New Millennium Writing Awards 53 | 2022
First Place Winners, Finalists, and Honorable Mentions of the 53rd New Millennium Writing Awards!
Flash Fiction
Crackup | Sean W. Murphy
53rd NMW Award for Flash Fiction.
This affectionate and delightful tale reminds us that to offer true love and support, we must sometimes be willing to throw off the shackles of logic.
An Alternate Theory Regarding Natural Disasters | Myna Chang
52nd NMW Award for Flash Fiction.
Myna Chang of Potomac, Maryland for ”An Alternate Theory Regarding Natural Disasters…,”
It’s not often that our top entry is also the most hopeful one. Chang’s imagining of a small town finding silver linings among the rubble is that story.
Rebirth | Alexandra Blogier
51st NMW Award for Flash Fiction.
Alexandra Blogier of Boston, Massachusetts for ”Rebirth,”
After the act of creation, just how far will a mother go to hang on to what’s left of herself? Blogier’s incredible short story offers a dark glimpse of the wonder and terror of motherhood.
Excelsior | Robyn Carter
50th NMW Award for Flash Fiction.
Robyn Carter of San Francisco, California for ”Excelsior,”
a hypnotic and crystalline study in traveling on to the next destination, even as the body tries to serve what’s already gone.
On the Origin of Species | Lee Thomas
49th New Millennium Award for Flash Fiction
Lee Thomas of Los Angeles, California for ”On the Origin of Species”
Though written well before the global pandemic, Thomas’s story gets right to the heavy, racing heart of these uncertain times. We’re honored to share this beautiful, poignant story.
Getaway | Kristina Woods
48th New Millennium Award for Flash Fiction
Kristina Woods of New Canaan, Connecticut for “Getaway”
Woods’s prose is honest, engaging, and so vivid that readers may feel they’ve taken their own little “Getaway” — right through the heart of the character’s life story. A superb piece!
Seven Ravens | Carla Myers
47th New Millennium Award for Flash Fiction
Carla Myers of Boalsburg, Pennsylvania for “Seven Ravens”
Nearly every time we choose a Flash Fiction winner, we discuss the inherent challenge of this category. In a flash, an author must create an entire story arc, impart some existential truth, and weave imagery bright and sharp enough to imprint on the reader’s mind. Done well, it is a beauty to behold. “Seven Ravens” checks all these boxes and more.
How To Write a Love Letter | Eleanor Bluestein
New Millennium Award for Flash Fiction
Eleanor Bluestein of La Jolla, California for “How To Write a Love Letter”
Let Eleanor Bluestein shed light on this ancient art of seduction, and reveal the secrets of romantic mastery in the MisInformation Age.
Ember | Alyson Hagy
The story of a woman who discovers a mysterious spark of life and must reckon with the obligations and opportunities it presents. —NMW