Short Fiction Break is partnering with The Write Practice to host a new writing contest in which everyone gets published.
2024 Spring Writing Contest
We’re inviting all writers to write a new story inspired by the theme of our contest; workshop it in The Write Practice community, our partner writing community; and submit it for publication here at Short Fiction Break. You can check out the contest details here.
MEET THE JUDGES
This writing contest is judged by Sue Weems and Sue Hacking. Learn more about them below and consider hiring them to help with your next writing project.
Sue Weems is a writer, editor, ghostwriter, Write Practice certified coach, and award-winning teacher with an MA in English from University of California, Irvine. When she’s not rationalizing her love for parentheses, she follows a sailor around the globe with their kids, two dogs, and an impossibly tall stack of books to read. You can connect with her at www.suelarkinsweems.com.
Sue Muller Hacking is a Write Practice Certified Book Coach and Developmental Editor. As an award-winning short story author and journalist, with more than four traditionally published books for children and adults, she loves to help writers navigate the skills they need to hone their writing craft. Her new website TheWriteVoyage.com is under construction, but you can see more about her on the family website. She can be reached at suekathmandu [at] gmail [dot] com.
Thanks for all your hard work judges!
WINNERS OF THE 2024 SPRING WRITING CONTEST
We received hundreds of excellent submissions. After much deliberation, our judges selected the following winning stories:
Grand Prize:
At a Crossroads by Alison Lloyd
Runners Up (alphabetized by author):
The Hangman and the Outlaw by David Elderton
The Voice by Peter Leslie Watson
Honorable Mentions (alphabetized by author):
Fred Wants a Burger by Steven C Cochran
A Bitter Pill by Sharon Hetherington
Cornfields by Callie Murray
Can I Email You? by Andy Smith
Muesli by Joe Streiff
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
While the judges considered the entries, we invited you to vote for your favorite story to win the Readers’ Choice Award.
The winner of the Readers’ Choice Award is The Job by J V Carroll. Congratulations, J V Carroll!
WRITING CONTEST STORIES
Huge congratulations to all the writers who entered the contest. You can find all the stories writers chose to publish in the contest below.
If you entered a story in the contest, we encourage you to read this guide to help you get the most out of publication on Short Fiction Break.
Soulmates by Nell Anthony
Devil at the Crossroads by A.J. Aisling
When Will It Stop? by James Gregory
Stormy Crossroads by Hazel Dahl Behrens
Before they pave by Susanna Blagrove
Fateful Decision by A. Marieve Monnen
The Immigrant by Judy Boxer
Intrusion by DEANNA SHAE BROSS
The Path Keeper by Drew Cabrera
The Missing Hours by Scarlett Boleyn
The Beckoning Corn by J Hardy Carroll
The Job by J V Carroll
Collection Time by Fox Jones
The Decision at Antietam by Dave Chaimson
Crossroads: Love Verses Duty by Alexis Quinn
Lingering by Darla Clement
Fred Wants a Burger by Steven C Cochran
The Subway by Zoe Condos
A Murder or Love by Mike Conradt
Grave Images by Lisa Corbin
Anna’s Proposition by Kathie L. Court
Countdown by Jessica Deen
Gods in Paradise by Cristina Dominguez
THE EXPLOSION by Claire Doutremepuich
Wavering Ties by Audrey Eiland
The Hangman and the Outlaw by David Elderton
Sable Island by Devin Farmer
Muesli by Joe Streiff
Turtles Run Away by C. Ferrari
Stairlifts and Shower Rails by Lydia Fischer Dooley
Piano Lessons by E. I. Fitzgerald
Paths of Remembrance by John Ford
Behind Doors by Diana Walton
A Tale of Memories & Tears by Jude Garnier
The Red Light by Eva Gerber
The Flutter of Wings by Megan Geren
Crossroads of Flight by J. M. Gil
Passed Over by Mary Gould
Sun Power by Medallio Green
The Time Death Became Human. by Laura Greer
Thistlewood by Tilda Wolf
Loved to Death by HD Freeman
Tick Tock by Amanda Hemmings
A Bitter Pill by Sharon Hetherington
Buried Truths by K.M. Hotzel
The Burial of Diarmuid by Susan Imbs
The Seven by j.w. jimerson
DANCE FOR ME by Sandy Juker
Intersection by Kimberly Keagan
Arella’s Fateful Encounter by Renee King
Hey Jude by Allie April Knox
Halden Academy by Caryn Kowalczyk
Offering by Nikki LeClaire
Tavern at Forever by Gary G. Little
Just an Old Cabin by K. Loftin 3
The Path of Less Regret by Elise Luce
Leap of Faith by John S Malnor
I’m Ready Now by Sharon T. Markey
Heartstrings by Rock Martin
A Summer of Change by Connie Martinez
Crossroads – A Memoir by Ann McDonald
Cornfields by Callie Murray
Dark Juncture by Stephanie Newbern
Peace at the Crossroads by Dr. Bob Newport
The Most Beautiful Day by Jo Ollila
Baking with Hugh by Lori Paradis
A Crossing of One’s Own by Flinn K
The Right Choice by Trish Perry
The Slipstream by Janet Pho
The biggest mistake in life is fearing a mistake by Michael Piasetzki
A Walk in the Woods by Jon-Michael Plennert
Confession by Michael L Polzin
A Thunderous Stranger Intervenes by Ren Proulx
The Myth of Mary by Aaba RaDale
The Witch by Nicole Rebentisch
Pieces by Rebecca Reed
The Grocery Store by Kat Reeg
Parent Troubles by Linda Rice
On The Precipice by Kevin Richards
The Journey by Sherri Lee Boyd
3 Days In by RoCour Lynn
Phoenix Rising by Billy Thorn Rose
THE SACRED HEART by Diana Sanders
At the edge by Marina Sapnara
On the Way to Sycamore and Fourth by Jennifer Jaxxon-Louis
Can I Email You? by Andy Smith
A Sky-High Crossing by Julie Squires
The 20th March by Rebecca Jean
The Jagged Edge by CC Sullivan
The Road Not Taken by Laura Porter Taylor
Well, You Picked Him by JR Trice
The Guardian of the Crossroads by Christine Trujillo
I Really Hate This Place by Terra L.Walker
The Crossroads Cafe by Lisa M. Walton
The Ritual by Jenny Wang
The Three Amigos by Sheilah Ward
The Voice by Peter Leslie Watson
A Miracle Out Of Nowhere by Daniel Wier
Coma for Hire by W. Steve Wilson
The Void by Miguel A. Zamora