55 - WORD FICTION COMPETITION 2018
All In! 55-Word Fiction Competition 2018 All rights reserved Š Singapore Book Council 2018 No part of this collection can be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the authors featured and/or the Singapore Book Council. Compilation created as part of All In! Young Writers Festival 2018 Layout and Concept Design by CB Peùa
55 - WORD FICTION COMPETITION 2018
JUDGES’ CHOICE WINNER
EVERYTHING COMES WITH A PRICE
Wong Jingkai, Naval Base Secondary School He should have known such a bargain was too good to be true. Cursing under his breath, he felt a sudden sharp pain in his thigh as he tried to move. Before closing his eyes for eternity, he caught a silhouette of his predator in the dark shadows darting further down the alley in glee.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNER
CRIMSON LOVE
Myat Thuzar Kyaw, SIM International Academy She was crimson; like her lips and scarred wrists. Her cuts and bruises were lined in icy yet dull silver, just like her most loyal blade which was always sitting in her pocket. I fell in love with a messed up girl who could be gone any minute; I fell in love with the broken.
JUDGES’ CHOICE 1ST RUNNER UP
BEFORE LEAVING FOR THE ABOVE Fitri Nur Fadillah, Damai Secondary School
A bud of rose, a rustic silver necklace and a broken alarm clock. I scanned around my room , reminiscing my memories, from my very first kiss to the heart-aching loss of a beloved one. In the living room, my cold, motionless body once laid. Sobs from my Mother made it harder for me to leave.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE 1ST RUNNER UP
THE AUTHOR’S LIE
Syed Ubayd Alatas, Pioneer Junior College “You must read a lot,” she says. Her countenance lit up with a fervent desire to discover more, so I brainstormed poetic lies to further entice her. Her eyes focused on mine with an overbearing immensity as I narrated the life in the paintings. “Yes, and I am now reading the gift of my life”.
JUDGES’ CHOICE RUNNER UP
SODA
Cheriise Sin, Jurong West Secondary School the first sip cooling and spiking the moment it hits my tongue it flows down, i feel it corroding my body it settles at my stomach an uncomfortable feeling but still comforting nonetheless three more sips my throat starts hurting gagging at the sweetness and acidity my mouth still witholding the aftertaste of it all.
JUDGES’ CHOICE RUNNER UP
OVERTHINKING
Cheerie Tan, Broadrick Secondary School The place was dark and eerie. the surrounding grass were knifeedged wicked gree, thick as forest, threatening to engulf me. With every step I took, my heart pumped even faster. Sudden chills were sent down to my spine. As my hand reached out to the door knob, suddenly, I turned around to see...
JUDGES’ CHOICE RUNNER UP
THE ANIMAL FARM
Faith Tan, Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School “Cluck! Cluck!” With dried corn in one hand and my phone in the other, I lured the prehistoric dinosaurs closer towards me. Being terribly hungry, one started pecking enthusiastically at my palm. Amused, I unlocked my phone eager to capture a selfie. My smile died as a picture of my lunch surfaced–dead chicken rice.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE RUNNER UP
COURAGE
Qiu Junchao, Yishun Junior College This is it. I begin to march towards her, my heart beating faster and faster with every step. Badum. Badum. I adjust my hair. BaDUM. BaDUM. I gulp. BADUM. I stop in front of her. She looks up at me. “Yes?” I take a deep breath ...and let it out. “...there’s rice on your face.”
PEOPLE’S CHOICE RUNNER UP
YOUNG FOLKS
Ashley Wong , Broadrick Secondary School An old man and a child perched on a bench. Wrinkled hands grasped soft fingers. Weak laughter harmonised with sharp guffaws. “A little dinosaur!” a squeaky voice chirped, his fresh eyes trailing a lizard. “A sea creature!” a frail voice stuttered, his tired eyes tailing a goose. Here, two young souls, perched on a bench.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE RUNNER UP
THE DEVIL
Calista Nadine Chang, CHIJ Secondary Toa Payoh The Devil appeared one night. He asked if I wanted to flip a coin. I was heads, he was tails. If I won, I’d live forever. If He won, He’d take my soul to hell. He flipped the coin. Heads. I won. The Devil smirked, saying, ”I win anyway. You shouldn’t make deals with devils.”
Held annually, the All In! 55-Word Fiction Competition invites young writers aged 13 and above to submit full stories using exactly 55 words. There are two winners, a Judge’s Choice and a People’s Choice. Entries are in English, and are posted on the Festival’s Facebook Page.