Sixteen of the SmokeLong editors have been hard at work narrowing down the field in The SmokeLong Grand Micro Competition 2023–from almost 1500 micros to our shortlisted group of 17 (certainly a miraculous number). While we won’t be able to publish all the gems on this list, we congratulate each of these writers for wowing us with a rich, layered narrative in so few words.
Anonymous judging is still in progress to determine our finalists, each of whom will be offered publication. If your title is on the list below, please feel free to share the news on social media but without naming your micro. We will be announcing the winners soon! ETA: Authors’ names added on December 2, 2023.
Thank you to everyone who sent work into this competition and particularly to the long-listed writers whose work we found compelling.
–The SmokeLong Team
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Competition Shortlist
Balance – Barbara Diggs
Call and Response – Mark Foss
Chicken – Natalie Warther
Dangling Over the Sea – Nicole Brogdon
Down for Anything – Anne Gerard
Hey Lisa I Hope You Like – Sara Hills
How I Raise My Daughters – Lisa Bass
It Was – Frances Gapper
Latecomer – Eileen Tomarchio
Mom’s in Rehab and I’m at a Beach Party with My Dog – Alida Dean
Mother Tongue – Kik Lodge
Passing – Dhyanna Raffi-David
Perseids – Madeline Anthes
Still – Casey Walsh
The Final Quadrant – Jude Higgins
The Great Butter Baby Championship – Emily Rinkema
Unfinished Houses – Ani King
The core workshop of SmokeLong Fitness is all in writing, so you can take part from anywhere at anytime. We are excited about creating a supportive, consistent and structured environment for flash writers to work on their craft in a community. We are thrilled and proud to say that our workshop participants have won, placed, or been listed in every major flash competition. Community works.