Wordgrove Post & Review

How to Choose the Winner of a Writing Contest

Should emotional impact count most? If the world and love were to come together in one transporting moment of joy, or should they shatter into memories and a thousand cutting pieces; and should that moment be given to you as fresh as your own first time, how can the tears from that not weigh heaviest in the count?

But what chance is there for a crucible of hot tears when faced with an eye-widening inventiveness, a creative and startling new way of looking at things? In art, in love, in life, there are those few dawning moments, flashes of realization that cannot be unlearned, forgotten or gainsaid. What could matter more?

… unless the work itself is that rare anomaly that grows from confessional seed into new leaf and full life, into a populated universe unto itself, a revelatory epic achievement.

The problem: which of the Authors and which of these components of the writer’s craft aren’t deserving of Gold Torch recognition? It does not dilute the value of a prize if the winners are worthy and the prize is shared. With that understanding, it gives the sponsor great pleasure to announce a three-way tie for the 2015 Wordgrove Prize.

The Gold Torch goes to:

For its emotional impact; for dropping the innocent bystander dead-center into a tragedy; for leaving the reader to emerge wounded and bleeding honest tears…

~Jessalee: Provisions

~~

For giving hollowness a face, and nothingness a mask; for giving a 3D perspective to blackness and empty space; for turning sadness into a reason for grief…

~noxy: shadow

~~

For giving the larger vision its own canvas, then filling it with truth; for looking in the mirror and giving Hell its due; for mining treasure from the deep shafts of pain…

~Piffin: The Resurrection Machine

~

Congratulations to all who entered Wordgrove’s 2015 writing contest, and this year’s Silver Quill and Gold Torch winners!

~. .~