By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
More than 1,150 writers across Michigan entered the 12th annual Write Michigan Short Story Contest that began accepting submissions in September 2023. Among the entrants were 441 adults, 461 teens and 260 youth.
Kent District Library, Capital Area District Library, Canton Public Library, Michigan Learning Channel and Schuler Books recently announced the winners of the 2023-24 Write Michigan contest.
Winners were chosen by public voting for the $250 Readers’ Choice award, and by a panel of judges for the $500 Judges’ Choice and $250 Judges’ Choice Runner-up awards.
Write Michigan winners will be honored at an awards ceremony on March 23. The ceremony will feature a keynote address from author Gary D. Schmidt.
WKTV Journal recently caught up with a few of the entrants for an inside look at the winning stories and the inspiration behind them.
Youth Judges’ Choice Winner – Leyla Koroglu (Ann Arbor, MI)
A Long-Forgotten Memory: Told from the perspective of an old tree named Maple, the story is about the relationship between the tree and Amber, the new owner of the house where Maple lives. During the story, Maple and Amber uncover their forgotten past together and learn to appreciate themselves in new ways.
Eleven-year-old Leyla Koroglu entered the Write Michigan contest after seeing an advertisement at her local library.
“It inspired me to write a new story,” said Koroglu. “I like to write stories from unique perspectives.
“I wanted to explore the perspective of a tree in A Long-Forgotten Memory because trees can grow so old and experience so much, but they can never move. I also wanted to think about what kinds of feelings a tree might have.”
Koroglu has been writing pieces of stories she made up since she was very young.
“I like creating stories that have meaningful messages behind them,” said Koroglu. “A Long-Forgotten Memory shows that even if you feel helpless, you can still be very special to someone else.”
Winning the Judges’ Choice Award meant a lot to Koroglu because she didn’t expect to win. The young writer is excited to write another story for next year’s contest.
Teen Judges’ Choice Winner – Sonja de Wilde (Grand Rapids, MI)
A House with a Garden: “Werewolf of London” meets “Southern Gothic.” Two characters in a backwoods mining town have a dream to live a more peaceful life, but their personal demons get in the way. Though they love each other, it is not enough, and they end up succumbing to their environment.
Sixteen-year-old Sonja de Wilde entered the Write Michigan contest for fun when she found out a friend was also participating.
“I never actually expected to win,” said de Wilde. “It was just something fun to work on together. We read each other’s stories while we were writing them, and talked about our ideas and writing.”
De Wilde said she has been writing stories since she can remember, but had difficulty finishing them until recently.
“I’ve always had a difficult time following through on any one idea,” said de Wilde. “Perhaps because it’s too daunting at the moment, or I come up with another one that I think is better.
“One day I hope to write a novel or two, but I have a lot of work to do before I get there, I think.”
A House with a Garden was inspired by a modern Southern Gothic novel de Wilde read over the past summer.
“That book had an enormous impact on me,” said de Wilde. “I still think about it almost every single day.”
The teen writer also finds inspiration in music, and she often writes while listening to specific playlists. De Wilde also writes music, and is working on a Southern Gothic-inspired album.
“The album’s story is very similar to this [story],” said de Wilde. “I’d say A House With A Garden encapsulates the third act of the album.”
De Wilde said she will never forget the moment she realized she had won the Judges’ Choice award.
“I was in my room, finishing homework, and I looked up and my inbox said (1). I opened the email, and I just remember a flood of shock and amazement,” said de Wilde. “I ran downstairs and told my mom right away, and we were both screaming and jumping around in the kitchen.”
“It really was such an incredible moment,” de Wilde continued. “I entered for fun, and all of a sudden the judges think my writing, my little story, deserves the top award in my category.
“I am just so proud of myself, and so grateful for the people around me who encourage me every day to know my worth, and the worth of my work.”
Adult Judges’ Choice Winner – Joshua Boers (Grand Rapids, MI)
Gambler’s Rest: After his wife’s death during a poker game, a grieving card sharp finds his way to Gambler’s Rest—a dismal afterlife where the dead gamble for memories. To bring her back, he must play the highest-stakes card game of his life.
Joshua Boers entered the Write Michigan contest after his cousin suggested they both submit stories.
“I find it so much easier to finish a story when I’m accountable to someone and I have a deadline, so this was a great arrangement for me,” said Boers.
Inspired by a They Might Be Giants rock band song about ghouls, Gambler’s Rest came to fruition after several weeks of planning.
“I spent a few months working and reworking the outline—trying to find the characters, tone, and plot,” said Boers. “I eventually took some inspiration from the poem Sir Orfeo, a medieval retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth where a king must rescue his wife from a fairy court.
“After that, I just had to learn how to play poker, and then the writing could begin in earnest.”
Having written several poems and stories when he was younger, Boers picked up the hobby again in earnest after taking a creative writing class at Calvin University.
“[Writing] can be a slow process, but it’s exciting when you feel like you’re on the trail of something interesting,” said Boers.
That “something interesting” won Boers the Judges’ Choice award.
“It was a surprise,” said Boers. “I knew I’d be up against hundreds of people, so I didn’t expect to be selected as a semifinalist or to win the Judges’ Choice award.
“It makes me more excited and more confident as I move on to new writing projects.”
Published Finalist – Margaret VanHaften (Frankfort, MI)
Gristle, Witch Hazel, and the Kickball: Lizzy, a nine year-old in the 1950’s, wants to be part of the neighborhood kickball team. She thinks her birthday gift, a real kickball, will be the key to entry. But, Gristle, the neighborhood bully, gets the ball from her and kicks it into Witch Hazel’s yard. Witch Hazel is said to mush-up children who come into her yard and put them into her banana-nut bread, a definite deterrent to kids retrieving lost balls.
Lizzy, embarrassed, intimidated and angry, has to figure out how to handle her problem. She learns how to discern what people tell her and handle challenges.
Though Margaret VanHaften has loved writing fiction since the 1950s and has an avid imagination, most of her school and career experiences required technical writing.
“Now I have time to write the fiction I love,” said VanHaften.
However, VanHaften admitted that she rarely sends her writing out for publication.
“Write Michigan is a safe way to start,” said VanHaften. “I like the way the scoring grid clarifies what the judges are looking for – I use it regularly now.”
Lizzy’s story came to VanHaften as many of them do – as soon as her head hits the pillow at night. A process that, though it does not help her sleep, helps her write.
“I don’t know where the stories come from, but I’m glad they arrive,” said VanHaften.
Upon learning she was a Published Finalist, VanHaften said she was surprised, but grateful her story resonated with readers.
“That is my goal, to connect to readers in a meaningful way.”
Link to full list of winners – and more!
To see a full list of Write Michigan 2024 winners, click here.
To learn about other Write Michigan events, click here.
Learn more about KDL opportunities and events for the community by visiting their website.
