General submissions are CLOSED
Pop-Up submissions are CLOSED
All submissions are FREE
Please read the GUIDELINES before you submit:
For General Seasonal Subs – click HERE
For Pop-Up Subs – choose the relevant call under the Submissions tab in our menu.
Open and Coming Soon
SPRING GENERAL SUBS 1st to 14th FEBRUARY 2026. ONLY FOR WRITERS WHO ARE NOT PART OF THE EXISTING TRASH FAMILY. CALL IS FOR REPRINTS. MORE INFO COMING SOON.
SPRING POP-UP SUBS 1st to 14th APRIL 2026. THEMED CALL OF PROMPTED STORIES. MORE INFO COMING SOON
Trash Cat Lit takes submissions of FLASH FICTION and SHORT STORIES to publish in three online General Issues per year. Submissions are open for the first two weeks of February, June and October or until we reach our caps of 75 Flash and 40 Short Stories. Issues are launched on the 1st of March, July and November.
We also have seasonal Pop-Up submission calls which are themed and occasional print collections. These calls have their own pages which will be listed under the Submissions tab.
Original Image credit: Christopher Le (Unsplash)
What to Send
We are looking to read both literary and genre works that tell a compelling story. We love narrative and a bold, consistent voice.
We also love a strong opener, punchy ending and well-drawn characters.
We actively encourage submissions from writers in historically under-represented backgrounds and communities.
We recommend reading our previous General Issues and Pop-Up Issues to get the best insight into what treasures we seek.
Above all, don’t self-reject – send us your work.
Not for the Trash Cat
Trash Cat Lit is currently only looking for new, unpublished flash fiction and short stories unless specified. Please do not submit any work that has appeared in print or any public, online places including social media and personal blogs.
Further, we are not looking for poetry or creative non-fiction at this time.
D0 NOT Send
Trash Cat Lit will not tolerate any work that is racist, homophobic, transphobic, misogynistic, ableist or is hateful towards any person or group. Further, we do not wish to read anything that is gratuitously violent or erotic or contains excessive gore or animal cruelty.
Trash Cat Lit will not accept any work generated using AI.
The Ts and Cs
When you submit to Trash Cat Lit you grant us First World Electronic Rights (text and audio) which are Exclusive only until the work is published by Trash Cat Lit, after which time all rights revert to you, the author.
By submitting to Trash Cat Lit you are declaring that the work is your own, and does not infringe upon the properties of any authors or agencies.
By submitting to Trash Cat Lit you accept that we may request minor edits to accepted work and will conduct this collaboratively with you, the author.
TRASH CAT LIT 