Results of the First Dreamers Flash Contest (2019)
Congratulations to the winners of the 2019 Dreamers Flash Fiction and Nonfiction Contest.
In a flash story, it’s important to make every word count, and that’s exactly what all of these authors did!
Ultimately, two authors tied for first place in our first flash fiction and nonfiction contest, splitting the top prize between them. Both authors were published in Issue 4 of the Dreamers Magazine, and online on the Dreamers website.
Additionally, we selected 5 runners-up. Each runner-up received an honorarium of $20 and online publication.
Here’s the winning line-up!
Winner:
Fishing
Fiction by Sarah Blanchard
“Three of Jake’s buddies flew directly from Afghanistan into intensive rehab for amputees. Jake got dropped off back home with a medal, a large bottle of anti-depressants, and a referral to a therapist.”
Winner:
Some Days Are Yellow
Nonfiction by Rebecca Haas
“Some days are yellow, some are blue. I know by heart my two-year-old’s favorite Dr. Seuss book and the rhymes repeat in my mind, maddening, as I drive my sister south on I-5 to a 30 day stay in rehab. This day is yellow and blue, mid-June, cloudless, soaring, framed, now, in dread. Black.”
Honorable Mentions:
An Uncaged Bird
Fiction by Thomas Mooney
The Memory Box
Nonfiction by Danielle LaRocque
The Monster Barber
Nonfiction by Jerry Il’Giovine
Congratulations to all the winners of our Flash Fiction and Nonfiction Contest, and thank you to everyone who entered the contest!
Our 2020 Flash Fiction and Nonfiction Contest is now open for submissions! Submit your flash story of between 300 and 1000 words by September 30, 2020, for your chance to win $120 and publication in the Dreamers Magazine.
What is Flash in Literature?
Flash, in the realm of literature, is a term that encapsulates an intriguing style of storytelling, characterized by extreme brevity and a punch of narrative impact. This style traverses both fiction and nonfiction, albeit with nuanced distinctions in each.
In Fiction: Flash fiction is akin to a literary snapshot. It’s a short story, typically under 1000 words, sometimes even confined to the limits of 100-word drabbles or the 280-character stories mirroring a tweet. What sets flash fiction apart is its ability to tell a complete story — with a beginning, middle, and end — in a remarkably compact space. The beauty of flash fiction lies in its precision and the ability to evoke a vast landscape of emotion and thought within a few well-chosen words. It’s the art of omission, where what’s left unsaid is just as important as what is written.
In Nonfiction: Flash nonfiction, or micro nonfiction, applies the same principle of brevity to factual storytelling. It distills real-life experiences, observations, and reflections into a concise, yet vivid narrative. Typically under 750 words, flash nonfiction focuses on a single moment or idea, exploring it with depth and clarity. Unlike its fictional counterpart, flash nonfiction remains anchored in truth and reality, yet employs the same literary techniques of storytelling to engage and resonate with the reader.
In both genres, flash literature challenges the writer to be economical with words, yet rich in meaning. It’s a vibrant form of literature that packs a quick, yet lasting punch, offering a brief but immersive experience for the reader.
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