Greetings and salutations!
We are happy to announce the 2024 Flash Fiction Contest Themes! This year, flash is a celebration of all the recipes and meals that shape your worlds, your communities, and your lives. We want rich, unique flavors, vivid stories, and adventurous tastes…
- January: Hand Pies and Buns, inspired by the likes of Bao, Empanadas, Hot Pockets, Arepas…
- February: Drinks, Teas, Coffees, inspired by the likes of, well, coffee, tea, ceremonial teas, chocolate-atole….
- March: Creative Crusts, inspired by pies, pasties, pot pies and shepherds pies…
- April: The Many Roles of Rice, inspired by…the many roles of rice!!
- May: Mother Earth, inspired by foods that can come to our tables just as they are gifted to us from the great Mother herself, like matcha, fried plantain, Chapulines, milk and honey, syrup…
- June: Family Binding Feasts, inspired by what is traditionally seen as “wedding season” in North America, and the ever changing face of commitment and union
- July: Icy treats, inspired by bingsoo, helado/paletas, mangonada, halo-halo, Hawaiian shaved ice…
- August: Deep Fried Dough, inspired by beignets, cronuts, and the almighty donut…
- September: Noodles, Noodles, Noodles…inspired by the many shapes noodles take around the world, including Ramen, Spaghetti, Pad Thai…
- October: Bread of the Dead, inspired by Oprah who once said “I love bread. I…love…bread…” and also Pan de Muerto, soda bread, sourdough, rosca de reyes and all the many types of breads lovingly crafted in celebration and mourning
- November: Stews, Soups and Curries, inspired by the many hearty and flavorful flavors that can bring heat, and flavor, to our meals
- December: Fast or Feast, meant to be a culmination of the celebration of the many, many holidays around the world that feature either feasting or fasting…Boxing day, Epiphany; Christmas; Passover, Yom Kippur, Purim, Ramadan to name just a few…
Now a word from your Flash Fiction Editor Marie Baca Villa: Honestly, I thought this year’s theme of reality TV shows was pretty far out. However, I have found the range of submissions and voices to be profoundly inspiring. So while food may seem an obtuse choice on the face, I have total faith our submitters will bring us the most inspired, vivid stories month after month. Remember, it’s not just about the prompt; it’s about how your voice makes it unique. Welcome us into your worlds, and maybe your kitchens, in 2024!
See you there!
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Marie Baca Villa Blogger/Submission ReaderMarie Baca Villa is a Chicana writer and artist in California. She has a master’s degree in psychology and used her education to build a long career in crime victim advocacy. As a fan of speculative fiction, she loves anything involving strange worlds, complex characters, and unexplained phenomenon. She’s a bonified cat lady, covered in tattoos, and she loves cussing, beer, and flaming hot cheetos. You can find Marie on Twitter @okay_its_marie
