Flash asks a writer to suggest a whole life in a span of 400 words. The key is one detail. In fact, in this game, what is omitted does the most work. A skilled writer reveals only enough to allow the reader to fill in the gaps for the rest of the story.
Each piece fits exactly its assigned ceiling, whether it is 100, 500 or 1,000 words, because most flash markets are strict with their word counts, and submit anything that exceeds the limit without reviewing it. Explain the limit to the writer, and you can count on them reaching it.
Compression is a judgment about the reader. Some folks try to predict what the next person will think of an image and how much ambiguity that person will ignore. Then they write to that margin. If you’re even a bit off, the art piece is either meaningless or too clear and there is no area where the meaning can be unclear.
Generated flash can’t help but talk itself out of a submission. The last two sentences come to save the day and tell you what you’re supposed to think about the first eight, which is exactly what flash editors would reject. Plus, it goes beyond the limit and a 1,100 word piece is simply ineligible.
The writer often tends to structure drafts over twice the word length of the intended final product in order to be able to cut back and get to the core of the story. Voice is developed early by choosing how close the narration is to the character, whether the narration is able to identify and name feelings, and how much empty space the writer leaves on the page.
Refining flash is a word-by-word argument. An editor will question every adjective and every dialogue tag and every sentence that restates the last. They then read the entire piece “cold” to see if the story still builds in a stranger’s head. Whatever passage does this gets to stay.
One rate, whatever the format: $10 per 100 words. You are paying for the writer’s time and judgement, so the price scales with the words rather than with a package tier.
| Typical flash fiction | Words | Writing | Fee (1%) | You pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Micro fiction (100 words) | 100 | $10 | $0.10 | $10.10 |
| Standard flash piece | 750 | $75 | $0.75 | $75.75 |
| Set of three flash pieces | 2,000 | $200 | $2 | $202 |
The writer receives 100% of the writing price. Our 1% fee is added on top of it, and 0.5% is donated to tree planting. Full pricing breakdown.
We match the brief to a writer who has already worked in that subject area. If you have worked with an Articled writer before and want them again, name them and we will check their availability first.
Fill in the order form with your brief and email address. No account needed. You get a confirmation by email, then the finished piece as a document within 3 days.
Yes. Making decisions early on about what recurs in linked sets is crucial (i.e. about a place, an object, or the narrator’s sibling). We also need to decide how much we expect the reader to remember. We described that before drafting, in order to facilitate the reading of the set as one linked idea.
Yes. Please explain the call’s policy on hyphenated titles. Also, please explain whether the call counts titles. Explain how the writer should follow the word count. Be as exact as possible at the given figure. Failure to comply with the given word count is the main reason for rejection of submissions.
Completely. Copyright transfers to you on delivery, with no attribution requirement and no licence back to us. Nothing written for you is resold, repurposed or republished.
Reviews from completed, paid orders in this category.
At a natural pace, the speech was about ninety seconds over the twelve minute mark. Editing it was simple because your structure was clear, but I shouldn’t have to. Our director called the content of your speech the best written thing that she has ever delivered.
I asked for some advice with a plot that I have been tweaking for years. The suggestion was to fix the mess in the middle and to just leave the ending the way it is. I guess they were right and I wouldn’t have arrived at that conclusion on my own.
I described my vision of a happy ending. Now, I have their version in return which is quieter and more sad. They included an explanation, a reasoning behind their choice, and a way for me to have it my way by writing a different (happy ending) version if I prefer. I kept their original.
We do not ask you to take the no-AI promise on trust. Each draft is run through these platforms and the reports are attached to your delivery email.
Originality.aiAI detection + plagiarism
GPTZeroAI detection
TurnitinAI detection + similarity
CopyleaksAI detection + plagiarism
Winston AIAI detection
ZeroGPTAI detection
SaplingAI detection
Content at ScaleAI detection
Send the brief, get a human draft back within 3 days. No account, no subscription, no AI.
$10 per 100 words · all of it to the writer · 0.5% to trees