Flash Fiction Contest Winner!
There were numerous entries, and you didn't make our job easy! An experience like this demonstrates again just how subjective art can be. Four judges spent some time scratching heads and doing some shuffling before we arrived at a winner.
We hope this was a good experience--a fun experience--for you. Your participation was appreciated, and we enjoyed the opportunity to read your entries.
And NOW, the winner of the first Charis Connection Flash Fiction Contest is Karen Robbins. Take a bow, Karen. Great job!
We had two people tie for the position of first runner up: Michael Snyder and Kelly Klepfer. We're going to post their entries tomorrow. Congratulations, Michael and Kelly!
And now, the winning entry:
COURAGE
One foot found the bottom step hidden just below the water’s surface. He paused, peeked around the ladder for assurance and then began the climb. Each step took him closer to the top and further from the security he knew.
The water below was dark, foreboding. He swallowed hard. Would his racing heart pound its escape through his chest?
He stopped at the pinnacle. It looked a lot higher from here. Carefully he positioned himself atop the warm metal and sat down. He hugged the bar next to him, arms aching from the pressure.
This was the moment. One last thought surged through his mind. He could return the way he had come. But, no. They were all there. Waiting. Watching.
His eyes turned to his father who stood waist deep in the water.
It was okay. Daddy had his arms open wide.
He let go.
Karen Robbins is a writer and speaker. She is currently the grandparenting columnist at InspiredParenting.net and PositivelyFeminine.org. Over 200 of her articles and essays have appeared in Christian and general periodicals. Two of her stories will be released this fall in The Bad Hair Day Book (J Countryman, Sep. 2006) and Ho Ho Ho (Elm Hill Books, Oct. 2006).
Contact Karen at karen@karenrobbins.com
Karen Robbinshttp://www.karenrobbins.com/Writer's Wanderings, http://karenrobbins.blogspot.com/The Encouragement Emporium, http://encouragementemporium.blogspot.com/
posted by Charis Connection @ 12:01 AM
13 comments
13 Comments:
Congratulations, Karen. Great story. and thanks to the nice folks at Charis Connection for hosting such a cool party.
Good work, Karen! I didn't read Mike's but I did get to see Kelly's and it was excellent too!
Congrats Karen!!
Kudos to Mike and Kelly! I *think* I saw Mike's--if that's the one, it was great.
I'd love to see Kelly's! Will we get a chance to see all of the entries? Some?
What a great story, Karen! It's not easy to make me care about characters in just a few short paragraphs, but you did it. Congrats!
Congratulations Karen! I love the "Daddy" symbolism. What a great story!
T. Forkner
Congratulations to Karen, Mike, and Kelly!
For those asking about seeing Mike's and Kelly's entries--and if you'll get to see others--as mentioned in this morning's post, Mike's entry and Kelly's will be published tomorrow (Tuesday). These are the only three entries that will be published (due to time and space constraints), but some of the entrants may be posting their stories on their own blogs or elsewhere, since a couple of you mentioned that you've seen one or two of them already. You might want to check the various blogs for others.
BJ
Co-moderator
Congrats, winners.
Congratulations Karen, and Mike.
Thank you, Charis Connection, for the opportunity to enter.
Great job, Karen! I love it.
Thanks for all your encouragement. I'm honored and humbled. I'm looking forward to seeing Kelly's and Mike's. This was fun. Thanks Charis folks!
Congrats Karen (and Mike and Kelly). Let's do this again!
Hope you'll do it again. Forgot to send mine in. (blush)
Thanks Abigail!
Here's mine
I hope everyone else will post theirs!
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