Time for the big reveal…
You knew we’d be back. After a hiatus most of the year to deal with the horror of being “a ghost driving a meat-covered skeleton,” we couldn’t be happier to return to this whole writing contest thing and see such a strong showing in our 10th annual Flash Monster contest.
This round saw monsters range from sympathetic to true abominations. We saw a number of stories from the monster’s perspective, both preying on humankind and lamenting its loss. There were monstrous transformations of family members, or characters feeling the pain of turning into monsters themselves. There were putrid beasts and poignant characters, often within the same ghastly organism. In other words, exactly what we wanted!
We always love seeing familiar names pop up in the winners’ circle, including a couple recent first-place winners, but we are equally as pleased when there’s fresh meat. And hey, it’s our first contest in almost a year, we’re gonna turn our usual Top 10 up to 11, with a tie in the final spot. Don’t make us pick, man!
Close-but-no-cigar shortlist shout-outs go to:
The following writers had stories that made it through several rounds of cuts,
but didn’t quite squeak into the Top 10.
The Top 10 (well, 11) that you’ll find below will be published in our forthcoming
Flash Monster 2023 mega-issue, which will emerge in a few short hours on Halloween.
10th (tie) –“Father’s Day” by Colin Alexander
& “And that which we seek to control will destroy us in the end”
by
9th – “Where all is dark, one is sent to see the light” by Colin Alcock
8th – “Window to the Soul” by
7th – “Gunk” by
6th – “Madelaine” by
5th – “Two Egg” by
4th – “Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick…” by
And now on to the three stories that really made our heads swim.
3rd Prize ($100)
“How to Establish Cordial Relations with Your
Cephalopod Neighbour”
by
2nd Prize ($200)
“The Composer”
by
1st Prize ($300)
“A Whisper of Before”
by
Congrats to the winners and a huge thanks to everyone who participated in our
10th annual Monster contest!
Check back at midnight Pacific for the
Flash Monster 2023 mega-issue.
The Molotov Cocktail 