🎉 The Winning Entry 🎉

Meredith Hanes

"Echoes of Tomorrow"

Jasper L.M.

"City Lights"

We love the the sublte societal critique that is laced very gently here by the protagonist mirroring what we all do, the endless chase of living for a later time, and the obliviousness of getting too caught up in the everyday. We love a protagonist that we cant help but root for.

This dark comedy was unexpected winner. The judges were impressed on how this piece tackled suicidal ideation with absurdism. Bringing together a heavy subject with a touch of silliness. It was a very well done!

Fidina Freya

"The Modern and Murderous Belsnap Family "

The Modern and Murderous Belsnap Family is such a wonderfully fresh and entertaining story, with a premise that feels like the gloriously chaotic lovechild of The Addams Family and The Jetsons—with a little Meet the Robinsons thrown in for good measure. The concept is immediately intriguing, but what makes it truly special is how effortlessly endearing the characters become within just a few sentences; somehow, you find yourself completely invested in this wonderfully bizarre family almost instantly. And, above all, it is absolutely hilarious.

The humor is sharp, absurd, wonderfully unexpected, and genuinely laugh-out-loud funny, with the kind of ridiculous situations and eccentric characters that make you want to keep reading simply to see what outrageous thing happens next.

The judges are really impressed how the story itself manage to be self containing while also painting a bigger picture of a tale that is about to unfold. It’s strikes high in curiosity, imagination, and humor.

It’s clever, charming, delightfully murderous, and so, so funny—the kind of story that leaves you grinning long after you’ve finished it.