A Winner Has Been Chosen!
For the Exploring the Unknown writing prompt
“The Day I Burned” by Shaina Read
Click the link above to read the winning story
Congratulations, Shaina!
Readers have chosen your story as the winner of the Exploring the Unknown writing prompt. I’ll contact you via email to send you a $25 gift card to the Storyletter Gift Shop.
Here are the amazing things people had to say about Shaina’s story:
Sandra
I really connected to this story and felt the power it holds. I can float and fly in some of my dreams and that’s what pulled me into this space. Also, knowing she was leaving her dad the same trinket he had given her for comfort and it is now back with him for comfort knowing she is ok.
Elly
I’m voting for The Day I Burned because it has incredible visuals and intensity while looking at death through a less traditionally religious lens.
Beverley Williams
I enjoyed reading all the stories so thanks for pulling them together and good job everyone. But a few days later, it is The Day I Burned that stuck with me. The umbilical cord having a role in death, as in birth, closing the cycle of life. And flying along tethered behind the ambulance - it reminded me of the flying dreams I had as a kid, where I wanted to soar, but wasn't really in control and couldn't get more than a few feet off the ground. Lovely view of death, the biggest unknown of all.
Randall Hayes
I vote for "The Day I Burned" by Shaina Reed because of that last description of the astral body bursting into flame. I'd never seen that before.
I also liked the skull.
Chris Deliso
I have chosen The Day I Burned by Shaina Read; I was intrigued by its narrative voice and blend of the physical and metaphysical in approaching a topic that has been 'done to death' (har har), perhaps in a new way. Not that I am an expert on the literature of the great beyond but that's my vote.
Dan Blakely
My vote is also for The Day I Burned. I liked how she was still tethered to life and part of me wanted the doctor to do something to save her but then the story closed out a different way. Nicely done.
Leigh Parrish
My vote is also for The Day I Burned. The ending was beautiful and bittersweet.
David Caligaris
I’m voting for The Day I Burned by Shaina Read. Why? I really felt shivers as she took the reader thru the final resolution of hers and by implication how our own separation fm life may linger. Admittedly during transportation to the hospital, I was thinking about how the corded connection wud make the adjustment if the ambulance passed under an overpass, but never mind, we got to the hospital!
The fact that the painted skull, a gift fm her dad, was given to him by the thoughtful first responder was closure in a heart-warming way.
Great work, Shaina!
Subscribe to Shaina’s Substack, Kindling, for more stories like this one. Thank you for supporting independent writers and creators. Your participation is what makes this all worth it. Stay tuned for more events like this one coming soon. ~ WM
Comment Winners
Two voters were randomly chosen to receive a 3-month paid membership to Storyletter XPress Publishing. The winners are:
Thank you so much for participating! You’ll receive your reward shortly.
Ahhhhhhh!!! Thanks so much to everyone who wrote, voted, and to you Winston for hosting this contest. Can’t wait to own something from The Storyletter gift shop!
Congrats, Shaina- and great job, Winston for your steady hand in organizing this contest and seeing everything through to the end. I really enjoyed it and great work, everyone else who entered and also those who took the time to read our work. It is very much appreciated. Have a great weekend, and happy writing, everyone!