Annual Flash Fiction Contest

The Machias Arts Council hosts an annual Flash Fiction Contest that invites writers of Downeast Maine to craft bold, imaginative stories in 1000 words or fewer. Each year features a new theme inspired by the character and folklore of our region. The first contest, held in 2022 alongside the Machias Bay Area Chamber of Commerce’s Scarecrows of Machias celebration, launched the tradition. In 2023, writers explored the eerie and atmospheric theme Ghosts of Machias, and each year since has continued to build on that creative momentum.

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The contest’s purpose is to give local writers a platform to share their work with the community and to celebrate the power of short‑form storytelling. All submitted stories are collected into an annual anthology, preserving the voices and imagination of our region.

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As a not‑for‑profit organization, the Machias Arts Council is dedicated to fostering creativity, cultural engagement, and economic vitality through artist advocacy and distinctive community events. Proceeds from the Flash Fiction Contest and its published anthologies support MAC’s programs and help sustain a vibrant arts community along the Bold Coast.