Flash 500
  • Home
  • Enter Now
  • Flash Fiction
    • Flash Fiction: Overview
    • Flash Fiction: Competition Rules
    • Flash Fiction: Winners
  • Short Stories
    • Short Stories: Overview
    • Short Stories: Competition Rules
    • Short Stories: Winners
    • Short Stories Judge: Natali Simmonds
  • Novels
    • Novels: Overview
    • Novels: Competition Rules
    • Novels: Winners
    • Novels Judge: Headline
  • FAQs
  • Announcements
  • Critique Service
  • Contact Us

Flash Fiction Judge’s Report Q1 2021

This quarter’s report is by Amanda Saint

Firstly, thanks to Lorraine for inviting me to judge this great competition again. I’ve really enjoyed reading these 25 stories that have transported me from hospital wards, battlefields and drought-ridden farms to seedy hotel rooms, gravesides and health spas.

Themes of love unable to be expressed, love that has died, and love that is blooming were woven through tales of poverty, death, sex, addiction and women rediscovering their strength and power.  Loss, leaving and grieving were strong themes throughout all the stories, no doubt a reflection of the times we find ourselves in.

There is much to recommend in all of the shortlisted stories I read, but my winners are the ones that kept coming back to me when I was doing something else.

Winner: The Truth About Snowflakes

A devastating story that is filled with a savage, sad beauty at the same time. The parallels of the creation of snowflakes with what’s happening to the narrator are really well drawn in language that works really hard and paints vivid pictures. I couldn’t stop thinking about this story and each time I read it, more and more layers were revealed.

Second place: Everything Said

The different reactions captured here at the end of each paragraph perfectly capture the time, place and atmosphere of Friday night revels, which are often tinged with hysteria. Loved the line: “…everyone is drunk/ tired/ a little broken.” A sad and poignant story that is filled with hope and humanity by the end.

Third place: Two Days Later

The choice the mother has to make that sits at the heart of this story is even more overwhelming as it is revealed through a very matter of fact voice, and a structure that leads you to the love that is still fierce despite what she has had to do. I had to go back and read it from the beginning again straight away as the ending makes the beginning even more powerful than it initially seems.

I’d like to give a special mention to Deflowering and The Whole Truth About Half Dates as well. Both strong contenders for my top spots and I have no doubt they’ll find a home elsewhere very soon, as will all of the stories on the shortlist.

Related Posts

Flash Fiction Judge's Report

Flash Fiction Judge’s Report Q3 2023

Flash Fiction Judge's Report

Flash Fiction Judge’s Report Q2 2023

Flash Fiction Judge's Report

Flash Fiction Judge’s Report Q1 2023

All content © Flash 500. All rights reserved. Website designed and hosted by Gandy-Draper Web Design

Privacy Policy | Critique Service | Lorraine Mace

Flash Fiction competition | Short Story competition | Novels competition
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.ACCEPTReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT