Flash Journal Lancaster

31/01/2024

ANNOUNCEMENT: We have decided to extend the submission date for Issue 39 of Flash.

We hope this will give you a little more time to get your amazing work into our inbox… just in time for Valentine’s Day! 👀🩷

NEW closing date: Wednesday 14th Feb, midnight

If you would like a chance to see your work published, please email your poetry or prose to: [email protected]

Remember:
- You can submit poetry or prose
- Submit up to 3 poems
- Prose: 1000 words or under
- Lancaster university undergrad/postgrad students only
- Write about anything you’d like, however please include a content warning in the email if you are covering sensitive topics!

Following submission, you will have the opportunity to work 1-1 with one of our amazing editors. So if you have a piece which you’d like to discuss/redraft, that’s what we’re here for!

We can’t wait to see your work, please DM us/comment any questions ⚡️

25/01/2024

HERE it is!⚡️Issue 38 of Flash - a special poetry edition! 👨‍🎤

This issue is available online for FREE - find it on our linktree. By keeping this issue online, we can ensure it is accessible to everyone - especially directly after Christmas. However, Flash in print is not gone forever! Come along to our launch and open mic tonight to find out the specifics of what we have in store…

Here’s a little bit about the cover painting () titled ‘Baby Bowie’:

“This is an oil-painting produced for Issue 38 of Flash Journal. It is based on a photograph of a ten-year-old boy (from the early seventies), dressed up as David Bowie. With his mum’s red lipstick smeared over his face and his pyjama top pulled off his shoulders, this piece is representative of not only the emotional and domestic content of this issue, but the electric ferocity of the poetic imagination - and the strange, bright places it can take us.”

21/01/2024

Three is the magic number...🌟 Here’s three fantastic Open Mic events coming up in Lancaster! Are YOU reading?

Find all the relevant info on socials: | |

There’s certainly still room for open mic sign-ups for Flash -So, now’s your chance...

it’s going to be a poetry bonanza from Tuesday to Thursday!

Even if you don’t want to read, why not come along for not one... not two... but THREE great nights of great poetry!

21/01/2024

A little reminder about our poetry open mic on Thursday 25th Jan! ⚡️
Please join us to read or simply watch the brilliant poets! 🎤
There is a link in our bio, or email us at [email protected], to sign up to read your work. 📝
Depending on numbers you can possibly sign up on the day too.
We hope to see you there!
The Flash Team 💛

16/01/2024

Issue 39 submissions are now open!

If you would like a chance to see your work published, please email your poetry or prose to: [email protected]

Closing date: Friday 2nd Feb, midnight

Remember:
- You can submit poetry or prose
- Submit up to 3 poems
- Each poem: 40 lines or under
- Prose: 1000 words or under
- Lancaster university undergrad/postgrad students only
- Write about anything you’d like, however please include a content warning in the email if you are covering sensitive topics!

Following submission, you will have the opportunity to work 1-1 with one of our amazing editors. So if you have a piece which you’d like to discuss/redraft, that’s what we’re here for!

We can’t wait to see your work, please DM us/comment any questions ⚡️

20/10/2023

Issue 38 submissions are now open! ⚡️This issue will be a special poetry edition.

If you would like a chance to see your work published, please email your poetry to: [email protected]

Remember:
- Only poetry submissions for this issue
- Submit up to 3 poems
- Each poem: 40 lines or under
- Lancaster university undergrad/postgrad students only
- Write about anything you’d like, however please include a content warning in the email if you are covering sensitive topics!

Following submission, you will have the opportunity to work 1-1 with one of our amazing editors. So if you have a poem or two which you’d like to discuss/redraft, that’s what we’re here for!

We can’t wait to see your work, please DM us/comment any questions ⚡️

04/09/2023

Welcome Freshers to Lancaster University! We at Flash Literary Journal are opening submissions for our annual Freshers Competition!

The requirements are simple:
Poetry - 40 lines or under
Prose - 1000 words or under
Script - 7 pages or under

Maximum of 3 pieces, which can be a mix of any form, so 2 poems and 1 prose, or 1 of each etc…
Email all work to [email protected] to submit.
Deadline is October 1st

And… that’s it! The best pieces will be PUBLISHED in Flash Journal issue 38, and the writer of the very best piece will win a £10 Waterstones voucher!

Please dm our Instagram account with any and all questions.

14/08/2023

Another exciting opportunity!! We need people to run the journal for next year!

As executive editor, you will be responsible for co-running Flash, putting together an issue each term which showcases the wonderful talent at Lancaster Uni.

You will support and organise our lovely team of editors, select works for the issue, create it, launch it, host open mics and just generally keep our beloved journal running smoothly.

You can find the application form in our bio. Please download it, fill it out, and email it to [email protected] by September 15th.

Message with any questions!

26/06/2023

ISSUE 37 OUT NOW!! Please go to our etsy (Flash Literary Journal, or in bi0) and support us! A lot of work goes into these issues, and lots of amazing writing!

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1510843859/flash-issue-37-phoenix?click_key=4dcb4262344275eed73415fcdeae9cdd14340d90%3A1510843859&click_sum=6eaf3099&ref=shop_home_feat_1

18/06/2023

FLASH x POETRY SOC OPEN MIC!!

Come along next week (Monday 26th at 8pm) for an open mic to celebrate the launch of ISSUE 37 and all of your wonderful writing!

Anyone is welcome to read (DM to sign up in advance), or you can just sit back and enjoy Lancaster Uni’s creative writing talent.

Hope to see lots of you there!

27/05/2023

We’re looking for new editors to start term 1 of next year! You can apply by filling out the form (link in bio) and emailing it to [email protected]

There are no rules! We want anyone who’s passionate about writing and can bring their knowledge and fresh ideas to work with fantastic writers and make the journal the best it can be!

You can find a more detailed breakdown of the role in the application form, and feel free to message if you have any questions!

17/05/2023

Some recommendations from the Flash team! Have you read any of these?

Anddd while we’re here, remember you have a week left to submit to this term’s issue!

24/04/2023

It’s time for Issue 37! Flash is once again looking for your amazing work to publish.

We’re accepting submissions!! Send your poetry, prose, script, and creative critical essays to [email protected]

This term - since it’s a busy one for everyone - we’re going to release a downloadable PDF issue rather than a physical one, so we’re able to avoid printing constraints and raise our word limits!

Our only requirements are:

Poetry - 40 lines or under (3 poems max)
Prose - 1000 words or under
Script - 7 pages or under
Creative-Critical - 1000 words or under

Beyond that, let your imagination run wild! We can’t wait to see what you come up with.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to send us a message.

20/03/2023

ISSUE 36 LAUNCH!

Come along to our open mic in Bowland Bar, get your hands on a copy of our shiny new issue, listen to some wonderful creative writing, and maybe share some of your own!

We’ll start at 18:30 but you can come and drop by at any point during the event.

Hope to see lots of you there!

30/01/2023

We’re accepting submissions!!

We at Flash are excited to get Issue 36 rolling and are now looking for your amazing work to publish in it.

Our only requirements are:

Poetry - 20 lines or under (3 poems max)
Prose - 1000 words or under
Script - 7 pages or under
Creative-Critical - 1000 words or under

Beyond that, let your imagination run wild! We can’t wait to see what you come up with.

If you have any questions at all, please message our Instagram account.

18/10/2022

⚡️SUBMISSIONS FOR ISSUE 35 ARE NOW OPEN!⚡️

Eagerly waiting to sink your teeth into the writing scene here at Lancaster? Well there’s no better way to jump in than submitting to our first issue of the academic year, Issue 35! We take submissions in fiction, short stories, poetry, script, and creative critical work. The full submission guidelines are available to read here!

https://lancasterflash.wordpress.com/2022/10/18/submissions-for-issue-35-are-now-open/

To submit, please email your work to [email protected] with your name and the name of your piece(s) by MIDNIGHT on FRIDAY 11TH NOVEMBER (Week 5).

If you have any questions, please contact us via email, or via Instagram, Twitter or Facebook!

Happy writing, and we can’t wait to see what you send us!

- The Flash Team x

Please note: submissions are only open to Lancaster University students.

Please note: Flash Literary Journal is a student-run publication based at Lancaster University, and only takes submissions from current Lancaster students. All contributions received are guaranteed…

17/10/2022

Our applications for editorial positions for the academic year are now CLOSED! Thanks to everyone who applied, and keep an eye on your inboxes over the next week… 👀⚡️🥰

02/10/2022

Congratulations again to everyone who entered our Freshers Competition, and our brilliant winners! Welcome to Lancaster! And now, with the academic year finally on the horizon…

Flash Literary Journal is looking for FOUR NEW EDITORS to join our friendly editorial committee this academic year!

This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in creative writing and editing, and will provide insight into how the publishing industry works. Flash also looks great on your CV, particularly for anyone pursuing a career in publishing, journalism, or any form of writing.

It’s also great fun! Each term, you will be assigned a set number of pieces once issue submissions close, and you will work closely with each of your writers to help make their work the best it can be.

To apply, please visit https://lancasterflash.wordpress.com/2022/10/02/editor-applications-2022-23/ and complete the application form. Email all applications to [email protected].

Please note: this is a volunteer position. All profits made from issue sales go into the production of future issues and events.

Applications will close at MIDNIGHT on Sunday 16th October, when we will begin accepting submissions for Issue 35.

Good luck!

Flash Literary Journal is looking for FOUR NEW EDITORS to join our editorial committee this academic year! This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in creative writing and editing, and wil…

01/10/2022

We’d like to thank everyone who took the time to submit to this year’s Freshers Writing Competition! We received a breadth of amazing stories and poetry from so many talented writers, which made choosing the winners a really challenging task. This year’s winners are:

PROSE

“9”
by
Emoefeoghene (Efe) Akpofure Imoyin-Omene

POETRY

“Talk”
by
Fintán Chan

And the runners up:

PROSE

“The Meat Market Counter” by Antoni Konieczny
“Morrigan” by Hannah Cochrane

POETRY
“Wisdom” by Brian Zhang
“Faithless Hope” by Alana Luis Budding

We hope that everyone who submitted enjoyed writing for the competition, we loved reading your work! Submissions for our first edition of the academic year will be open soon, and you are more than welcome to re-submit the work you entered to the competition to undergo our full editing process for the chance to be published in Issue 35! Alternatively, you can send us something completely new, or a mixture of both!

We would really love to hear from you all again. Each and every one of you has some serious potential with your writing, and we would love to help you on your journey!

20/08/2022

⚡️ NEWS FLASH! ⚡️

We’re so excited to announce that submissions for our annual Freshers’ Writing Competition are now OPEN!

If you’re an undergraduate starting at Lancaster University in October, and you can’t wait to get stuck in, then this is the competition for you!

Flash is a literary journal run by undergraduate students at Lancaster Uni, and is a great chance to get a foot in the door of the wonderful world of publishing!

For this competition, there are two categories: prose and poetry. You can enter up to three pieces, either in one category or between the two!

Three winners will be selected from each category, the first place submissions even being printed in our first issue of the academic year, Issue 35! The runners up will also be published on our website and across our social media!

For more information, please visit https://lancasterflash.wordpress.com/2022/08/20/flash-freshers-writing-competition-2022/

Submissions CLOSE on September 24th, so get writing!

We can’t wait to read all your work, and a big welcome from all of us to Lancaster.

The Flash Team ⚡️

It’s that time again! Flash is back with a bang for the new academic year, and what better way to kick us off than shining a light on the fresh new talent arriving with us in September. The r…

19/06/2022

🚨OPEN MIC ANNOUNCEMENT🚨

Where: Bowland Bar
When: 21st June 6-8pm!
Who: You!

To celebrate the release of Issue 34, we will be hosting our regular open mic launch event THIS TUESDAY in the Bowland JCR room right next to the Trough of Bowland! Come along to hear some amazing work from our writers, and have the opportunity to read your own work!

We will also be selling printed copies of the issue for £3.50 via Cash or Paypal transfer! It is truly a brilliant issue, and with our gorgeous cover designed once again by the immensely talented Holly Coulson what’s not to love?

Come on down and join us for a night of fun!

Sign up to attend (and possibly read your work!) via this link! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4DADAD28AAF9C43-flash3

We can’t wait to see you there ⚡️

- The Flash Team x

29/04/2022

⚡️SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN⚡️

It’s Roses season here in Lancaster, and what better way to celebrate than getting creative? 🌹

Submissions for ISSUE 34 of the Flash Literary Journal open today! We will be taking submissions for flash fiction, short stories, poetry, script, and creative-critical work. The full submission guidelines are available to read here:

https://lancasterflash.wordpress.com/submit-issue-33/

To submit, please submit your work to [email protected] with the name and title of your piece(s) by MIDNIGHT on FRIDAY 20TH MAY (Week 24).

If you have any questions, please contact us via email, or via Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

Submissions will CLOSE on Friday 20th May (Week 24), so get writing ! ⚡️

- Love, the Flash Team x

Please note submissions are only open to Lancaster University students.

22/03/2022

⚡️ ISSUE 33 COVER REVEAL! ⚡️

Here is the cover for our brand new edition of Flash, Issue 33: Flash Fiction, designed by the incredibly talented Holly Coulson!

Printed copies of the new issue will be available at our launch event tonight, at 6pm in Bowland Bar! They can be purchased for £5 via cash or PayPal transfer.

We're really looking forward to tonight's event! We'll be having readings from some of the writers published in the issue, and an open mic for anyone in attendance who would like to read out their work!

To sign up, please click here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4DADAD28AAF9C43-flash2

Can't wait to see you there!

17/03/2022

⚡ NEWS FLASH!⚡

The launch event for our brand new edition, Issue 33: Flash Fiction, will be held at Bowland Bar on Tuesday 22nd March, 6-8pm!

We will have printed copies of the issue available to purchase for £5. Payments will be accepted in cash or via PayPal (transactions must be made in-person). We also have copies remaining of our previous issue if you would like to purchase one!

You'll also get the chance to hear some of the issue's writers reading out their work!

After this, we will hold an open mic to give anyone who'd like to read out what they've been writing recently some time to shine (it doesn't have to be flash fiction)!

If you are interested in attending the launch event, please book your place here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4DADAD28AAF9C43-flash2

Wearing a mask is mandatory to attend this event.

We can't wait to see you there! ⚡

11/02/2022

⚡ SUBMISSIONS CLOSING MIDNIGHT TONIGHT! ⚡

Please email your work to [email protected] to be considered for publication in our upcoming flash fiction-themed issue!

07/02/2022

There are still FIVE DAYS LEFT to submit your writing for a chance to be published in our upcoming flash fiction-themed issue!

We are looking for:
Microfiction – stories comprised of ten words or less
Twitterature – stories comprised of a maximum of 280 characters, in the style of a Tweet
Minisaga – stories of up to 50 words
Drabble – stories of up to 100 words
Sudden Fiction (up to 750 words)
Flash Fiction (1000 words max)
Short poetry of no more than 10 lines

For full submission guidelines, please visit https://lancasterflash.wordpress.com/submit-issue-33/
Please submit your work by sending a Word document to [email protected].

Submissions will be closing at Midnight (end of day) on Friday 11th February.

You must be a current student (undergrad or postgrad) at Lancaster University to submit.

Happy writing! ⚡

31/01/2022

⚡ REMINDER: There are just under two weeks remaining to submit your writing for a chance to be featured in our next, flash fiction-themed issue! ⚡

We are looking for:

Microfiction – stories comprised of ten words or less
Twitterature – stories comprised of a maximum of 280 characters, in the style of a Tweet
Minisaga – stories of up to 50 words
Drabble – stories of up to 100 words
Sudden Fiction (up to 750 words)
Flash Fiction (1000 words max)
Short poetry of no more than 10 lines

For full submission guidelines, please visit https://lancasterflash.wordpress.com/submit-issue-33/

Please submit your work by sending a Word document to [email protected].

Submissions will be closing at Midnight (end of day) on Friday 11th February.

Happy writing! ⚡

25/01/2022

⚡ SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN! ⚡

We are now taking submissions for our Flash fiction-themed edition of Flash Literary Journal!

You may submit work in any of the following categories:

Microfiction – stories comprised of ten words or less
Twitterature – stories comprised of a maximum of 280 characters, in the style of a Tweet
Minisaga – stories comprised of a maximum of 50 words
Drabble – stories comprised of a maximum of 100 words

You may submit up to five stories in any of these categories, or five in a combination of them.

We are also accepting:

Sudden Fiction (up to 750 words)
Flash Fiction (1000 words max)
Short poetry of no more than 10 lines

If you are writing in these forms, you may submit up to three pieces, which can all be in the same category or a mixture.

If you would like to experiment across lots of these different categories, you are very welcome to do so – up to five pieces per writer in a combination of categories will also be accepted.

To submit, please email your work to [email protected], preferably as a Word document. Our normal editing process will apply for this issue.

For full submission guidelines, please visit https://lancasterflash.wordpress.com/submit-issue-33/

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us via email or by messaging our Twitter, Facebook or Instagram accounts.

To submit, you must currently be studying at Lancaster University, either as an undergrad or a postgrad.

Happy writing!

22/01/2022

⚡ CALLING ALL WRITERS! ⚡

We hope you've all had a wonderful winter break.

If you were featured in/would like a copy of our previous issue, we still have copies available! Please get in touch if you would like to purchase one.

After the success of Issue 32, our first printed edition since before the pandemic, we can't wait to do it again and get to work on Issue 33!

Submissions for this issue will be opening MONDAY, 24TH JANUARY.

Excitingly, this issue will be a little different from the norm. We're very excited to be going back to the roots, and focusing on the form of writing from which our journal gets its name: FLASH FICTION.

For this issue, we will be only be accepting submissions which fit into one of the following categories:

Microfiction - 10 words max
Twitteratrue - 280 characters max
Minisaga - 50 words max
Drabble - 100 words max
Sudden fiction - 750 words max
Flash fiction - 1000 words max
Short poetry - 10 lines max

Don't let this task daunt you: we want you all to really have fun in experimenting with these unique forms, in which, perhaps more than any other form of fiction, every single word really does count.

We're particularly excited by the prospect of microfiction, minisaga, and drabble fiction, which force you to be incredibly decisive with each and every word of your story, and Twitterature, a new form in which you have only 280 characters (or the length of a tweet) to tell your story.

If you'd like some inspiration, here are a few examples of stories which fit into one of the above categories:

'Give it Up' - Franz Kafka
'Taylor Swift' - Hugh Behm-Steinberg
'Chapter V' - Ernest Hemingway
'Widow's First Year' - Joyce Carol Oates
'Untitled' - Adhiraj Singh

If you're a poet at heart, don't be dismayed - we're still accepting poetry submissions for this issue, but to fit with theme, you must use a maximum of ten lines!

We really hope you enjoy this process of writing, and that you consider trying a form that might be a little outside your comfort zone. You have several weeks to perfect your work, whatever route you choose to take.

Further details about the issue will be announced when submissions open on Monday. If you have any queries, please don't hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or message us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Submissions are only open to students (undergrad and postgrad) currently at Lancaster University.

Happy writing! ⚡

16/12/2021

🚨🚨🚨🚨
Hello all. Following our open mic on Tuesday, we have been informed that one of the attendees has since tested positive for COVID-19. Whilst we took every precaution to ensure people were masked and tested before taking part, this was always a possibility, and we offer our sincerest apologies and ask that anyone who attended get tested ASAP. The individual did NOT read and was masked the entire time, however we still ask that you get tested as soon as possible to do your bit in keeping yourself and others safe, especially as people go home for the holidays.

Thank you for working with us at this time. If you have any questions or need any support, do not hesitate to get in contact with us at [email protected]. We apologise for any and all inconvenience.

The Flash Team x