I wish it was as simple as a blog post. I really do. The truth is that this post probably won’t make a difference in the number of sexist, degrading stories that wind up in the FFO slushpile every month. But I just can’t handle it anymore. So for my own conscience’s sake, I’m stating […]
Hello there! My name is Stefan Milićević, and I am a slush reader. This is the part where you all stand-up and say, “Hello, Stefan“ in a reassuring voice. Do it. Seriously. Do it now. I am a gentle soul. Anyway, a few days ago I joined the Flash Fiction Online team, and I slushed […]
I’ve been puttering around over on the Flash Fiction Online side of things (not really… I’ve been busting arse getting tomorrow’s issue loaded but that’s beside the point..) and I’ve noticed quite the trend. Over on the Submissions page, I’m getting a lot, and I mean bucket loads, of questions about digital publication rights, specifically […]
Our last post dealt with women being typecast in reoccurring roles. But this one will be a bit more general. I’ve complied a list of a few characters that will fast track you to the rejection pile. They always have the same obstacles, and they slip in and out of our minds without leaving a […]
If I have to explain the title of this blog post, then you’ve probably been living on a different planet for, well, most of humanity. Far too often in the slush pile, I read disturbingly violent stories about women. Some even turn my stomach and leave me wondering how someone could write such a thing. […]
A few days ago Anna posted a blog about Cover Letters 101. So if you haven’t read that go there now… https://www.flashfictiononline.com/flashblog/2014/03/cover-letters-101.html Done? Okay. Now I guess we’ll have to call this one Cover Letters 102. It’s basically a rant, but a good intentioned rant I assure you. I’ll start by treading on some […]
Or…”Don’t Shoot Yourself in the Foot Before You’ve Even Gotten Started” So I have a small confession to make: we here at FFO have a Wall of Shame. Yep. Sure do. And on it are the cover letters (names redacted… we’re not *that* heartless) that make us weep, pull our hair out, or basically snort […]
Nancy DiMauro, FFO staff, blogger, and writer, breaks down the infamous Hollywood Formula: Flash Fiction style. I have a confession to make. I’m not a natural short story writer. I have to fight to keep myself from haring off after one plot thread or another. Writing short fiction is hard. So, I look for anything […]
So your beautiful little story has survived slush! Hurray, right? You’ve officially passed a major milestone. The vast majority of submissions never make it any further than the slush round, and here your story is, scooped out and passed along to the second round we call the Winnowing Boards. Now, only a couple dozen stories […]
Today’s list is compiled by Nancy DiMauro, Flash Fiction Online staffer and slush reader extraordinaire. In an average month, my FFO team will have about 80 stories to review. Only stories with two votes for publication are guaranteed to move into the next round. A story can still be sent on if someone likes it […]