Emerging Writers Contest Winning Entries
Hummingbird's First Emerging Writers Contest Semi-Finalists
THANK YOU to all that submitted entries for Hummingbird's first ever Emerging Writers Contest. Each submission was unique, and incorporated qualities that left the judges wanting to read more. It was difficult to narrow the field down to two! We invite all of you, and more writers as well to enter our next Contest!
Here are the winners. Both stories are presented anonymously for the Hummingbird Reader vote. It is now up to you to vote for your favorite. Each reader may cast only one vote. To vote, click the link below, insert the title of your favorite entry in the message space, and send. To be counted votes must be received by midnight on June 6, 2018. The winner will be announced, and author revealed on June 9, 2018. The winner will have the opportunity to publish their original story at a later date. (See Contest post for details.) Congratulations and good luck to the semi-finalists!
Click here to vote.
Guidelines for Entries:
- Your story must contain or feature the word “blue” in any context.
- No more than 150 words.
- Your story must have a title.
Dad
You were stingy with your blue eyes, mom used to say.
As if you somehow had control of your eye-color chromosome when you sired us. They were the eyes of laughter, the eyes of sober thoughtfulness that eventually morphed into the clouded-blue eyes of despair.
The sharp dreamy blue finally was milked over by cataracts of broken promises to yourself. You never did write that history book, you never did run for political office…and you never got back home. However you DID instill a love of literature and history in both your children and your grandchildren, you managed to write a letter expressing your political, societal and moral concerns to the President, to every member of the U.S. Congress, and all fifty governors.
And you did get back home, the moment you breathed your last.
You shared so much more than your baby-blues, Dad. You shared your passion and soul.
The Weightiness of Words
Sticks and stones will break your bones but words will change you.
Specifically, their words.
Your person is a mystery to me but an elevated figure for you. They cause pause during the most fast paced day even though their words were uttered years ago. The ripple effects stretch from the past straight to your heart. Their words function like a life vest on those overwhelming days, intimately close to you and essentially saving you.
However, their words can also drown you. Great days turn to bad days when their most careless word falls on your formerly elevated heart. They uttered them once so quickly that no one noticed, but you hear them countless times. They will be the first thing you hear in the morning, the last words you hear as you toss and turn in bed under that dark blue night.
