The level of bravery, and craft displayed in these pieces of writing has truly moved us, and we remain deeply grateful to those listed below for the impact they have had on our lives during the months that we have spent reading and editing. It has been a privilege and an honor.
We wish to send our deepest congratulations to those listed. The competition is strong in every round, and to succeed in such a competitive field requires dedication, hard work, and persistence. It is also important to us to thank every entrant who entrusted us with their work in this round, regardless of whether you are listed below: Please know that we are hoping for your future success.
In the Short Fiction category of this round we were particularly drawn to works that appeared to reveal deeply moving truths about the experience of quotidian life: Works that showed us what it’s really like. Don’t the winning entries feel true (while still being funny at times, and displaying virtuosic craft)? Intense emotion was felt around the exploration of core struts of identity.
Our winning poets in this round appeared to be puzzling at nearly unresolvable questions: Questions that take us into the heart of identity, feeling, and meaning (while experimenting in a satisfying way with poetic form). Literary art is particularly suited to asking questions.
The word confessions has arisen again in relation to the Nonfiction category. We enjoyed reading about something personal, something private. A whispered conversation. Something we might not read elsewhere. Something only a trusted confidant would reveal. Something we haven’t read before. Something we won’t read anywhere else.
The Books category is always challenging to judge because most of the entries we read are polished to a high standard (the authors have frequently spent years with the work). In this round, pacing, and storytelling won out. The pacing of the revelation of information over time. Pacing in this way requires a subtle mastery of the art of balancing showing and telling. In these prose entries, we see the world, and are told just enough to enrich our seeing. The authors let the reader be the judge, while guiding our judgment.
Enough from us. Time to get out of the way. To our readers: At the end of the day, it’s all for you. We hope these literary treats bring you as much joy and fulfillment as they have to us. Happy reading!
Short Fiction
Winners
- Chance Freihaut – Hinoki
- Sophie Wainwright – The Red Bird
- Ben Jones – Cold Cut
- Casey Shapack – Holding His Hand
Shortlist
- Lubna Shboul – Flute’s Tenant
- Jeffrey-Michael Kane – Capable
- John La Forgia – Signals
- Chad LeJeune – Grandma’s House
- Brittany Miles – Get Your Own Daddy
- Ross Hargreaves – The Queen
- Roger Mills – The Last Bullfight
- Tabitha Wurster – The Rage
- Henrik Vald – Memory
- Gemma Thomas – Question Mark
- Jane Dibblin – Notions of Love
- Tomias Keno – Fox
- Jeremy Stelzner – The Balladeer’s Apprentice
- Lina Lane – Airport Strawberries
- Natalie Martinaitis – Terminally, Yours
- Kavya Praveen – The Appointment
- Megan Bidmead – The Red Button
Poetry
Winners
- E. Doyle-Gillespie – But, His Clothing is Still There
- Emily Standley – A (not so) Private Sestina
- Michelle Bahrain – Hope
- Alyssa Salzberg – Rondo
Shortlist
- Shreya Rajesh – The Cage
- Angus Boundy – The Words We Mute
- Valerie Rose – Under the Same Sky
- Louise Boddy – F27
- Frank Robinson – The Wisdom of the Mayfly
- Danielle Riddel – Broken
Nonfiction
Winners
- Emma Sorensen – Confessions of a Content Marketer
- Ruth Stella MacLean – Memory Slippers
- Ashley Berry – Hungry Animals
Shortlist
- Jeffrey Davis – The Faded Blue Ribbon
- Sandee Gertz – Some Girls Have Auras of Bright Colors
- Cecily Anders – How to Get Rid of a Snake Using Doctoral Training in Music and Psychology
- Debbie Sipowicz – True Confessions
- Emma Sorensen – Gillian Mears and the Lost Art of Letter Writing
- Jennifer Kelly – Into the Fire
- Helena Guerin – Show Your Work
- Charity Marie – Keeping the Light On
Books
Winners
Shortlist
- Amanda Ann Klein – The Miner’s Ghost
- Jason Horowitz – An Angry Old Man Reviews Books
- Marissa Pain – Blue Slippers
- Roger Craik – Alightings
- Michael VanDyke – Love in Limbo
- Amanda McKee Paradeaux – My Body, My Cage
- Syd Smith – Mustard Boys