LICHFIELD
INSTITUTE
2024 Spring Writing Contest Winners & Finalists
With gratitude to all who submitted, the editors are delighted to announce the results of our second annual writing contest. We were amazed at the variety and caliber of the manuscripts we read.
1st place: I Wish I Could Wind Us Like a Clock by Danah Derani (essay)
2nd place: Once Upon a Bookshop by David Locke (essay)
3rd place: When He Speaks by Whitley Carnes (poem)
Finalists
The Ballad of a Ballerina by Nur Alishah Tibor
Desiderio by João Moura Fernandes
In the Still of the Night by Max Castleman
Mid-January in Texas Can Get Cold by Bobbie Ortmeier
The Sack of Guts and Bones That Calls Me Mommy by Sawyer Whalen
How I Turned Into a Tree by Candice Zheng
Elegy, the Last by Kaitlin Wert
Death Bites by Anna Egres
First place receives $10,000; second place, $5,000; and third place, $1,050. Winners and finalists have their work broadcast to over 21,000 Lichfield subscribers. They also receive copies of two Lichfield publications: How to Build Your Creative Career and Master the Art of Novel Writing.
What Our Entrants Say
João Moura Fernandes, Poetry finalist, Desiderio
Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback. I truly appreciate the time and care you took in reviewing my work. Your comments on the poem’s themes and techniques are insightful and resonate with the intentions I carefully shaped into the piece. I’m excited to continue refining the poem based on your suggestions.
Jessica Edmondson, Short story entrant, The Waiting Room
Thank you so much for the feedback. This is the first professional feedback I've received and I feel excited. It leaves me feeling seen, hopeful and accomplished. I truly appreciate the time you took to read this and give me your input.
Edward Tookes, Poetry entrant, Anthem of the Mediocre
What an excellent review! A very thorough analysis of my work — you really got the crux of what I was trying to say, very well worth the wait.
Dana Byler, Poetry entrant, Mind Thief
I want to thank you for your feedback and tell you I made some changes based off your advice. This is such an incredible opportunity for someone like me to have your feedback. I want to tell you how much it means to me.
If you haven't received your literary feedback please kindly check your spam folder and double check that the email address you used for submission is correct.
Please email us at (study@lichfieldinst.org) if you have not received your feedback.