Rumpus Original Fiction

The Rumpus Original Fiction series features original short fiction of a wide variety.

Please submit a short story of up to 5,000 words as a Microsoft Word file, accompanied by a brief cover letter and third-person bio. If you are sending flash fiction (1000 words or fewer), you’re welcome to submit up to three pieces for consideration as one submission.

Please only send one submission at a time, and if you have a submission pending, please wait to submit again until you've received our decision on the pending submission. Work must be previously unpublished; this includes personal blogs/websites and social media.

At The Rumpus, we are interested in stories that have layers, with elements of surprise and unexpected stakes and points of tension running beneath. Rumpus stories have an edge and feature unique, indelible voices. They tackle emotional depth while not being at all sentimental. We love it when a story's language, plot, and characters feel palpable and dynamic on the page, and a strong sense of place goes a long way. Show us something new, bold, brash, alive.

We encourage simultaneous submissions but if your submission is accepted elsewhere, please withdraw it through Submittable, promptly. Also, congratulations on the acceptance!

We look forward to reading your work!