Submissions are open for Manawaker Studio’s Flash Fiction Podcast. We are currently reading for Season 11, which will run from Feb to Dec 2026, and include approximately 48 stories.
The Flash Fiction Podcast is just what it sounds like. Most weeks, a new short-short story is put out in podcast form by Manawaker Studio, produced and hosted by CB Droege. Want to listen first? Do so in any podcast app or over on the Manawaker Patreon which supports the show.
Length: The ideal length is around 800 – 1100 words, but stories as short as 500 or as long as 1500 may be considered.
Content: Flash Fiction Podcast focuses on stories which are clever and thoughtful. When reading submissions we’re searching for stories which use the small word-count wisely to tell big stories in small spaces. We love settings that hint at greater world-building without leaving us feeling lost; We like to see characters which feel whole and have real agency despite the small glimpse we get into their lives; and we appreciate stories that have a recognizable plot with a classic arc. A story doesn’t have to tick all of these boxes to make it into MSFFP, but if it doesn’t hit any of them, it’s not a good story for us. All genres will be considered, but the editor’s proclivities lean toward the speculative, the fantastic, the futuristic, and the weird.
Structure: The stories are to be read aloud. Stories that can’t be understood if you can’t see the formatting wont work. If your story contains made-up words (or words which might be particularly foreign to an English-speaking, Ohio born narrator) include a pronunciation guide. We may add a content warning if the story contains certain sensitive topics, giving us one is also nice, but not required. Gratuitous vulgar words may be beeped, garbled, or replaced if appropriate.
Our ‘always pass’ list (these things will probably get your story rejected even if it’s otherwise amazing):
Format: The preference is for rtf files and standard manuscript format, but doc, docx, pdf, and txt are all fine too. Or, if it’s short enough, you can just paste it into the sub manager. If we can read it, we will read it. you won’t be rejected just because your format isn’t perfect.
Multiple Subs: Up to three works at a time. Please make separate entries in the sub manager, not all in one document.
Reprints: Welcome. Let us know where it was published previously, so we can credit them in the podcast. It’s the submitter’s responsibility to ensure they have the rights to their work before submitting. Previously published also includes print and online publication. Yes, we only publish in audio, but we still need to know if it’s been published previously in a different form.
Simultaneous submissions: Okay. Withdraw the submission in the submission manager right away if the non-exclusive audio rights to your work are no longer available at any point.
Rights requested: As with all Manawaker projects, we will request only non-exclusive publishing rights after acceptance. At no point will Manawaker studio require any sort of exclusive rights to any story (we ask nicely for exclusivity until a year after the episode for previously unpublished works, but it’s not in the contract because we don’t want any contributors to be forced to turn down a good sale of a reprint work) and the original creator will retain all copyrights.
Translations: Please include a copy of the contract showing that you have the rights to translate and distribute the other author’s work.
Compensation: For the use of a previously unpublished work: a token payment of 10$US. Reprints: 3$US. Contributors may choose to have their payment sent to Manawaker’s favorite charity Child’s Play, which focuses on supplying video games and toys to kids in hospitals.
Contract: If your work is accepted, you’ll be asked to agree to this contract. Feel free to review it in advance.
Method: Manawaker Studio Submissions Manager. Make sure to select the correct project!
Cover letter: No need for a cover letter or any other additional info.
Response times: A couple weeks to a few months. We try not to let anything sit with us longer than 90 days, but life and other projects can get in the way. You can use the submission manager to check the status of your submission at any time.
Deadline: None. This is an ongoing project.
Any questions about the project or these guidelines should be sent to contact@manawaker.com.