Prose Overview

This was a difficult year – a lot of anger and violence and way too many memoirs. And oh, some good stories that were just too long. People – stick to the rules. If you want your stories printed, observe the word counts! So, a few words about the winners.

“Treasures” by Richard C. Johnson. I don’t want to say too much but this is a really well wrought piece, deceptively simple with a nice opening at the end. It reminded me of a certain local painter and you’ll see who I mean when you read it.

“Choices” by Guerdon Trueblood. A little too wordy towards the end, but whether we are part of or apart from nature is to me one of the great questions of our time. This story puts the question as clearly as I can imagine and with strength and poignancy.

“Regrets” by Joe Gozdowiak. We had a lot of stories about death this time. This one looks it in the eyes and then sees past them into hope. That was refreshing.

In the Honorable Mentions I tried to suggest the best of the whole span of entries. Some of these are returning writers, some are new. I hope to see work from all of them in coming issues of the Pulse.

Speaking of which, there are always stories in these contests which deserve to see ink. In coming issues we hope to print more of them. That’s what I always find so remarkable after all is said and done – the fact that there are always more deserving stories than awards.

– H.C. Timm