Finalist for CRAFT’s 2020 Elements Contest

My short story, “Girl in the Forest of Fear,” was a finalist for the 2020 CRAFT Elements contest. This year’s theme was “Conflict.”

While “Girl in the Forest of Fear” didn’t end up winning the grand prize, CRAFT accepted it for publication anyway, saying it was a favorite (!!!). It should be published in their online magazine sometime between February 2021 and April 2021. Oh, and I’m getting paid $200 for it. Hazaah!

I’m so excited for my work to be published in a great journal like CRAFT, which is a journal that has made it a point to nominate stories for various awards (the Pushcart, Best Small Fictions, Best of the Net, Best Microfiction, various PEN awards…) and is also recognized in the Best American Short Stories anthology series as a journal they read from.

I also love that CRAFT is planning to send me edits and revision suggestions before they publish it. Which, from an outsider perspective, could seem kind of offensive—"Edits? If they like it so much, if it’s a favorite, shouldn’t they think it’s perfect?”—but as a writer, I appreciate that CRAFT’s editors loved the story despite its imperfections, and are going to take the time to help me make it the best it can be. That way it’s something I’m truly proud to show potential agents and editors in the future. That’s why you want a lit mag to help you edit and develop instead of just taking something as is (unless the piece is pretty damn perfect, but that ain’t ever gonna be my stuff, haha).