My Christmas Project: Call for Submissions – Florida Flash: A Christmas Anthology (Deadline December 18)

Welcome to the first Florida Flash: A Christmas Anthology! You are here because I invited you to be to inspired by sand, balmy air, and salt water to write a very short story or experimental piece that conveys Florida as we know it, and, in particular, Florida at Christmas time. There is no requirement, however, that you be from Florida or that you have even put your toes into her shark-infested waters. As always, the only thing that is required is your imaginative “A” game, your story telling prowess, your ability to tell a story succinctly.

Some research will enrich and enliven every piece, even those written by the natives. Please make everyone believe your piece could not have taken place anywhere else. This is why some research may help. Refer to the Facebook page, sited below, for more cues. You will be sure to receive extra virtual chocolates and nogs for your diligence.

So, here is the story of the invention of the beach tree pictured here. It was told me by the photographer who was vacationing on a Florida shore: “[The 'tree'] was one of those pieces that fall off a palm after it ‘flowers;’ this is all that’s left. I watched the women pick it up, break off the end, bury it in the sand like this, and then find and place the shells on it.”

Perhaps you would like to write about this tree and about characters who may have created it. Perhaps you would like to write about something else that is holiday-related.

The challenge is as follows: Write a 500-1000 word story that takes place on a Florida beach. Your story must be about Christmas or another religious holiday tradition and it must be so full of hard core seasonal relevance that it practically leaps onto the pages of the blog on its own and doesn’t require the editor to write some angsty rejection note. The editor wants to be intrigued. The editor wants to drink champagne while reading your complete, perfect, wildly entertaining, thought-provoking holiday stories and toasting her tootsies before the proverbial fire.

The tone can be light or dark or a nice mixture. The holidays contain everything in the imaginings of the deft writer. It is a season of intensity, and the best time, in this editor’s opinion, to produce a seasonal anthology. Keep in mind that young adult readers will be a part of the audience so a curb on gratuitous sex or violence will put you on Santa’s good list.

Submissions can also be “realistic” or “fantastical.” After all, this is the season we tell kids to believe in quite a few things. But, for example, let’s take the shark. The reality of the shark and the mythology shaped by culture and lore reminds us that, even though, as adults, we no longer believe the things we once did when we were children, we still believe things which shape our beliefs and inform our behavior. This definitely holds true for people who live in Florida and for those who visit, who consider swimming in her oceans. I love this quote by Borges: “Reality is not always probable, or likely.”

Now that the guidelines have exceeded the word count for the submissions, the editor will shoo you away to the workshop. Just so you know, pieces will be published on a rolling basis so the sooner you can spin your well-crafted tale, the sooner your work will be considered for publication. Reprints will be considered. In this case, please explain where your piece has appeared before.

Submit to Florida Flash: A Christmas Anthology

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