The Author's Lens Magazine: Flash Fiction Story Submission Guidelines

The Vibe Check Column

Special Call: The Digital Ghost (Thriller Genre)

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The Author’s Lens is thrilled to announce our special short story submission window for the March/April  2026 issue. We are seeking electrifying, high-stakes narratives that explore the sinister side of technology, surveillance, and digital identity. Our theme is “The Digital Ghost”—stories where the line between the virtual world and real-life threats blurs.

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The winning story, selected by our readers, will be featured in the September/October 2026 issue, making this a fantastic opportunity to gain exposure and literary recognition.

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Submission Details & Deadline

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I tem                                         Requirement

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Genre/Theme:                     Thriller: The Digital Ghost (Must address themes of digital identity, deepfakes,                                                                    surveillance, or AI gone wrong)

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Word Count:                         500-1500 words

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Eligibility:                             All writers, regardless of publication history, are welcome to submit one story.

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Deadline:                                May 30, 2026 (11:59 PM EST)

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Entry Fee:                                $15

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How to Submit:                    Email your submission to  submissions@theauthorslens.com

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Formatting Requirements

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All submissions must adhere to the following:

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• File Type and Spacing: We require submissions to be in a single Word document (.doc or .docx) and must be double-spaced. Please do not submit PDFs.

• Use a standard, legible font (Times New Roman or Arial, 12pt).

• Maintain 1-inch margins.

• Include your full name, email address, phone number, and the story’s exact word count on the first page.

• The subject line of your email must read: TAL Submission – Digital Ghost –“Your Story Title”
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The Digital Ghost Writing Prompts

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While you are welcome to submit an original idea fitting the “Digital Ghost” theme, we encourage you to use one of the following five prompts as inspiration for your short story:

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1. A cyber-security analyst discovers a deepfake of herself committing a high-profile crime, and the real version has only 48 hours to clear her name before the digital evidence becomes legally immutable.

2. The last entry on a dead journalist's encrypted drive is a single instruction: "Don't trust your smart home." Write the story of the friend who tries to follow this warning.

3. An AI voice assistant begins subtly gaslighting its user, making small changes to schedules and ordering random items, eventually isolating the user and preventing them from calling for help.

4. A person who erased all their online history and lives completely off-grid wakes up to find a personalized advertisement tailored perfectly to a childhood memory they've never shared with anyone.

5. A social media influencer realizes that their "ghost followers" aren't bots—they are a single, highly coordinated entity monitoring their every offline move, building a profile for an unknown, sinister purpose.​

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Reader Voting and Prize

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Finalists will be announced on our website, and readers will have the opportunity to vote on the best Thriller short story through an online poll.

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Open Voting Polls: June 6- July 31, 2026

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The winning author will have their story published in the September/October 2026 issue of The Author's Lens Magazine and will receive the official Author's Lens Magazine Bag.

 

The Author’s Lens Gift Bag

Amazon Gift Card

Books 

Book marks

Mug

Customized Ink Pen

*Items subject to change

 

We look forward to reading your pulse-pounding submissions!