This is our first year hosting the TCK Publishing Flash Fiction Contest, and we’re so excited to finally announce the winner for 2022!

Why We Started This Flash Fiction Awards Contest

We decided to host this inaugural flash fiction awards contest as a way to support and empower fiction writers everywhere, regardless of their experience or background. When I won my first writing contest at age 13, it forever changed the course of my life, and I hope that this contest can inspire and support other writers to pursue their dreams regardless of your age, background, or nationality.

You don’t need a creative writing degree or a Pulitzer Prize under your belt to be a writer. Anyone can pick up a pen (or grab their smartphone) and write something meaningful. That’s why we set out to make this contest as accessible as possible by making it international and maintaining a low entry fee.

The result this year was a remarkably talented pool of writers and outstanding flash fiction pieces to choose from. While it was challenging to choose just one winner, we couldn’t be happier with the excellent submissions we received.

2022 Flash Fiction Contest Grand Prize Winner

We’re pleased to announce that the Grand Prize winner of the 2022 TCK Publishing Flash Fiction Awards is…

Jacob Chagoya

and below is his winning story:

One Last Time

The front two legs of the chair rose into the air. The back two legs held on for a moment, their corners clinging to the floor in a feeble attempt to get him to reconsider. 

But when constriction sets in, the only option is to find relief. 

With one last breath, he released. 

Swinging. 

Weightless. 

White. 

A white room, endless and vast. He burst forward, his hands scrambling to his throat. But there was no rope. There was no chair. 

There was nothing. 

“Where…?” 

“Welcome,” a voice said, soft and caressing, like a school teacher who hated seeing students cry. 

He turned to find the pitch black outline of a person. It wasn’t an ominous black. No, this comforting black was that of a starry sky. 

“Am I…dead?” 

“Yes.” 

“Am I in hell?” 

“No, child.” 

“Heaven?” 

“I’m afraid not.” 

“Then…what is this place?” 

“This, my dear, is the end.” 

He thought he would be relieved. But standing there, getting that confirmation that it was over, brought nothing but a shattering of his body. Broken, he realized what he had done. His mind was so clear now. It didn’t have to be this way. Why had his mind betrayed him? 

“It is okay,” the outline consoled, “you are safe now.” 

Somehow he believed it. “What happens now?”

“What would you like to happen?” 

It wasn’t much of a debate, even if he considered other options. 

“Can I just…fall asleep holding her, one last time?” 

“If that is what you wish.” 

And there it was once more. The bed from his first apartment, with her in it. She laid in his oversized shirt, her hair in a bun. “Babe, who are you talking to?” 

He turned back to find that the outline was gone; the white disappeared, as did the wrinkles and calluses from his hands. Twenty years of regrets and mistakes, washed away. “No one, love.” 

“Well, come lay down,” she told him, her voice layered with exhaustion. And yet, so comforting. The only sound in the world that could have soothed him as he neared the end. “I don’t know how you’re still up. You wore the kids out, you know. I think they had a little too much fun.” 

A tear swam to the corner of his eye, but he did not let it fall. There was no reason to let it, for he now had what he always wanted. 

When he got into bed, she rested her head on his chest. It had been years since they slept like that — together. 

For the first time in years, his mind didn’t race. His mind didn’t linger in that awful place. And he didn’t need any poison to help him sleep. 

No, his mind was as clear as his eyes were heavy. 

He didn’t fight it. It was far easier to let his eyes close, to let her warmth seep into him. With one last moment of consciousness, he squeezed her tighter. 

Then he went into that good sleep. 

Peacefully.

Honorable Mentions

We had so many amazing submissions. Below, we’re proud to announce the Honorable Mentions in this year’s flash fiction contest.

Escaping the Wolves

By Dan Grylles

Penny Patchett

By Lindsey LeBlanc

Unison

By Lea L. Downing

Surrender Ridge

By Jennifer Braunfels

Fury

By T L Taylor

The 100

By Cariel Davothe

Deadline

By Reshan Nicolson-Singh

The Compassionate Embrace

By Jak Sharpe

Reach behind you and pull the cord.

By Cori Pizano

What’s Next

The 2023 Flash Fiction Writing Contest is now open for submissions.

Other Writing Contests

The annual Readers Choice Awards contest where readers vote for their favorite book is open for submissions (and submissions are free).

Our annual Short Story Contest is open for submissions with a $1,000 prize.

Our annual Poetry Awards Contest is open for submissions with a $1,000 prize.

Our annual Nonfiction Writing Contest is also open for submissions with a $1,000 prize.

 

If you’re interested in more posts about writing contests, then you might also like:

• What to Do After Winning a Writing Contest: 5 Ways to Celebrate Your Win
• How to Enter a Writing Contest: 8 Tips for Success
• 2021 TCK Publishing Poetry Awards Contest
• List of Short Story Contests (Updated for 2021)