We are proud to announce the semi-finalists in the eleventh annual Write Michigan Short Story Contest. Over 1,250 Michigan writers from all over the state entered the contest.
Winners will be chosen by public voting at www.writemichigan.org through February 6 for the $250 Readers’ Choice award, and by a panel of judges for the $500 Judges’ Choice and $250 Judges’ Choice Runner-up awards. There will also be a $500 Spanish Language winner in each age group. Winners will be announced February 10.
All winning stories (including three published finalists in each of the three age groups) will be published by Chapbook Press using the Espresso Book Machine. Copies will be available in April 2023
Semi-finalist Stories:
ADULT
Death Comes to Dinner, Emily Vater, Oxford
The Walk of Honor, Marcia Woods, Grand Rapids
Glint, Emilee Ceuninck, Canton
I Won’t Let This Build up Inside of Me, Chris Cochran, Stevensville
The Hitched Hikers, Shirley and Jamie-Sue Seal, East Lansing
Bread Pudding, Diana Stout, Marshall
Carrion Crow, Megan Stevens, Remus
Seven Wisdoms, Phillip Sterling, Lowell
The Leader of the Pack, Avery Saylor, St. Joseph
The Waters of Michigan, Malachi King, Eaton Rapids
TEEN
A Story of Hope, Elise Bowman, Clarklake
Theories on Shakespeare, Faith Grimmet, Eaton Rapids
Snow & Silence, Kat Blackwell, Shelby Twp.
The World Moves on Around Us, Anjali Sardar, Okemos
Teacher Quotes, Lucy Yoder, Grand Rapids
Just a Dream, Samantha Knott, Wyoming
The Ignoble Prince, the Audacious Princess, and the Dragon, Ariana Fallot, White Lake
A Paradise Past, Cassie Peckens, Lake Orion
Painted Feathers, Molly Bilbey, Grand Ledge
“G”, Erin Burchill, South Lyon
YOUTH
Found in the Forest, Miriam Wieringa, Kentwood
The Winter War, Ensley DeYonker, Lapeer
Unending Love, Sevie Roddy, Ann Arbor
The Christmas Candle, Zoey Bradley, Hancock
I am Spring, Renee Bolla, Birmingham
Home, Karis Rietema, Hamilton
The Secret of the Dunes, Charlotte Kaminski, Canton
Elemental Cats, Riley Carey, Lowell
Mishap, Everley Kurnat, Kent City
Warriors – The Split, Maddie Verhage, Grand Rapids
SPANISH – ADULT (These stories will be read by our judges but won’t be up for a public vote.)
Tres Mujeres, Sara Proaño, Zeeland
Autosabotaje, Jahannie Torres-Rodríguez, Warren
Lorimar no está muerta, Pablo Cruz, Grand Rapids
Las crónicas de Juan, Juan Ramirez, Grand Rapids
La noche de Osa Mayor, Diana Lee, Holland
SPANISH – TEEN
El Sacrificio de los Zodiacos, Yolihuani Dietachmayr Gonzalez, Berkley
Proyecto 3175, Brayden Kelliher, Jenison
Calacas y Frito’s, Paloma Gonzalez-Haske, Ypsilanti
El día que recuerdo el agua, Silas Howk, Grand Rapids
SPANISH – YOUTH
La búsqueda de Amelia, Aubrey Borr, Zeeland
Jagger y el Caso de Espacio, Peyton Nagelkirk, Zeeland
Una Vida Nueva, Nora Sportel, Grand Rapids
Gracias Sr. Kyper!, Lydia Zandstra, Zeeland
El Nintendo de Micah, Elliana Gruessing, Holland