January 25 Monthly Micro Winners
Congratulations!
First Place
The Other Party Has Raised a Number of Concerns
by Linda Grierson-Irish
The judges found this piece atmospheric and hauntingly poetic, skilfully blending sharp, vivid imagery with a subtle undercurrent of emotional weight, particularly through Sally's peculiar habits and her reflections on liberation. It’s a story that is emotionally engaging, and haunts your thoughts long after reading. They loved the originality of the prose, the vivid imagery and all that is left unsaid.
Second Place
The Invisible Quartet
by Tiffany Harris
The judges agreed that this piece beautifully captures a poignant blend of nostalgia and tenderness, using lyrical prose and rich sensory details to convey the family's love and their shared devotion to preserving the music of memory. They remarked on how moving the story is, and how the musical theme is used beautifully to create a sense of hope and positivity within a potentially sad situation.
People’s Prize
Dawson’s Rum Punch, Christmas 24
by Wendy Garvey
Huge congratulations to our two winners, Linda and Tiffany, who share the cash prize. And People’s Prize winner, Wendy, has won a 3-month paid subscription to WestWord.
Shortlist
Convivophobia by David Lowis
Read it here
Hand Made by Richard Stimac
Read it here
Next Door: Following the Party Line by Sue Rowbotham
Read it here
On Hosting a One-Year Old’s Birthday by Salena Casha
Read it here
The Final Dance by Isabelle Hichens
Read it here
The First New Year by Mabel Fish
Read it here
The Grass is Greener by John Holmes
Read it here
Farewell to the Monthly Micro!
Hi everyone, Amanda here. We’ve been noticing for a while that the oomph has gone out of this competition. We had a good run and when we first launched it back in 2018 it was hugely popular for several years, with hundreds of entries and getting around 400 voters each month. Entries and votes are very low now compared to its heyday so I know that it is time to let this competition go.
There are still lots of opportunities to get published with us though and if micro writing is your thing, we publish them 3 times a year in our themed editions. Get the info here.
With love,
Deadlines coming up
Slight of hand, magic eye pictures, Is it Cake?, masking, M. C. Escher. Illusion is everywhere. These clever deceptions can create wonderfully rich stories full of twists and turns. WestWord is looking for your ILLUSION themed stories. Submit here. Accepting micros (up to 350 words), flash (up to 1,000 words) and short stories (up to 3,000 words). Entry Fee: £5. Deadline: 31st January.
The 2025 Hermit Crab Prize. Send us your stories hiding in other forms! Watch the workshop replay on how to make sure hermit crabs have great story. Our judge is Avitus. B. Carle and the winning and shortlisted authors win a share of the entry fees and get published in the anthology edition. Entry fee: £6. Deadline: 23rd February.
WestWord Prize Revamped for 2025, we are accepting stories of up to 1,000 words. With the wonderful Sara Hills ready and waiting to judge. Enter for a chance to win the top prize of £400. Entry Fee: £10. Deadline: 31st March.
If you prefer themeless submission slots, then WestWord also accepts short stories (up to 1,000 words for Story Sunday and up to 5,000 words for Short Story Spotlight) and flash fiction up to 750 words for Flash Focus. Submissions accepted on a rolling basis.