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Welcome members, subscribers and supporters!

Thank you to everyone who entered the Writing Prize. There were many wonderful stories and, as last time, it has taken a while to decide the final stories.

However, after careful deliberation, The Ink Well is ready to announce the winners of the writing prize. The judging panel was Hive account@shanibeer, Hive account@jayna and Hive account@agmoore. Read on for the prize-winners, in reverse order.

4th Prize - 50 Hive

Broken Home by Hive account@warpedpoetic

Fish rotted in the rafters above the dead fireplace. The wind rustled the raffia mat serving as blinds, revealing the moon and concealing it again. The flickering moonlight caught the rat sneaking passed the open sack of yam heads, its eyes fixed on dried fish heads scattered inside a raffia basket resting against a stack of firewood. The sea wafted in with the breeze and stayed when the breeze ran into the night.

A terrible, terrifying, story of conflict, fragmented identity, loss and trauma and a final escape ... "A strange and beautiful story. Atmosphere, extraordinary. Masterful use of language. Mystical battle for body and soul".

3rd Prize - 75 Hive

The Eighth Poem (Crowded) by Hive account@amirtheawesome1

"I absolutely love this" She said while looking at me "is this really your first poem?"

"Yes" I replied "I wrote it for you"

"Is that bracelet for me?" She asked while eyeing the golden bracelet I carry with me.

Shattered innocence, shattered lives, a broken world and letters that felt too sharp ... "a poem of a story, beautiful, skillful".

Both of these stories were chosen for their originality and creativity and their superb use of language.

2nd Prize - 125 Hive

Happy Anniversary and Welcome Home, Dubois Family Style by Hive account@deeanndmathews

a love all bloomed out like the seeds from Ébène-Cerise Dubois's iris bouquet, grown to two wide generations, numerous like the irises in the field.

The story of Ébène-Cerise's journey to join her husband, Jean-Luc, in their new home on their anniversary, the beautiful iris motif symbolising hope and faith ... "A wonderful story. The author is in complete control throughout".

A beautiful ending, and a complete story in itself, to the bigger story arc of the Dubois family and their search for a new home. Beautifully written, with the writer's trademark skill of managing a large cast of characters, each with their own identity, weaving in and out of the story.

1st Prize - 250 Hive

Rachel's Paintings by Hive account@marcybetancourt

Between candy and laughter, it ended that year. Even with the cold Rachel returned to painting. White had reached her heart and her color palette. First, it was the blue that diminished in intensity, then the red and green.

"This is a nearly perfect story. Rachel undergoes a complete transformation, painting her way to an autonomous life. I found it to be spectacular and well-told, on point with character and story development, story telling, setting (especially! - with the basement and paintings)".

"The care, complexity and layering in this story, so rich and so spare at the same time".

A beautiful story, beautifully written, that stays in the memory.

Congratulations to all our winners - please check your wallets for your prizes!

Thank you to everyone who took part in the writing prize!

Announcement

Dear friends, Hive account@shanibeer is retiring from The Ink Well for health reasons. She has really enjoyed being part of The Ink Well and getting to know so many wonderful and dedicated writers.

The Ink Well will continue with Hive account@jayna and Hive account@agmoore.

Best wishes to everyone for a wonderful writing future.

We would like to invite lovers of short stories to visit The Ink Well, a Hive community started by Hive account@raj808 and run by Hive account@shanibeer and Hive account@stormlight24 with support from moderators Hive account@carolkean, Hive account@jayna and Hive account@agmoore.

Read The Ink Well Manifesto for Writers, Readers and Investors.

It is now possible to follow The Ink Well curation trail on Hive blockchain with Hive.Vote. Simply navigate to the curation trail section and search for theinkwell and our trail will pop up as an option.

If you wish to delegate to Hive account@theinkwell and support creative writing on Hive, you can do this from the wallet section in PeakD.

A big thank you to all our delegators

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