–NOW CLOSED–
Our 2025 Sudden Fiction Contest will take place from February 1st to March 1st, 2025!

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Previously unpublished work only.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.

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.

HOW TO ENTER the contest

Entries are $5 each. We allow up to 3 entries per person; the $5 entry fee must be paid for each entry.

Step 1: Buy a $5 submission ticket for your story

Step 2: Email berkeleyfictionreview@gmail.com. In your email you should include:

• “Sudden Fiction: Name, Title” in the subject line.
• A completely blind PDF of your sudden fiction story (we cannot accept any stories with personal information on the document).
• A screenshot of your submission ticket, or your order number.
• A brief cover letter in the body of the email. Include name, address, email address, and the title of your story. Please do not summarize the story.

Step 3: If you would like to submit multiple stories, please repeat this process (and please do! we love seeing multiple pieces of work from authors)—we cannot accept any submissions with multiple stories in a single email.

---

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