Short Story/Flash Fiction Contest

The winners of the 2011 Short Story/Flash Fiction Contest, from left to right: Heidi Baile, Jean Wong, Jan Edwards, Elspeth Benton, Laura McHale Holland, Helen Sedwick, Donna Levin, judge and David Beckman, judge.

The following message is from Elspeth Benton, 2011 Short Story/Flash Fiction Contest Chair:

Dear Redwood Writer members,

Wow! A total of sixty-four short stories and flash fiction entries were received this year for the Redwood Writers Short Story/Flash Fiction Contest–entrees from Santa Rosa and eleven other surrounding towns, from Tiburon to Gualala, Sonoma to Napa, San Anselmo to Windsor!

Judges David Beckman, Hal Bennett, and Donna Levin had to work very hard indeed to choose winners from the excellent work received.

Here are the winners:

Short Stories:
Jan Edwards, first place
Jean Wong, second place
Heidi Bailey, third place

Flash Fiction:
Laura McHale Holland, first place
Helen Sedwick, second place
Jean Wong, third place

Our regular meeting will be a week from tomorrow, September 11, at the Flamingo Hotel, in Courtyard # 1/2. Jan and Laura will read their winning work. Be sure to be there to cheer and applaud all our hard-working, talented winners!

I’m grateful to have had a part in this process, getting to read the submissions as they came in (though I had no part in judging them), and corresponding with our writers and gracious judges throughout the last few months.

Looking forward to seeing you Sunday, September 11,

Elspeth Benton, 2011 Short Story/Flash Fiction Contest Chair

____________________________________________________________________________________

Congratulations to our 2010 Short Story Winners

Dan Coshnear presented the contest winners at our August 8 membership meeting. Jean Wong read her first place entry and the judges talked about what they liked and why particular pieces were chosen.

First Place: Jean Wong, “Just a Joke”

Click on “Just a Joke” for the full text of the story.

Second Place: Marilyn Campbell, “Plays Well with Others” (stand-alone chapter from novel of same name)

Click on “Plays Well With Others” for the full text of the story.

Third Place: Gretchen Mannix, “This Is As Good As It Gets, Fellas”

Click on  “This Is As Good As It Gets, Fellas” for the full text of the story.

Honorable Mentions (in no particular order)

Richard Perce, “Load Up”

Carol Hoorn, “The Button”