As much as I love doing these writing contests…
and as much as I love doing the critiques and helping people figure out ways to make their stories better…
when it comes down to picking the absolute best stories to win the contest, it’s nerve-racking!
Well, not for me but maybe for you.
For me it’s… I don’t know. Right now I’m sitting here looking at two stories that could win and be number one, and eight other stories where three of them are contending for third place and three of them are contending for fourth place.
DAN ALATORRE 
6 replies on “Oh, it’s driving me nuts!”
I am sure it is very difficult to judge stories as different aspects will appeal to you in each of them.
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True. Each one is great for different reasons.
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Everything in life becomes subjective, and part of one’s ego and opinion. It doesn’t make it right. I’ve entered contests and submitted stuff I very much like. NO publishing. Can’t tell why. There are no adverbs and few adjectives. The subject matter? The message? Short sentences rather than long ones?
As a judge you might ask, is this the best short story I’ve ever read? How long lasting will this story be? Will the manner of its telling influence other writers?
I could speculate more, but you got the drift.
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It’s true, what makes a story good is difficult to quantify.
But I know it when I see it.
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“Better” is a relative term, and what seems better to one may not be so to another. I don’t envy your task!
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It’s fun but it’s hard.
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