We’re seeking individual stories/pieces of fiction (NOT chapbooks or book-length manuscripts). Experimental, flash, short novelettes, long stories, short plays, and hybrid prose considered. We especially want to hear from marginalized and underrepresented authors, and we are an LGBTQUIA+ safe-space. All accepted pieces receive $10 and publication on The Coil.

Submissions open: February 1, 2024

Submissions close: May 31, 2024

Selections made: Within 4 months

Publication: 2024/2025

• This category is only for INDIVIDUAL standalone fiction (not book-length manuscripts). Submissions can be experimental, flash, short novelettes, long stories, short plays, or hybrid prose. (Hybrid that most closely resembles poetry should be submitted to the poetry category or to the Luminaire Poetry Award. Historical fiction should be submitted to Footnote/Charter Oak Award. Nonfiction pieces (essays, articles, columns, reviews, memoir, journalism, interviews, booklists, literary trends) should be submitted to The Coil categories.)
• All genres, styles, and subjects considered. A soft upper limit of 5,000 words is suggested.
• You may submit up to 4 stories in a single document file.
• All work must be in English and must be the author’s own. Single work by multiple authors considered. We do not consider AI-generated works.
• These submissions are not read incognito. It doesn’t matter if your identifying information is or isn’t inside your submission file.
• If you need to adjust a submission, please use the Request to Edit option through Submittable. Please don’t request to edit for minor flaws, however—all accepted work will go through an editing process and will have the chance to be updated before publication, and your work will not be disqualified for a missing comma.
• All authors must be at least 18 to submit.
• Simultaneous submissions allowed. You do not have to withdraw a piece that is accepted elsewhere, as long as you still own the reprint rights after first publication.
• Previously published pieces are considered, as long as you still own the reprint rights.
• Submit via Submittable only. We do not accept email submissions.
• This is a free form that is unique to you and shouldn't be shared with others. There is a $4.99 submission fee for anyone able to pay.
• Each paid submission comes with a digital copy of our latest short-story collection, Winter Dance Party by Brett Biebel ($7.99 value).
• It is highly recommended that you read our past published fiction.
• We will send a response and notification to every submission within 4 months. Form response only, unless we are interested in publishing your work. We are regretfully unable to provide feedback. If you have not heard back after 4 months, please feel free to follow up (kindly).