Microfiction Challenge results

Well, there were over 6900 writers in round 1, divided into 118 groups, with about 59 writers per group. The top 15 from each group would advance to round 2.

Sadly, I am not one of them.

On the plus side, I got the 3rd of 5 Honorable Mentions in my group, which means I was 18th in my group. They only listed the top 20 for each set of writers (top 15 plus 5 honorable mentions) so overall that puts me in the top third, which feels pretty good for my first try at a more professional competition.

I’m a little sad at not getting to round two, but an honorable mention is nothing to sneeze at.

Microfiction Challenge: Take Two

Because I’m stubborn, even though it doesn’t matter any more, I took the judges feedback and re-edited my piece. It is now 99 words. I do agree that it’s much stronger. But at the time, we only had 24 hours to write the original piece, so there’s that.

At any rate, here is the edited version.


Surrender

Eva had finally exhausted herself.

She sprawled on the bathroom floor in her pajamas. Eyes red and puffy, she had cried herself dry. Crumpled tissues littered the tiles like fluffy dandelions, and the box was empty.

She was empty.

Every month, the wait was the hardest. Again and again, their results were negative.

They had failed.

The doctors had failed.

Her body had failed.

Eva’s bruised and bloated abdomen attested to their efforts. They had tried so many times. She couldn’t go through this heartbreak again. It was exhausting.

She took a shaky breath, and stood.

They were done.