The Bluebird Word is looking for crisp poetry, sharp and reflective flash nonfiction (under 1,000 words) or flash fiction (under 1,000 words) that brings to life your story with the right amount of brevity. 

We are reading general submissions that will be considered for monthly issues in mid-2026 and beyond. Please visit our website for detailed submission guidelines (i.e. what we do and do not accept). 

All voices are welcome; however, as a friendly reminder, The Bluebird Word will not tolerate writing which fosters or promotes discrimination, hatred or violence. We also do not accept previously published work (i.e. from other online or print publications, personal blogs, websites or social media). We want to showcase your new work that offers the reader a different perspective on life.

Please review our website to get a sense of what we publish. If your work is not selected, it may simply not be the right fit for our journal at the time. Full submission guidelines are posted on our Submit page. Simultaneous submissions are also okay, but we request you advise us and withdraw your submission immediately if accepted elsewhere. 

Please only submit to one category per submission using .doc or .docx attachments. We also kindly request you wait 30 days to submit new work after hearing back from The Bluebird Word about your submission. Our goal is to respond to you with a decision within four to five weeks. Thank you!

Follow these guidelines:

• Up to three poems per submission

 OR

• One flash nonfiction essay (up to 750 words preferred and maximum 1,000 words)

 OR

• One flash fiction story (up to 750 words preferred and maximum 1,000 words).

                            AND

• Please include a third-person bio (max 50 words) with your submission. 

Thank you again for sending your writing to our journal. We look forward to reading your work.