Our 2024 Sudden Fiction Contest is now open from February 1st to April 1st, 2024!

Stories must be 1000 words or fewer, typed, double-spaced, in 12pt font.

Previously unpublished work only.

Simultaneous submissions encouraged. Please let us know immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.

The stakes

We offer the top three finalists and honorable mentions publication in our journal and prize money.

First place wins $150, second place wins $100, and third place wins $50. Honorable mentions are given the standard $25 offer given to all our authors.

Entering the contest

Entries are $5 each.

WE ALLOW UP TO THREE ENTRIES PER PERSON. THE $5 SUBMISSION FEE MUST BE PAID FOR EACH ENTRY.

We accept Venmo payments:

Venmo @berkeleyfictionreview the $5 entry fee with your name and “Sudden Fiction Contest” in the transaction description.

We accept Paypal payments:

Paypal can be made out to berkeleyfictionreview@gmail.com with “Sudden Fiction Contest” in the note.

We accept checks:

please send checks to our mailing address:

Berkeley Fiction Review
c/o ASUC Student Union FMO
432 Eshleman, MC 4500
Berkeley, CA 94720

Please make checks payable to ASUC/Berkeley Fiction Review with Sudden Fiction in the memo line.

In the submission

We only accept electronic submissions sent to berkeleyfictionreview@gmail.com, with  “Sudden Fiction: Name, Title” in the subject line.

Please make sure that you format your email title this way, so that we do not mistake your story for a regular submission.

THE STORY ITSELF

Stories should be attached to the email as .doc or .pdf. Please do not include any personal information anywhere on the document as we do blind-reads only.

COVER LETTER

Please keep cover letters brief, and add them to the body of the email.  Include name, address, email address, and the title of your story. Please don’t summarize the story.

Please also include whether or not you have already sent payment for the entry fee. We will not officially review your submission until we have confirmed your payment method.

DISCLAIMER: Prize money winners must provide their SSN in order to process payment. Our finances go through U.C. Berkeley, and in order to pay the winner, they must process their SSN. We will not share this information with anyone, but if you would prefer, you can share it solely with our Publications Adviser at the LEAD Center (U.C. Berkeley staff).

Past Judges