David Bright, editor of Gemini Magazine

Gemini Magazine sponsors the annual Flash Fiction Contest, which offers a prize of $1,000 and publication in Gemini Magazine given for a work of flash fiction. The editors will judge. The entry fee is $8. The deadline is August 31.

In this installment of Inside the Contest, David Bright, Gemini’s editor, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the award program, including the process for narrowing down the pool of hundreds of contest entries and the selection of finalists.

David Bright started Gemini Magazine in 2009. His work has been published in the Café Irreal, the Iconoclast, the Cimmerian Journal, flashquake, Nuvein, TPQ Online, 100 Word Story, and elsewhere. A former cabdriver and postal worker, he co-founded Resumes, etc., a writing and career counseling company and managed it for several years. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts in Boston.

How many entries do you receive? Has that number varied in recent years?

Last year we received a total of about six hundred entries, up about 10 percent from the previous year. Of that total, five hundred fifty arrived via email, fifty via snail mail. We continue to welcome snail mail entries.

What is the process for narrowing those submissions down before they are sent to the judge?

All entries are read blind, no names, no bios. We just want to read each flash with no distractions. Batches of about ten or twelve entries are sent to a dozen staff members and guest readers for their review. For each entry, these readers report back with a yes or no. If a reader is on the fence about a particular piece, this maybe becomes a yes. Those marked yes are flagged for additional review in the next round. Readers are encouraged to explain in a few words why they liked each particular story they flagged. This process continues until all entries have been read.

In the second round, the process is repeated for all flagged entries. This narrowing down continues through the third round or beyond until a shortlist of eight or ten entries remain.

Now it is almost time to vote. But first, we conduct a random, blind rereading of perhaps 20 percent or more of the unflagged entries. It takes extra time but we want to be thorough. Many (if not most) entries get a second reading and a second chance.

When we vote on shortlist stories, votes are cast in order of preference, with the top choice as number one. We use a ranked choice scoring method, so the flash with the lowest total points wins. In the event of a tie, the editor chooses the winner.

How many entries does the judge typically end up reading?

Many dozens, if not hundreds, since the judge (the editor, [myself]) is also a reader.

What factors go into your selection of a judge?

As the editor, I am the final judge, but sometimes that responsibility is given to an especially insightful reader.

Is there a specific kind of writing you hope to attract through this contest?

We are open to any topic, any style of writing. We gravitate toward writing that surprises us, makes us think, and compels us to reread it.

What does Gemini Magazine typically do to promote the winner’s work?

We announce the winners to thousands of email subscribers as well as on social media. We also send press releases to major outlets such as the New York Times and the Boston Globe. All winning flashes dating back to 2009 may be read on our Flash Fiction Archives page. In addition, we frequently highlight previous winners on the cover page of new issues and in email announcements.

Originally appeared in the July 28, 2026, installment of Grants & Awards: The Writing Contest Newsletter, published by Poets & Writers, pw.org.