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WOW FACTORS OF THE WEEK, FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 23 - 28th
Good Morning, beloved CW Members! I hope your week was as fabulous as your published posts were! As soon as I awoke this morning, it dawned on me that I must lead a charmed life. Who else on the planet just LOOOOOOOOOOOOVES Monday mornings? And the reason? Because I get to steep in the joy that comes from the immensely talented writers on this site and announce whose pieces stood out. It's true that other sites have more members, but ours is comprised of exclusively EXCEPTIONAL writers. That's not hyperbole. CollectivelyWrite.com has QUALITY writers, and I cannot tell you how proud I am that you are all here. Please bring our site to the attention of any other exceptional writers you may know. And remember: PLEASE REVIEW the pieces on here that you read. It will keep the inspiration and creativity alive for us all. Okay!! Onto this week's winners!! I had the pleasure of being the judge for both Poetry and Short Story/Essay/Nonfiction this week, and here are my choices: WOW FACTOR POETRY WINNER IS... "SEEKING TOMORROW" BY TIME MARGETTS When I read the opening line, "Today we lay the path for the sins we will commit tomorrow..." I knew, immediately, that I would not be the same after I finished this poem as I was before I read it. And sure enough, so absorbed and intrigued was I that I have read it many MANY subsequent times. Each time, another facet reveals itself and makes me ponder and wrestle with my own life choices and their outcomes. I've felt reminded of the YA book series that instructs its reader to choose between chapters X, Y or Z because it determines the outcome of the book. This poem holds us accountable for every aspect of our lives, but it does so not like a castigating, sanctimonious parochial schoolteacher, but rather as a tender, gentle, omniscient beloved mentor. It reminds us that we were the ones who made the choices we did, and we should own them, warts and all. Tim, your work never ceases to mesmerize me. Also excellent this week was BernietheBard's "DEATH BY CIVILIZATION that, though short, took the educator in me to a place of critical understanding and pain. It was quick and piercing, like a shark bite, and its catalysts, the Kent Nerburn trilogy of books, are now heading my reading queue. Well done, Bernie. Thank you for this important write. THE SHORT STORY/ESSAY/NON-FICTION WOW FACTOR OF THE WEEK IS... NAVIGATING THE JOURNEY TO ME BY DIANE KENEL-TRUELOVE I was all but doing heads-or-tails between this one and Rachel Gosling's "PANDORA'S BOX, PART 9." Two consistently outstanding writers, both making the same tremendously important point, and serendipitously, it's the same one as highlighted by Tim Margetts's aforementioned poem: Your choices are what determine who you are as a person. Rachel presents hers through the tortured Prometheus, who's been commanded (by his wife, the Queen, no less!) to kill her young, lovely, kind servant-girl. In Diane's essay, she shares the dictums of vintage educators of hers who wielded their power and inflexibility like a club and evoked in her a champion-like resolve and ferocity. Both pieces are EXTREMELY well-written. They flow with the ease of consummate writing prowess and ignite so very many emotions in the reader from start to finish. There was simply no "bad choice" here; that's for sure. So, in recognition of teachers' and students' return to school, I chose "Navigating the Journey." As far as the Bi-Weekly Short Story Challenge, there were still no entries, so I'm taking that as an indication that I did poorly offering up a topic. My sincere apologies to you all. CW members are extremely creative writers, so if I can't inspire even one story with my prompt, that's on me. Here's its replacement. Hopefully, this evokes some entries: THE SENTENCE STARTS THE STORY: If only I hadn't taken that shortcut this morning because I was running late... Start your story with that sentence. Minimum 300 words. Contest Deadline: September 12th. Also, friendly reminder about the Month Five Special: a "Duet Poem" Challenge. It comes with a FIFTY DOLLAR BARNES & NOBLE GIFT CARD FOR THE WINNERS! Our beloved co-founder, Heather Wickham, will be the judge. Details in the Challenge tab, above. And FINALLY (yes, yes, I swear I'm going to stop blathering on here soon...), this Saturday, September 5th, is the deadline for the Bi-Weekly Poetry Challenge, the topic for which is "support." Jessica Wheeler is the judge. So, CONGRATULATIONS to this week's WOW Factor winners, TIM MARGETTS and DIANE KENEL-TRUELOVE. You'll be our judges for your respective winning categories this coming week. Please PM me your choices on Sunday, August 6th. Have a fabulous week, Everyone, and, again, thank you for bringing your talents to CW. We are SO extremely deilghted to have you here and will look forward to reading everything you post here this week. Much, much love, Rachelle and Heather xoxoxo
WOW Factors of the Week and Bi-Weekly Poetry Challenge Winners (and more!) for the week of August 16 - 22nd
GREETINGS AND HAPPY MONDAY, oh beloved CW members!! I hope you’ve had a fantastic week, with prospects on the horizon for more joy in this week to come. My profuse and genuine apologies for being so late getting these WOW FACTOR OF THE WEEK winners as well as the BI-WEEKLY POETRY CHALLENGE winner published today. Ten demerits for me! Here we go!! THE WOW FACTOR POETRY WINNER FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 16 – 22ND is: ANGUISH OR HERESY? by Rachelle Allen JUDGE TIM MARGETTS WRITES: This one got me. It starts quietly enough, almost as though we are simply looking back at things said during a difficult time, but with each stanza the reason for those words becomes clearer. By the time we reach the final stanza and discover that this is not simply heartbreak but death, those earlier lines have changed beneath us. What really made it the winner for me, though, is that final line. The poem has spent its time talking about words said when grief and anger were overwhelming, then suddenly gives us the one thing that perhaps the writer fears saying most: “Where is G-d? I won't trust Him again.” That doesn't feel written for effect. It feels painfully human. Grief doesn't always behave itself, and sometimes it gets angry with the very things we are supposed to turn towards for comfort. I also like that the Ripple form isn't simply being used because it is there; those repetitions work like memories that keep coming back whether wanted or not. For me, this week's winner because it left me thinking about it long after I had finished reading. Runner-up — THREE YEARS GONE TODAY by RACHEL GOSLING This was actually a very close call. What I loved here is that we don't get some grand portrait of a mother; instead we get the little things that make a person a person. Lavender pillows, glasses perched low while sewing, rice pudding with a toffee crust, apple pie. Those details do far more than simply telling us she was loved and is missed. By the end I felt as though I had been introduced to her. Even “Disdained slack speech; never swore / An English lady” made me smile because suddenly there is personality in the room, not simply memory. And that is why this one came so close to taking first place. It doesn't try to make grief enormous; it makes it intimate. The final return to “Three years gone today” brings us neatly back to where we began, except now those words carry everything we have learned about the woman being remembered. THE WOW FACTOR POETRY WINNER FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 16 – 22ND is: COMING TOGETHER AT THE SEAMS by Rachelle Allen JUDGE KATHARINE FOLKES WRITES: My pick for the Wow Short Story of the week is Rachelle Allen’s account with the clever and witty title, “Coming Together at the Seams,” which introduces us to a story of a forty-year high school reunion put together by eight gals. This poignant, well-talked story is about a quilting event that took vibrant and eager Rachelle down a much enjoyed path to new friendships which have been kept up through the years, and are still active today. She relates how in the beginning, she only knew three of the eight who organized and put it together. However, when one of them suggested making a quilt for the class to be auctioned off, the time spent together opened up a whole new world of friends and conversations of family situations, kids and husbands—relationships, good and bad. Rachelle noted how “with their patchwork of shared memories from their youth, they could stitch their life stories together and create a vivid tapestry that would warm them for all the years to come.” A neat story that made me smile. AND FINALLY, THE WINNER OF THE BI-WEEKLY POETRY CHALLENGE IS: REMEMBER ME by JESSICA WHEELER JUDGE RACHEL GOSLING WRITES: Each of these poems grabbed me - the authors obeyed the Rondelet rules and employed the syllable and rhyme conventions with aplomb. The Requisite was very original in the way it used the theme loyalty - interesting, unique and smart. Leaf captured a single moment in nature and made me remember the beauty of Autumn - simple, cleanly done and very effective. For the winner, it is very much down to personal choice this week. For me, Remember Me, was the poem that had the 'oomph' factor that will stay with me. The haunting theme of growing older, and the longing to still be loved and remembered is such an understandable one. 'Though age may veil the face you knew' captured that melancholic yearning for the past so well. I loved the use of italics for the pleading, repeated line 'Remember me'. Overall, I thought this was sensitive, emotional and haunting. Beautiful. So this means that I get to be both the Poetry and Short Story judge for this upcoming week, and JESSICA WHEELER, you get to be the Bi-Weekly Poetry Judge when the deadline is September 6th. Rachel Gosling will post the Challenge soon that you will be judging. (That’s how we do it on CW. No secrets about who the judges are for any contest…AND anyone who wins one week is the judge for the following week. On our site, we believe that we’re all capable of both writing well AND judging the works of our fellow talented writers.) I’m going to offer up an ADDITIONAL Poetry Challenge this week in celebration of our FIFTH MONTH of existence as a writing site. I’ll post it on the Challenge screen, too, but here’s the description. It is WAY fun, and I really hope to get LOTS AND LOTS of participants. FIFTY DOLLAR BARNES AND NOBLE GIFT CARD to the winners!!!Deadline is September 22nd, because that way, the challenge is good for the entirety of Month Five. POETRY DUET CHALLENGE: 1.) Find a partner – another member on this site. It can be someone you know or, if you’re particularly bold, someone you don’t! – and ask them if they’d be willing to do this Challenge with you. 2.) Together, choose a topic to write about 3.) Agree on a style of poetry, replete with number of lines you’ll each need to write 4.) Then decide – however you choose to do that (could be alphabetical order, could be eeny-meeny-miney-moe, could be heads-or-tails) – whose line goes first. 5.) Combine the poems by taking turns, one line at a time: the first writer’s first line, then the second writer’s first line, then the first writer’s second line, and the second writer’s second line, etc. I was introduced to this idea several years ago by my dear friend Sandy Nelms-Ludwig, who’s also a member on here. We chose as our title/topic “Fidelity,” and here’s our finished product: ************************************************************************* FIDELITY Far beyond the promise to be true, From the cradle some are fed unforgettable heartache Fidelity carries the promise of ferocity when the bond is challenged. Maturing with broken inner workings like an old clock. It’s the bodyguard for the union of two souls, Time after time faithfulness remains a foreign unshared feeling. With heartstrings so entwined, they become a solo vestment for two wearers, Its absence is a wound oozing and tainting most emotional interactions. The embodiment of a shared unity, However, others seek strength in counseling to learn how to suture the open scars And a lifetime suit of armor for the promise of trust inside. Warily accepting that freely giving love and devotion is necessary for healing. When we finished and combined our two poems and read them, we got hysterical with laughter at first, our initial question being, “HOW ARE WE FRIENDS WHEN WE ARE THIS DIFFERENT??????” But then, as we began to examine and discuss it further, we realized that, although our upbringings and life experiences have been extremely different, our creativity and writing prowess and ability to express ourselves is our tie that binds. It was such an eye-opening experience, really. So now we’re passing it on to you, our extremely talented, expressive and creative CW member-friends! Let’s have fun with this. You can submit as many times as you’d like with different duet partners! And whatever topic you choose is fine with us. I’m so excited to read your offerings! On your mark, get set….GO!!! Have a wonderful week. We can’t wait to read everything you post. Much, much love, Rachelle and Heather (AND PS – I’m up for duetting with anyone who asks!)
WOW Factors of the Week for the week ending August 15, 2026
Good Morning, oh talented and literarily diverse CW Members! Happy Monday to you all. I hope your creative juices flow abundantly this week and make their way to our site. Here are this week's WOW Factor winners! FOR POETRY, THE WINNER IS TIM MARGETTS FOR "GO ON...I DARE YOU" Judge Katharine Folkes writes: I voted for Tim Margetts, for his clever dare to the members of Collectively Write to leave reviews for the stories and poems they read. It also might urge them to write and publish their works on this site, and enjoy reviews of their efforts. Our writers would be most appreciative. His poem gives examples of the writers’ efforts to put their works out to be read and enjoyed, and Tim repeats his dare, throughout, for any thoughts the reader had about the author's' works. for instance: “No thesis needed, no PhD, No deep critique of imagery, No lengthy prose on what it meant – Just let them know ‘twas time well spent.” Tim's poem is a wonderful challenge, and made a good point. Bravo So, come on, members. Let’s see who will take Tim’s dare. AND FOR WOW SHORT STORY OF THE WEEK, THE WINNER IS: COOL WATERS BY KATHARINE FOLKES Judge Tim Margetts writes: Well, this week gave me a bit of a problem. Three very different pieces to choose from, and one of them immediately complicated matters by announcing itself as Part 1. The Sun-seekers Part 1 was, for me, the strongest piece of conventional storytelling. The world is well realised, the characters feel like a family rather than simply people placed there to explain the setting, and I particularly liked the contrast between Jordan thoughtlessly kicking apart the daisies in his memory and later cradling one as something precious. That small moment says a great deal about everything that has been lost. Unfortunately, Part 1 is exactly that: the beginning of something larger rather than a complete short story. Excellent though it is, I couldn't quite justify giving it the top spot this week. The Perfect Societal Solution takes a very different approach. It's a clever and suitably uncomfortable piece of dystopian fiction, with its mechanically tended babies and algorithmically perfect care creating a wonderfully cold vision of a society which has apparently solved humanity by removing most of the humanity from it. I did think the middle section with the graphs explained rather more than it needed to, when the imagery was already making the point very effectively. But that final invitation to visit the adults' enclosure is excellent and suddenly makes the world of the story much larger and considerably more disturbing. Which brings me to Cool Water. This could so easily have been nothing more than a tale about a broken water main. Instead, giving the job of narrator to poor, long-suffering HP turns the whole thing into something delightfully daft. HP's comments and observations provide the humour while Katharine becomes progressively more tired, muddled and eventually musical. It doesn't try to be grand or profound; it takes an everyday situation, plays with it and turns it into a complete and thoroughly entertaining little story. So, after some head-scratching over chapters, dystopian nurseries, malfunctioning water supplies and whether computers really do gossip about us when we're not looking, my Short Story of the Week is Cool Water. Congratulations, Katharine. SO, CONGRATULATIONS TO KATHARINE AND TIM. And the winner of the Bi-Weekly Short-Story Challenge - making a story from a news item - is: RACHEL GOSLING for THE CLEAN-UP OPERATION It was written in the voice of a cat (Thea) who simply wanted appreciation for her acquisitions of items in the neighborhood that had been untended. Instead, she was made to feel like a common thief by her own (well, "staff;" who doesn't know that adage about DOGS having owner and cats having staff...) who - in front of her, no less - he made calls of apology to the neighbors for the confiscated items. Some gratitude! I loved the way Thea's voice was absolutely purrr-fect (oh - as if I could resist THAT low-hanging fruit pun!) and the way Rachel interwove Thea's disgruntlement with her owner's mortification. I would love to have read the original news article that evoked this clever tail...er, sorry...TALE! Nicely done, Rachel. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO KATHARINE, TIM AND RACHEL this week! This means that Katharine, you will be this week's WOW Factor judge for short storis, and Tim will be our poetry judge. Please have your decisions to me by end-of-business on Sunday, August 23rd. And Rachel, you will now be the Short Story COMPETITION judge, the deadline for which will be August 30th. I will post what that topic will be later today. ALSO...because there is only one entry for the Poetry Competition this week, we're going to extend it an additional week. So, please get those creative juices flowing in RONDOLET form and submit by Saturday, August 22nd. Have a great week, Everyone. we will be looking forward to reading everything you write! Much, much love, Rachelle and Heather xoxox
WOW Factors of the Week Winners for August 1 - August 7, 2026
Good Morning and Happy Monday to our ever-burgeoning CW membership!! Before I announce the winners this week, I'd like to make two requests: 1.) Please, please, please write REVIEWS of the wonderful works on here that you read! The count of "reads" of the published pieces is high; the reviews for these creations, though, is very low. It is so unsatisfying to present pieces and then not receive feedback. The whole point of this site is to hear back from fellow members how the stories and poems impacted those who took the time and effort to read them. Unlike on other writing sites, there is no "minimum number of characters" one has to fulfill in a review. Write what you feel - as much or as briefly as you choose. But PLEASE, please write to the author. It makes a world of difference. Thank you, in advance. The second request I have is to please, please, please pass our site on to others you know! Heather and I would love to see membership increase. We're coming up on Month Five now, and we'd love to see a big-time membership spike. So here's our inspiration for you in that vein: For any current member who brings in AT LEAST FIVE new members, you will receive a $50 Barnes and Noble gift card. Just have your new member alert us when they join that they were sent by you, and that way, we can keep a tally. Let's have Month Five begin with a huge jump in our membership numbers!! I would love that SO very much! OKAY!! Onto the WOW FACTOR WINNERS!!! THE WOW FACTOR STORY OF THE WEEK IS: "THREADS" BY TIM MARGETTS. Judge Rachel Gosling writes: I loved the cyclical nature of this story and the mixture of fairytale and myth, used to great effect. The tale was simply told, yet there was a pleasing depth to the main character, who suffered the punishment of karma for a bad action against a friend. It made me think about those small, good or disastrous decisions we make in life, with a ripple effect that can colour our whole life. A thought-provoking and interesting tale. THE WOW FACTOR POEM OF THE WEEK IS: "THUMB THINK" BY KATHARINE FOLKES Judge Tim Margetts writes: ‘Thumb Think’ made me smile because it takes something we see every day and turns it into a wonderfully tongue-in-cheek observation on how times have changed. From the opening, ‘I am from an earlier age / when we used all of our fingers’, there’s a lovely grumpy humour to it. Katharine watches those ‘flying thumbs’ racing across a keyboard while the rest of the fingers sit curled underneath, apparently with nothing better to do. My favourite line has to be ‘bowing to their betters’. It’s such a simple image, but once you’ve read it you can immediately picture exactly what she means. The poem doesn’t try to be anything more than it is. It’s light, playful and observant, with an easy rhythm that carries you neatly towards that wonderfully cheeky final ‘lazy igits!’ Sometimes poetry doesn’t need to explore the meaning of life. Sometimes it can just spot something ordinary, have a bit of fun with it, and make you smile. And ‘Thumb Think’ did exactly that for me. CONGRATULATIONS to Tim and Katharine! This means that next week, Tim is the WOW Factor Short Story judge and Katharine is the WOW Factor Poetry judge. I am the judge assigned to the Challenge this week, but sadly, only one writer has submitted an entry, so it will go one more week. Here's the premise for the Challenge: Theme and Variation on The News Take a quirky item from the news ad write a story around that - choose to explore the backstory or use the news item as the starting point or inspiration - up to the author! Examples: A bull interrupted a cricket match. No one knows how it got there. A monkey was found in a laundry bag on the bus Woman credits fairies with youthful looks after a strange encounter in her village Astronomers have found a strange new moon no one knew existed Man struck by lightning speaks new language. Let your wild writer's imagination take off!! I really would LOVE to be inundated with entries from which to choose! Deadline: this coming Saturday, August 15th. THIS WEEK'S POETRY CHALLENGE: Write a Rondolet using a borrowed voice from a forgotten item. This could be any inanimate object of your choice. Traditional French rondolet is generally defined as: Line 1: 4 syllables (refrain) - A Line 2: 8 syllables - b Line 3: Repeat line 1 (4 syllables) A Line 4: 8 syllables - a Line 5: 8 syllables - b Line 6: 8 syllables - b Line 7: Repeat line 1 (4 syllables) - A Rhyme scheme: AbAabbA Example: The Old Key Open for me. Rust has stolen all my bright shine. Open for me. I fail before each door I see. My twisted teeth no more align. Still I dream your hand will find mine Open for me. (Tim Margetts) ********************************************* And that's everything for this week! FRIENDLY REMINDER: 1. REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!!! 2. BRING IN FIVE NEW MEMBERS, RECEIVE a $50 Barnes and Noble gift card!!!!! Much, much love ~ Rachelle and Heather xoxoxo
WOW Factors of the Week Winner for the Week of July 26 - August 1, 2026 and Bi-Weekly Poetry Challenge
HAPPY MONDAY TO ALL YOU TALENTED CW MEMBERS!! It’s time to announce the winners of the WOW Factors of the Week as well as the winner of the Bi-Weekly Poetry Challenge. Here we go! The winner of the WOW Factor of the Week Poetry is: ALONE by TIM MARGETTS Judge Diane Kenel-Truelove writes: Of all the exceptional poetic works posted this week, “Alone,” by Tim Margetts resonated the deepest with me. As stated in the description, “Alone” is a ghazal, a classical poetic form of Middle Eastern origin, most refined in Persian and Urdu traditions. Aside from dealing with loss and romantic love, the poem consists of a fixed number of lines - usually five couplets - with a rhyme scheme and a refrain: AA, BA, CA, and so on. This intricate framework is not for the faint of heart to attempt. However, it is the emotional depth rendered by the poem that makes this offering memorable. “Alone” is repeated seven times throughout the poem. In a society where the concept of being alone is seldom praised or celebrated, Tim Margetts shares with readers the coveted experience of being alone on a path, speaking to stones, walking among the rain, among a crowd, during the night, and finally, when “the world unfolds, its circle run, alone.” My absolute favorite lines are the following, filled with longing and pathos: I spoke to stones; they held their counsel close, and taught me what endures when speech is done, alone. and No crowd could hide the hush that found my heart; I’ve stood within the noise, yet heard none, alone. “Alone” begs to be read and savored more than once. And it is especially moving when read aloud. I, for one, will never read the word “alone” again without thinking of Margett’s masterful offering for “Now night and self make peace without a word; the world unfolds, its circle run, alone.” AND THE WINNER OF THE WOW FACTOR SHORT STORY OF THE WEEK IS… A TIE!!! Judge Katharine Folkes simply could NOT choose between these two fabulous stories. So, they BOTH win! In no particular order: THIN PLACES by TIM MARGETTS And THE ERASED LIST by Rachel Gosling Judge Katharine Folkes writes: “Thin Places" makes waking up in an unexpected place seem like an experience the protagonist has experienced before, and it is. His handling of this mid-sleep occurrence is pragmatic, and so far, ever watchful, he has emerged unscathed. Tim’s descriptions of the man’s feelings keep the reader pulling for him and also on edge. Also the little details such as his finding the “century old” bread in his pocket and eating an apple that tasted like strawberries—neat visuals that make up a lot of his story. Also, as it is told in first person, Tim gets his voice into it. Upon each such wakening, he tells himself not to panic (nice work if you can get it) and he doesn't, though his imagination works overtime. Though the author is telling the story in first person, the person he "is" in his dream, looks, talks, and acts differently. Fascinating! Tim does leave us hanging (naturally) at the end of the first chapter of his new book, but I am sure the second chapter will not only enlighten us in that regard, but leave us, once again, waiting with bated breath. Tim does love to if not scare us, worry us about his characters. This man should be worried about :) It is an enjoyable story which has a wow opening and I am looking forward to continuing reading. Rachel's "The Erased List" is horrifying. Rachel tells it with examples of cruelty and total disregard for females by the males of the time. Her descriptions make the story seem real to a point, the way evil ideas are so easily spread. It is about a time when talented females, doctors, lawyers, writers, journalists, female politicians, any skilled female was considered corrupt. There was punishment and disappearance. They were erased. Rachel's story begins with a daughter, listening to her mother who is ill and close to death, telling her about her grandmother who fought for women's rights and was a brave Suffragette. The daughter has been trained to be obedient above all to males, agreeable and subservient, and is horrified at her mother's pride in her grandmother, and is fearful of the authorities. As the daughter, listening, to her mother talk about her (the daughter's) great grandmother, she remembers that her generation of females was the last to be schooled at all, and she thinks about her own daughter, who, as a child, was never taught to read, to not think at all, really, just to live a wholesome life. As she listens to her mother speaking of her brave grandmother taking up for females, she remembers the emptiness in her daughter's face, and begins to have second thoughts, leaving the reader with hope she will be able to help her daughter. Rachel has great details such as the real people who were banned, and the attitude of the male journalists, adding to the believability of the story. This is a thoughtful and well written story about control over people that resonated with me. ****************************************************************************************************** The winner of the Bi-Weekly Poetry Challenge is: RACHEL GOSLING for WILDFIRE Judge Tim Margetts writes: WILDFIRE! grabbed my attention immediately and never let go. The poem builds beautifully from quiet drought to unstoppable destruction, each line adding another layer of tension. The imagery is strong throughout, but the leap to 'dragon's breath' is inspired, transforming a natural disaster into something almost mythical without losing its emotional truth. The final line leaves us surveying the damage rather than simply witnessing the flames, giving the poem a satisfying sense of completion. A wonderful example of how a nonet can tell a complete story in just nine carefully crafted lines CONGRATULATIONS, Tim and Rachel! This means that next week, Tim, you are the judge for WOW Factor Poetry, Rachel, you’re the judge for WOW Factor Short Story, and in two weeks, Rachel, you’re the judge for the Bi-Weekly Poetry Contest. Great work to you both. And, Tim, as the exiting judge for the Bi-Weekly Poetry, you get to create its next Challenge. PM with your challenge at your convenience! (Can’t wait! I know that Margetts mind; it’ll be a good one, for sure!!) The Bi-Weekly Short Story Challenge for this Week, still in play, is: Take a quirky item from the news and write a story around that. Choose to explore the backstory or use the news item as the starting point or inspiration – up to the author! (Examples provided on Challenges page.) Deadline is this coming Saturday, August 8th. I’m so excited that I get to be the judge for this contest! So please let your imaginations rip and dazzle me with lots and lots of entries!! If anyone has any suggestions or ideas as we head toward Month #5, please let Heather or me know. We are always eager to hear from you and love and appreciate your feedback. Have a wonderful week. We’ll look forward to reading everything you write! Much, much love ~ Rachelle and Heather xoxox
WOW Factor Winners and Bi-Weekly Short Story Winner for the week ending July 25, 2026
Good Morning to you fabulous CW writers! It's so fun to begin the week with the winners and contributors to last week's posts. It brings us such pride that writers as good as you have chosen to publish here. Thank you for that very much. It's not lost on us for even the briefest of moments that any writing site would love to feature your talents, but you've chosen to share them here. Heather and I are so appreciative of that. xoxo So here we go!! WOW FACTOR POETRY WINNER IS: CONTEMPLATIVE RHAPSODY by DIANE KENEL-TRUELOVE. Judge Tim Margetts writes: This was written in response to the challenge of using only three-syllable words, with the exception of conjunctions and prepositions, and that is no small restriction to place upon a poem. What impressed me most was that the writer didn’t simply meet the challenge. Beneath all those carefully chosen words there is still a poem. There is imagery, movement and atmosphere, as the small nocturnal visitors gather around the illuminated windows, drawn towards something beautiful that may ultimately destroy them. I particularly liked: “precariously adjacent to shimmering destruction” For me, those two lines capture the heart of the poem beautifully. I also enjoyed the circular nature of the piece, beginning with the “ebony afterglow” and eventually returning us there. Despite the restrictions imposed by the challenge, the poem manages to take us somewhere before bringing us home again. Yes, the language is elaborate but given the challenge it could hardly be otherwise. The achievement is in making those restrictions serve the poem rather than allowing them to become the poem. A clever response to a difficult challenge, but more importantly, an enjoyable piece of poetry. It wasn't entered into the challenge itself, but made a more than worthy addition to those that were. CONGRAULATIONS, DIANE!! WINNER OF THE WOW FACTOR OF THE WEEK SHORT STORY IS: WELL DAMN by KATHARINE FOLKES Judge Rachel Gosling writes: I liked Katharine's humorous use of dialogue between two neighbours here. I could just imagine the long-term, love-hate relationship and the irritation at being asked to borrow the mower yet again! This story is a great word if you want a giggle: a little slice of life piece that pokes fun at us all, in a humane and gentle way. GREAT JOB, KATHARINE!! CONGRATS. AND THE WINNER OF THE BI-WEEKLY SHORT STORY CHALLENGE IS: NEIGHBORS AS LIFELINES by RACHELLE ALLEN Judge Rachel Gosling writes: Neighbors as Lifelines was one of those slice of life stories which starts so innocently and then takes you and shakes you to the core. Think you've got problems? Now compare them to someone hiding in the crawl space of an attic during the Holocaust. The characters are realistic and well defined and the impact of one character on the other's world view is striking. This tale deals with one of the most haunting, horrific periods of human history, yet the whole premise of that dark period is turned on its head. Yes, it acknowledges, dreadful, evil acts occurred, and will not be forgotten, yet human heroism and neighbourly kindness won through here. I loved this story and am confident others will also be struck by the positivity and strength of feeling demonstrated here. SO CONGRATULATIONS, DIANE AND KATHARINE. This means that this coming week, you are the judges. Katharine for Short Stories, Diane for Poetry. Please message me your choices by Sunday, August 2nd. And, Rachel, as the exiting judge for the Bi-Weekly Short Story Challenge, you get to create the topic for the Challenge that ends August 8th. PM me that decision at your convenience. Finally, be sure to enter the Bi-Weekly Poetry Challenge that ends this coming Saturday, August 1st. Topic: A Nonet (nine lines, beginning with one syllable for the first line, two for the second, three for the third, etc. OR you can start with nine syllables in the first line, eight in the second, seven in the third, etc.) Your choice of topic.) WINNER RECEIVES A $20 BARNES AND NOBLE GIFT CARD. Have a wonderful week, Everyone. We look forward to reading everything you post! Much, much love, Rachelle and Heather xoxoxxo
STILL TIME LEFT TO ENTER THE SHORT STORY CHALLENGE
Come on, you wonderfully inventive CW writers!! Don't be shy about contributing an entry to this very fun Challenge: a story any length about neighbors!! Please dazzle us with your creativity! Rachelle and Heather xoxox
The Latest Bi-Week Short Story Challenge
Just a friendly reminder not to miss out on entering THIS one: It's simply entitled "The Neighbors." Will you make yours quirky? Creepy? Invasive? Mysterious? Funny? Let your imagination run wild and dazzle our judge, Rachel Gosling. Winner receives a $20 gift card to Barnes & Noble!! Deadline this Saturday, July 25th
WOW Factor Winner of the Week and Bi-Weekly Poetry Challenge for the Week of July 12 - 18
Dearest Wonderful CW Members!! I swear, every week this gig becomes more and more enjoyable for me, and that's a huge statement, since I loved it with all my heart from Day One. Thank you to everyone for how conscientious and attentive you are to CollectivelyWrite.com and for always bringing your A-Game to everything you publish here. If a day ever starts going south for me, I jump onto our site, read an entry or two and VOILA! Instant way-better day! Thank you, times a million-zillion for that luxury. THE WINNER OF THE WOW FACTOR OF THE WEEK SHORT STORY IS: THE LETTER by RACHEL GOSLING Judge Jessica Wheeler writes: What I loved most about this story is the immense emotional weight packed into so few lines. Its commendable brevity heightens the impact of every word, demonstrating a refined, sophisticated sense of restraint that is highly effective. The use of seasonal markers (Christmas, New Year fireworks, January) brilliantly captures the nature of grief, portraying it as a recurring loop, rather than something straightforward that resolves. It conveys the emotional paralysis of loss in a way that feels relatable and deeply authentic. Edward's characterization develops through indirect revelations and small physical details (his gnarled fingers, his failing vision), trusting the reader to imagine the estrangement and piece together its circumstances. The internal monologue is especially compelling, adding a layer of emotional realism to the writing. Edward's hesitation ("Did that sound accusatory?") suggests a long, complicated history without spelling it out or overexplaining. The concluding image of unsent, unaddressed letters accumulating on the mantelpiece is especially heart-wrenching, emphasizing the ritualistic nature of Edward's unresolved longing. It's a haunting final note that lingers well beyond the story's end. AND, REGARDING THE POETRY WOW FACTOR, Judge Tim Margetts writes: I would love to give you a Poetry WOW Factor for the week, but as (not including mine) there has been only one poem posted for the week of the 12th to 18th, I will hold off deciding until I see what comes up over this week. [SO COME ON, YOU TALENTED POETS, LET'S FILL THIS JUDGE'S WEEK WITH GOOD READS!!!!!] THE BI-WEEKLY POETRY CHALLENGE STACKED LIMERICK WINNER IS... SAM AND MAUDE by TIM MARGETTS Judge Rachelle Allen writes: I choose Sam and Maude for its perfect combination of hilarity and randiness ("I wish for a wife/to make sense of my life/with bosoms that stand out quite proud.") I mean, come on! Who doesn't appreciate a man of depth who knows what he wants in this life! This is a tale about a couple whose online dating profiles indicate that they would be a fine match. Nope. Not even close. But that's what makes it so extremely fun for us. I loved the bawdy limerick style of this tongue-in-cheek offering that provided a smile for me the entire way through. Delightful! ************************************************************************************************************ So, CONGRATULATIONS, Rachel and Tim on your fine writing! This means that, Rachel, you get to be the judge of all the short stories for this week. Please let me know your favorite by Sunday, July 26th. And Tim, you're the judge for the Bi-Weekly Poetry Challenge which will end August 2nd. As exiting judge, I will post the new Challenge later this morning! **************************************************************************************************************** FINALLY, as Month #4 approaches for us here at CW, watch for our traditional feature of an interview with a published author on the 23rd. This time, it's Aussie children's book author, KARYN SAVAGE. I know you will love reading all about her life and career. She is a complete delight. Okay ~ On your mark, get set GO creating and posting more fabulous stories and poems for us all to enjoy!! Much, much love ~ Rachelle xoxoxo
PS
Regarding the current Bi-Weekly Poetry Challenge that is expiring this coming Saturday, July 18th, in the hopes of motivating you to enter, the creator of the contest, Katharine Folkes, suggests that we keep the "stacked limerick" part but amend the "bawdy and randy" part to: whatever fits within the structure of a limerick. So, come on, you talented members! DAZZLE US with your limerick entries!!! xoxoxo
Winners of the Bi-Weekly Challenge and the WOW Factors of the Week for the week ending July 11, 2026
Good Morning and Happy New Week to all you wonderful CW members!! It's time for the Big Reveals!! WOW FACTOR OF THE WEEK SHORT STORY WINNER IS: HE'S GOOD BY JESSICA WHEELER Judge Tim Margetts writes: This is easily the standout story of the week. The balance of observational humour with the pathos of the effects of growing older on both body and mind is handled with exceptional honesty and tenderness. The pacing is excellent throughout, with the dialogue flowing naturally and never seeming forced for narrative's sake. The story never makes Carl an object of fun or derision. Rather, his eccentricity makes him ever more believable and lovable. This makes the overall emotional turn land with so much more conviction. I found that it was especially good in that it didn’t seek to flood the reader with over sentimentality, but instead garnered a sense of understanding of the whole familial relationship, allowing the reader to feel empathy and leave the story with a smile. Runner up This was harder to judge as there are two very different but equally good contenders. Pandora's Box, Part 5 and The Little Cat House. Chapter 2 One is very much in the style of epic mythological fantasy, the other a children's book. Looking purely at technical accomplishment, Pandora comes out on top. It demonstrates a masterly level of control over prose that can only come with experience. It is an outstanding chapter in what I know will be an exceptional book once completed. Looking at what best achieved its goal, then I lean towards Little Cat House. It never overreaches. It knows what it is and has the simple emotional goal of never judging someone before you know them. It manages that beautifully with every sentence leading towards that conclusion in a way that any child would understand and be able to learn from. A lot of other factors came under my consideration, such as how this could be improved with a good line editor, the target audience and my overall ‘feel good’ factor. So, considering all that, I believe both stories deserve recognition. This week's runner-up is therefore shared by Pandora's Box, Part 5 and The Little Cat House. CONGRATULATIONS TO JESSICA, RACHEL AND JACQUELINE!! The WOW FACTOR POEM OF THE WEEK IS: BREATHING by TIM MARGETTS. Judge Jessica Wheeler writes First, I am always drawn to free-verse pieces that possess a subtle rhythmic quality, and Tim demonstrates this beautifully. His deliberate breaks and spacing dictate the poem’s pacing, allowing room to pause, think, and, dare I say, breathe. The recurring “burn” motif is extremely effective. It establishes a sustained tension that almost shifts in meaning as the poem progresses, reframing the initial unease into something else… something that suggests potential. Ultimately, what struck me most was the poem's emphasis on process. The progression is gentle, driven by internal changes that lead to self-awareness without ever forcing a resolution. This is what gives the piece its weight. It's not a destination, but a state of breathing - leaving you with a sense of continuation rather than arrival. And finally, for the BI-WEEKLY SHORT STORY CHALLENGE, THE WINNER IS: STRANGE HAPPENINGS AT SEA by RACHEL GOSLING Judge Rachelle Allen writes: Okay, for SURE I never saw the way THIS story was going to unfold! The Challenge was to write a story about someone who comes to your house on a sweltering day and requests a dip in the pool in exchange for some information about your parents. Dicey territory, for sure, because, as we all know, some things are better left unknown. But Rachel magically turns this premise into a fantasy tale that was done so well, I never saw it coming! I’ve always considered myself too practical a soul for fantasy stories, but I have to admit that this one TOTALLY captivated me. It was subtle – and this is so hard for me to understand – but BELIEVABLE!! Say, WHAT?! It’s imaginative and thorough in its storyline, and the characters and their backstories feel real, believable and luminously drawn. (I can’t believe I’m saying that!) Read it; I dare you to disagree. GREAT work, Rachel! You’ve changed my view of Fantasy forever! Thank you for opening my world. Okay, so CONGRATULATIONS to Tim, Jessica, Rachel and Jacqueline! VERY well done offerings this week. You make Heather and me SOOO VERY PROUD to have you here. You make this site great. Next week, TIM MARGETTS is our WOW Factor poetry judge, JESSICA WHEELER is the judge for Short Story/Prose, and RACHEL GOSLING is the judge for the Bi-Weekly Short Story Challenge. Tim and Jessica, please PM me your choices by next Sunday, July 19, and Rachel, your Challenge winner is due to me by Sunday, July 26th. Many thanks to you all. xoxoxo
Winners of the Challenge and the WOW Factors of the Week for the week ending July 4, 2026
Good Morning, my beloved CW members! Happy Monday. WOW FACTOR POEM OF THE WEEK: Judge Tim Margetts writes: RELIC by JESSICA WHEELER is the poem that stayed with me the longest. It takes the familiar metaphor of a person as a machine and makes it feel fresh through restraint rather than spectacle. The fragmented layout mirrors the speaker's struggle to keep functioning with each short section feeling like another hesitant moment. Then, just when you think it's about physical damage, it quietly reveals itself to be about grief. The final image of becoming "just a frame to hold your absence" lands with real emotional weight because nothing beforehand has tried to force the reader towards it. What I particularly admire is the economy of language. There isn't a wasted line. Every image contributes to the whole, and the ending refuses to over-explain itself. It trusts the reader, and I always appreciate poetry that does that. WOW FACTOR STORY OF THE WEEK Judge Rachelle Allen writes: I know I say this every time I get to be judge, but it is true: the quality of the writing each week on this site is so tremendous it makes choosing "just one standout" very difficult. I guess the flip side of that is that there is no bad choice to be had. Still, with that said, I have chosen THE SILENT BELL by TIM MARGETTS as this week's Wow Factor for Short Story. In his inimitable style, he takes us to a small and disquieting, enigmatic town where an enormous bell, seemingly with a life all its own, stands silently front and center. Lore explains that it's been silent for a hundred years, but in the past, when it tolled, it was to claim a life for a debt to be paid. Nothing terrifying there, certainly. Of course, it tolls when a newbie is in town staying at the nearby hotel, and of course, she is the only one who hears it...or so the townspeople will have her believe because, just like a child who's being summoned to come in for bathtime, if you pretend you don't hear your name being called, then you don't have to answer. Simple. Except the bell will not be ignored. SUCH an ominous concept, brought to life with the masterful writing chops of this author. For me, it had the perfection of my favorite old author, Nathanial Hawthorne. The eeriness that would not subside was kept taut and gave one that pit-in-the-stomach feeling throughout. The denouement was sublime - absolute perfection. And the ending resonated in my head for hours and hours afterward - ALWAYS the sign of exceptional writing. SO, CONGRATULATIONS TO JESSICA AND TIM ON YOUR TREMENDOUS SUBMISSIONS THIS WEEK!! And as is the case with CollectivelyWrite.com, this means that Jessica, you are the judge for next week's Poetry Wow Factor of the Week, and Tim, you hold the honor of choosing next week's standout story. Please PM me with your results by next Sunday, July 12th. ****************************************************************************************** WINNER OF THE BI-WEEKLY POETRY CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK: Judge Katharine Folkes writes: I pick "AN ENGLISH PROFESSOR EXPLAINS HER HUSBAND'S INFIDELITY" by Rachelle Allen to win for best character development. This is a delightfully humorous take-off on a person, used to teaching expressive, multi-syllabic words to her students, introducing them to more extensive vocabulary, using the same way of speaking when describing her husband's unfaithfulness. A clever format for the telling. So, this makes me the Poetry judge for the next Challenge, which will be open from today, July 6, until Saturday, July 18th. Check the Challenges page to see what Katharine, as the exiting judge, created for us! (Spoiler: it's a super fun one, but also a good challenge!) ************************************************************************************************ A NEW FEATURE BEGINNING THIS WEEK!!! In the weeks between our monthly Published Author interview, we are now going to feature a WEEKLY interview with one of our members! Co-founder Heather Wickham gallantly agreed to be my first victim...er, um...SUBJECT. But I'm coming for you all. I think it will make us closer as a group to know a little bit more about each other (not to worry; you ALWAYS have one hundred percent veto power over every word that is published!) The fairest way to choose the order is "at random," so I've already put everyone's name into a big pouch and will simply reach in and draw out a name, contact that member and put the process into motion! I know writers don't love the limelight on themselves, personally, but I promise I will make this a very fun and painless experience and one that will enhance everyone's enjoyment here at CW. Much, much love ~ Rachelle xoxoxo
Winners of the newest WOW Factors of the Week!!
Good Morning, and Happy Monday! Here are the winners of the Poetry and Short Story WOW Factors of the Week. These are chosen from all the posts that have been published here between the previous Monday (June 22nd) and Sunday, (June 28th). The current week's judges are the previous week's winners, because here at CollectivelyWrite.com we share the wealth! SHORT STORY JUDGE, RACHEL GOSLING, WRITES: I LOVE YOU, BUT... by Rachelle Allen, grabbed my attention this week. This story of a dead father and his bereaved daughter was one that unleashed emotions in the reader without being mawkish or sentimental. The characters were realistically drawn and by the end of the story, a whole relationship was laid before us, with all its flaws, misunderstandings...and underlying love. In second place, I choose COFFEE AT THE BOOKSHOP by Tim Margetts. I loved the simplicity of this romantic tale. Two quiet people bonding over a love of books - what could be more wonderful than that? The story brimmed with the possibility of life and the future happiness for the two main characters. A lovely, gentle read. POETRY JUDGE, DIANE KENEL-TRUELOVE WRITES: The creative genius of Tim Margett is “front and center” in his engaging poetic offering, “FRIDGE POLITICS.” His usual fare? Not at all. And therein lies the reason I have chosen his work as this week’s “WOW Factor.” To be able to take what some may consider a mundane subject, i.e. a refrigerator in need of deep cleaning, and compose a metaphorical, poetic offering of the state of the world today is genius. Wait. What? How can exploding lettuce, “shredded like it had fled a crime scene,” and tomatoes that have gone soft along with dressing spilling down one’s leg be a metaphorical anything? They are to this reader/reviewer. “Cutting board diplomacy” is akin to political diplomacy. As Margetts writes: “I pressed on. I am brave. I have tongs. Later, eating a bowl of something vaguely healthy, I felt like a survivor. Not of war— but of fridge politics…” To see the world as spilled, exploding vegetables made me smile. And perhaps there is a small message here that invites a multitude of interpretations. But for me, I am going to close the refrigerator door, think about what is inside, and opt for a cheeseburger at a fast-food restaurant as I contemplate the absurd realities that greet us every day and the choices we all make to survive amid “the quiet chaos of trying to do the right thing with rocket and romaine.” Brilliant, Mr. Margetts. Thank you for sharing! So, Tim, this makes you next week's WOW Factor Poetry judge, while I have the honors for Short Story. Woot! xoxox
Wow Factors of the Week, for the Week Ending June 21st
Tim Margetts won both Poetry and Short Story last time, so these are his two winning choices (and runners up) for the current Wow Factor of the Week: BEST STORY for the period 8th to 20th June PANDORA AND THE BOX OF FATE BY RACHEL GOSLING Retelling a familiar myth is never easy. Readers already know where the story is heading, so the challenge becomes making them care about the journey. What impressed me here was the way the author transformed legendary figures into believable, flawed, and deeply human characters. Pandora is vain, lonely, proud, vulnerable and, ultimately, understandable. Even when you can see disaster approaching, you understand exactly why she is walking towards it. The relationship between Pandora, Aurora and Epimetheus creates a strong emotional core, while the mysterious box looms over everything like an approaching storm. The writing is rich and atmospheric, with excellent pacing that steadily increases the tension from chapter to chapter. Although the award is for the story as a whole, Part 3 was the strongest instalment. The whispering box, Pandora's growing desperation, and Aurora's reflections all combine to create a genuine sense of inevitability and dread. By that point, I was completely invested and eager to see what happens next. My runner-up choice is Life Contortions by Rachelle Allen. This one succeeded through the sheer strength of its voice. From the opening paragraph onwards I was carried along by the narrator's increasingly horrified internal commentary, with each revelation making the situation more absurd and more entertaining. The timing of the humour is excellent, particularly the gradual unveiling of Enzo and the dawning realisation of exactly what sort of night preceded the story's opening scene. Comedy is often harder to write than drama because every joke depends on rhythm and delivery. Here, both were spot on. I found myself grinning throughout and laughing out loud more than once. A thoroughly enjoyable piece that knew exactly what it wanted to be and delivered it with confidence. BEST POEM for the period 8th to 20th June RED GERANIUMS BY DIANE KENEL-TRUELOVE. Some poems announce themselves immediately. Others quietly take your hand and lead you somewhere meaningful. This was one of the latter. What impressed me most was the restraint shown throughout. The subject matter could easily have drifted into sentimentality, yet every detail felt earned and authentic. The repeated references to the red geraniums become far more than flowers. They become memory, routine, love, devotion and ultimately loss. The dialogue is wonderfully observed, capturing both the confusion and clarity that can coexist in an ageing mind. The poem succeeds because it never tells us how to feel. Instead, it allows the small moments to do the work. By the final stanza, I felt I understood not only the daughter and her mother, but the lifetime that existed between them. A beautifully crafted piece that found its power in compassion, honesty and quiet understatement. My runner-up choice is Threshold. This poem pulled me in from the opening lines and never really let go. The sense of internal struggle is palpable throughout, with the accusations and self-doubt gathering like storm clouds around the speaker. What I particularly admired was the structure of the journey. The poem begins in darkness, but it does not remain there. The appearance of that distant possibility of peace changes everything, and the final movement towards "Leap. Land. Trust." is both simple and powerful. The poem deals with difficult emotions without becoming heavy-handed, and it trusts the reader enough to leave space for interpretation. That balance is not easy to achieve. A thoughtful and affecting piece that lingered long after I had finished reading it. ************************************************************************************************************** CONGRATULATIONS to Rachel and Diane! This makes you the judges for next week's Wow Factor of the Week, Rachel for Stories, and Diane for Poetry! Enjoy.
WOW FACTOR OF THE WEEK WINNER for the Week of May 31 - June 7
Both Katharine Folkes, the Poetry Judge this week, and I, the judge for Short Story, have selected works byTim Margetts. Katharine writes: Tim Margetts, word "maester", comes through, once more in his poem, "Moon", uniquely commenting on an astronaut, alone, above the earth, watching a storm flickering and blooming, and fading, and in the magnitude of what he is accomplishing, he thinks of the small pleasures and everyday goings-on on earth that really matter, the smell of rain, the sound of laughter. Yet he chose to travel into space alone. Tim eloquently gathers, and thoughtfully and beautifully expresses the thoughts of the astronaut, as he travels to the moon, giving the reader an idea of the loneliness, though he realizes that back on earth, those little things are just everyday occurrences. ************************************************************************************************************ And from me: "Lost" by Tim Margetts is a luminous piece in the way it sneaks into our head with the "sameness" of everyday life and then strangles us with exactly that because we are not paying attention...which, we learn, is pretty much the essence of our existence. Once retirement hits, we fall asleep at the wheel, convinced that there is vast time at our disposal and no need to push any envelopes anymore. But then, all too soon, the desire to anticipate anything evaporates, and we are left with a void of insubstantiality. A coveted life of insouciance it is definitely not. Worse, the miasma of not understanding plagues the entire cast of characters in a way that is quite unnerving to us who are "of a certain age" and shakes us into seeing that in no time, this very plausible existence could be ours, too, if we "let the old man in." A SO-very-well depicted cautionary tale master class that "shows and shows and shows" us without even once "telling." It completely trusts us to read between these terrifying lines. And no matter how hard we try to fight it, we get the message in deafening proportion. Super memorable job here, Tim. Yikes. ******************************************************************************************************** Okay, Tim, so you know the drill: You are next week's Wow Factor judge for both Poetry and Short Story. Congrats on the double win! You are an incredible writer. So. Very. Talented. xoxo
WINNERS OF THE WOW FACTOR OF THE WEEK for the Week Ending May 30, 2026
POEM OF THE WEEK WINNER: KATHARINE Judge Rachel Gosling writes: This was a comic poem, allowing the reader a wonderful flight of fancy and fantasy. Imagine a day at the beach, hunkering down to chat with a resident crab. Imagine signing up to a sideways race to the pier. Imagine that pesky crab on a platter! Katharine gave us a fun and unique poem here. I'm sure it would take anyone's fancy. ************************************************************************************************************* SHORT STORY OF THE WEEK WINNER: RACHELLE ALLEN Judge Tim Margetts writes: First Place – Leopard Some stories make me smile. A few make me laugh. This one had me grinning from the opening paragraph and never really let go. What impressed me most was the absolute commitment to the premise. A simple fondness for leopard print steadily evolves into a full-blown obsession, yet every step feels perfectly believable because the narrator's voice never wavers. The escalation is handled beautifully, moving from harmless fashion choices to financial ruin and eventually outright criminality, all delivered with complete sincerity. The humour comes not from punchlines but from character. The narrator genuinely sees herself as transformed by leopard print, and that conviction is what makes the story work so well. Every detail, from the carefully curated wardrobe to the matching accessories during the bank robbery, adds another layer to the absurdity. I also admired the economy of the writing. There isn't a wasted paragraph. Each section pushes the story further while building towards an ending that feels both inevitable and perfectly ridiculous. A wonderfully crafted piece of comic writing that knows exactly what it wants to be and executes it with confidence from beginning to end. Second Place – Super Heroes by Katharine This story succeeds for an entirely different reason. Where Leopard wins through cleverness and comic escalation, this one wins through warmth. The rescue of the trapped crow is engaging from the start, and the relationship between grandmother and granddaughter provides the real heart of the piece. I particularly enjoyed the way a simple act of kindness becomes a shared adventure and lasting memory. The gentle humour, especially the expectation of a crow-delivered reward, keeps the tone light and enjoyable throughout. By the end, it isn't really about the bird at all, but about the experience shared together. ****************************************************************************************************** CONGRATULATIONS, KATHARINE! This means that you and I will be next week's Wow Factor judges - you for Poetry, me for Short Story. Alright, wonderful Members! Get busy posting! We want to read your fabulous work - and if you win, you get to be the next week's judge. xoxoxox A charming and affectionate piece that reminds us that sometimes the smallest adventures become the ones we remember most fondly.
WINNERS OF WOW FACTORS OF THE WEEK FOR THE WEEK ENDING MAY 23rd!!
For the WOW FACTOR POEM OF THE WEEK, Judge Tim Margetts chose: THE OLD MAN AND THE DOG by RACHEL GOSLING Tim writes: This poem wins because it completely trusts the reader. Nothing is overexplained, yet an entire shared lifetime is implied in three short lines. The poem understands that compression is power. The first lines of the senryu establish strength and routine: “For years, an old man Strode out with his Labrador”. There’s dignity and rhythm in “strode” — you can almost see the daily walk repeated across decades. Then the pivot arrives with brutal quietness: Then shuffled alone”. One change of verb collapses time, ageing, bereavement, and loneliness into four syllables. What makes the poem especially effective is restraint. It never tells us the dog died. It never says the man is grieving. It leaves space for the reader to complete the emotional picture themselves, which creates a much stronger response than direct sentiment would. It also succeeds formally as a tiny narrative poem. There is movement, contrast, character, and emotional consequence, all delivered economically. Even the pacing matters: the pause after “Then” slightly delays the impact before “shuffled alone” lands. In a week where other entries were more talkative or more performative, this one achieved depth through simplicity. That’s difficult to do well, and memorable when it happens. For the WOW FACTOR SHORT STORY OF THE WEEK, the award goes to: SURVIVING YOUTH by Tim Margetts Both judges, Rachel Gosling and Katharine, chose this piece!! Here are their comments: RACHEL GOSLING writes: I ached alongside the narrator. This story gave such a vivid depiction of unrequited love, melanchoy, memories and dashed hopes. A beautifully written heart-breaker by this talented writer. KATHARINE writes: Tim is truly a wordsmith, and the ones he chooses and orchestrates into his writings are magical. They also have a sort of mesmerizing sound throughout. The disillusionment of the man is palpable, mixed with a bit of anger. "She left with no final declaration. No dramatic farewell. Only absence unfolding itself quietly." His story is a lament, really, that the girl whom the protagonist loves chooses kindness over worship and, instead of answering him then and there, leave with no further comment until her answer come up on his cell phone twenty minutes later: I did love you, I just feared...becoming you. Unsatisfactory, all the way around, and his feelings and emotions are held mostly at bay in the typical British fashion. In other words, he doesn't gush. What he did do, however, is take his time writing and seeking the original yet meaningful words needed to properly express his feelings and give this story uniqueness. ************************************************************************************************************* So, Rachel Gosling, you are the judge next week for Wow Factor Poem of the Week, and Tim, once again, you are the judge for TWO Wow Factor short stories next week! You have no one to blame but your own immensely talented self! CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BOTH!! xoxoxoxoxo CONGRATULATION
Reviews of the Entries and Announcement of the Winner of the Latest Bi-Weekly Short Story Challenge!
I love whenever I get the chance to be the judge for the CW Challenges, because I am reminded of how extremely unique and talented the writers on this site are! This Challenge: To Tell or Not to Tell, was met by three of our members, each one with an -EXCELLENT - and oh-so different - offering. Here's my review of each and my choice for the winner: SECRETS OVERHEARD: (by Katharine) What a wild romp this piece was to read! It could just as easily have been entitled "Secrets Overload." OY!! NO ONE could be trusted in THIS little hamlet!! I was half-expecting the mom at the end, as she imparted her wise words to her son, to say, "No go steal some candy for me at the store, or I will tell your father what you did earlier, and he'll punish you." Spoiler Alert: That did not happen. This was a very engaging, somewhat campy, read with perfectly believable "phone dialogue." Terrific entry. GRETNA GREEN to the RESCUE (by Rachel Gosling) Okay, now THIS is a friend we ALL need! Gretna Green is exactly the kind of friend we all (a) want and (b) hope our friends think we are. I love the allegory of the magic behind true-blue just-right over-the-top-committed friendship. A SUPER (ha - get it?) read that combined both fantasy and also the hope of reality. Powerful and uplifting, exactly what a great super-hero tale should be. THE BANDSTAND (by Tim Margetts) Wow. This is such a mind-twister. I'd never considered what the long-term consequences could be of keeping someone else's secret. Now it will always lie in the back of my mind. And what a masterful job of writing this is: a soft, buoyant existence marred with a perpetual burr that prevents the antagonist from entering into a normal existence of his own. This piece wins the Challenge for the simple fact that it will haunt me forever. Thanks to all three of you for this tremendous pleasure today. xoxoxo And Tim, this means that you get to be the judge for the next Short Story Challenge, which will end SUNDAY, JUNE 7th.
RESULTS OF THE POETRY CHALLENGE
Rachel Gosling was the judge of the bi-weekly Challenge 'After the Moment,' the entries for which you can check out by clicking the "Challenges" tab above. Judge Rachel writes: This was extremely difficult to judge as each entry had a unique and very striking stance. Entry 1 said so much, in relatively few words about life, love and loss. The start took you straight into a hospital setting and the end of life - a gulp moment for sure. Strong, emotional yet spare - excellent work. Entry 2 was densely written, filled with emotional pain. This one had a strong narrative voice and the reader could feel the character's pain at being replaced in love. It was melancholy without being mawkish. Strongly written and very striking - superb work. Entry 3 - This one made me laugh. The clever concept of using a detective style genre (with a very naughty cat involved) made for an entertaining read. Well-written and stylish. Wow - it has been a very hard task to choose between these 3 very different and high quality entries. I am plumping for entry 2 as the narrator's voice was so strong here, pulling me into their emotional experience. THE WINNER: HEATHER WICKHAM for "WHAT YOU LEFT BEHIND." CONGRATULATIONS, HEATHER!!! Great work! xoxo And this means that Heather, you are the judge for the next poetry Challenge, the deadline for which will be in two weeks, so MAY 31st. And, Rachel, you are e the person who decides what that Poetry Challenge will be!! (Let me know, and I will do my Admin thing and get it onto the Challenges screen!! Thank you for the great job you did with judging this Challenge. xoxo
RESULTS OF THE WOW FACTORS OF THE WEEK, May 11 - 17th
Because Tim Margetts had two short stories chosen by last week's Wow Factor Judges, he had to choose two Short Story winners this week himself. That's what happens when you're that level of talented, Tim: double the work. These are his choices and THE WINNERS OF THE WOW FACTOR OF THE WEEK SHORT STORY: THE SECOND LIGHT by Rachel Gosling Writes Tim: I think The Second Light was the standout for me this week. It had that rare quality where it pulled me in straight away and kept building the sense that something wasn’t quite right. The atmosphere was fantastic throughout — all the mist, cliffs, crashing sea and cosy lighthouse inn scenes felt very vivid and cinematic without being overdone. What really worked was the structure. The little lighthouse passages threaded through the story were mysterious at first, then gradually became more emotional and unsettling as the truth started to emerge. By the end, everything clicked together in a really satisfying way. The reveal about Julie’s connection to the lighthouse could easily have felt melodramatic in another story, but here it felt haunting and strangely moving. I also liked how believable the characters felt. Mrs. Platt and her family were especially memorable — warm, odd, secretive, but never cartoonish. The dialogue flowed naturally and helped ground the supernatural elements. The final image of Julie beside the skeleton genuinely stayed with me afterwards, which is always a good sign. It’s the kind of ending that lingers because it feels tragic, romantic and eerie all at once. THE OTHER WINNER OF THE WOW FACTOR SHORT STORY OF THE WEEK IS: THE PRINCESS AND THE CORN COB by KATHARINE Tim writes: My second choice this week would be The Princess and the Corn Cob because it had such a confident, entertaining voice from beginning to end. It managed to take a very familiar fairy tale idea and make it feel fresh, funny and original without losing the charm of the original style. What I enjoyed most was the humour. The descriptions of Prince Pitifullo were consistently amusing, especially all the little details about his laziness, vanity and questionable hygiene. The dialogue between the Queen and King had a lovely comic rhythm too, and lines like “smell like a lavender sewer” genuinely made me laugh out loud. I also thought the modern touches worked really well, particularly the references to middle age and hot flashes. They gave the story personality and warmth instead of just turning it into a simple parody. Pearl Luster came across as practical, grounded and likeable, which made her easy to root for. The whole piece flowed naturally and kept its playful tone throughout. CONGRATULATIONS, Rachel and Katharine!!! This means that next week, (May 18 - 24th), each of you will be the judge for a Wow Factor Story of the Week! Please have your choice to me by Sunday, May 24th so that I can post them bright and early on Monday morning!! THE WOW FACTORY POEM of the WEEK, chosen by judge Rachel Gosling, is: THE ART OF TH DEPARTING by TIM MARGETTS Writes Rachel: This was an absolutely perfect piece of writing about loved ones leaving. Tim left space for us to interpret those departures in any way we wished, while giving us some incredibly beautiful and profound images to ponder. It was an extremely moving piece, and I urge everyone to read it. CONGRATULATIONS, TIM!! This makes you next week's judge for a Wow Factor of the Week Poem! Let's give our judges lots and lots of choices this week and dazzle them in the process!!! xoxox