A Most Humbling Experience

A few months ago, I was honored with a request to be a judge of the 100 word short story competition sponsored by Gold Country Writers. I’ll admit, I didn’t envy the participants.

The constraints of the competition were to craft a compelling, emotionally resonant story in 100 words. Not 99, not 101. 100. That’s a little like the prose version of a haiku. Highly structured and almost daunting.

When I started reading, the submissions were not just surprising, but pretty extraordinary. They also did something quite impressive. Because there was such a limit on the number of words, the words that were used had to set off the completion of scene and narrative in the reader’s mind. They did what Hemingway was always talking about and accomplished with his six -word “Baby Shoes” story.  I think that is the acme of art.

What I wasn’t ready for was the skill with which the authors accomplished their task. Some had a humorous note, some were pure drama, and all just completely connected on a human level. A few stayed with me for days. That is writing at its best.

In the end, there were several excellent options. Ranking them was incredibly tough. So hard that if asked to do it again, I might say no … except for the fact that I’d miss out on some incredible writing.

Here's more: Gold Country Writers – Forging Better Writers

About Gold Country Writers

Gold Country Writers Vision

The specific purpose of the Gold Country Writers is to offer education, support, and resources to writers and to the community as a whole. The organization educates and encourages writers of all levels and disciplines in skill development and networking. GCW benefits the entire community with author connections, new books, and events for the public.

Gold Country Writers Mission

Gold Country Writers offers education, support, and resources to writers and to the community as a whole. We educate and encourage writers of all levels and disciplines in skill development and networking. We offer genre-specific, small critique groups.

Gold Country Writers is a

501(c)(3) Organization.