From Nigeria to Germany, the Short Story Competition saw teen writers across the world impress Guest Judge Jamie Quatro with their poignant narratives. "I think short stories can be very effective at telling a complex and often painful story," says winner Anthony Carter. "You're forced to be frank with your readers."
Read on to learn more about the three winners!
I think short stories can be very effective at telling a complex and often painful story because you're forced to be frank with your readers. There is no time to hold their hand and walk them gently down the path. You must be honest, upfront, and unabashedly vulnerable to successfully say all the things you want to with such a short amount of time to do it.
My biggest inspiration is undoubtedly Richard Siken, but the music and novels of John Darnielle were also very foundational to my style of writing.
The story was inspired by a real event. I was grieving when I wrote it, so I simply let the words in my heart pour out. I believe the shifts between past and present reflect how grief can distort our sense of time. In conclusion, the style wasn’t deliberate—it was a natural reflection of my grief.
I'm currently reading Rhythms of Creation: An Anthology of Okike Poetry and a lot of newspapers. I really want to become a good playwright and develop a strong mastery of the English language to better express my ideas and emotions to the audience.
I think it is important to read the text you're reviewing carefully, at least two times. It is also useful to take notes on things you like and things that you may not like or that you don't understand. When peer reviewing, it is important to strike a good balance between positive and negative aspects. I also always tried to make sure to reason my critique and point out ways to improve.
I definitely want to finish writing the two movies I'm currently working on. Other than that, I want to continue practicing writing prose, mainly through short stories, since I mostly write screenplays at the moment.