I’m a little under-the-weather this week — a cold that’s keeping me busy trying to cough up a lung (COVID test negative, thank goodness) — so I thought I’d introduce you to a short story contest that might interest you. It’s run by Reedsy, a writer’s resource I follow regularly, and anyone can enter. There’s a different theme and writing prompts each week; the winner receives $250 through PayPal, and their story posted on the Reedsy site. For all writers, the more you write, the better you get, so this contest would be a great way to build your skills. If you’re interested, you can find more information on the contest page. Be sure to read the submissions rules.
I also encourage you to check out the winning entry for Contest #154, Moonlight and Madness, submitted by Suma Jayachandar. The writing prompt was “Write a story — romantic or not — about two characters who can’t find the right timing.” Suma’s entry is a beautifully-written look into a couple forced to separate during the 1947 partitioning of British India into two separate countries, India and Pakistan. The partitioning was by all accounts a massively traumatic event for all the citizens involved; you can read more about it on Wikipedia for background to the emotions of the two people involved in the short story, who knew they’d never see each other again.
Good writers read other writers’ work, and this short story is a great example, so I’ll leave you with this recommendation for my weekly blog. I hope you enjoy!
All photos are by me unless otherwise specified, and all rights are reserved. E. Jurus