This winter, Short Fiction Break is partnering with The Write Practice to host a writing contest in which everyone gets published.
WINNERS OF THE WINTER WRITING CONTEST
We received hundreds of excellent submissions. After much deliberation, our judges selected the following winning stories:
Grand Prize:
The Dinner Party by Angela Largent
Runners Up (alphabetized by author):
Into the Abyss by Lana Jackson
The Push by DL Strand
Honorable Mentions (alphabetized by author):
It Started as a Whisper by Karen Crawford
Buzz, Tick, Patter by Monique Legaspi
Nameless 52 by Nicki Mechtly
Suburbia Is an Awkward Place for Superheroes by Grace Walker
Seven Seconds to Midnight by Johanne Winwood
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.
Going Home by Tyler R. Bertram
Water Proof by Nathan Cross
The Last Man by Bradley Harper MD
Fera by Julien Jmmanuel
The Tide by Kyle Lockhaven
One Punch by Doug Spak
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
While the judges consider 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 “Blink” by Jon Palmstrom. Congratulations, Jon!
SPONSORS
The prizes for this contest are provided by the following sponsors:
Reedsy: Reedsy is changing the way books are published by giving authors and publishers access to talented professionals, powerful tools, and free educational content.
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.
WINTER WRITING CONTEST STORIES
You can find all the stories writers chose to publish in the contest below.
Outbreak by Barbara Abbott
Against The Flames by Crystal Adams
An afternoon in London by ADEKOYA EDWARD
Duped! by Raheemah Afegbua
Drinking with Strangers by Kayla Aldan
Time Is Ticking Away by Patty Altis
I See Fire by Natalia Angel
The End by Tiffany Araya
The Debt Collector by Joe Arcara
Destiny’s Lament by Paula Ayala
30 Seconds Till Sundown by Cecilia Baker
The Rest of Us by Julisa Basak
Deadline by Anindita Basu
Twelve Hours by Karen Bath
Russian Roulette With a Twist by Leah Baugh
For the Love of Truth by Louisa Bauman
My Watch Tattoo by Zeina Bazarbachi
Hope by Erin Beck
The Package by M.E. Becker
Naming A Future by Tara Belle
Going Home by Tyler R. Bertram
Family Heirlooms by Christine Marcoux
Deadline by Claude Bornel
Christmas Wish by K.C. Bouy
Liam’s Letter to Santa by Lynn Bowie
The Teacher’s Pet by Mike Boze
It Could Be You by Mary T Bradford
A Cry in the Night by Beverly G. Brown
Kaylee And Kaitlyn by Courtney Bryant
Who Is Me? by Tracy Busse
Sunrise by Justin Caldwell
A Woman on the Verge by Elizabeth Callahan
COUNTDOWN TO A MIRACLE by Debra Campoli
The Final Say by Michelle Carey-Riehle
The Journey from Maiden to Woman by Ashna Chand
The Carson Effect by Joslyn Chase
The Final Countdown by David A. Chase
Under the Milky Way by Helen Clancy
Just Add Fire by Valorie Clark
When Dusk Comes by Fiona Raye Clarke
Sentencing Words by Terry-Ann Coley-Graham
Reveries by Luis A.J.
A Scripted Life by Laura Fineberg Cooper
It started as a whisper by Karen Crawford
The Crossing by Jorge Christakos
Water Proof by Nathan Cross
Unbound by Jackson Debruzzi
Regret by Rob De Lauter
PUZZLING! by Mary Derksen
Countdown by Jenna Lynn
Barney by Des Dixon
Forever After by nedohn
Waiting by Kristine Donahue
Snap judgement by Stu Ducklow
Paydee And The Volcano by Molly Dunphy
A Wish That Ignites The Stars by Nicole Dwigans
Kimmie’s Castle by Ellen Eigner
First Change by Laura Eiras
Home at Last by Jewel Eliese
Fera by Julien Jmmanuel
Stressed Out by John Evans
Daddy’s Secret by Mary Evans
Jump by K.M.Hodge
Clutch by Gregory Faraone
Runaway Dream. by Shane Fitzpatrick.
Timeless by Kathryn Funk
Law Review by Rob Gadtke
Reap in Nine by Justine
Love is the Cure by Lilian Gardner
Summer Train by Julia Gaughan
The Light in My Eyes by Katie Gelshenen
The Final Test by J. M. Gill
Waiting for the Dound of Sgrieking Monkeys by Val Goorha
Thick by Parker G
Stone Wall by Katie Grace
Saving Silvie by Janet Leigh Green
It Happened by Sarah Gribble
‘A Mother’s Countdown’ by Melissa Bisbano Guckin
Her Fate by Elise Wu
The Last Getaway by P. J. Hack
Rain by Grace Hale
Queen City Investigations by Kelly Hansen
The Last Man by Bradley Harper MD
Tick Tock Heart by Rita Harris
Burned by Sara Heil
Get Off The Island by Chiane Hill
Untimely Bride by Jacqueline Houchin
Race Against Time by Tom Housden
Goodbye by Jo Jackson
Into the Abyss by Lana Jackson
Ground Zero by Lucia Jakobsson
A Berliner by Margaret Atwork
RUNNING TIME by Lorraine Jericevic
Broken Dreams by Crystal Johnson
Death Lies by Colleen M Johnson
Lost by Heather Johnson
Harriet’s Demise by Jeannie Johnston
Fate Undetermined by JoJo Jones
Incy Wincy by Veronika Jordan
The Protectors 1: The Edinburgh 1 o’clock Gun by Mila J. Jude
The Eve of Creation by Larry M. Keeton
When They Leave by Vanessa Victoria Kilmer
Alone at the Altar by John King
My Last Goodbye by Patricia Kolandai
Evolution and Enlightenment by TJ Kraemer
The Club by Kostiantyn Kyrpach
If I am a culprit, then catch me by jenna langbaum
The Dinner Party by Angela Largent
Suffering by Db Leath
Buzz, Tick, Patter by Monique Legaspi
The Siege by A.R. Harlow
No Thanks to Messies Anonymous! by Susan Liddle
Wrath by Gary G. Little
The Tide by Kyle Lockhaven
The Burned Book by Marijn Lunsing
The Timekeeper by C. M. Machado
Bump O’Rourke by John MacIlroy
No Names by Charlotte Malycon
Planned Parenthood by Kristen Marshall
For The Time We Have by Kristin Martiniello
The Wedding Dress by Maria Elharaoui
Deadline by Kit Matthews
How to not win a writing contest by Karen McCandless
Do Not Disturb by Natascha McGilvray
Cross Over Shorter version by John McKenny
Driveway … to Maturity by Sweeps McNulty
Morning Routine by Elaine Mead
Nameless 52 by Nicki Mechtly
Try Outs by Jesus Mendoza
Last Call for Flight 1336 by Stacey Minion
Yes Ma’ak by Serles
Day 1 by Stephanie Mohs
Impending Fire by Joshua Moniz
A Fate Far Worse Than Death by Sue Moreines
Her Stolen Miracle by Syaza
The Morass is Always Greener by Sharon Mortz
Relativity by Angel Amou
Fighting For Tyme by Chris Murphy
Running Scared by Linda Myers
Gus Frear by Dj Nagatani
One Week by Alice Neilson
A Scaredy Cat in the Hall by Stephanie A. Newbern
Midnight by Ceilidh Newbury
One Dog’s Ass by L.J. Newlin
Crocodile Creek by Tim Nicol
The Elevator by John Notley
‘And then I saw him, Death’ by Sinéad Deighton-O’Flynn
Escape To Toothdom by Marien Oommen
Guenin v. Timeline by Kelvin Ortiz
The Assignment by Rachel Palmer
Blink by Jon Palmstrom
Reciprocity by L. Jean Parrish
An Inconvenient Cashier by M. J. Patrick
Torment in Stone River Valley by Ingrid Pearce
“Point of View–ABDUCTED” by Ross B. Perkal
The Cost of Revenge by Colleen Pinner
The Man Underneath the Suit by Maciej Pradziad
So He Rests by Rachna Priyanka
Clockwise. by Kriticaa
Be Careful What You Wish For by Evian
The Master Killer. by Salim R.
The Countdown by Michael Raven
7 Weeks by Trey Reed
The Hourglass by Izzy Richards
The Midwife by Terence Reynolds
Precious by Sandy Richards
Rise Up by Terri Robinson
A Knight’s Calling by Sam Roche
Wasted by Joana Russell
Time to dine by Kristin Ryan
The Vision by David H. Safford
Burning the Home Fires by Anna Savastano
Happy New Year by Sachin Saxena
The Interview by Noemi Scheiring-Olah
Poisoned by Jasmine Schnurpel
Sacrifice Sunday by Zachary Searles
Under a Saguaro in the Desert by Pam R Selthun
Newton’s Second Damn Law in a Skydive by Philip Shepherd
The Music’s Call by S.J. Siedenburg
Unicorns by Carolyn Sigmann
Elimination by Sipho Sithole
Ayda’s Secret by Cathy Smades
Beats Per Life by B. Shaun Smith
One Punch by Doug Spak
The Empty Nest by Renette Steele
Reckless by Robert Stephen
As Soon As by Sherrie L. Stewart
Andy at Tina’s by Bob Stinner
The Push by DL Strand
Burning Candle by Wei Ern
7 O’Clock Sharp by Stanley R. Teater
How To Make Peach Wine by Michelle R. Terry
Good Death by Hannah Tussing
Amulet by Blue Skye
Final Countdown by Dawn Van Beck
Mauscript of the dead by Victor
Positive or Negative by Christopher Wager
All the Glory by Dustin Walker
Till the Party by Allegra Walker
Suburbia is an Awkward Place for Superheroes by Grace Walker
The Ride by Sheilah Ward
The Midnight Hour by Sandra Whitten
Seven Seconds to Midnight by Johanne Winwood
The Deadline Dilemma by Tracy Woodfield
First Dig Two Graves by Gayle Woodson
@D-Day #OperationPaperScissorsRock by Antonia P. Wright
Breathe. Breathe. Breathe. by Selma Writes
Ambition for Rebirth by Ia Ong Xiong
The Immortality of Imagination by Laura Jean Zaic
The Task by Miguel A.Zamora
Ghost of a Chance by Peter Zhao
Inspirations by William Zimmermann
Flight to Freedom by Kathleen A Zoldak
Congratulations to all who entered!