Write Michigan Anthology 2023

<p><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>This anthology as all anthologies do contains a limited number of pages and a limited number of stories by a limited number of contributors. It has one inevitable foot in the life of scarcity. But it stands with its other foot in the writing life of abundance; it was made by and for writers and readers spread across an entire state eager to hear what stories we have to offer to each other eager to see how writers at different ages and speaking different languages can speak to each other and eager to read the literal thousands of pages of humor and heartbreak coming from writers brave and hard-working enough to tell and share their stories.</strong></p><p></p><p><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>     </strong><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>- </span><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Caitlin Horrocks</strong><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> from the foreword to the Write Michigan 2023 Anthology</span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>The Write Michigan Short Story Contest is in its eleventh year. We are delighted to have entries 347 unique Michigan zip codes this year including the Upper Peninsula! This statewide contest offers opportunities for writers in three age groups - 11 and under 12 - 17 years old and 18 and older - with four cash prizes awarded in each category.  </span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>The stories in this anthology are among the 1250 submitted between September 1 and November 30 2022. A group of 186 volunteers initially screened the stories; each story was rated and reviewed anonymously by at least two volunteers to determine our top ten semifinalists in each category. A panel of judges most published authors themselves then reviewed the semifinalists' stories to determine which ones were the best of the best while the public cast 1249 votes for their favorites.  </span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>With this anthology we share in the telling of some of the best stories imagined by Michigan writers. Printed in these pages are 21 stories including the Judges' Choice Judges' Choice Runner-Up Readers' Choice Spanish Language Winner and published finalists in each of the three categories.  </span></p><p></p><p></p>