I always feel a little inadequate when I approach the end of these contests. Month after month, we've had the most amazing stories sent to us. You all are such good writers, and the stories you send us are a delight to read.
And then we have to pick just one of them.
I often wonder, “Who am I to judge these stories?” But choose we must, and all I can ask for is forgiveness if we have offended or chosen poorly. Please know, we are trying quite hard.
The Judges
For this contest in particular, I would have been lost without the help of the judging team: Patricia Hunter, Lisa Burgess, and Tara Boyce, all winners of our previous contests. I'd ask you to give them a huge round of applause, except the image of you, dear reader, clapping like a lunatic at your computer is too ridiculous. Instead, I just ask that you pay them a small homage of gratefulness in the silence of your mind.
And if you haven't read their amazing stories, you are definitely missing out.
Alright, it's time to get this over with. Let's get to the results.
Photo by Bala Sivakumar
Honorable Mentions
The first honorable mention goes to Elizabeth Hudson‘s heartbreaking story about an addict writing a letter to his beloved daughter. Elizabeth told a beautiful and painful story about addiction, despair, and forgiveness, and I know it touched many who read it. Besides that, she employed that character's voice beautifully and convincingly.
The second honorable mention goes to Clint Archer's funny, touching, and clever Redeeming Dimitri. I love Clint's writing voice, the way he weaves through the story in such a sly, self-deprecating way, throwing off clever illusions to communism and Russian culture, all while telling a remarkable story. This was a blast to read.
The final honorable mention goes to Michelle Alvarez's Honor Out of Darkness. Michelle's style is fluid and poetic, and without ruining the story by giving it away, her subject is emotionally intense.
Runner Up
The runner up of the March edition of our Show Off contest is Scotty Fairmont's Willie Nelson. I absolutely loved this story, and on another day, we might have picked it. Scotty's writing is gritty and as blunt as a hammer to the teeth, but it's also full of a compassionate and redemptive spirit almost reminiscent of Salinger. And what a twist at the end!
The Winner of the Show Off Writing Contest: Redemption Edition
The winner of this month's contest is Nancy Vandre's A Place to Call Home. Nancy's tone is subtle and controlled, and one commenter captured it perfectly when he said it was “good as much for what you didn't say as what you did.” The writing was beautiful, full of meaningful detail, but more than that it taught me something profound, that the love for your child can save your soul.
Congratulations, Nancy, and congratulations to all of you, whether your story was named or not. Congratulations for having written and for having submitted. If you want to be able to call yourself a writer, that's the work you must commit yourself to.
Congratulations Nancy!!! And to all the winners AND everyone who contributed your amazing stories of redemption.
And thank you – each of you – for that “small homage of gratefulness in the silence of your mind.” LOL!!!!
Most of all, thank you, Joe – and Lisa and Tara. Picking a winner has never been easy, but you all make it worth it. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with and learn from each of you.
Congrats Nancy!!!! Congrats to all of the winners! This was so much fun. It was an honor to participate and to get to read so many amazing stories!! Each month seems to be getting better and better.
Congratulations Nancy!
I liked your story and I’m not surprised it was chosen.
Joe…thanks for the opportunity to participate in your monthly contest.
Angelo, thank YOU!
Great job Nancy! Your story was rich and poignant. There were so many wonderful stories this month. I appreciated the depth of emotion and vulnerability people risked in their writing.
Congratulations, Nancy 🙂
Congratulations Nancy, and everyone who entered. That was some fun stuff to read.
Yeah I liked the Willie Nelson story a lot too. That writer has some style.
Well done Joe and team! I read the winning story with a growing sense of wonderment…it was truly haunting. Yes, a good choice.
I feel a fish out of water being a children’s writer in this forum. Yet I’m finding the challenge to hold my head up with everyone else to be invigorating. Every day, through this and other blogs on writing, that I read each day, I am expanded. It’s fun!
p.s. Congratulations to the winner Nancy 🙂 Well-deserved!
Thanks Yvette. It really was a team effort, and they deserve much praise.
I hope you don’t feel too much like a fish out of water. Some of the best writers in the last century have written children’s literature. Good writing is good writing.
Wooo, thanks Joe. You’re a kind person obviously. It seems trivial but I really needed to hear that! I admit that every single writing practice given is a stretch, because I’m used to being within this certain genre, I think each time, should I be here? Should I do this one? For instance I backed out of the practice to write with an accent because the only accents I’ve ever tried were those I’d made up (I write fantasy as well as being children’s literature!! Double whammy). But the great people I’ve ‘met’ here, the culture of encouragement and back slapping and occasional gentle correction somehow keeps beckoning me forward, over my own lines in the sand. Keep up the good work. And thank you!
I’m so glad to hear that, Yvette. I love that a “culture” is being formed here. That makes my day. And it seems like you fit right in 😉