Throughout 2015, we got to read a ton of great stories, but only a few could rise to the top. Here are the 12 Story of the Month winners, which make up our finalists for the 2015 Story of the Year.
JANUARY: Math Lesson by Cathy Ulrich
FEBRUARY: Closing Time by Steve Lucas
MARCH: Striking Twice by Gina Lyle
APRIL: Note Left on a Car in a Grocery Store Parking Lot by Cynthia Franks
MAY: The Writer’s Son by Guy Preston
JUNE: Head Case by Mark Farley
JULY: Mr. Moon by Dan Niederloh
AUGUST: You Are Standing in My Moonlight by Jeff Holland
SEPTEMBER: One Job From Retirement by Guy Preston
OCTOBER: A Fleeting Childhood by Jason Huynh
NOVEMBER: Blind Date by Matthew Gregory
DECEMBER: Fairy Lights by Ellie Burkinshaw
The winner, as chosen by editor Tim Sevenhuysen will be announced next weekend!
The prize for the Story of the Year winner will be:
- $50 (Canadian)
- Enshrinement in the 50WS Hall of Fame
Let everyone know in the comments who you would give the award to!
Throwback: In 2015, Bob Thurber won the Story of the Year award with his piece The Mapmaker’s Calligraphist Daughter.
Such a big fan of Mark Farley – his stories are always provocative and brilliantly written. Well done to all the finalists!
Very honoured to be in this list. Thank you, Tim!
I love all these stories! It’s so hard to choose, but my vote goes to Guy Preston. Both his stories here are wonderful pieces of work. I especially love “The Writer’s Son” – that final image of the child poised, ready to write, is so touching, especially for anyone who’s spent time staring at a blank page waiting for inspiration.
I would like to see “A Fleeting Childhood” win your prize, Tim because it’s sad and pulls at me more than the others.
Love the personification in “Striking Twice.” And the simple, yet complex emotions of the “Note Left on a Car in a Grocery Store Parking Lot.” And the imagery of “Fairy Lights.”
Guy should win in my opinion. Not only are there two stories of his to choose from but ‘one job away from retirement’ is a stunning 50 worder. Wish I’d written it myself.
Guy Preston for “One Job From Retirement”. Brilliantly written and, like many of his stories, there is a nice twist at the end which makes you think and suddenly you realise the impact of what youve read.
All 12 stories were great but my favourite is A Fleeting Childhood by Jason Huynh. Clever idea. I like the joy and the sadness in it and the story holds much truth.
Having read all these, the one I found the most stunning and beautiful and memorable is Cynthia Franks’ “Note Left on a Car in a Grocery Store Parking Lot”. An entire day and a world of complex emotions in 50 words, and so touching.
My second fave is Guy Preston’s “One Job From Retirement” – makes you think, indeed.
what wonderful work to choose from! While Guy Preston and Mark Farley are two of my favorite 50wordstory contributors, based on the stories above my vote goes to Jason Huynh
Loved Fairy Lights by Ellie – all the little fairies trapped in jars, made me feel very sad….
Guy’s “One job from retirement” for me covers the entire futility of the human condition in a perfect 50 words