Congratulations to all the 2024 Tiny Stories Contest Winners!

 

Big Stories, Tiny Format: Meet the Winners!

 

The results are in, and the winning entries for GVPL’s Tiny Stories Contest are here!

 

We asked you to tell a story in 450 characters or less, and you delivered with tales that made us laugh, cry, and marvel at your creativity. From gripping mysteries to heartwarming romances and everything in between, these stories prove that sometimes the best things come in small packages.

 

Thank you to everyone who entered. Whether you submitted a tale or cheered on your fellow writers, you made this contest a success! Keep dreaming, writing, and sharing your creativity with us.

 

Stay tuned for more chances to showcase your storytelling skills!

 

Check out the winning stories below:

 

Adult Winner:

 

Untitled by Beth Carswell

My grandmother’s wedding ring catches light as her hands punch down the dough and knead. I know the blue veins, her thick knuckles, so well. My grandfather died in April and this is the first time she’s baked bread since. Nearly 51 years together.

“What now?” I ask. She covers the bowl with a clean tea towel, puts it in the sunny window. Takes off her apron, puts the kettle on for tea. “Now,” she says, “we wait for the second rise.”

 

Character Count: 435

 

Adult Runners-Up:

 

Untitled by PJ Perdue

 

Scientists huddled over the teleporter: just toaster-sized, it was the largest that could be built without producing dangerous radiation. But more than just send many millions of miles, it returned an object one minute after reaching the target: the Lyot crater on Mars. They placed an apple in it and hit the switch. It hummed and glowed; the fruit disappeared. One minute later the apple reappeared. There was a bite taken out of it.

 

Character Count: 434

 

 

Bad Faith by Riley Kirkwin

 

“I love you,” she says. “I want to help.”

I try one more time. She wants to help.

I tell her: I know it’s simple. I can’t do it. My brain won’t let me. I ripout everyone of my guts to explain how much I hate it, how I wish I had a real explanation, how it feels living inside something broken. I cry. Ten minutes of talking until every possible way to communicate what it’s like in my mind and body has run dry.

“I don’t agree,” she says.

 

Character Count: 435

 

 

The Half Hour Before Hello and After Goodbye by Sierra Taylor

 

The airport didn’t have a cell phone lot – 30 minutes outside the city, with nowhere to wait until the ding of the “Just Landed.” text. No matter – she was good at timing things.

 

Last time her son visited, her hair still had streaks of colour and her skin showed far fewer signs of age. This time, she had him for one night between meetings.

 

Ding. “Just Boarded.”

 

30 minutes home from the airport was enough time to cry – she was good at timing things.

 

Character Count: 449

 

 

Going Home by Kristin Reed

 

Flee in darkness, furious, bereft. Mountains, Metallica loud, road curves up, down, up, moon rise, regret rise, finally sunrise.

 

Roadside oasis. Gas, pee, coffee, eggs, smoke, more road.

 

Valerie June sings Call Me a Fool. Silent miles, wind and breathing.

 

Roadside oasis, gas pee, coffee, pie, smoke, tears.

 

Silent phone. Familiar road, no more tears.

 

See where you were, are, remember who.

 

Remember why.

 

Bring your Self home.

 

Character Count: 419

 

Teen Winner:

 

Untitled by Lola Weinzettl

 

It was an open casket funeral. Grandma V’s harsh face was cold, even in death. There were roses clutched in her iron fists, black like her soul. To say I was glad she was dead was an understatement. I was thrilled. She had been a horrible woman in life and I hoped she would rot in hell. All eyes were dry as we sat and listened to speeches. Last up was Grandpa Bill. He unfolded his speech and took a deep breath. “I’m the one who killed her.”

Character Count: 444

 

Teen Runners-Up:

 

Dusk by Ruby

 

The night air smells like the marsh and sunshine. “This is how summer smells.”

My words sound too quiet in the night compared to the stars and wind.

“I wish we could stay here forever.” I don’t know if he means in the backyard looking at the stars, or just us.

The stars are not as bright tonight, they drown in city lights. Salt and stardust is replaced by dust and adulthood.

We are not together anymore and I no longer smell summer at night.

 

Character Count: 444

 

 

In My Dreams by Erica

 

They all say the same thing growing up:

 

chase your dreams.

 

But in a world of expectations to meet and people to support, not everyone can.

 

I want them to be proud: to not regret the sacrifices they made for me, to smile when they talk about me.

 

So I wonder, which is more important?

 

I stare at my books covered with solved equations instead of a world of stories.

 

Chase your dreams.

 

I quietly wait for night to fall, to dream of a world where I can.

 

Character Count: 442

 

 

Hidden Heroes by Hadley R.

 

Many children spend each night lying in bed wondering how they can change the world. For most, nobody will ever know their names and none of them will be famous. But that very child will have changed the world, in their own small way. All these small efforts are the building blocks to set up other children to reach the top; to reach the stars. We will never know who set down the concrete foundation for the heroes, but they will always be there.

 

Character Count: 448

 

Glance by Jack

 

Across the crowd, under the bright lights on the hard granite floor, a glance was stolen. Their eyes met, briefly and curiously before words had been spoken. They held the glance for a moment, a brief fantasy, honey sweet and open ended. Then, someone called from outside the glass door, and the crowd swelled and ebbed and pulled them out the door, dragging what could've been with them like a ship stolen by the waves.

 

Character Count: 420