WINNERS! Ekphrastic Challenge

My absolute goodness! 26 amazing stories (7 of them Top Stories!), and when I tell you how close the winners were, you would not envy me assigning first, second, and third place.

Simply—ties galore!

It was a pleasure to read everyone’s lovely creations. The wide variety made it hard to grade, but you all landed so close to each other! (I'm very thankful I made a rubric because of this fact.)

I want to spotlight all my favorites, but there are just so many! From Angie the Archivist's echoing and sweet historical fiction, GA Botero’s shocking dystopian vignette, Suze Kay’s prickly slice o’life, Lamar Wiggins’ intriguing forest mystery…the list goes on (and on). You are all so talented. I cannot begin to express how much I admire each and every of you. Thank you for participating in what has been a complex and *hopefully* fun community challenge. I know I had a blast.

Now...

THE WINNERS!

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FIRST PLACE — $10

It’s a frickin’ tie. 🤣

Poppy with “The Day Paradise Shattered” AND

Hannah Moore with “Ascending!!"

Poppy offers a literary treat with “The Day Paradise Shattered.” Through blunt, yet captivating language, we see the prose side of The Poet. A mother and child hide away from some unknown danger. They experience each other, fully surrounded by nature and the act of creation.

Beautifully paced, the energy in this piece is overhung by a sense of doom. This is a story told from the end, and we see the future’s colors in every sentence.

“Every plate, bowl, mug, every item she moulded was a part of her. Once, she only had yellow and blue glaze. I used to think of the yellow covered pottery as her happiness, and the blue as her kindness.”

Just watch those vases come back.

This story had everything in spades. Full marks! Suze Kay’s enthralling photo fit perfectly with Poppy’s narrative voice and style.

Similarly, Hannah’s story containesan unspoken heartbreak. But while we see the tragedy in a more brutal way in Poppy’s story, in Hannah’s, you could blink and miss it. (Though you would know you did and go read it again.) Seeming to transcend time, we follow two young boys as they race along a field. Mike Singleton’s beautiful photograph sets the scene.

What struck me about this story was the dialogue. Rarely have I encountered it to be so smooth, believable, and child-like. There was not a single moment that my brain wandered or realized it was in a story as opposed to real-life. And that is an incredible feat.

“‘I reckon its a plane.’

‘Na, its a cloud.’

‘There's no cloud makes lines like that.’

‘How do you know, are you a scientist?’"

See what I mean? And that’s just the opener. The delicate balance between overwriting and underwriting is mastered in Hannah’s story. You’ll have to read it to know what I mean, but there is a skill present here that is to be celebrated.

Congratulations to Poppy and Hannah! Each winner will receive a $10 tip.

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SECOND PLACE — $5

Judey Kalchik with “Life Happens”

In Judey’s story, we are thrust into the immediate aftermath of loss. Her prose is so matter of fact, bringing us directly into Jenn’s headspace as she returns home from the ER. Though the image is of a litter of puppies, it’s clear that the story is something else entirely.

“It was quiet. No trace of the worry and hurry that accompanied the emergency crew's race through the house yesterday, pushing and pulling a stretcher carrying her husband from their home to the ER.”

It’s a journey. Tiny, really, but the end is much too significant to brush away the walk we take through the house. And the final line will have you sobbing. I am not so easy to make cry but Judey got me.

Paul Stewart’s photo evoked an incredibly moving piece. Do go read it.

Congratulations, Judey!

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THIRD PLACE — $2

Leslie Writes with “Sitting Duck”

It’s simple, but how we experience the plot is one surprise after another. I’ve not read a story that focuses so much on a shotgun, and it’s the perfect centerpiece here. At each decision, the gun is there. One surprise, two surprise, three surprise (four?). It’s the kind of progression that would not work visually; different techniques would need to be used to pull it off.

It’s redemption, rescue, and quite honestly, it’s a miracle. Please read this one if you haven’t already. Even if you have, go back and admire the craft.

The photo by Rachel Fendrich is seriously one of the cutest things I've ever seen. How Leslie got inspired for the story she wrote will forever boggle my mind.

Congratulations, Leslie!

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RUNNERS UP — $1

Randy Jellison-Knock with “The Whole”

What a masterclass in horror. (And there’s now a sequel!) It’s a slow burn type of creep, but utterly immersive. An ice fishing trip gone…well, just gone. Definitely worth multiple readings.

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Rachel Fendrich with “The Train to Karunda”

The main character will surprise you! But first a super unique take on an old Australian myth. This is such a cool story. I definitely recommend y’all read this one!

*

Gerard DiLeo with “Down to Earth”

If this wasn’t runner up, it would have been an honorable mention. One of my favorites! The premise for the allegory is genius, and the execution gives John Cheever’s “The Swimmer” vibes. Please go read it!

Congratulations, all!

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Honorable Mentions

Those stories that stuck with me (unrelated to the rubric's list above).

Paul Stewart's "A Plumeria to Remember" — The tears are bound to come with this one. Such a heartfelt piece. One of my Paul favorites.

ROCK's "Two Parakeets on a Wire" — This story made me laugh so much! But the ending really anchors the narrative.

Andrei Z's "A Boat Trip" — Utterly unique, and almost like a puzzle in its minimalism. Very "Andrei" and one that I expect will pop into my memory for years.

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Now, I didn't get anyone telling me a different form of payment for the tips. Due to this fact, I'll be sending them as soon as tomorrow morning. If you happen to have Ko-fi, Patreon, or any other platform that you prefer I use rather than Vocal's tip system, let me know in the next 14 hours.

Before I sign off, I want to ask your genuine opinion on the challenge process. How did you find it? Any tips for improvement? I'm so excited to run this challenge again and I want to iron out the kinks before I do.

Oh and one more thing.

Unfortunately, a few photos didn’t end up with a story (I understand why, but I would love to see them be used!). So, if you took one of these pictures, I want your input: Is it okay if I post it in a new article so anyone who sees it can use it as writing inspiration?

Okay... I think that's all.

Except—

Congratulations to everyone! I wish I could award every story that was submitted, but please know that I enjoyed every single one.

Thank you all again. 💗

See you in the next one!

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For a full list of entries, please see below! I’ve linked them alphabetically. (Yes, the links take you to the stories, not the profiles.)

Top Stories

• Alex McEvoy
• Dana Crandell
• G.A. Botero
• Hannah Moore
• Leslie Writes
• Poppy
• Suze Kay

The Remaining Wonders

• Andrei Z
• Angie the Archivist
• Celia in Underland
• Chloe Gilholy
• Donna Fox
• Gerard DiLeo
• Harbor Benassa
• Judey Kalchik
• Lamar Wiggins
• Lana V. Lynx
• Natalie Wilkinson
• Oneg in the Arctic
• Paul Stewart
• Rachel Deeming 1
• Rachel Deeming 2
• Rachel Fendrich
• Randy Jellison-Knock
• Rebekah Conard
• ROCK