This summer, Short Fiction Break is partnering with The Write Practice to host a writing contest in which everyone gets published.
WINNERS OF THE SEASON WRITING CONTEST
We received hundreds of excellent submissions. After much deliberation, our judges selected the following winning stories:
Grand Prize:
His Final Execution by Ichabod Ebenezer
Runners Up (alphabetized by author):
The Puppet Beast by Rowan Rook
The Last Game by Gina Screen
Honorable Mentions (alphabetized by author):
A Tricky Thing by Kristine Donahue
Scallops for a Crowd by Katie Hanson
The Year Without a Summer by Sarah Ivie
The Diary by Susan Liddle
The Hungry Wolf by Iseult Murphy
SHORTLISTED STORIES
There were so many good stories in this contest, the judges were hard pressed to narrow their selections to just a handful of winners. While the following stories didn’t win a prize, the judges noted them as some of their favorites.
Grave Situation by David Elderton
Dark Caves by Kim Engelmann
Burning Bridges by KG
Words by LeAnn McRae
Pure Hell by B. Narr
Last Dance by Nirissa Reddy
Do Over by David Safford
The Popularity Pyramid by Michelle Shinn
The Summer of 1982 by H. Stepancik
All That Glitters by Hannah Tussing
Do Cats Go To Heaven? by Gayle Woodson
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
As the judges deliberated over the winners of the grand prize, we invited you to vote for your favorite story to win the Readers’ Choice Award.
The winner of the Readers’ Choice Award is In My Bones by Shane Fitzpatrick. Congratulations, Shane!
SPONSORS
The prizes for this contest are provided by the following sponsors:
Becoming Writer: Becoming Writer is the premier workshopping community from The Write Practice. Contest participants receive six weeks’ access to the workshopping community to get feedback on their short stories, novel chapters, and other writing pieces.
SUMMER WRITING CONTEST STORIES
You can find all the stories writers chose to publish in the contest below.
If you have 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.
A life for a life by Jane Acorn
A Parent’s Inner Conflict by Luis A.J.
Lady Death by R. Amieva
Kerosene and Mistakes by Heather Anderson
Guardian by Clennell Anthony
The Wife’s Dilemma by Jacqui Ascaray
Forgiven by Odet Aszkenasy
Change of Fate by Krissy Baccaro
Rekindle by Richard David Bach
The Garden and the Girl by Jacqueline Bahas
Ten Thousand Men by Tahirah Baker
Holding My Breath by Judy M. Baker
Shooter by Cecilia
The Carpet by Lily Jess Hunter
Lady in black by Alexis Barrie
The Wagonload by Kate Birchenough
A Jewel Among Thieves by Didi Portia
The Outlaw Earns Respect by Judy Blackburn
The Story Has Changed by Claude Bornel
Ms. Love and Mr. Greed Converse in a Diner by T.D. Bouchard
Deadbeat by K.C. Bouy
Merry Little Christmas by Abigail Brooks
Breaking News: National News Gone Naked and Afraid by CarpeDiem
The Awakening by Beverly Brown
Pride Month Mugging by Kaelin Brynat
Falling Into Place by Khuslen TW
Salvation by Jonathan Byrd
A Long Time Comin” by Alixa Penn
Finally Breathe by Rita Campbell
DIVINE INTERVENTION by Debra Campoli
Outdoor Adventure by Blessmore Chikwakwa
I just want my life back by Kaartika Chitturi
Maria Meets Her Stepmom by Kolina Cicero
Alistair’s Flight by Gg Cikowski
Red Rachel by J.J.R.Conder
Color of the Valley by Gian COok
Fearful Indeed by DJ Cooper
CALEB’S SECRET by Roseann Cotton
Amazing Grace by J.H. O’Rourke
Drake State of Consciousness by Nia Ellis
Harbinger of the Sea by DJ Curtis
Curiosity by Bilquis Dairkee
Deception of Fear by Z.L. Dali
Whiskey Dreams by M MacKinnon
All up in Smoke by L.W. DAVIE
A Rebirth by Tom Davis
Take That by Jessica Deen
The Cost of Greed by Taylor Deziel
Note to Self by H.M. Dillard
-Willard- by Desmond Dixon
Fishing for Redemption by Bronagh C. Donnelly
The Front Seat by Courtney DuChene
Scapegoat of Ages by Patrick Dudgeon
“Hero” by Mara Eason
The Curse of Lucifer by Shannon Eichelberger
Grave Situation by David Elderton
Peacekeeper by Jodi Elderton
Barefoot by Jewel Eliese
Unforeseen Redemption by Cassandra Ellis
Dark Caves by Kim Engelmann
Prison Coach? by Kim Evans
The Man and The Box by Debi Fairchild
The River by Chris Farrar
Something in Latin by Andrew Ferguson
The Ghost Of You by Natasha Fernandes
ONE LAST THING by Susan Walker Finlay
undeserving by Ivory Nocturne
In My Bones. by Shane Fitzpatrick.
Putting Life in Perspective by James Flanigan
Burning Bridges by KG
The Death of Lieutenant Andrew Lewis by Eve Garnier
Absolution by Leandri Geldenhuys
An Uncomfortable Truth by Fiona Gold Kroll
A New Battle Cry by Lisette Golightly
Faded by Parker G
We need to talk by Clarissa Gosling
Make or Break Me by Gage Graf
The Undesirables by Mark Gregg
RUNNING LATE by BOB GREGORY
The Last Moment of Childhood by Jason Gretencord
Another Witch Hunt by Melissa Bisbano Guckin
Her Name is Natalie Rose by Elizabeth Halleron
Removed by Eric Harline
The Fire-Curse by A.R. Harlow
Redemption Can Be Dangerous by Sandra Henry
Kill Me by Kirara Moon
The Runaway by Michael Hotchkiss
Jump! by Jacqueline Houchin
A Bit Skewed by Sharri Hough
Addicted by Tom Housden
Eyes of My Past by Nina Hundley
Repaid but not redeemed by Lorraine Hurley
Reality Check-A Story of Redemption by Melissa Iteld-Jurin
Hot Diggity Dog by Christine Jackson
April 1, 1980, Redemption by Gloria Jainchill
Kenopsia by Sonia Yeandle
Catharsis Of A Phantasm by Aaron Jenkins
The Death and Rebirth of Jack Ridley by Nick Jensen
The Devil’s Bargain by Crystal Johnson
The Hunt by R. Mark Jones
Still The Stars Find Their Way by Larissa Jones
The Center of Redemption by Diane Kane
Out of Time by Bren Kyveli
The Lifted Weight by Jennifer Kelly
To Retrieve a Dwindling Thread by Tiger Kess
The Jar by Ergene Kim
Blasting Day by Danielle Kiowski
The love of my life by Chandan kumar
A Positive Outcome? by Michelle Kumnick
The Ascent by Alex Klark
The Favorite Song by Cherry LaFarr
REDEMPTION by Charles Vincent
Making Amends by Cathy Leach
Black Mountain by Patricia Garcia
Cayla by Katie Lesesne
The Sundered Conscience by Vienselin Lim
Hey Mister, can you tell me what time is it? by Hendrick W Lira
The Penitent by Daniela Llanos
Misfit Toys by Rae Lloyd-Lever
Sergio’s Good Fortune by Chet Lowney
Changing of Hearts by R. Major
Sisters by William Marcus
The Week that Mattered by Maria Marica
A Crown’s Price by Monica Martinez
The Locket by Jessie McClymont
Simply Redeemed by Sharon R. McCoy
TRUTH OVER ALL by Marsha McCroden
Forfeiture by Darrell Eugene McGuire
The Prodigal’s Return by Lindsi McIntyre
Skin in the Game by Marcy McNally
Words by LeAnn McRae
The return from the dead by Marie Miller
Of Knights and Beasts by Michael J. Miller
A Pyrrhic Victory by Andy Moir
The Choice by Maria Carmelina Montesano
The Boy on the Bed by Brian Montgomery
Room 6 by Alicia Montgomery
BEYOND EVIL by Sue Moreines
Moving Forward by A.J. Mortimer
15 Oak Road by Thuwaybah Moses
Dark-Horsed by Mike Mower
The Face of a Stranger by Monisha Mukherjee
Time Machine by Chris Murphy
Pure Hell by B. Narr
Hungry Dog by Sarah Nelson
Reflection by Rebecca Nemorin
Recovering Hope by Elizabeth Nettleton
Boys Don’t Float by LJ Newlin
A Glass of Fine Brandy by Rosemary Nichols
Josie by Jamie Hansen Niebergall
Jumping on a Train of Thoughts by J. Olivette
One Last Time by Marien Oommen
Contact List by Liz J. Pack
The Song of Family by Robbie Parker
The Gladiatrix by Alexis Pavlovich
The Guardian by Iva Pehar
Zoe the Lost Unicorn by P.E. Writes
Old Habit by Ashlee Phillips
Theft Stopped In Its Tracks by Lacy Pierce
The Smoldering Sacrifice by KS PIERCE
Man with no name by Lesley Pike
The Fine Line Between Love and Hate by Nicole Pilling
The Lovers by Jennifer Pool
Unknown Love of a Mother by Cherry Gray
How It Works by Editor 57
The Lake by Maja Pobiezynska
Against the Current by Erik Porter
Last Laugh by Evian
New purpose by Shanelle V Prins
Life’s Priorities by Mary Pryor
Little Decisions by Evelyn Puerto
The Greatest Gift by Shannon Quigley
Midnight in The Garden of Naughty and Nice by David Rae
TextDrive by Raghav
Exhumed, Yet Again by Beth Ramsey
Beneath the Stomping Feet by Samran Ramzan
Last Dance by Nirissa Reddy
The Torrix Conundrum by Trey Reed
The Popularity Pyramid by Michelle Shinn
Tennessee, 1933 by D.T. Reiss
Warmth by Marissa Rentschler
The Notorious Ash Girl by Terence Reynolds
Tania by Rahille Manus
Recovery by Scott Richburg
What Dads Do by TD Roberts
The Meeting by Trish Saemann
Do Over by David Safford
I Won’t Give up on Me by Jennifer Seigworth
The Olympics 400 Metre Sprint by Philip Shepherd
RJ Our Man Of The Cloth by Chad Smith
Unrequited by Breeia Smith
His Redemption. by Annah
Lineage by Doug Spak
The Room Before Today by Josh Sparrow
Snow on Melane Road by Sara Staffaroni
My Name is Joy by Ariane Smith Stallard
Will’s Journey by BJ Stewart
The Summer of 1982 by H. Stepancik
Misty Souls by Kyleigh
Normal by DL Strand
No Shame for Revolutionaries by Ben Sutherland
Redemption by Hallie Sunbeam
Lost and Found by Amanda Swanson
Where Are You Lady Luck? by Emily swiers
One More Chance by manpreet_tamber
Cold Turkey at Thamkrabok by Greg Tan
Resolution by K.T.Torian
Décalcomanie by Teo
A Traitor’s Crescent by Steven Thiele
Alive by Maia Thomlinson
Double Save by J C Trees
Pyres in the Park by Celia Tsang
All That Glitters by Hannah Tussing
Isolation by Nancy VanPatten
Fate by Gloria Wright
The Busy Mama by S. Y. Walker
Running from Vic by Diana Washburn
Homeless but not Forgotten by Tina Weaver
The City That Sleeps by Daniel Weaver
The Cargiver by E.C. Wegner
Big Sky by Ryan D. Welsh
All Good Things Come to a Bend by Corey Anthony Williams
Legal Tender by JL Wilson
Divorced and Broke by Les Wilson
Courage of Your Convictions by Johanne Winwood
Unconscious Mind by A.C. Wolfe
Trial by Fire by Sharon Wong
Do Cats Go To Heaven? by Gayle Woodson
Unexpected by Julie Wootten
What Remains by Lina Wrangert
Rockbottom by Calvin Traverse
The Last Kiss by Miguel A. Zamora
David’s Text History by Christopher Zhang
Congratulations to all who entered!