The Story of the Week for March 30 to April 3 is…
Note Left on a Car in a Grocery Store Parking Lot by Cynthia Franks
Cynthia found a new and creative way to make use of the 50-word format, and developed a really strong character and plot. Great piece.
The Story of the Week for March 23 to 27 is…
Be Okay by Corey Niles
I’m impressed by the way the “It” of this story is left ambiguous, which allows it to enhance from the emotional significance of the story, and avoids any distraction with trying to understand the object or event. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what “It” is; it matters how “It” is impacting the characters. Brilliantly done, Corey!
The Story of the Week for March 16 to 20 is…
On Fire by MJ Marggraff
I really like the mix of sweetness and edge from the two characters. I end up rooting for them even though I know they’ve done something wrong! Great character development.
The Story of the Week for March 9 to 13 is…
Striking Twice by Gina Lyle.
Whimsical poetry hits a soft place in my heart, and Gina did a great job with this piece that reads like prose but feels like a poem.
The Story of the Month is chosen from the Story of the Week winners announced from the past month. The finalists for February were:
Paradise by Matthew D Wheaton
Closing Time by Steve Lucas
Year’s End by Devon R Widmer
Death and I by Clio Velentza
This set of winners was among the strongest I’ve seen since the Story of the Month award began! It was hard to decide, but the winner of the February 2015 Story of the Month, and the $10 prize, is…
Closing Time
Congratulations, Steve!
The Story of the Week for March 2 to 6 is…
Paradise by Matthew D. Wheaton.
The core concept isn’t especially unique, with a remnant of humanity surviving an apocalypse and emerging from underground many years later, but the twist that is added to it with the return to the start of the cycle in the Garden of Eden is really clever and story-expanding. Great story, Matthew.
The Story of the Week for February 23 to 27 is…
Closing Time by Steve Lucas.
Steve edited this story from its original form, and this new version he sent me was so much richer, more complex, and more full of characters and plot. It’s very rare to see a 50-word story with this many characters, each of whom feels very well developed, despite only getting a few words to their credit. Great job, Steve.
The Story of the Week for February 16 to 20 is…
Year’s End by Devon R Widmer
Devon submitted this story for posting on Lunar New Year’s, and to me it really captured the spirit and feel of the holiday, with a dark, mystical tinge.
The Story of the Week for February 9 to 13 is…
Death and I by Clio Velentza
The story sets up like a classic three-part joke, leading into a pattern-based punchline, but the punchline hits the heart instead of the funnybone. Excellently done, Clio!
The Story of the Month is chosen from the Story of the Week winners announced from the past month. The finalists for January were:
A Honeymoon Walk by Perry McDaid
The Incantation by Frank Solomon
Old Wounds by Perry McDaid
Math Lesson by Cathy Ulrich
A Presaged Day Ago by Bob McNeil
The winner of the January 2015 Story of the Month, and the $10 prize, is…
Math Lesson
Congratulations, Cathy!