READER, MAIREAD FAGAN
SPRING SUBMISSION CALL – NOW OPEN!!
Scroll to end of page for Trashie Selection form and Swapsies form (Monday 12-6)
AUTUMN SUBMISSION CALL – 1st AUGUST
We are doubling up on this prompted story pop-up in 2026 as it’s been so popular and we love what comes from it.
What’s it all about?
Participants are provided with blind-chosen prompts to use in creating unique flash fiction up to 500 words.
Up to two different flash can be submitted when the submission form opens.
A set of prompts include:
a setting/situation; a character; and an object/occurrence.
What’s the timeline?
- 1st to 6th of the month – Prompt Generation
- 4th of the month – Swapsies are available (10am to 6pm) for one prompt
- 7th to 23rd of the month – Writing period
- 21st – SUBMISSIONS OPEN at Noon (UK Time)
- 23rd – SUBMISSIONS CLOSE at 8pm (UK Time)
- The Issues will be published in early May and September
How does Prompt Generation work?
Our adorable Trashies have hidden a stash of cool prompts in seven different coloured bins like delicious treasures.
NEW THIS YEAR! We have a whole new bin – RED – and another Trashie has joined the team – welcome ROACH. That means a lot more prompts.
ALSO NEW THIS YEAR! You can now choose Trashies from different bins. Mix it right up for a more unique set of prompts.
You select your Trashies – one for each prompt, and from the bin of your choice – and send Trash Cat your selections using a Google Form.
Here’s an example of what could be generated:
Your set of prompts will then be sent back to your hungry binbox and you’ll have at least two weeks to write a flash using all the prompts.
You can choose to pick a second set of prompts – if perhaps the first is not sparking an idea OR you want to write and submit two flash.
NB: Don’t submit two stories using the same set of prompts and don’t mix up the sets of prompts – we’ll know, we have a hard-hatted squirrel who is a total jobsworth.
What are the Submission Guidelines?
- IMPORTANT FOR 2026: If your work appears in the April issue, we ask that you do not submit to the August issue.
- We ‘re looking for Flash Fiction only (no CNF or poetry) up to 500 words (excluding title)
- We will accept TWO submissions per writer, new and unpublished stories using all the prompts.
- No genre limits – go weird, surreal, scary, lyrical, sweet – we’d love to see it.
- Use simple formatting – 12pt, easy-to-read-font, double spaced.
- No name etc. on the story doc – the filename should be the story’s title.
- Submission is via the Google Form linked below. Use separate forms for multiple submissions.
- For our Ts & Cs go to our Submissions Page
What Are We Looking For?
We love a really good story with a compelling voice.
Start strong, finish with a punch, leave us with your words lingering long after we close our laptop…
Check out the 2025 Prompted Stories Pop-up pieces HERE and HERE for the best insight into what we loved about the work.
We really want you to have fun with the prompts, do the unexpected, surprise and delight us. Perhaps push yourself outside your writing comfort zones or make the prompts work in your favoured genre or style even if they seem incongruent.
For some advice and examples on how to do this, read Trash Cat’s post about working with prompts HERE
The imaginative and creative ways the prompts are used will be considered when selecting pieces for the issue.
Trashie Selections and Submitting
TRASHIE SELECTION FOR THE SPRING 2026 POP-UP IS BETWEEN 9am, 1st APRIL and 8pm, 6th APRIL (BST)
CLICK ON THE IMAGE ON THE LEFT TO ACCESS THE SELECTION FORM
LAST CHANCE FOR SWAPSIES. MONDAY 6th APRIL BETWEEN 12pm AND 6pm (BST)
CLICK IMAGE FOR REQUEST FORM (link not currently live)
READY TO SUBMIT? SUBMISSION PERIOD IS BETWEEN 12pm, 21st and 8pm, 23rd APRIL (BST)
CLICK ON THE IMAGE ON THE LEFT TO ACCESS THE SUBMISSION FORM (link not currently live)
TRASH CAT LIT 