Every year I've heard complaints because the storySouth Million Writers Award for best online short stories excludes flash fiction. "This is discriminatory!" some writers cry. "This is an affront to literature!" other authors moan.
Maybe. But that's how the award was established, and that's the way it is. The good news, though, is that for the last three years flash fiction has had its own Micro Award to bring attention to worthy stories. Founded in 2007 by author Robert Laughlin, the Micro Award recognized outstanding flash fiction from both print and electronic media. Robert served as the award's administrator and financial supporter until earlier this year, when he retired the award.
But now Robert has told me some exciting news: The Micro Award lives again!
Alan Presley is the award's new administrator and he recently unveiled the updated Micro Award website. The 2011 award will be presented on Feb. 17, 2011 with a prize of $500. Submissions for the 2011 award will be accepted from Oct. 1, 2010 to Dec. 31, 2010. For more information, please see their website.
Thanks to Robert Laughlin for all the great work he put into establishing the Micro Award, and best of luck to Alan on making the award an even bigger success in the years ahead.