A huge thank you to everyone who entered our third annual writing competition. We were overwhelmed by the incredible response this year, with over 400 submissions to review. It was truly an honor to read your work. We also want to give a special shout-out to Dan Crawley for his fantastic work judging this year’s entries.
Here’s a message from our wonderful guest judge, Dan Crawley:
“This was a difficult list to put together! I was impressed with all the stories on the shortlist, and appreciate the magical touches, the inventiveness of the stories. I really enjoyed reading these amazingly crafted pieces of writing. Thanks again to Jeff for letting me judge and I’m very blessed to be a part of a wonderful community of such talented writers.”
Congratulations to all of the winning entries, along with everyone who made our shortlist and longlist. A total of 40 incredible stories are included in this special issue.
First Prize
What a Solitary Bird Drifting on the Wind Might Have Witnessed When the Boy Disappeared by Kathryn Silver-Hajo
Second Prize
It Starts Like Any Storm by Louella Lester
Third Prize
How Edison Got to Be Edison by Kik Lodge
Honorable Mentions: (In no particular order)
Your Flat Got Broken Into by D E Hardy
Cast Offs by Dawn Tasaka Steffler
Under Velvets by Vallie Watson
If I’d Taken My 88-Year-Old Father’s Keys… by Sudha Balagopal
Past Due by Guy Biederman
Shortlist
- Today Was a Good Day by Suzanne Hicks
- You Awaken to a Giant Eye in Your Neighbor’s Yard by Claudia Monpere
- The Librarian by S A Greene
- Is That Your Hot Dog on My Roof? by Sandra Nelson
- One Afternoon, The Sky Women Are Ready to Quilt the Night by Amy Barnes
- How our Brother Tom Won a Date with Our Neighbor While We Spied Between a Chink in the Curtains by Christine H. Chen
- When Life Gives You a Month-Old Tub of Yogurt, Make Homemade Exposure Therapies by Gretta Trafficante
- When the Aliens Come for Your Baby by Emily Rinkema
- Imposter Syndrome by Jessica Klimesh
- When You Rode With Dillinger by Kathryn Kulpa
- A Shadow of Myself by Kip Knott
- We Play Lazarus by Mileva Anastasiadou
- Organ Surrender Syndrome by Joyce Bingham
Longlist
- Zig Zag by Rebecca Tiger
- Neck the Neck by Frances Gapper
- I Know You by Elena Zhang
- Miss Gibson Thought I Was Changing the Subject by Lisa K. Buchanan
- Your Feet Wait for Your Brain to Catch Up by Laurinda Lind
- Getting Through by Brownen Griffiths
- Richard by Brett Summers
- Dark of the Moon by Patrick Quinif
- Miss Hibiscus Queen by Bethany Bruno
- You Are 30 Times More Likely to Be Struck by Lightning Than to Get Attacked by a Shark by Beth Sherman
- I Invite Bump—Which Sounds Smaller, Friendlier Than Mass or Whatever the Doctor Will Call It on Monday—To Sunday Brunch So It’ll Like Me, Be Kind and Benign, but It Arrives an Hour Late and Without a Hostess Gift, Though I’d Really Appreciate Cheerful Flowers Right Now by Karen Walker
- Eurydice Pissed by Ed Higgins
- Sari Not Sari by Nina Miller
- My Body Wants to Separate from Me by Nicole Brogdon
- A Long Night in Brooklyn by Suzanne Martinez
- A Day to Remember by Diane Gillette
- Care Instructions by Melissa Flores Anderson
- Chipped Bowls by Sara Chansarkar
- First Cake by Zebulon Huset
Art Credit: Maddie Sloyer is an illustrator based in Rochester, NY. In her work, she focuses on pairing abstract elements with commercial assignments, adding a layer of emotion and ambiguity to a clear concept. When not making art, you can find Maddie at a coffee shop or with her guinea pig. Instagram: @maddiesloyer
