
- RL Mosswood – A Trick of the Nerves
- RoAnna Sylver – The Face in the Mirror
- Rob Bliss – PSI Ecstasy
- Rory Ni Coileain – One Night in Troy
- Sacchi Green – The Star Beast
- Sage HN – Impact
- Scott Jenson – Cycles
- Sheryl Hayes – A Smoking Hot Proposal
- Shirley Meier – Upon Reflection
- SI CLARKE – If the Shoe Fits
- Siri Paulson – Blood and Water
- Stacy Noe – Demons Need Love Too
- Stephen B. Pearl – Sad Reality
- Stephen Dedman – Through a Glass Clearly
- Steve Fuson – Translucent
- Steve Rasnic Tem – The Man in the Mirror
- T.J. Reed – New Memories
- Terry Poole – A Grey Man
- Tori Thompson – A Visage of Home
- V. Astor Solomon – Blood Will Show Us Who We Are
- W. Dale Jordan – Ascension
- Warren Rochelle – Ghosts
- William R. Eakin – Overcoming Entropy
- Yoyoli – If Deliberate Avoidance Fulfills No Dream
About QSF:
Queer Sci Fi is the brainchild of J. Scott Coatsworth, a blog and website that’s all about LGBT characters in science fiction, fantasy, paranormal and horror fiction. We’re dedicated to promoting the inclusion of LGBT characters in these genres.
We started the site in January of 2014, with the intent to create a community for writers and readers of LGBT-themed speculative fiction. We post regular discussion topics, news, book announcements and reviews. We have an AWESOME Facebook discussion group, and a great admin team – Angel Martinez, Ben Brock, Ryane Chatman, and J. Scott Coatsworth.
Once a year, we put out a call for flash fiction submissions based on a single word theme, and get anywhere between two hundred and four hundred entries. Clarity is our eight annual anthology.
QSF Website: https://www.queerscifi.com
QSF Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/groups/210192115794407
QSF Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/queerscifi/
QSF Twitter: https://twitter.com/queerscifi/
