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FirstLineFiction is a writing contest for writers, by writers.

FirstLineFiction hosts writing periodic, public contests in which the participants choose the winners. It is the aim of our contests to provide a fun and creative outlet to motivate writers of all levels.

How it works:

• FirstLineFiction provides a unique first line for each contest. Participants must use the line to create an original work of fiction of no greater than 3000 words.
• The entry must be submit online by the specified date for the given contest.
• Following the submission deadline, each participant is randomly assigned six anonymous stories to read and rank. Rankings take the form of a relative list, ordered from most to least favorite story.
• If a participant fails to complete their rankings by the deadline, their story will be disqualified from the contest.
• Ranking feedback is then compiled using an algorithm to determine the contest favorites.
• Cash prizes are awarded to the top selections, based on the particular prizes for that contest. Winners will be contacted by FirstLineFiction to work out payment details.
• All decisions in regards to the winners and the payout amounts are final.

A message from the founder

I started FirstLineFiction in the fall of 2009 as a way to encourage writers, including myself, to write more often.

In my experience, there are few external motivators for the creation of short fiction. Some contests and publications provide a great selection of contemporary short fiction but they do not necessarily promote the production of fiction from their audience. The process of selecting winning stories is usually opaque and requires participants to mail in materials and wait for snail mail responses. Those who submit are often fulfilling a personal goal but with no real expectation of success or feedback.

FirstLineFiction offers a unique alternative; the content motivates writers with a first line, deadline, transparent evaluation and prizes. In FirstLineFiction contests, participants choose the winners. We believe this combination provides the right motivation to writers in taking the difficult first steps of producing topnotch fiction. Our evaluation process through peer review offers a level of transparency that cannot be found elsewhere.

We’re here to serve you, so let us know what you think. We are always open about ideas for improving the site and ways to get the word out.

Thanks for your support. Be sure to stay in touch with us on our blog or Facebook page. In the meantime, keep on writing!

-- Frank

Frequently Asked Questions

What rights do I have to my stories?
It is our goal to promote the creation of short fiction and to contribute to the growth of a writer’s portfolio. An author has full rights to the content they produce on this site. FirstLineFiction may archive content of all submitted work, but will not use an author’s content outside the site or for any commercial purpose without the consent of the author. The content that you create or publish on the site is your own and is protected under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License.

Are there criteria on who can enter?
No, anyone can enter. Specifically:

• There is no age minimum. However, every user is responsible for reading and ranking six stories from other writers. The stories are randomly assigned by the system and we cannot vouch that the content of these stories is appropriate for all ages.
• You do not need to be a US resident. However, if you win a prize, we will need to work together to decide an appropriate method of payment.

Where does the prize money come from?
I currently sponsor the contest. In the meantime I am exploring ways to enable the contest to be self-sustaining. If you have any thoughts, I’d love to hear them.