Second Annual Halloween Flash Fiction Episode: Listener Edition

CLOSED

DEADLINE October 15th 2019

*This blog post may be edited as we go along and run into issues or think of more ways in which to help you get accepted*

If you have any questions, please check the bottom for the FAQs before contacting us.

Submit a 500 word, Halloween-related piece of flash fiction by the deadline.  This can be ANY GENRE, but has to include Halloween as an element.

Include the story title, author name, complete story and ONE link for marketing yourself (website, blog, social media handle, etc).  Email your submission to show@alonewithinvisiblepeople.com

As mentioned did last year, we are asking our listeners to join us for Halloween by writing a flash fiction story and submitting it for possible reading over the air!

Please understand that we cannot accept all flash fiction stories submitted to us, but what we can do is give you guidelines that can help make acceptance into the episode more likely:

– SO KEEP IN MIND – 

  • 500 words or less.  Absolutely even one word over and the story will be rejected.  This number does not include the title or the name of author.
  • No previously published works.
  • One submission per author.
  • RTF, DOC, DOCX or add the story text in the email itself.
  • Please, PLEASE edit your work.  Look for any typos, misspellings, improper word usage, etc.
  • Completing Holly’s free 3 week How to Write Flash Fiction that Doesn’t Suck Course (or having completed it in the past) will help tremendously to show you what we are looking for.
  • Listen to the episode Why Write Flash Fiction? as well to learn why Flash Fiction is so advantageous for writers of any level.
  • Remember to include all story elements in a plot: Protagonist, Antagonist, Conflict, Setting, Twist.
  • Take your time with this.  Write more than one if you want and rewrite over and over.  Really try to hone this story and make it the best it can be.
  • Think about using every one of those 500 words if you can.  Some stories are fantastic in very few words, sure, but you have 500 – our suggestion is to make each and every one of them work hard to benefit you and your story!
  • Keep content Listener Friendly.  No erotica or questionable content.  If you have a question about something in your story that might or might not be allowed, email us at show@alonewithinvisiblepeople.com
  • AGAIN: The stories MUST be Halloween related.  They can be any genre: humor/comedy, horror, thriller/suspense, mystery, action, fantasy, romance, science-fiction, etc.

What we can’t do:

  • Take every entry that is submitted
  • Explain where your Flash Fiction did not meet the requirements
  • Give critiques or editing suggestions

GOOD LUCK!!

HALLOWEEN FAQs

I was accepted, but I got my contract signed and emailed late.  Is that ok?

No.  If we do not receive the contract by the deadline given in the acceptance letter, your acceptance will be voided.  Please do your part and get the contract to us in a timely fashion.

I’d love for my story to air on the actual night of Halloween, please!

No preferential order will be given. To quote Rebecca’s response:

I get that! Everyone wants their work to air on the actual holiday! Unfortunately that can't happen.  The [stories] fit a little like a puzzle and trying to keep and ebb and flow as well as rotation of narrators makes it a challenge.  There is no guaranteed order until the very last moment.

I got in! Can you tell me what part/timestamp my story will air?

No.  The Halloween Episode is a massive production.  Massive.  Due to the work dealing with the entries themselves, contract issues, communication, recording, editing, research for music, etc we will not be able to tell you when your story will air: neither what part nor what the timestamp will be.  There will be no time stamping of the stories either.  When the episode airs a generalized list of authors with their links and bylines in alphabetical order will be listed on the blog post for ease of the producer and the fairness of all authors involved. Please remember Rebecca is just one person.

Can you provide me with the link to the episode beforehand?

No.  We do not provide links to the Halloween episode ahead of time.

Can I pay for Placement or a Shoutout?

No.  This is not within the ethics of AIARWIP, Holly Lisle or Rebecca Galardo.  Authors and their stories air with no preferential placement and we don’t highlight anyone over another.  The writers get in based on their work.  The order of the story is based on an ebb and flow of genre and narrator rotation.  While we occasionally retweet or re-share something through social media that an individual writer mentions regarding the podcast, we do not promote individuals for payment.