Out of Season Challenge Winners

We’re trying something new with our challenge awards structure. Starting with Out of Season, each challenge will recognize one grand prize, four winners, and ten honorable mentions. That’s 15 stories to celebrate, with a little extra love for the top pick.

For this challenge, the strongest stories made the timing matter. Something showing up early or returning when it shouldn’t changed what people did, what they assumed, or how they saw each other. There was humor in trying to carry on as usual, and sadness in realizing why the usual schedule no longer worked. Sometimes the wrong time of year turned out to be just when someone needed it.

🏆 Grand Prize ($1,000)

A different kind of night by Lamar Wiggins

Lamar makes it a pleasure to spend time with these characters, embarrassing dinner talk and all. When fireflies turn up in April, the ordinary evening becomes something much more personal. What makes this one stand out is how well you’ve gotten to know the family before the season goes wrong, and how much that changes what the strange arrival means.

🎖️ Winners ($200)

Dóda's Christmas by Imola Tóth

Imola Tóth captures a child’s envy of Christmas in September, and the sadness of finally understanding why it came early.

The Rocking Chair Rocked Back and Forth by Amos Glade

Amos Glade turns Aunt Helena’s year-round pumpkin pie into a sweet reminder that good things don’t have to arrive on schedule.

Christmas Surprise by Angie the Archivist 📚🪶

Angie makes Christmas in November funny through all the grumbling, rushed decorating, and family assumptions. Granny gets everyone moving, and still gets the last laugh.

"See You in the Fall!" by Lana V Lynx

Lana V Lynx gives Grace the swan plenty of attitude and a soft spot for her yearly visitors. Their early return turns a reunion she’d normally welcome into something to worry about.

🏅 Honorable Mentions ($15)

• Autumn of Remembering by Ruth Stewart

• Use the Good China by Hannah Moore

• Here's to new tradition! by Mallory Farnum

• Unseasonably Fine by Iris Obscura

• The Easter Rarebit by Kendall Defoe

• The Warmth We Had by Paul Stewart

• The Winter Fawn by Kaytlin Michelle

• Merry and Bright by Phar West Nagle

• Summer Snow by Emilie Turner

• I walked here in the snow by Raine Neal