BRATTLEBORO — The winners of this year's Write Action literary contest - the non-profit organization's inaugural flash fiction contest - have been chosen, and will be read their pieces on Friday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. at the Bluedot Studio in the Hooker-Dunham Building.
The judge was Rolf Parker-Houghton, a local poet, nonfiction writer, and teacher.
Anna Blackburn's story “Visiting Hours” was named the first-prize winner of this year's contest. Parker-Houghton praised Blackburn's story for its “unusual and at times startling descriptions, which seemed entirely natural for the main character.”
He continued in an event announcement: “The deliberate pairing of language with character and plot made this story seem alive. Some of the beauty that it achieved came from being both compassionate and eerie at the same time.”
Blackburn, of Brattleboro, read at the Brattleboro Literary Festival's Write Action Showcase Readings.
Saxtons River author Helen Neswald is second-place winner with “A Letter to my Husband.” According to Parker-Houghton, the piece is distinctive “for its use of language, its sincerity, and its natural poignancy.”
Third-place winner Stephanie Greene of West Dover impressed Parker-Houghton with her entry, which he said bore “more than a trace of sardonic humor.” He added it is “a consideration of hope as a topic and a humorous and fantastical look at the future.”
“It was inspiring to read so many stories about hope (the contest theme), from many different perspectives and in many different styles,” Parker-Houghton said.
Contestants were asked to produce a work of original fiction of up to 820 words. Themes invited were “planting seeds the day before the end,” “hope in the dark,” and “fixing what can be fixed.”
In addition to hearing the the contest winners read their pieces, guests can hear from up to six writers who submitted stories for the contest. To get on the reading schedule, first-come, first served, call 802-505-7653.
The final 20 minutes or so of the evening are devoted to a flash fiction open reading, with five-minute time slots available. Sign up at the event.
Parker-Houghton said the reading will have an intermission, and refreshments will be served. The regular third-Friday monthly open reading at the Bluedot Studio will take place as usual.
Write Action is a community-based, grassroots writers organization formed in 1999 to strengthen a community of writers in Brattleboro and the surrounding area and to nurture, encourage, and promote the literary arts in the at-large community.