Gooseberry Pie Lit Magazine publishes fiction with exactly six-sentences and no more than 400 words. Title does not count as one of the six sentences or towards the word count.
Gooseberry Pie Lit Magazine asks for first-time publication rights and the right to display the work for the duration of the magazine. Copyright reverts to author upon publication. If your work is subsequently reprinted elsewhere, please acknowledge Gooseberry Pie Lit Magazine as the site of first publication.
- We publish fiction with exactly six-sentences and no more than 400 words. Title does not count as one of the six sentences or towards the word count.
- Send up to three stories in one document (.doc or .docx). Start each story on a new page.
- Include a maximum 40 word bio written in third person.
- No previously published material. Human generated content only (No AI). Do not resubmit previously declined submissions unless specifically requested.
- Simultaneous submissions are cool. Notify us promptly if accepted elsewhere.
- Please wait sixty days after hearing from us before submitting additional work, unless specifically requested.
- No submissions with hatred or prejudice.
- Currently, we are unable to pay for publication. However, we nominate for awards including Best of the Net, Best Microfiction, and Best Small Fictions.
- Please email gooseberrypie.submissions@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.
Here is our judge Dan Crawley's writing prompt for the competition:
- Start the story with a bad day getting worse and by the last line, everything is better in an unexpected way. FYI: I dig strong imagery, character action, and irony.
Submission Guidelines are slightly different for our annual writing competition than our regular guidelines. Please follow these:
1. Submissions close on April 22, 2026. Our judge Dan Crawley will receive a short list by May 2, 2026 and will read the submissions blind. He will select 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize along with five honorable mentions.
2. Submit one story via Submittable with exactly six-sentences and no more than 400 words. Title does not count as one of the six sentences or towards the word count. Follow Dan's prompt.
3. No previously published material. No AI.
4. Simultaneous submissions are fine. Notify us promptly if accepted elsewhere.
5. Contest is open to everyone, regardless of the date of your last submission or publication with Gooseberry Pie.
6. No submissions with hatred, prejudice or violence.
A Total of $1100.00 in prizes:
First Place: $500.00 (USD) Second Place: $250.00 (USD) Third Place: $100.00 (USD)
Five (5) Honorable Mentions: $50.00 (USD) Each
Prizes will be sent via PayPal or Venmo. Do not provide this information with your entry. We will contact you for that information if needed. You must have one of these accounts (PayPal or Venmo) in order to receive your winnings.
SUBMIT HERE FOR GENERAL SUBMISSIONS.
DO NOT SUBMIT ANNUAL WRITING COMPETITION SUBS HERE.
- We publish fiction with exactly six-sentences and no more than 400 words. Title does not count as one of the six sentences or towards the word count.
- Send up to three stories in one document (.doc or .docx). Start each story on a new page.
- Include a maximum 40 word bio written in third person. Cover letters are optional.
- No previously published material. Human generated content only (No AI). Do not resubmit previously declined submissions unless specifically requested.
- Simultaneous submissions are cool. Notify us promptly if accepted elsewhere.
- Please wait sixty days after hearing from us before submitting additional work, unless specifically requested.
- No submissions with hatred or prejudice.
- Currently, we are unable to pay for publication. However, we nominate for awards including Best of the Net, Best Microfiction, and Best Small Fictions.
- We publish fiction with exactly six-sentences and no more than 400 words