SKUMMEL: Flash Fiction (1 — 1000 Words)
Overview
SKUMMEL operates as a magazine dedicated to the compressed narrative form, seeking fiction that achieves its effects within a strict limit of 1,000 words. The publication maintains a rolling submission window, which places the emphasis on the work itself rather than on an external calendar. There is no submission fee, a policy that aligns with the magazine's apparent interest in removing barriers between the writer and the editorial desk. The journal accepts simultaneous submissions and multiple entries, acknowledging the practical realities of a literary landscape in which writers must circulate their work widely and often. The magazine's openness to reprints distinguishes it from venues that insist on first publication rights. By permitting work that has appeared in print, online, on blogs, personal websites, or social media, SKUMMEL positions itself as a curator of worthy fiction rather than a gatekeeper of exclusivity. This stance suggests an editorial vision that values the writing over the provenance of its initial appearance. Contributors are asked only to disclose where and when a piece first appeared and to confirm that they hold the rights to republish it. The absence of anonymous submission requirements further indicates a transparent, author-forward approach. In terms of craft, the guidelines are deliberately minimal: no strict formatting rules beyond readability, with colored text and backgrounds discouraged. The magazine accepts .doc, .docx, and .pdf files and asks for one piece per submission, though multiple submissions are welcome. The explicit prohibition on AI-generated or AI-assisted work signals a commitment to human authorship as a baseline condition. For the flash fiction writer, SKUMMEL represents a venue where concision is not merely a constraint but the governing aesthetic.