This summer, Short Fiction Break is partnering with The Write Practice to host a writing contest in which everyone gets published.
10th ANNIVERSARY WRITING CONTEST
This summer, we invited all writers to write a new story inspired by the theme of our contest; workshop it in The Write Practice Pro, our partner writing community; and submit it for publication here at Short Fiction Break.
The theme of this contest is Anniversary. The Write Practice turns ten years old this month, and we’re celebrating with a contest!
WINNERS OF THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY WRITING CONTEST
We received hundreds of excellent submissions. After much deliberation, our judges selected the following winning stories:
Grand Prize:
Time Capsule by Nona Nicklin
Runners Up (alphabetized by author):
The Anniversary by Helen Izek
Eating the Sun by S.E. Laughter
Honorable Mentions (alphabetized by author):
Some Sentences About My Sentence by B. M. Erlendsson
She’s Back by A. K. Lambert
Still, I Think of Him Every Day by G. Sanders
Finding Rachel by CC Sullivan
The Anniversary Train by Lisa Walton
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.
The Phone Call by Samran Akhtar
Sharp Feelings by Alanna Allen
The Lonely Cabin by William Babb
A Sense of Peace by Chris Booth
Albert by Tom Chambless
The Cottonwood Grove by Susan Earle
HEART QUEST by David Elderton
Dying with Grace by Sharon Hetherington
Till Death us do Part by E.D. Human
THE FINAL LEAP by Sandy Juker
Reunion by Rock Martin
The lake of swans by Robin Michaels
The Chartreuse Scarf by Marieve Monnen
Day into Night by Nancy Pezdek
How to Celebrate Alien Day by Camille Simonds
Theia’s Instrument by Charity Styles
Alien Abduction Club by W. Steve Wilosn
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
As the judges sifted through 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 Final Anniversary” by Aditya Mohan Kaushik. Congratulations, Aditya!
SPONSORS
The prizes for this contest are provided by the following sponsor:
The Write Practice Pro: The Write Practice Pro 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.
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.
Roses by Jan Achterhoff
The Imaginary Anniversary by Andrea Peralta
PTSD Controlled by Mathlaa
Sharp Feelings by Alanna Allen
The Killing Anniversary by Kasey Anderson
An Anniversary Away by Laura Aukstolis
The Lonely Cabin by William Babb
The Ideal Voter by Alexander Bainbridge
The Celebration by Tamar Bainbridge
What Was Lost by Dalphany Brown Barber
Happily Ever After? by Linda Barrows
First Love by Kenneth Bickley
The Chartreuse Scarf by Marieve Monnen
A Heartfelt Anniversary by Aletta Bee
A Sense of Peace by Chris Booth
Us Together by Katie Borley
Grave Error by Bonnie Bowden
Of Wolves and Moons by J.L. Brandt
Where We Began by Christy Brown
Trimalchio & Fortunato by Stephen Brown
The Five-Year Anniversary by Patricia Bumpass
Transformed by Charm Harris
Happy Anniversary America by Cheryl G Burke
Of Paper and Tin by Robert Burns
The Accidental Hero by Maria Caesar
Five Years by Kat Caldwell
The After Story by Scarlett Boleyn
Bubbles & Bracelets: An Anniversary Adventure by Stan Casella
Before by Brandon Caudle
Albert by Tom Chambless
A memorable cruise trip by Ashna Chand
The Blooming Box by L’Michelle Clarke
An Unexpected Memory by Cheryl D. Coffman
Anniversary by Tracy Olabisi Coker
Natalie’s New Year by Tonya Colson
A Change of Heart by Mike Conradt
Returning: An Unusual Anniversary Gift by Lujira Cooper
DÉJÀ VU by C.Y.Corbett
A Split Second by Page Craw
One Year Since Earth by Emilia Cuevas
Mother Knows Best by Michelle Daly
The Invitation. by Dianne Wendy Day
Act Two by Jessica Deen
Till Death us do Part by E.D. Human
An Anniversary Surprise by Catharina Hof
Healing by Teresa Edmond-Sargeant
Hearts and Flowers by Jodi Elderton
HEART QUEST by David Elderton
Radio Dream by Victoria Emperador
Some Sentences About My Sentence by B. M. Erlendsson
Liberation by Rebekah Fernandez
Heart and Soul by Julie Furxhi
The Christmas Party by Shreya Ganguly
Promeneurs de la Nuit (Night Walkers) by Eve Garnier
The Anniversary by N.M. Garrison
The Party by Rachel Grayson
Anniversary by Gigi Guan
The Cottonwood Grove by Susan Earle
Greeting Cards by CF
Candle in the Window by F.A. Hakimian
Marty by William W. Hawkesworth
Weeds of the Sea by Kerry Heath
Happy Alieniversary by Andrew Heathfield
The Drive-Thru by Stephanie Helfenbein
Face in the Fire by Amy Hepp
Dying with Grace by Sharon Hetherington
First Easter in Heaven by Mark Heyer
The Guest by Kacy Hogg
The Seventh of July by Eric Holdorf
The Choice by Tom Housden
On This Day by Bessie Robertson
A Call to Change Your Life by Lorraine Hurley
The Morning Of by Clay Huston
Departure by Raina Hutchinson
A Flutter And A Wave by Marie B Inglee
The Anniversary by Helen Izek
He Loved to Swim by T Jenkins
The Crash of the Information Age by Toni L. Johnson
Love Is Blind But So Is Hate by Nijah Jones
The Reincarnation of an Endangered Species by Denis Joseph
THE FINAL LEAP by Sandy Juker
The Fish Doctor by Jennifer Juniper
Do Not Enter by Linda Kasten
The Final Anniversary by Aditya Mohan Kaushik
Chewy’s Choice by Alan Kennamer
The Promise by Patricia Kolandai
The Off-Putting Sound of a Missed Anniversary by Joe J. Cole
Romeo by Charlotte
The Barren Years by Kimberly Lambeck
Eating the Sun by S.E. Laughter
Cascadilla Gorge by Rebecca Lea
Peggy Jean by Conner Lee
Canada Day Compromise by Susan J Liddle
Celebration through Movement by Amanda Lindsey
Jumper’s Rock by Gary G. Little
Unhappy Alone by Michael Lyman
Guided by Kristine MacMillan
Anniversary by Amala Maha
Healing by Jeanie Malone
Anniversary by Barton K Mann
To Paris with love by J.R. Martin
Reunion by Rock Martin
It’s Time by Wendy Maston
In Sickness and In Health by A.D. Faylinn
Rwanda an Anniversary by Jacqueline McAdam
The Last Birthday by Kathleen McAllen
Anniversary 2022: Changing wheels from my blokey LandRover to disability Scoota by Carol McDonough
On This Rock, This Day by Darrell Eugene McGuire
Time and Tide by Clara H
The Sweetheart by Meghan McQuillan
The Picnic by Anita Meiszies
The Reeds by Alma L. Mikaliukas
The Anniversary by Linda Morgan
An Unwanted Anniversary by Colleen Murphy
11th in Paris by Michelle Murray
The Pendant Long Forgotten by Stephanie Newbern
S’Mores by Amie Nguyen
The PhobiaVersary by Krystyna Nicholls
You Are My Sunshine by Miriam Nicholson
Remember When by Cipriano Oliva
One Sunday Morning in 2005 by Marien Oommen
The Fall by Autumn Sage
Second Chance on a First Anniversary by Lori Lee Palmer
Over the Edge by David Palmer
First Date by Scott Paranada-Fried
THE PORTAL – A TALE OF TWO SIDES by Kerr Pelto
My Divine Dalliances by rossriter
Day into Night by Nancy Pezdek
Day into Night by Nancy Pezdek
Maybe Next Year by Erik Porter
Anniversary by Dorinda Priebe
An Anniversray Surprise by Charles Puccia
An Unforgettable Anniversary by C.L. Purcell
The Phone Call by Samran Akhtar
The Anniversary Wind-Up by Ann Rapp
The Anniversary by Gina Rivere
Against All Hope by Jane E. Ruth
A Belated Wish by Soleah Kenna Sadge
Still, I Think of Him Everyday by G. Sanders
A Year Well Loved by khloi sandidge
The House on Harpers Ferry Road by jennifer santiago
An Unexpected Beginning by Raymond Savage
Unintended Anniversary by Dj Segovia
Lost and Found by Nikki Shaw-Hogg
Secrets by Hailey Sherrell
She’s Back by Jenna Siefker
How to Celebrate Alien Day by Camille Simonds
The Book by Tina Smith
The Bridge by Katherine Elizabeth Soto
Anniversary Ashes by Matt Stelzer
LOVE NEVER FAILS by Janine K. Bryant
Theia’s Instrument by Charity Styles
Finding Rachel by CC Sullivan
Through Someone Else’s Eyes by Susie A Taylor
Hard Promises to Keep by Laura Porter Taylor
The Past That Binds Us by Caitlin Townsend
Dasvidaniya, Amore Mio by K. C. Tran
The Mulberry Tree by Lisa A Van Ahn
Broken Silence by E.J. van der Velde
Ever After by Jeanne Vaughn
The Anniversary Train by Lisa Walton
Which Anniversary by P. S. Headrice
The lake of swans by Robin Michaels
Alien Abduction Club by W. Steve Wilosn
The Bench by Carole Wolfe
The Fly Catcher by Gayle Woodson
Laser Tag by Lydia Woodward
A Millennium Miracle by Anna P. Wright
Standing Sentinel by E. Young
Still Here by Miguel A Zamora
The Beggar by Justin Zoller
An Unforgettable Anniversary by Hrafn Jóhann Þórarinsson
Congratulations to all who entered!
And congratulations to Abigail Perry on the Write Practice team for winning an honorable mention! All stories are judged anonymously, so the judges and contest organizers discovered Abigail’s win after the contest concluded.