We’ve added several new EPs and RRs from our recent Cheers to 10 Years celebration. Check them out here:

• Editors’ Picks
• Recommended Reads

Works from 1925, including “The Great Gatsby,” “Mrs. Dalloway” and others, just entered public domain. Learn more at Public Domain Day 2021 .

Check out “2020: Looking Back, Looking Ahead” here:

https://forum.storiesspace.com/yaf_topics57_2020-Looking-Back-Looking-Ahead.aspx

Hello Robert, and welcome to Inspirations, the most happening coffee shop on Stories Space. Of course, this is also the only coffee shop around here but no doubt a Starbucks will soon be opening nearby.

If you are a writer, think about accepting the new 'Challenge' over on the 'Prompts and Challenges' forum. And come back soon.

Later, Inspirators

Not inspired to do it, sorry. I’m not impressed with the way this site is treating its writers at present

I’m sorry, Helen. I’ve sent you a PM.

A new challenge sounds fun!

I’m so far behind on awarding challenge badges that I actually considered posting a “Sort Out the Challenge Champ Badges” challenge.

Challenge Champ badges are awarded manually, not by the system, and because challenges have no deadline, each has to be audited to make sure everyone who has earned a badge receives it. That’s why we ask for challenges to require unique tags or other identifying information.

I’ll award the Cheers to 10 Words challenge badges tomorrow, and try to get caught up with the others this week.

First place in all four categories (we’re treating cumulative score the same as the three contests) will receive $50; second place is $30; and third place, $20. I’ll be in touch with the prize winners to get contact info.

The winning entry in each contest will receive an EP, and other EPs and RRs will be given as determined by a panel of moderators and judges.

Forgive me for not posting congrats yesterday. I preach to everyone to not tie self-esteem to comp results and then I let it happen for the first time. My heart was tied to "Convergence" and thus broken, but I realize my heart in it didn't automatically make it great writing. I appreciate it being published.

Kimmi, please don’t be discouraged! Judging this contest was incredibly difficult because the entries were all good. I know how disappointing it is to have something you’ve poured your heart and soul into finish off the podium. It hurts. But it hurts a little less with time.

Note: From the time I started this reply but got called away before having a chance to finish and post it, I see that Kimmi has deleted her account. I’m sorry to see that. If anyone is in touch with her, please let her know we hope she decides to come back.

THANK YOU to everyone for making this such a fun and successful competition! The entries were varied, imaginative and high quality — and nearly all earned bonus points for being the exact maximum word length. This multi-part contest was an ambitious endeavor, but our members definitely rose to the challenge. Well done!

Congratulations to the winners, runners-up, and Top 10:

Ultra Short
1st place: As We Were by redwriter
2nd place: Autumnal by Tams
3rd place: Insensitive by Paperboy
Other Top 10:
- Letting Go by Welshdreamer42
- In The Midst Of Chaos by Tams
- On Guard Duty by Survivor
- Picture On My Wall by Welshdreamer42
- Musings of a Forgotten Deity by Mendalla
- My Temple by Mendalla
- My Girl the Petroleuse by Fluttered

Flash
1st place: The Goddess Dances by Mendalla
2nd place: Fading by Welshdreamer42
3rd place: Dragons! by Tams
Other Top 10:
- Just Another Day by Paperboy
- The Legend of Lover's Lane by Survivor
- The Night by AnnaMayZing
- Catch-2020 by Beesting
- White Water by TheShyThespian
- Paper by clum
- R(a)ising Son by Paperboy

Full Length
1st place: Froggie by Tams
2nd place: The Last Train by Welshdreamer42
3rd place: The Siren by AnnaMayZing
Other Top 10:
- Something by Mendalla
- The Visitant by Tams
- The Folly of Presumption in the Afterlife by Paperboy
- The Apology by Beesting
- The Night the Humans Came to Dinner by KimmiBeGood
- They Call the Wind Maria by Survivor
- Commuting To An Unplanned Future by Rumple_deWriter

Cumulative (score across all entries)
1st place: Tams
2nd place: AnnaMayZing
3rd place: Welshdreamer42
Other Top 10:
- Mendalla
- Survivor
- Paperboy
- KimmiBeGood
- TheShyThespian
- Beesting
- redwriter

The announcement will be made tomorrow, Friday, November 20th. Again, thank you for your patience. A plethora of top-notch submissions made judging these contests VERY difficult!

Thanks for your patience, everyone! All the stories have been double-checked for word count and selected word requirements, and are now ready for our judging panel. We are aiming for a Nov. 17th announcement, but with the high volume of submissions that may be pushed out a bit. We want to make sure we give our volunteer judges ample time to review all the entries.

“You think it’s okay?” Abigail asked tentatively. Emma held up the phone and began to read aloud. “‘Dearest Troy’ – Dearest was a nice touch – ‘I’m so happy for you getting your dream job! That’s quite an achievement – you should have a big celebration. The thing is, Troy... I don’t want to hold you back. You need to be free, and deserve someone just as supportive of your aspirations as...

Added 14 Oct 2020 | Category Micro Fiction | Votes 6 | Avg Score 5 | Views 582 | 6 Comments

Have you found them? Don’t worry, most people can’t on the first try.  They’re there, all right, but only reveal themselves to those who are ready to believe, to accept, to embrace.  Close your eyes and open your mind. Clear away the prejudices, fears and preconceptions. Suspend your skepticism. Relax and let all your senses — even those you don’t fully perceive or comprehend, and may...

Added 02 Mar 2019 | Category Flash Fiction | Votes 13 | Avg Score 5 | Views 850 | 12 Comments

Sipping dirty martinis Watching girls in bikinis And strumming on my Les Paul Albert King ambles through Riffs ‘I’ll Play the Blues for You’ Man, I really got it all CHORUS It’s a dream vacation No place I’d rather be Yeah, a dream vacation Not sure where I’m at But it suits me Checking out pics From my Exakta 66 Can’t believe what I see Don’t remember all those Sometimes, that’s how it goes...

Added 07 Oct 2018 | Category Songs | Votes 12 | Avg Score 5 | Views 873 | 10 Comments

  MARTIN HANDED A MUG of fresh coffee to Jane and slid into the seat opposite her at the breakfast table, pausing a moment before he spoke. “Jane, I need to ask you something.” Caught off guard by the statement, she slopped a little of the steaming liquid. “You always do that when I’m holding a drink,” she chided gently, dabbing the spill with a napkin. Her lighthearted tone belied...

Added 13 Sep 2018 | Category General | Votes 12 | Avg Score 5 | Views 700 | 7 Comments

  THE CALENDAR TAUNTED JANE, its little yellow-highlighted square outlined in a bold red stroke mocking her lack of progress. ‘You’re going to miss the deadline, you know. I’m just six weeks away now,’ it scoffed. ‘Whatever made you apply for that fellowship anyhow, and what could the panel have been thinking when they gave it to you? You’re no writer; you’ve proven that over the past...

Added 12 Sep 2018 | Category General | Votes 11 | Avg Score 5 | Views 832 | 6 Comments

Note: This compilation occurred to me more than a year ago. In fact, the reason I logged on to Facebook on March 14, 2017, was to reach out to Alan and propose that we combine our efforts, merging his Colorado Calling and my Jersey Rejoicing into one poem. Instead, I learned that morning of Alan's passing a few days earlier. It threw me for a loop, and the idea got pushed to the back of...

Added 17 Mar 2018 | Category Poetry | Votes 7 | Avg Score 5 | Views 841 | 6 Comments

  1. NaIgnoNaNoWriMo: Just ignore all the NaNoWriMo hoopla and hype. Pretend you didn’t read this or anything else about the writing frenzy that occurs every November. Yeah, yeah, I know it’s almost impossible to ignore NaNoWriMo anymore. But you can say you did. I promise not to tell anyone otherwise. 2. NaNanoWriMo: In the short time remaining, craft some kick-ass nano fiction....

Added 30 Nov 2017 | Category Musings | Votes 2 | Avg Score 5 | Views 1,107 | 2 Comments

You always did like surprise endings, A twist no one could see coming, And that last one of yours was a doozy. Days later, we're still reeling, Not from the shock, which dissipates, But from a grief that lingers. You probably never knew The regard people held you in, For it seemed to sneak up As we chatted and laughed About topics big and small. Our esteem grew Alongside your virtual...

Added 17 Mar 2017 | Category Poetry | Votes 20 | Avg Score 5 | Views 1,241 | 10 Comments

The president is doing great Only a fool would think Otherwise Most everyone believes We should trust him There is no cause for concern But some are saying The country is in danger People are scared Nothing could be further from the truth Everything is going to be fine Now read from the bottom up… * * * © 2017 by M.P. Witwer • All rights reserved    ...

Added 15 Feb 2017 | Category Musings | Votes 13 | Avg Score 5 | Views 1,107 | 14 Comments

There was a crooked man Who ran a crooked race [1] And with his crooked words, Put opponents in their place He chopped them down, one by one ’Til a single foe remained On merit, she’d win handily, So he painted her with disdain [2] This shameless huckster’s style Is totally ‘in your face’ At any time in memory, It would have brought him great disgrace But that isn’t how it happened, Not...

Added 16 Jan 2017 | Category Musings | Votes 9 | Avg Score 5 | Views 1,247 | 8 Comments

When a noted writer hits the wall with her current project, she heads to the beach to concentrate on her work, but instead finds a charming distraction. This award-winning short story (approximately 4,500 words) has been called “magnificently well-crafted,” “clever,”...

A timely tale of just 2,300 words, “Lost and Found” is the second story in the Short Tales series, an affectionate look at a few of the pitfalls and mishaps faced by a couple navigating a new romance. Jane and Martin both have past histories: love, loss and unforeseen changes, but...