#WEP WINNERS : APRIL 2023 CHALLENGE - LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL

 LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL - but our writers are beautifully talented, and boy, do your entries prove it! 

Thank you, everyone, for the amazing entries for Life is Beautiful. Sadly, our numbers were down by half again, but we see a drop off in blog activity across the blogosphere. We hope this is only temporary as the more who write to the WEP challenges, the better.

Hello, this is Renee with you, to sum up the April challenge results. But first a round-up of the entries via Jemi:

Yolanda Renee - Life is beautiful, family is everything

Olga Godim - Even after a tragedy, life could be beautiful

Nilanjana Bose - Colour it beautiful

Denise Covey - Life is beautiful, but death can be better

Jamie - Two girls in Nazi times, one Jewish and one not, are separated

Sonia Dogra - Pickle, Bicker, Smile!

Jemi Fraser - Even when sirens shatter the night

Hilary - Ugliness and cruelty are unnecessary

C. Lee McKenzie - The German Goose

Beth Camp - Regardless of how it may begin, life can be beautiful

J. Lenni Dorner - A father prepares his son to leave with him in hopes of surviving

Sally - That will be her mantra – do not interfere and then life will be beautiful for everybody.

Roland R. Clarke - Night Witches find family, new friends and allies

Kalpana - The Journey

Damyanti Biswas - In a halo of the senses

Shortlist

Such a bunch of awesome entries! It made the shortlisting super difficult this month even though the entries were down. Each of the team brings a slightly different perspective to the shortlisting process. Someone gives a tad more weight to the creative interpretation, another to the execution, yet another to reader engagement, but all of us are looking for the same final result - a thundering good story, well crafted and well told. We each shortlist and defend our choices passionately, there's a lot of back and forth that doesn't show up here before we pass them on to Nick, our judge. 

And Nick takes his time even though he also "felt all the stories were really on par in terms of quality and impact. It was hard to leave one out. Brilliant stuff. All the entries were so moving. This challenge was a great one!"

Here's the shortlist we sent on, but only three can win!

Beth Camp

Damyanti

J Lenni

Kalpana

Jamie

Sally

Commenting:

Thank you to all those who comment widely, especially those who read and comment even when they do not have an entry in the ring or are unwell. Our top supporter and commenter, Elephant's Child is having health issues and could not be present this challenge. We send our thoughts and prayers to you, Sue. Commenting is the lifeblood of WEP both as feedback towards the improvement of writing craft and as a communication channel for community building.

Sadly, this month as in months past we've had commenting issues. No one's quite sure what is going on, but it is not just a WordPress/Blogger issue. Please check the comments on the WEP post or the C-Box where we posted comments that wouldn't take on blogs. 

Please note that due to incessant spamming issues, we have had to keep comment moderation on. So your comment may not show up right away, but we will get to it soonest possible. We value your comments, please keep them coming. 

THE APRIL PRIZE

This month's prize is a first chapter critique from our IWSG liaison, friend, and ofttimes participant of WEP, multi-published author C Lee McKenzie.

Check our previous post for more information about C Lee McKenzie.

Three winners! Three Oscars!

AND NOW IT'S TIME TO CONGRATULATE THE WINNERS!

WE HOPE YOU AGREE THE BADGES ARE BEYOND AWESOME!

THANKS, OLGA GODIM!

THE WINNER OF THE APRIL 2023 CHALLENGE 

~ LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL ~ 

IS 

CONGRATULATIONS, Jamie! 

Jamie's story, Pearl and Sarah brought hate and prejudice to us through the eyes of innocent children. Masterfully done, Jamie!

Nick said, "Hatred and prejudice seen through the eyes of an uncomprehending child. If only that innocence could be preserved. Devastating, in a quiet way."

Jamie, if you will please post this badge on your blog and link it to your winning entry. Tweet it! Share the love! Use the critique prize or pass it on to the next winner if you can't avail yourself of it in the next few months.  Remember that this story will be considered for a place in the WEP anthology to be published next year. Details will follow.

THE RUNNER-UP OF THE APRIL 2023 CHALLENGE 

~ LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL ~

IS 

CONGRATULATIONS, Kalpana!

Kalpana, The Journey broke our hearts as we read this horrific truth, but love and hope survive all.

Nick said, "This is beautiful because it shows how those who survive horror can still find meaning and beauty in life. Love has to win."

Kalpana, please post this badge on your blog and link it to your entry. Promo any way you wish! This flash also will be considered for a place in next year's WEP anthology. Details will follow.

THE ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD FOR THE APRIL 2023 CHALLENGE 

~ LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL ~

GOES TO

CONGRATULATIONS, Beth!

Beth's Poem, Life is Beautiful highlighted the journey from despair to happiness.

Nick said, "Short but very effective. Shows resilience and how we can make the best out of life no matter where we come from."

Beth, please post this badge on your blog and link it to your Flash. Promo any way you choose! You also will be considered for a place for this story in WEP's anthology scheduled for next year. Details will follow.

Thank you to all our participants for each of their captivating entries! 

We had such a varied and creative bunch of flashes this month. Each one a gem!

Please share this across your social media sites.

We announce our WEP APRIL‘23 LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL #winners @DeniseCCovey @yolandarenee @jemifraser @SoniaDogra16 #amwriting #writingcontest #flashfiction #wepwinners https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2023/05/wep-winners-april-2023-challenge-life.html

#WEPFF APRIL ’23 LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL #winners announced @DeniseCCovey @SoniaDogra16 @yolandarenee @jemifraser https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2023/05/wep-winners-april-2023-challenge-life.html #amwriting #flashfiction #wepwinners #writingcontest

Come congratulate our APRIL ’23 LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL #winners! #WEPFF Challenge @DeniseCCovey @yolandarenee @SoniaDogra16 @jemifraser #amwriting #flashfiction #wepwinners #writingcontest  https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2023/05/wep-winners-april-2023-challenge-life.html

PLEASE JOIN US IN JUNE FOR THE NEXT CHALLENGE 

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

OF THE THIRD KIND

Your hosts will be Nilanjana and Jemi!

WIN  A CRITIQUE PRIZE! 

BE INVITED TO SUBMIT TO OUR ANTHOLOGY!

Look up the detailed Challenge blurb here.

There are a gazillion ways to interpret this sci-fi classic - use the genre as a base to write your own sci-fi flash. Or riff off the idea of first contact. Celebrate cross-cultural communication between groups without a common language/reference points like the film. Use kidnapping, a failing marriage, a paranormal event turning life upside down - any or all to build your flash around. Maybe use three characters' experiences of an event. The basic human hankering for exploration, connection, for finding a place in a community, even up to a galactical community. Maybe take up the story from where it ends - what happens after first contact. How the alien lifeforms and humanity build a relationship and navigate it in the future.

Post - June 21st to 23rd 2023

Please join us for another fun prompt in June

See you then!

Renee, signing off for now but see you in JUNE!