This contest is quickly becoming one of our favorites! There’s just something immediate about a short story that creates its world through cinematic craft moves and detail-rich writing! Judge Rachel Harrison chose three winners, and we decided to publish two others that we couldn’t let go! And congratulations to everyone on the shortlist. We read so many great stories throughout this contest!
A note to everyone on the shortlist: “I’ve been on the other side of many, many of these contests, and know now that this isn’t just a platitude—it truly is so incredibly subjective. Every entry I read was strong and well-crafted, and I’m both totally blown away by your talent and also a little annoyed that you gave me such an impossible job. The nerve of you all to be this wonderful! In all sincerity, thank you for giving me the opportunity to read your work, please know I did it with time and care, and am championing all of your inevitable future success.” ~ Rachel Harrison
The Winners:
1st Place: In Bloom by Kendra Recht “An inventive, captivating, profound story about trauma. Infused with imagination and written with gorgeous prose, this story is exquisitely crafted and visually stunning—the imagery here will linger in the reader’s minds—and rich characterizations ground the speculative elements. What makes In Bloom special is how it layers in powerful themes of PTSD and grief into a succinct, surreal narrative that makes the reader feel deeply in the span of a few pages. It understands that cinematic doesn’t just mean popcorn and action, it’s an immersive experience that makes us feel.” ~ Rachel Harrison
2nd Place: Good Real History by Alyssa Lomuscio “A brilliant concept brilliantly executed. Masterful world building, pacing, and dialogue—this story packs a heart-pounding punch. The stakes are set quickly, there’s an impressive economy of language, and readers can easily visualize what’s happening. This story does what great fiction is meant to—it transports the reader. It is cinematic in every sense of the word.” ~ Rachel Harrison
3rd Place: Sitting on Crenshaw by Alison Jean Lester “A smartly framed deep character study that sets up a mystery in the opening paragraph, immediately investing readers. This story has exceptional dialogue and a vivid setting, but what makes it stand out is how it creates fully developed, memorable characters in only a few pages. Cinema is a visual medium, but the most memorable cinematic experiences deliver strong characters.” ~ Rachel Harrison
Also publishing: How to Curse in Thirty-Seven Languages by Siara Biuk and The Helium Baron’s Son by Erin Kate Ryan
The Shortlist:
- How to Curse in Thirty-Seven Languages by Siara Biuk
- The 3D Printed Man by Daniel Herrera
- Augustodunum, 356AD by Steven Huff
- Pollard by Paul Juhasz
- The Gambler by Dianne Lee
- Sitting on Crenshaw by Alison Jean Lester
- Good Real History by Alyssa Lomuscio
- Recipes from Beyond the Grave by Tanya MacIntosh
- The Finder by Deryn Pittar
- In Bloom by Kendra Recht
- The Reunion by Mike Robinson
- The Helium Baron’s Son by Erin Kate Ryan
- Nevermore by Garth Upshaw
- The Floating City by Karen M. Vaughn
- Dwellers in the Deep by Brigitte Winter