Flash Fiction Contest
The April 2026 Flash Fiction Contest, co-sponsored by the Fremont Cultural Arts Council and Half Price Books, was held on April 11, 2026 at Half Price Books, 39152 Fremont Hub, Fremont, CA. The theme was “First Love.” Cash and Half Price Books gift cards were awarded to the 1st – 4th place winners. Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to all who entered!
First Place: “First Love, True Love,” by Richard Lau
Second Place: “The Color of Almost,” by Vibha Vyas
Third Place: “Last Love,” by Stephanie Uchida
Fourth/Fifth Place Tie: “Circle of Love,” by Patricia van Den Heuvel and “Daughter,” by Sarah Jensen
President Emeriti Award: “The First Time I Chose Myself,” by Archana Rao
Our congratulations to all of the winners and also to everyone who entered a story.
The April 2026 Flash Fiction contest is complete, but the information below is provided for reference. Stay tuned for announcements of future Flash Fiction events!
The April 11, 2026 Flash Fiction Contest: “First Love” co-sponsored by the Fremont Cultural Arts Council, Half–Price Books, Fremont Area Writers, NothingBundtCakes, andInfinity Care will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 10 am to 5 pm, once again hosted at Half Price Books, 39152 Fremont Hub, Fremont, CA.
SUBJECT: The April 11, 2026, theme is: “First Love.”
WRITE a story about First Love of 300 words or less, including the title using 12 point type or larger and written on one sheet of 8-1/2 by 11-inch paper. Your name and contact information must be on the back of the submission or on a separate sheet of paper.
DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: Received byMonday, April 6, 2026, at 11:59 pm for email entries, or US Postal Service entries by Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 12 Noon.
ENTRIES: Will be posted with the author’s name concealed at Half-Price Books, 39152 Fremont Hub, Fremont, CA 94538 on Saturday April 11, 2026, between the hours of 10:00 am and 5:00 pm.
VOTING: Will be done by persons entering Half-Price Books, on Saturday, April 11, 2026. , between the hours of 10:00 am and 5:00 pm. All votes are counted equally.
WINNERS: will be announced Saturday, April 11, 2026, at about 5:30 pm. in Half- Price Books and posted on the Fremont Cultural Arts Council website, shortly thereafter. Contestants do not need to be present to win,, but we’d love to congratulate you in person and get your picture!
PRIZES: 1st place $60 cash and a $25 gift card from Half-Price Books; 2nd place $50 cash and a $25 gift card from Half-Price Books; 3rd place $40.00 cash and a $25 gift card from Half-Price Books; 4th place $30 cash and a $25 gift card from Half-Price Books; 5th place $20 cash and a $25 gift card from Half-Price Books. Voting ties will be combined with the next cash prize(s) amount and divided equally between the tied authors. One author will receive the President Emeriti award by FCAC Past Presidents of a NothingBundtCake Trio, but only one prize per author.
This contest is open to any age and residency.
Entries must be 300 words or less, including the title. Stories without a title will be given a generic title (eg First Love #1).
Entries must be in English.
Maximum of three entries per person.
Submit each entry in 12 point (or larger) legible font, which will fit on a single printed 8 ½” x 11” sheet.
To submit by e-mail: Send your story as a Word-compatible or PDF attachment to fcacwriters@gmail.com. Include the author’s name and contact information in the body of the e-mail message.
To submit by postal mail: Mail your story to:
FCAC Flash Fiction Contest
c/o Fremont Cultural Arts Council
P.O. Box 1314
Fremont, CA 94538
NOTE: Entries will NOT be accepted at Half-Price Books.
The FCAC reserves the right to reject entries that do not meet these criteria, or contain plagiarism, or subject matter that would be offensive to the general reader.