Nov 22
May 18, 2018
The Creative Writing program at Lake Superior State University is excited to announce the 2018 winner of its fourth annual LSSU High School Short Story Prize. Each year, this contest is open to all North American students in grades nine through twelve.
The mission of the contest is to inspire a passion for reading and a love for writing among high school students and to raise awareness about the growing Creative Writing program at LSSU.
The first-place prize for this year is publication in volume 8 of Border Crossing, Lake Superior State University’s journal of literature and art. In addition, the winner will receive a $500 cash prize which may be converted into a $1,000 cash scholarship should the winner decide to pursue a degree at Lake State.
This year’s winner, Magdalena Deniz, was selected from over 100 entries across America for her historical fiction story, “The Type of Bite That Stings.” Deniz is currently finishing her junior year at Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale, New Jersey. When she isn’t reading or writing, Deniz says she spends her time spinning in color guard, singing a cappella, and napping on her best friend’s couch.
“The Type of Bite that Stings” shows the summer of 1974 through the eyes of 10-year-old Ruby, who lives with her mother, father, and sister Cecily in what her sister calls a “broken” home. When her Uncle Roy comes to inspect the beehive that’s fallen on their porch, Ruby learns a dark secret that Cecily has been keeping for many years.
“The Type of Bite that Stings” will be published on September 1, 2018 with the eighth annual issue of Border Crossing.
Runners-up, finalists, and semifinalists for this year’s contest can be found on the LSSU High School Short Story Prize website. The theme of the 2018-2019 competition will be announced this fall. Further updates are available by joining the LSSU Short Story list-serv.