Therapeutic Power of Nature Winning Announcement
Contest Name:
Therapeutic Power of Nature
Date:
01/03/24
When the weight of the world seems too heavy, find solace in your craft. Pour your heart onto the page, whether it's filled with joy or heartache. Writing is not just about capturing happiness; it's about releasing pain, finding catharsis, and letting your soul breathe freely. Your words can be your sanctuary, a safe haven where you can heal, transform, and soar.
I just want you to remember that you are never alone in this journey. There is a community of fellow writers as such Wingless Dreamer who understand your struggles, who have walked the same path, and who are cheering you on. Reach out to us, share with us your experiences, and be open to receiving the support and encouragement you deserve.
Celebrate your small victories. A single sentence written is a step forward. A rejected manuscript is a badge of courage, showing that you dared to share your voice with the world. Every time you pick up your pen or type on your keyboard, you are declaring that your story matters.
So, my dear struggling writers, hold onto your dreams with unwavering determination. Let your setbacks fuel your ambition, and let your moments of darkness inspire your words. You have the power to rise from the depths, to turn your struggles into stories that resonate with others who may be facing similar challenges. I hope you’re getting me.
In the end, keep writing, keep creating, and keep believing in yourself.
With unwavering support and endless admiration, Nadelina Agopoglu
Therapeutic Power of Nature Winning Announcement
The grand winner of the contest is:
THE LOVE RITUAL- CHIBUIKE UKAH
Jonathan Chibuike Ukah lives in the United Kingdom with his family. His poems have been featured and will soon be featured in The Pierian, The Cortland Review, Space and Time Magazine, Wingless Dreamer, Strange Horizons and elsewhere. He is a winner of the Voices of Lincoln Poetry Contest 2022 and a finalist of the African Diaspora Award in Poetry 2023. He has been twice nominated for the Pushcart Prize 2024 Edition.
The first runner-up is:
THE TV IS BLASTING MY FAVORITE SHOW AT 12:45 AM AND I CANNOT CLOSE MY EYES -KELLY LYNN CURRY
Kelly Lynn Curry is a disabled poet that spends most of her time writing in a cabin in the woods. She is surrounded by her menagiere of pets. She has been writing all her life, but it wasn’t until she faced the Cardiac Ward that she decided to finally publish any of her words. She has 3 self-published collections.
The second runner-up is:
I WAS SIX YEARS OLD THE FIRST TIME I GOT MARRIED. I THINK I STILL LOVE HIM- ELIZABETH BECK
Elizabeth Beck is a painter, potter, and poet currently pursuing her MFA in creative writing at VCFA. EB currently lives in Atlanta with two tiny dogs and her partner that she married not in first grade. Elizabeth feels made up of stories— fleeting, ephemeral, beautiful, terrible stories that need to be written down to hold onto. She used to be a storyteller at her church’s children's chapel, once telling a story of her youngest daughter’s first birthday. Years later, a young man said, I’ll never forget that story about your baby spitting on the birthday cake. She didn’t remember the story. She had spoken it aloud. Another soul was holding the memory tight. Writing the moment, the thought, the anger, the joy onto a page in a poem makes it last longer, easy to remember years later.
Here are the top finalists:
ARCADE - J M ROB
J M Rob is a filmmaker and writer living in Austin, TX.
IN YEARS OF SLEEP - SARAH ISUFI
Sarah Isufi is a poet and editor who lives in London and studies her Creative Writing MA at the University of Lincoln. Her poetry ranges from visceral surrealist imagery of the body to complicated familial relationships.
THE BEAUTY OF NATURE- ANNA RAE
Anna Rae spends her time between school and the world of words. She often can be found lost in a good book, or at her computer until the sun comes up in the morning. She loves to imagine a world of her own and often fantasizes about buying, selling or writing books, which has been her dream since grade four. Creating her own worlds in her head brings her joy and she hopes you can see the light she loves to create.
