@OriginalWorks and Writers' Block Fiction Contest Winners

And the winner is….

A while back I wrote off hosting contests for good. Judging them is just too hard! But then I reconsidered. Contests are one of the best networking opportunities on Steemit. And for writers, they're a great way to meet other people who can both benefit you and benefit from you. So here I am, at it again. And let me tell ya'--it was the right decision.

Here in front of me I have a collection of wonderful fiction, written by talented people all hoping for a shot at the @originalworks prize. Alas, first place goes to only one entry. Same with second and third, right?

Wrong. I just can’t do it. I cannot choose between the two second place entries, both nearly flawless in mechanics and execution, with powerful stories that fit the prompt. Plus, if I did, that would mean the third-place entry would get knocked out of the running, and once you read it, you’ll understand why I couldn’t let that happen. So I have four winning stories and three prizes—what to do?

Call upon The @SFT! That’s what to do. See if The SFT will agree to sponsor an additional prize—and yes! It's happening. So we now have four winners, to be announced below.

To everyone whose entry didn’t place, please don’t be discouraged. We had some strong contenders. I read several mechanically sound stories, well-edited and written by savvy authors. Why didn’t they win? Well, in the end it came down to which entries best fit the prompt. But take heart! Several curators were watching this contest, and some of the entries that didn’t place might get a little upvote love as a well-deserved reward.

I did see some other entries that would have benefitted from a pass through the Writers’ Block fiction workshop. I can’t encourage authors strongly enough to take advantage of that service. Unsound grammar knocked a few people out of the running in this contest, as well as poor storytelling mechanics. WB editors can help you. We’re all in this together.

Now. Time to talk about the winners.

I certainly didn’t rank these according to degree of excellence. These are four outstanding stories that meet all my fussy criteria, entertain, and tug on the heartstrings. They are each superlative. In the end I had to rank according to how well they fit the prompt. I was looking for a well-developed, unlikable protagonist who is motivated well enough to win the reader’s heart. And I got four of them.

Third place goes to @carolkean, with “Henna Pecked.” This story builds a fantastical world in very few words, entertains, and manages to teach a humanitarian lesson without one misstep in pacing or voice. So why is it third and not first? It came down to prompt. As a protagonist, Henna isn’t actually all that unsavory. She won my heart from the first paragraph, when I learned of her affinity for the “meanest, ugliest kind of animals.” I see myself in Henna. I wanted Henna to win. But the real unlikable characters in this story were the villagers. I wasn’t sorry to see them twisted, gnarled, and broken by ill health. Yes, Henna saved them. But she had saved herself long before this five-star story began.

For second place, we have a tie. Two masters of literary prose, two stories that cut to the heart of family dysfunction, two protagonists carrying so much darkness spawned from the death of a sibling— I couldn’t choose between them. I couldn’t say that one protagonist's guilt was any less self-immolating than the other’s. So, both stories win. I refuse to be the person who has to say that one of them is “better.” Kudos to @geke with "That Black Pen," and @authorofthings with Scuffed.

So let’s talk about the first place entry. This is the first work by this author I’ve had the chance to read, but I’d held very high hopes based on chat conversations. This story takes a grip on the gullet from the first paragraph and doesn’t let go. Solid mechanics, brilliant execution, and several lovely turns of phrase make it a pleasure to read, even though your heart aches for the protagonist. So misguided, so ridiculous, really—but then he gets it. When faced with the possibility that he’ll one day be responsible for more lives than just his own, he stands up. He has a “moment.” And it’s right there on the page, classic “man versus self,” needing no frills, chills, or thrills to knock the reader out of their seat. This is the only entry out of the top four contenders that actually shows the full character arc from beginning to end. Not easy to do in 500 words. But @negativer, you accomplished it with “To Change The Future.”

Congratulations to all four winners! Prize money will land in your wallets very soon. And thank you to @originalworks for sponsoring this great contest. The Writers’ Block applauds you!